Tuesday, March 24, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Terry Cowgill

Terry Cowgill is a journalist in the Berkshires and northwest Connecticut. He is the retired managing editor of The Edge, serving from 2017 to 2022. Terry is also a longtime political columnist for CTNewsJunkie, an award-winning media outlet that covers the Connecticut state government. A resident of Lakeville, Connecticut, Terry is a graduate of Bishop's University (Canada) and earned a master's degree in humanities from Wesleyan University. Follow Terry on Twitter @terrycowgill or email him at thenews@hotmail.com.

written articles

Regional school planners move ahead with merger plan, schedule public input session next month

The next steps will be further design and development of the selected model and the drafting of a new regional school district agreement for consideration by town officials and ultimately the voters in the eight member towns.

Neighbors take Great Barrington ZBA to court, demand board’s airport decision be reversed

The civil complaint names each ZBA member individually as defendants. The complainants are not seeking monetary damages but want the court to annul the ZBA's decision, find that the ZBA exceeded its authority, and that its actions were "based on legally untenable grounds."

South County selectboard races: Hawver victorious in Sheffield; Potter in West Stockbridge

Voter turnout in Sheffield was less than 15 percent, while West Stockbridge's was nearly 35 percent.

As irate customers conduct survey, town asks Housatonic Water Works to ‘provide relief’

The embattled HWW has been the target of sharp criticism from customers and town officials for discolored water, insufficient fire hydrant pressure and -- most recently -- the presence of a potentially cancer-causing compound.

Challenged by veteran planner, former Sheffield selectboard member seeks to retake her seat

The lone contested race on the ballot for the May 9 town elections in Sheffield features a battle between two veteran elected officials.

The ‘horrifying numbers’ behind Great Barrington’s housing shortage

In 2019, according to the Berkshire County Board of Realtors, the average sale price of a single-family home in Great Barrington was $411,000. The following year, it jumped to almost $600,000 without a commensurate rise in incomes.

School planning board votes to explore full merger of Berkshire Hills, Southern Berkshire districts

The plan was one of seven the board considered after more than two years of investigation and research during a process set out by the state.

Name change for ‘Squaw Peak Road’ appears near as majority of residents endorse the move

The most pressing concern of many homeowners and neighbors remains the logistical and financial considerations of changing a road name and the implications on personal particulars.

Great Barrington stock trading company agrees to $3 million settlement with feds

The FTC does not allege that the content of statements in the company's advertising are false. Rather, it alleges that the accurate statements about Cameron's own stock performance suggest that his students or customers will have similar success — an implication the FTC characterizes as "misleading."

Dates set for Becket town meeting, elections

The deadline to register to vote at the annual town meeting and annual town election is Friday, April 22. 

Town mulls two options to improve safety of infamous Main Street crosswalks

The two crosswalks in question are at the intersection of Railroad Street and Main, and the so-called Rotary Way crosswalk that links the Rubiner's building with the TD Bank building to the east.

Southern Berkshire District scores funds for 14 educational activities and projects 

A combined amount of $36,950 in grants has been provided by The Eagle Fund and Janet's Fund, both of which are administered by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

As Sheffield conducts survey and mulls town broadband, telecoms warn of ‘risks’ and ‘burdens’

The survey includes a speed test, asks residents to rate the importance of internet service to their household, and questions how much residents would be willing to pay to switch from Spectrum.

More turmoil at Great Barrington Housing Authority, as three of five members resign abruptly

The resignations effectively cripple the housing authority, preventing it from conducting business for lack of a quorum.

Great Barrington zoning board denies appeal from angry airport neighbors

At issue is the fact that the Walter J. Koladza Airport is located in a residential zone, but was built just a few years before Great Barrington first adopted a zoning code.

Measuring the drapes: Effort to sell Housatonic School picks up steam

The response has been strong enough that the Great Barrington Selectboard voted unanimously this week to extend the deadline for RFP submissions to June 10. The extension will give potential developers time to solidify their plans, reach out to potential tenants, secure financing, get budgets in order, and complete their designs.
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