Wednesday, July 16, 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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HWW reps discuss pilot study to remedy manganese problems

In a meeting on Tuesday, November 14, Housatonic Water Works Treasurer and co-owner James Mercer and consultant Robert Ferrari of Northeast Water Solutions spoke favorably of a pilot study of the company’s small-scale GreensandPlus filtration system that started on September 14 and lasted until September 28.

Winter overnight street parking ban to begin Tuesday, Nov. 15

As of Tuesday, November 15, an overnight street parking ban in downtown Great Barrington and Housatonic will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. until March 31 to allow for overnight snow plowing.

Housatonic Water Works informational Zoom meeting on Nov. 15

James Mercer, treasurer and co-owner of Housatonic Water Works, has announced a Zoom informational meeting for Tuesday, Nov. 15. In a press release, Mercer writes, “This meeting offers an opportunity for our customers to see what we are doing to address these problems and ask questions and we encourage all customers to attend.”

MassDOT Advisory: Bridge and guardrail repairs on I-90

Expect lane closures and delays on I-90 both eastbound and westbound in Lee, West Stockbridge, Becket, Montgomery, and Russell from 7 a.m. on November 14 through 5 a.m. on November 18 as MassDOT will be conducting daytime and overnight bridge and guardrail repair operations

Housatonic Clean Water Alliance member hires attorney

Housatonic Clean Water Alliance member Debra Herman has hired an attorney to "pressure the parties that are involved in the water situation in Housatonic to improve our water and to get us clean water."

Town to consider proposals for appraising troubled Housatonic Water Works

At its meeting on Thursday, October 27, the Great Barrington Planning Board formally approved a statement to the Select Board expressing its concerns about the Housatonic Water Works situation and offering its support to the town to "help the process along."

Students take part in annual Halloween window painting contest

Three local schools participated in the town's annual Halloween window painting contest on Wednesday, October 26, in which students were able to show off their talents painting and drawing their Halloween creations all around Main and Railroad Streets before they were put on display in downtown storefront windows.

Kohl’s to open on Nov. 4 in Lenox

Kohl's Department Store is scheduled to open at The Center at Lenox on Friday, November 4 as part of the corporations real estate strategy to open 100 smaller format stores throughout the country.

Division Street Bridge project to be finished by Thanksgiving

Department of Public Works Director Joseph Aberdale said at the October 24 Select Board meeting that the temporary prefabricated replacement bridge on Division Street should be ready by Thanksgiving.

Select Board considers proposal for former Housatonic School property

At its Monday, October 24 meeting, the Great Barrington Select Board reviewed the first of the two redevelopment proposals for the former Housatonic School from Arete Venture Partners LLC.

Becket Select Board member running against state Rep. Pignatelli

Becket Select Board Member Michael Lavery is running against State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli (D) in the general election as a member of the Green-Rainbow Party.

Fire reported on Van Deusenville Rd.

Various reports on social media list the location of the fire as Formel Auto Salvage.

Select Board looking at options to resolve the Housatonic Water Works crisis

In its October 17 meeting, the Great Barrington Select Board spoke with representatives of Aquarion Water Company, who owns the nearby water company in Sheffield, about the possibility of the company acquiring Housatonic Water Works as well.

Select Board to hold special meeting to discuss HWW issues on Oct. 17

The Great Barrington Select Board will be holding a special meeting on Monday, October 17 to discuss ongoing issues regarding Housatonic Water Works. The board will also be holding "an informational conversation" with Aquarion Water Company.

Annual Harvest Festival at Berkshire Botanical Garden celebrates autumn

After a two year hiatus due to the pandemic, Berkshire Botanical Garden held its largest event and fundraiser of the year on Saturday, October 8, and Sunday, October 9: the 87th annual Harvest Festival.

Residents disappointed in MassDEP response concerning HWW crisis

Resident attendees were disappointed with both the answers from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection officials and the Board of Health's line of questioning the offials in a meeting held on Thursday, October 6 regarding the ongoing crisis with Housatonic Water Works.
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