Sunday, June 22, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Kateri Kosek

Kateri Kosek grew up in the Hudson Valley but has lived in or near the Berkshires for over a decade. She is the author of American Eclipse, winner of the Three Mile Harbor Press Poetry Book Award, and a chapbook, Vernal. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Orion, Creative Nonfiction, Northern Woodlands Magazine, Berkshire Magazine, and many literary journals. She teaches college English, and as a lifelong birder, has worked locally surveying bird populations for Green Berkshires and Aton Forest. More at katerikosek.com.

written articles

SBRSD wins state-wide efficiency award, acknowledging cost savings for towns, more programs for students

District Superintendent Dr. Beth Regulbuto credited the values and financial management of the entire district for the achievement, saying that they didn’t intentionally try to receive this award; it simply arose from their normal course of business.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren visits Pittsfield to meet with area nonprofits

The fundamental question in finding funding for nonprofits like Volunteers in Medicine and Berkshire Black Economic Council, she said, is: “Do we think the federal government has a role to play in helping ensure there's adequate funding so that our communities can thrive?”

Special needs performing arts camp seeks children to participate

Pizzi invites neurodivergent children, children with autism who have low support needs, and any child with a disability to join the camp, which is free, and set to run August 5 through 9 at Berkshire Community College.

Balloonists, barnstormers, and wartime boon: New book celebrates Great Barrington Airport

“Local histories for me are a way to give readers a sense of place,” said Drew, who has written the “Our Berkshires” column for The Berkshire Eagle since 1996, along with more than 50 books, about half of them local histories, including a history of the town of Great Barrington.

Yiddish Book Center’s Yidstock brings unique new Yiddish music to live or online audiences this weekend

The music at Yidstock, Executive Director Susan Bronson thinks, is “really fun and engaging, and I think most people come and they love it. There's great energy, and the music itself is accessible to everybody.”

Following its 50th anniversary, The Bookloft looks to the community for support

Bookloft owner Giovanni Boivin told The Berkshire Edge that while they did have some great weekends, like the 50th anniversary weekend and Indie Bookstore Day, “general sales for the last six months have been pretty low. Even for the quiet season, it's been extra quiet.

Two-day music festival Down County Jump returns for its second year at Race Brook Lodge June 28 and 29

The music you can hear at the second annual Down County Jump is “kind of hard to describe,” says artistic programmer Alex Harvey. It is a roots-ish, folk-ish festival, not singer-songwriter or country or bluegrass, but “in between all those forms.”

Birds are the focus of the Great Barrington Land Conservancy’s upcoming program, including new project at McAllister Wildlife Refuge

The new bobolink monitoring program at McAllister Park is one citizen science endeavor the public is invited to learn about at the Great Barrington Land Conservancy’s (GBLC's) community program and annual meeting on Saturday, June 22.

In its first month, Sheffield’s new locally sourced ice cream shop, Modern Milk Bar, has caught on fast

Traditional, good-quality ice cream made from local, real-food ingredients is the vision of Modern Milk Bar.

Ian Spencer Bell reprises Isadora Duncan at Chesterwood, kicking off Arts Alive! summer season

The show was the first in a full season of artistic performances at Chesterwood. Arts Alive! continues French’s tradition of inviting artists of all genres to share their creativity and gather inspiration at Chesterwood.

Fighting land insecurity, Berkshire Community Land Trust enters final phase of campaign to secure River Run for Off the Shelf Farm

The small-scale farms that grow the food we love to buy at farmers' markets, and perhaps take for granted, are not guaranteed.

Conductor Ryan LaBoy takes Berkshire choir groups to new level with latest spring concert and audience sing-along

After a May 17 concert at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, “The Sounds of Music” came to Saint James Place in Great Barrington.

All articles pass at Stockbridge’s annual Town Meeting — but not without hearty discussion

The town operating and education budgets both increased from last year. Without education, there was an increase of 6.71 percent from fiscal year 2024.

Inside The Dream Away Lodge on opening night

“I think there's so many people who meet here and end up falling in love,” says Dan Giddings, new partner at the legendary establishment. Friendships start here, he says.

The Mount gears up for ‘liveliest summer yet,’ with expanded lecture lineup among its diverse offerings

“When we booked them, we knew they were special,” says Mount Communications Director Jennifer Beeson of the lineup of authors set to visit The Mount this summer.

Housing and conservation resonate strongly with voters at Sheffield Town Meeting

Perhaps the most contentious article, and the only one defeated, was Article 29. By a narrow margin of 51 to 53, voters declined to reduce the number of members on the Conservation Commission from five to three (with two alternates).
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