Berkshire County — Despite the heat, Berkshire County continued to show up for Berkshire Busk!, protests against the Trump administration, and events honoring Great Barrington native W.E.B. Du Bois throughout the summer season.
Here is a recap of those stories, and more, as reported by The Berkshire Edge.
July
On July 2, The Berkshire Edge published an article on the fifth season of Berkshire Busk!, which started its season on June 27 and June 28. Throughout the festival’s season, musicians and performance artists entertained crowds throughout downtown Great Barrington, including on Main Street, Railroad Street, and the Triplex Cinema Courtyard.
On July 3, Desmond Phillip, 45, was found guilty of murder in the first degree and three gun-related charges in Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield.
On July 4, over 100 people attended and took part in a community reading of author, abolitionist, and freedman Frederick Douglass’ 1852 speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” at the TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge.
On July 7, after six years of planning, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Prosperity Way affordable-housing project in Housatonic.
On July 9, The Berkshire Edge reported on the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities’ rejection of a motion of enforcement made by Great Barrington, Stockbridge, and West Stockbridge requesting that Housatonic Water Works (HWW) roll back its planned rate increases and that the department investigate the long-troubled utility company.
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center held its annual gala on July 13. Over 600 people attended the event which raised an estimated $560,000.
On July 14, The Berkshire Edge reported on the 25th annual Berkshire Arts Festival held at Ski Butternut from July 4 to July 6. According to organizers, over 5,000 guests attended the event, with booths from 165 artists.
During its annual meeting at the Guthrie Center on July 15, the board of Construct Inc. discussed the current state of affordable housing in Berkshire County, including recent successes and challenges.
At a private event for donors and local media on July 17, the sculpture of historian, sociologist, and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois was unveiled at the Mason Public Library in Great Barrington. Two days later, on July 19, the sculpture was unveiled to the public at a celebratory event.
Also on July 17, residents gathered outside Great Barrington Town Hall to join in another nationwide protest, “Good Trouble Lives On,” against the Trump administration.
The fourth annual Du Bois Forum was held from July 18 to July 20. The event included a roundtable discussion Black history and racial issues.
On July 22, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission announced that gross sales at adult-use marijuana establishments surpassed $8 billion since the first such retailer opened in November 2018.
On July 24, the Great Barrington Selectboard voted to hire Newport, R.I., native William Riccio to be the new town manager. However, one week later, The Berkshire Edge reported that Riccio turned down the town’s offer.
On July 28, many Pittsfield residents attended a very contentious meeting of the City Council’s Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee, who voted to forward Mayor Peter Marchetti’s controversial ordinance regarding camping on public property to the full City Council.
On July 31, Construct Inc. announced that Jane Ralph would be stepping down from her position as the nonprofit organization’s executive director.
August
Jacob’s Pillow Director of Marketing and Communications Nick Kepley announced in an email statement that production manager Kat Sirico was killed in an accident on August 1. Sirico, 40, was a resident of Rochester, N.Y. On August 5, Jacob’s Pillow announced that it was canceling the rest of its season.
Also on August 1, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer spoke about his latest book “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism” at an event at the Duffin Theater in Lenox as part of The Mount’s “In Conversation” discussion series.
On August 4, two Pittsfield Public School staff members were arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court for charges in connection to the death of Giver Essien, who drowned in Benedict Pond on July 17, 2024, during a field trip at Beartown State Forest while taking part in the Pittsfield Public School’s Herberg Middle School 21st Century summer program.
On August 5, multiple groups from New England took part in a commemoration ceremony of the Knox Expedition, also known as the Noble Train of Artillery, at Memorial Park in Great Barrington.
After an almost-hour-long executive session during its meeting on August 7, Great Barrington’s Board of Health dropped its legal actions against HWW. The board has been involved in a legal battle against HWW since August 22, 2024, when it issued an Order to Correct requiring the company to take actions toward water-quality compliance and water testing.
Great Barrington resident Ed Kay’s 100th birthday was celebrated at the Claire Teague Senior Center on August 7.
Also on August 7, classic car owners from throughout the area brought out their prized automobiles for the Great Barrington Fire Department’s 16th annual car show.
On August 8, state Agricultural Commissioner Ashley Randle, along with members of the Department of Agricultural Resources, visited three Berkshire County farms—Red Shirt Farm and Second Drop Farm in Lanesborough and Multicultural BRIDGE’s Solidarity Farm at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds—and the Sheffield Farmers’ Market.
On August 10, an employee for Camp Halfmoon drowned at Lake Buel in Monterey. According to Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin, Miguel Rodriguez Perez, 21, a Mexican national, had been swimming with two coworkers in Camp Halfmoon’s swimming area on the lake.
On August 11, the Great Barrington Selectboard approved special permits in order for AM MGMT 2 LLC of Pittsfield to build an apartment building at 546 Main Street. The building is planned for a vacant lot at the corner of Main and Mahaiwe streets.
Also on August 11, the Great Barrington Selectboard voted to drop litigation against HWW.
Great Barrington Interim Town Manager Chris Rembold announced on August 11 that 19 years after the closure of Ried Cleaners, remediation work would start on the site, located at 218 Main Street, during the last week of August.
In August 18, the West Stockbridge Select Board also voted to drop its litigation against HWW.
On August 20, without any prior notice or announcements on social media, Marjoram + Roux, 47 Railroad Street, closed its doors.
After an executive session during its meeting on August 25, the Great Barrington Selectboard approved a settlement in the litigation between local marijuana establishments and the town.
On August 30, nonprofit organization Blue Rider Stables held their annual Fun Day at French Park in Egremont.
The Berkshire Woodworkers Guild held their 25th annual Fine Woodwork Show at Berkshire Botanical Garden on August 30 and August 31.
September
On September 1, protesters in Berkshire County joined a nationwide demonstration against the Trump administration: the “Workers Over Billionaires” rallies.
After several years of planning, Berkshire Waldorf High School opened its doors for the first time at the Old Town Hall in Stockbridge for the new school year on September 3.
On September 8, The Berkshire Edge reported that Bard College officially put the Simon’s Rock campus in Great Barrington up for sale.
On September 10, The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored Erik Bruun as its Person of the Year at Catamount Mountain Resort in Egremont.
On September 11, 24 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Great Barrington held a commemoration ceremony at the town’s Fire Department, co-organized by American Legion Post 298 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Adams-Budz Post 8183.
Lenox Town Hall hosted a memorial honoring the 600 Berkshire County Gold Star Families on September 20.
The South County Recovery Center held its Smash the Stigma community event at Great Barrington Town Hall on September 20.
Festival Latino of the Berkshires, a celebration of Latino diversity, folklore, music, food, and culture, was held on September 27.
