In addition to performing as a soloist, Chertock serves as principal keyboardist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and has been a professor of piano at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
The $300,000 Brownfields Community Wide Assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be used to perform Phase One and Phase Two environmental assessments of several properties, most of them in and around the village of Housatonic.
“There are a lot of people trying to do organic farming around here. This [resolution] is about protecting our local organic farmers. If you get GMO seed into your field, you’re done.”
-- Selectboard member Bill Cooke, who introduced a draft resolution intended to protect the integrity of organic farms and their produce.
Neighbors are worried about what will happen when an increasingly busier airport changes, possibly leading to even more future expansion. The pilots and plane owners say the airport is a critical piece of the town’s economic engine and a treasure that brings people here from far and wide.
Representatives from Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, along with school committee members, were finally able to hash out something that could ease some of Great Barrington’s financial burden.
Wheeler & Taylor owns the building and the bank on the corner of Bridge and Main streets, and construction may block access to a 30-foot right of way that it was deeded access to.
Stanton said the state is already making medicinal marijuana dispensary companies jump through hoops, and that charging extra fees will ultimately punish patients by passing on those extra costs.
“I feel that GE is just one in thousands of corporations that are doing the exact same thing to land and to rivers all across the world. We here have our small part to play in that big fight which is to stand up for our land and our water and the respect for humanity.”
--- Pooja Prema, an organizer of the Mega March against PCB dumps
A residential exemption would tax people progressively more or less based on the assessed value of their home. The more your home is valued, the more you pay, just like the income tax.
The fervor and message of what appeared to be a polarizing controversy that centered on the town’s frustration with increasing property taxes and the inability of local incomes to keep up, did not seem to fuel election outcomes this time around.
We have two great candidates for selectboard in Sean Stanton and Bill Cooke who have proven themselves to be good public servants. They can bring a community with diverse opinions together rather than trying to divide. The fact that these candidates are men does not make them unqualified.
In his letter to the editor endorse the candidacies of Bill Cooke, Sean Stanton, and Will Curletti, Ed Abrahams writes: "What I like about Sean Stanton, Bill Cooke and Will Curletti is that they are reasonable people with good judgment who listen to others before acting. All three of them get along with nearly everyone, and none of them are coming with a political agenda. They want to listen, to find ways to ease the tax burden, and to encourage economic development to broaden the tax base."
The town’s annual election will be held Tuesday May 12, in an election that could determine a significant change in the focus of town leadership. There are contests for the four open seats on major town boards, two on the Selectboard and two on the Finance Committee. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Bill seems to be the only candidate to be strongly in support of Michael Wise’s residential exemption tax plan.
Any plan that reduces my taxes will be a real help to me and my family.
Bill represents the interests of young working families in town. He’s willing to discuss the issues with anyone.
In his letter to the editor, Bob Norris of Great Barrington writes: "Please join with me in supporting Walter "Bud" Atwood and Eugene "Will" Curletti for Finance Committee, and Sean Stanton and Bill Cooke for the Selectboard."
