Today, Rawson Brook Farm can lay claim to being the oldest continuously operating commercial cheesemaking farm in Berkshire County.
Tag: Big Y
Remembering the ‘great’ Great Barrington tornado 25 years later
The National Weather Service reported that debris was carried more than 45 miles to the northeast in Belchertown, where a fairgrounds racing ticket was found along with white corrugated plastic roofing material.
No one goes hungry: Food pantry shifts into overdrive to feed growing need
Nobody’s selling apples on the corner for a nickel yet, but you can be sure the need has never been greater — not in anyone’s memory younger than 90.
I Publius: Social distancing
People can get antsy and often angry when they are locked inside. They pick silly fights.
Coronavirus impact: Some South County businesses close, some struggle, others do well
If you’re a restaurant owner who wants to stay open in the midst of a public health crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic, you essentially have one choice: trying to eke out a living by offering take-out, and perhaps delivery.
Hearing on Great Barrington home-rule petition on horseracing set for Jan. 27 in Boston
It is not clear precisely when the home-rule petition hearing will begin. There are 10 hearings starting at 1 p.m. and the Great Barrington hearing is seventh on the list for that afternoon.
Business Briefs: Local Farmer Awards applications; NAACP meeting, panel discussion; taxation planning workshops; EforAll pitch contest; new Berkshire Taconic board members
Described as “’Shark Tank’ without the teeth,” EforAll’s friendly, free event features a business showcase followed by pitches from six pre-selected contestants and two more who are added the night of the event.
Egremont Green News: Neighbors join plastic-reduction challenge
Instead of over-eating or over-drinking or over-spending, this healthy-living campaign targeted the over-abundance of plastic.
Alan Chartock: I Publius
Now we have a better understanding about what racing does to horses. It’s a bad idea.
Bits & Bytes: ‘Willy Wonka KIDS’; Fairview Monster Dash; Jason A. Rodriguez at Jacob’s Pillow; ‘Six Jewish Artists’; Nature Discovery Backpacks
Jacob’s Pillow and Jason A. Rodriguez from the FX television series “Pose” will team up to showcase New York City’s Ball scene at the first-ever Pillow Party: Mini Ball Saturday, Oct. 26, at Jacob’s Pillow.
Horse racing will increase traffic congestion
In a letter to the editor, Collin Lovas writes, “Additionally, it’s likely going to be a nightmare for shoppers attempting to enter jammed up Route 7 when horse racing events occur.”
Business Briefs: Entry to Entrepreneurship applications; disaster relief donations; nonprofit workshop for women; fraud prevention seminar; Berkshire Taconic grant deadlines
Big Y World Class Markets are partnering with the American Red Cross to raise donations for those affected by Hurricane Dorian.
Rebranded Berkshire Food Co-op opens in new digs at Powerhouse Square
The Co-op’s new headquarters will bring the organization even further from its humble roots. The Co-op started as a buying club and opened its first bricks-and-mortar store in 1981 in the granary building on Rosseter Street.
Business Briefs: WAM Theatre donations; Jane Iredale joins Bergforf Goodman; Local Farmers Awards; Goodwill grand opening; Race Mt. Tree Services Career Day
The Local Farmer Awards recently gave $142,500 in amounts up to $2,500 to 62 farmers in western Massachusetts and eastern New York for materials and equipment to make infrastructure improvements.
Rawson Brook Farm to downsize: Get your chevre while you can
Like probably most other people, I am not happy when something I cherish ceases to exist. Rawson Brook Chevre will be with us for a while, but not forever.
Egremont Green News: Fast chargers needed for electric vehicles in Berkshires
An owner of an electric vehicle says current infrastructure is too geared to Teslas.
Another false alarm: State lifts water boil order for Great Barrington
Yesterday, after the boil order was imposed, five more samples were collected from the Green River pumping station, where the sample was taken that originally prompted the order. None of the five tested positive for E. coli.
Here comes the ‘Boozemobile,’ one liquor store’s response to a changing marketplace
Successful businesses are always on the hunt for growth opportunities, and package stores are no exception. But the stores face competitive threats that were hard to imagine only 15 years ago.
Business Briefs: Money Matters mentors sought; Brewer joins CDCSB; Local Farmer Awards applications open; Balance Rock moves; BTCF grant deadlines
To be eligible for an award, a farm must have gross sales of $10,000 or above, and be a member of either Berkshire Grown or Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture or located in one the four counties of Western Massachusetts.
Conflict-of-interest complaint filed against two Great Barrington selectmen; Sheffield ConCom member fined $2,500 by state ethics panel
Abrahams doubts anything will come of it because the ethics commission told him earlier there was no conflict of interest so long as he did not have a financial relationship with the applicant or otherwise stand to benefit financially.
As selectboard mulls new alcohol policy, GB package store owners fail to stop additional licenses
The state sets a quota for the total number of licenses based on year-round population. Census figures set Great Barrington at two all-alcohol licenses and five beer-and-wine licenses. But the town currently has eight total licenses, only one of which is beer-and-wine only.
The DA a judge can’t trust
A judge presiding in Caccaviello’s home court has recently gone on the record about mistrusting the DA’s representations in a troubled murder prosecution.
Bits & Bytes: Fairview Monster Dash; Schumacher lectures; STEAM challenge night; ‘A Haunting in the Hills’; Williamstown Repair Cafe
Speakers Leah Penniman and Ed Whitfield are doing work that builds on Du Bois’ legacy — his commitment to black economic development, cooperative structures and fair access to land.
High times for Great Barrington? Pot shop proposals proliferate
After the planning board crafted a set of zoning regulations to deal with pot earlier this year, the selectboard reviewed them and most thought the regulations were a bit too lax since they would allow cultivation by-right in too many zones.
Proposed plastic water bottle ban generates fierce support and opposition among merchants
Forty businesses and organizations have signed off on the Great Barrington proposal. There are some high-profile businesses on the list, including Guido’s, Prairie Whale and Soco. Most recently the Berkshire Co-op Market came on board.
Could ‘complete streets’ make Great Barrington more user-friendly?
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation defines a complete street as “one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes – walking, biking, transit and vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities.”
Environmental activists want to ban the sale of popular water bottles
If it passes at town meeting, the GB On Tap program intends to provide additional drinking fountains and bottle refilling stations throughout town. In addition, it will help participating merchants and restaurants offer refillable water bottles for sale.
Egremont Green News: Check your supermarket for plastic film recycling
The most common examples of recyclable plastic film are bags for dry-cleaning, groceries, bread and produce, including zip-top bags.
BCD community sends boxes of aid; hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rican families respond with many letters of gratitude
On Make a Difference Day, 50 members of the Berkshire Country Day School community including students, parents, faculty, alumni, and community members participated in the sorting, boxing and shipping of 78 packages.
At Community Health Programs, serving families and children in need
At CHP Family Services, a rich tapestry of offerings is aimed at helping families cope with challenging circumstances and develop relationships in the process.
Berkshire Thanksgiving ‘wheres’
Professional chefs contribute their delectability skills and the food for some of the dinners, like Squanto and Massasoit long ago. All the chefs, cooks and volunteers who present these meaningful dinners are experienced and will be creating meals to remember.
Community mobilizes to replace closed market used by elderly and immigrants
“As soon as it was announced, we had people on the ground. We started speaking with people and urging them to share their stories about how this affects them.” –Jeff Lowenstein, Berkshire Interfaith Organizing