Saturday, November 15, 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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Town seeking information from Housatonic School developers

According to a document sent to The Berkshire Edge by Great Barrington Town Manager Mark Pruhenski, as part of the proposal, both potential developers for the former Housatonic School Building are required to submit commitment letters from lenders, along with a plan detailing the construction and permanent financing for the project.

OLLI sponsors Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast program

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is holding their program, "We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples of The Northeast University Days," through September 29 "partly to remind people that the Mohicans didn’t die out. They’re still alive and out here [in Massachusetts].”

Housatonic Water Works, permits, briefly discussed at 15-minute Select Board meeting

The Great Barrington Select Board held a short 15-minute meeting on September 12, during which they discussed the situation with Housatonic Water Works.

Vigil in Great Barrington remembers victims of drug overdose

A candlelight vigil for those who have been lost to drug overdose was held at the South County Recovery Center on Wednesday, August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day.

Residents protest Housatonic Water Works, new developments with Mass DEP

On Thursday, September 1, company treasurer Jim Mercer issued a press release stating that its water quality now meets compliance with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection standards when it comes to haloacetic acids (HAA5). The following Saturday, September 3, residents held a protest in front of town hall as their water continues to be discolored.

Select Board reviews suitors for former Housatonic School property

The Great Barrington Select Board reviewed from WDM Properties LLC and Arete Venture Partners LLC to redevelop the former Housatonic School that has been vacant since 2003.

Protest against Housatonic Water Works this Saturday

A protest organized by Housatonic resident Denise Forbes on behalf of the Residents for Safe Water group is planned to take place against Housatonic Water Works in front of Town Hall on Saturday, September 3 at 11 a.m.

JUST IN: 40 years on, DA’s office releases new suspect sketches in cold case disappearance

The District Attorney's Office and State Police have continued to investigate the case, with the focus on a separate attempted abduction that occurred earlier in the night, 13 miles away in Williamstown.

Southern Berkshire Regional School District starts off school year with improved math scores

After a review of Southern Berkshire Regional School District benchmark assessments of students from Kindergarten to 8th grade, there has been a 38 percent improvement in math skills performance.

From Ghana to the Housatonic River: W.E.B. Du Bois’ legacy celebrated

"[This] event is a remarkable collaboration between many groups and individuals that care about W.E.B. Du Bois and the principles that he fought for,” Rachel Fletcher, founder of the Housatonic River Walk, said at the beginning of the event.

Part-time Stockbridge residents up in arms over possible residential tax exemption

The part-time residents who were interviewed for this story expressed anger about the proposed Residential Tax Exemption, stating it could "damage the culture of Stockbridge in a very unfortunate and bad way."

In public forum District Attorney and Sheriff candidates address issues of racial justice

District Attorney Andrea Harrington and Berkshire County Sheriff Candidate Alf Barbalunga answered questions regarding how they would handle issues involving racial justice at a candidates forum organized by The Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups through Education and moderated by CEO and Founding Director Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant.

School district merger committee confronts $150k shortfall

The Eight Town Regional School District Planning Board is facing a $150,000 budgetary shortfall and would be out of money by October 1, as projected by Project Manager Jake Eberwein at the August 23 board meeting.

Elizabeth Freeman comes home: Statue unveiled

A three-day celebration of civil rights icon Elizabeth Freeman culminated in the unveiling of a statue and plaque commemorating Freeman at the Sheffield Town Green on August 21.

Bridge and guardrail repair next week on I-90

Accordingn to a press released issued by MassDOT, bridge and guard rail repairs will be taking place on I-90 in both the eastbound and westbound directions from Monday, August 22 through Friday, August 26.

BHRSD Superintendent Peter Dillon looking forward to new school year

“Overall, I think that this school year will be a good time to move forward,” Superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District Peter Dillon said. "I think the most important thing families should know is that, over the summer, teachers and the staff at our district schools have all been working very hard to prepare for this school year, and we are all super excited to welcome you all back.”
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