Sunday, February 9, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Shaw Israel Izikson

Shaw Israel Izikson is Managing Editor for The Berkshire Edge. Izikson is an award-winning journalist, editor, and photographer from Baltimore, Maryland. He was the winner of the 2015 New England Better Newspaper competition in editorial writing. Izikson is the former editor of The Winsted Journal newspaper from 2014 to 2017. He was also the editor of The Winsted Phoenix from 2019 to 2021, and most recently The Country Journal in late 2021. He has been in the journalism field for over 20 years, starting as a reporter for The Irregular newspaper in Kingfield, Maine. He worked at The Lakeville Journal company for 11 years, working as a reporter at all three newspapers owned by the company before serving as the editor for The Winsted Journal from 2014 to 2017.

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Fighting a hate with no boundaries: Jewish Federation of the Berkshires looking for support in its ‘Hate has no home here’ campaign

"We also know that hate never travels alone," Jewish Federation of the Berkshires Executive Director Dara Kaufman told The Berkshire Edge. "We’re in a community where if you stand up for one, you stand up for all."

Great Barrington town manager search consultant: Filling position will be challenging

“If anybody [does a Google search] on Great Barrington, they come up with bridges, water, and things like that,” a town-hired consultant said during the Feb. 4 meeting. “How do those things balance in a candidate’s mind when they think, ‘Hey, if I come into this job, will there be a support system for me?'"

Baba Louie’s restaurant in Great Barrington to close

The restaurant is closing after 25 years in business.

Stockbridge files complaint against Housatonic Water Works, asks DPU to roll back rate increases and investigate company

“There is no question that the company’s customers are not receiving reasonable quality service,” attorney Bryan Bertram of Wellesley law firm Harrington Heep LLP wrote on behalf of the Town of Stockbridge in his filing.

Great Barrington’s budget season begins, increases proposed by Interim Town Manager Rembold

“We are using a conservative approach here, and we hope this will result in a stronger position than fiscal 2025,” Town Manager Christopher Rembold wrote in is draft town budget for fiscal 2026.

1Berkshire CEO Butler reacts to President Trump’s tariffs: ‘We should be worried’

“I haven’t talked to a single business leader in the region in the past few months that has anything positive to say about tariffs," 1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler told The Berkshire Edge.

Reis Foundation to host benefit game night at Greenock Country Club on Feb. 7

"I think it’s hard to change a society that is all about ‘quick, give me a piece of pizza, and let’s go!’" foundation founder Josh Reis told The Berkshire Edge. "But I think if we can teach children about healthier options for food and nutrition we can change that."

Multicultural BRIDGE purchases location in Great Barrington

"This space creates a space for communities that do not feel like they’re part of the story," organization founder and CEO Gwendolyn VanSant told The Berkshire Edge. "We want them all to create their own stories and not to be victims of it.”

Philip Orenstein, chair of Great Barrington’s Finance Committee, running for Selectboard

Orenstein has served on the town's Finance Committee since May 2021.

Berkshire Hills Regional School District community concerned with possible ICE presence at schools

People are unsure as to whether they're safe at school anymore and what's going to happen in terms of protection of students,” one Monument Mountain Regional High School student said during the January 30 Berkshire Hills Regional School District Committee meeting.

Architecture professor to talk about ‘The Brutalist’ movie at Triplex event on Feb. 2

The fictional movie, set in the 1950s and '60s, centers around architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian immigrant to the United States and a Jewish Holocaust survivor.

State Sen. Mark and State Rep. Davis discuss how Massachusetts is keeping up with President Trump

“I try to walk a fine line between not being panicked every day and not acting naive, and it’s hard,” State Sen. Paul Mark told attendees. “We’re constantly trying to discern what is real, what is a distraction, and what is horrendous."

Great Barrington Selectboard appoints Town Manager Screening Committee, with objections by residents over choices

“I feel as though having previous [Selectboard] members creates a monopoly,” said Maureen Quigley regarding the board's process for selecting members for its Town Manager Screening Committee. “I think it’s important to allow people that haven’t served on the board to have an opportunity [to serve]."

Gov. Healey proposes increased state funds for infrastructure, including for Berkshire County municipalities

Gov. Maura Healey is proposing to increase the state's Chapter 90 program to allocate $300 million annually in state funds to municipalities.

Allowing children to be children again: Monterey’s Kimama Halfmoon camp hosts children of Israeli hostages

"[S]lowly but surely, you could see them dancing on the basketball court, and their smiles eventually came back to them while they enjoyed the summer," Camp Director Yael Skikne recounted about the campers.
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