Tuesday, March 17, 2026

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. 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. Photo by Jamie Tilley.

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Candidate profile: State Rep. Pignatelli ‘Bullish on the Berkshires’

In all, Rep. Pignatelli said that he is very optimistic about the direction the state is going in. "I’m bullish on the Berkshires,” he said. “I’m very optimistic that we can do all kinds of key things. When it comes to comparing Massachusetts to other states, I think we are in a very enviable position ..."

Ninth annual ThinkFOOD conference explores food practices and traditions

This year's ninth annual ThinkFOOD conference, held at Simon's Rock and organized by The Center for Food Studies, included various workshops and lectures featuring representatives from various local organizations and focused on the theme of "regenerative."

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.

Local restaurants donate meals to school’s Spanish class

As part of a celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which took place from September 15 to October 15 this year, local restaurants treated Spanish class students at the W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School to a meal.

Town awarded state funding for bus stop improvements

On Tuesday, October 11, Great Barrington announced in a press release that the Department of Transportation’s Shared Street and Spaces program awarded the town with $62,500 to improve accessibility at bus stop locations.

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.

JUST IN: Dalton resident sentenced in assault case

Steven Santana, 32, of Dalton will serve seven to 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to single counts of mayhem, assault and batter with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery to collect a loan, witness intimidation, and four counts of threat to commit a crime.

Larry Spotted Crow Mann given NAACP Indigenous Award

“I’ve been an artist, poet, and activist my entire adult life,” Mann said in accepting his award. “I am thrilled that I’m seeing so many things that I thought I would never get to see in my lifetime, and it is truly a revolutionary time."

Three-day celebration of Indigenous Peoples

A three-day series of events put on by The Alliance for a Viable Future commemorated Indigenous Peoples' Day and celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ heritage, culture, and environment.

Residents celebrate hiring of Samara Klein as Great Barrington Libraries Director

Samara Klein’s father, author Daniel Klein, said of his daughter, “This is her dream job. It’s a very demanding job. But she is a very strong and well organized person. People should know that libraries are much more than book dispensaries, they are cultural dispensiries. This is a meeting place for everyone.”

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.

JUST IN: Berkshire District Attorney’s Office obtains life sentences for brothers who killed Jaden Salois

On Thursday October 6, Pittsfield residents Chiry Omar Pascual-Polanco, 26, and Carlos Pascual-Polanco, 22, were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of 18-year-old Jaden Salois in 2019.

Berkshire Bounty continues crusade against hunger

As food insecurity in Berkshire County becomes even more dire than at the height of the pandemic, Berkshire Bounty says donations are needed more than ever.

Dream Away Lodge to reopen with new owners, ambience preserved

The iconic and history-rich Dream Away Lodge in Becket will reopen under new ownership in April.

Eight Town Planning Board reviews draft school district merger agreement

The Eight Town Regional School District Planning Board briefly reviewed a draft regional agreement, which covers various aspects of what a potential merger of Berkshire Hills and Southern Berkshire Regional School Districts would look like, at its regular meeting one Wednesday, Sept. 28.
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