Wednesday, March 11, 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.

written articles

Great Barrington Selectboard refuses to put Main Street on ‘road diet’

The Great Barrington Selectboard will not alter its previous decision on traffic calming measures, despite pleas from member Leigh Davis for Main Street to go on a "road diet."

Jacob’s Pillow’s ‘On the Road’ series performs in Great Barrington

"While there is so much division in the world, the truth is that we are all connected,” Jacob’s Pillow Director of Community Engagement Thasia Giles said. “Dance brings us into our shared humanity, which increases our generosity, our compassion, and our understanding.”

Sophia Bletsos named human resources director for five towns

Springfield native Sophia Bletsos has been named the human resources director for Great Barrington, Sheffield, New Marlborough, Monterey, and West Stockbridge. Great Barrington Town Manager Mark Pruhenski says, "This is a huge step forward for our towns."

Regional school planning board hires transportation consultant

At the Eight Town Regional School District Planning Board's Operations Subcommittee virtual meeting on July 14, Project Manager Jake Eberwein said that the board has hired consultant Rich Labrie to put together a report to determine the size of buses and the number of buses needed to make the potential school bus routes available.

Candidate makes accusations against sheriff’s office over inmate death

In a July 18 press release, Berkshire County Sheriff candidate Alf Barbalunga accused Sheriff Thomas Bowler over the death of an inmate from Pittsfield at the Western Mass Regional Women's Correctional Facility, stating, "Her death is part of a pattern of what happens to Berkshire residents who find themselves in state or county jails."

Berkshire Busk! brings music and performances to downtown Great Barrington

Downtown Great Barrington will be filled with musical performances and performance acts this summer as The Berkshire Busk! continues every Friday and Saturday until Saturday, September 3.

Great Barrington Selectboard discusses Housatonic Water Works in executive session

The Great Barrington Select Board has yet to take action after an executive session during their meeting concerning Housatonic Water Works on Monday, July 11. The executive session was held "because an open discussion may have detrimental effect on the litigation position of the board."

Board researching school merger uncertain about layoffs

According to models of the planned merger of Berkshire Hills and Southern Berkshire regional school district, the net reduction of teachers should only be between two and four.

Plenty of fireworks at NAACP’s sheriff candidate forum

As state primary elections approach on September 6, tensions arose between Berkshire County Sheriff Tom Bowler and candidate Alf Barbalumga at a virtual forum on Wednesday, July 6.

Berkshire Waldorf High School looks to relocate to Old Town Hall

The Berkshire Waldorf High School looks to move from their current location at 16 Pine St. in Stockbridge to the Old Town Hall within the next two to three years.

Housatonic Water Works hires consultant who worked on Flint, Michigan, water problems

After a yearslong saga concerning discoloration and contamination of its water supply, Housatonic Water Works has hired Northeast Water Solutions president Robert Ferrari as a consultant to deal with its ongoing problems with manganese in its system.

School merger panel gathers input from public; second session tomorrow night

Regional School District Planning Board held its first of several virtual community conversations via Zoom on Tuesday, June 28 regarding the merging of the Berkshire Hills and Southern Berkshire regional school districts. The second session is scheduled to be held Thursday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m.

South County residents protest against SCOTUS Roe v. Wade decision

“I will choose what enters me,” one protestor read from a poem she had written. "I am not your cornfield. I am not your uranium mine. I am not your calf for fattening, not your cow for milking. You may not use me as your factory. Priests and legislators do not hold shares in my womb.”
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