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THE OTHER SIDE: Trump woke the world

The new Trumpian America, led by an authentic American "hero," is determined to put others in their place.

PERSPECTIVES: Town aims to close off Castle, Railroad streets for evening dining as restrictions on restaurants are eased

Selectboard member Leigh Davis said she has heard from two businesses on Railroad Street that are interested in closing the street for evening dining.

Town Hall Briefs: For the first time, Great Barrington will hold its town meeting outside; special permit for gated parking lot denied

The most important item is getting the budget passed before the end of the fiscal year Tuesday, June 30.

Great Barrington Selectboard should not give in to extortion

It all comes down to this: what kind of town do we want to live in?

Parking lot imbroglio continues as selectboard debates and one official asks another to recuse herself

Other board members said it was clear to them after that first public hearing that the Foster's lot would be closed to the public if the company was denied the right to build the new lot for its tenants.

With recreational cannabis shops closed, why do liquor stores remain open?

The problem is that recreational sales account for the vast majority of revenue for stores, and since medical marijuana is not taxed, revenues to the state and the municipalities that host the stores have dried up during the shutdown.

Alan Chartock: I Publius

"I saw Donald Trump on television saying that he wouldn’t wear a mask. Can you believe that guy? He calls himself a leader but we all know that he is a vain, shameful coward.” -- Murray Chartock

Construct, Lenox and GB offer emergency rental assistance during COVID-19 pandemic

Both housing trusts are allocating funds received from the local Community Preservation Act surcharge and granted to the trust in previous annual town meetings.

Affordable Housing Trust apologizes for lack of communication about development plan

If approved, the town wouldn't close on the property until July. If taxpayers rejected the funding, then there would be no project at all, or the trust would have to identify another site.

Angry Housatonic residents assail CPC for funding of affordable housing property

It was standing-room only as dozens of angry residents of the Housatonic section of Great Barrington, including a former selectman, vented their feelings about the committee's consideration of funding a proposal from the town affordable housing trust to acquire land for housing.

GB, South County Year in Review: Of mergers, bridges, cannabis and ‘blood money’

In the spirit of reflection and self-examination, herein lies The Edge's second annual Great Barrington year in review. It includes some select stories from other South County towns as well, along with embedded links to Edge stories for more information.

Looking at the Brown Bridge and seeing red: What’s in a color?

Design Advisory Committee Chairman Pedro Pachano told the selectmen at their Monday meeting that his panel considered several possibilities, including repainting the bridge to roughly match its current color.

Second effort to close Lake Mansfield Road next month fails

Brandee Nelson said the task force is "confused" about what the selectboard's "goal is going forward" and "how confusing it might be to drivers" in transitioning the road to one-way and then going "to a closure scenario."

Divided selectboard votes to keep Lake Mansfield Road open one-way — for now

Among the problems with a permanent closure, town manager Mark Pruhenski said, is the lack of a plan to deal with a "turn-around and detour of vehicles" from the sudden closure of the Division Street bridge earlier this month.

Great Barrington Selectboard backs away from enforcement of plastic water bottle ban

Selectboard Chairman Steve Bannon said he could not support enforcement of the bylaw until there is an implementation and funding plan for the series of water stations that are planned to help consumers refill the reusable bottles.

After complaints were filed against two selectmen, state ethics panel shrugs

Abrahams said all elected and appointed government officials in the state take an ethics exam every other year. There is a phone number officials can call if they have a question and need to talk to someone at the ethics commission.
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