"From the canny cast to the crack chamber ensemble backing the action, the double bill offered a feast for eyes, ears, and mind." ~ A.Z. Madonna, Boston Globe
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.
"I do not not anticipate any issues whatsoever to get the home-rule bill through. We're a home-rule state. Whatever the town wants, I am for." -Rep. William "Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox
"Over the past few weeks I have met, spoken with, and received testimony from many in my District who are concerned with this proposal: either because they do not support horse racing as an industry, or because they are concerned with the legislation as it is currently drafted." --Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield
Town officials have said Sterling Suffolk Racecourse would need at least two special permits: One for commercial amusement and another for floodplain protection, and possibly a third for work in the town’s water quality protection overlay district.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for us to help preserve and refurbish an iconic property in the heart of the Berkshires, to boost economic development in Great Barrington, continue live racing and preserve the hundreds of jobs, associated agribusinesses and working open spaces associated with the Massachusetts racing industry.”
-- Chip Tuttle, CEO of Suffolk Downs
“If we spent more time listening to each other, instead of screaming at each other, we’d be a much stronger, happier country.”
-- David Isay, founder of StoryCorps
"We are always working on multiple funding streams: grants from many sources and direct fundraising from individuals and businesses. We're an all-volunteer effort, working as a community to build a community resource. We'll keep working.”
-- Great Barrington Fairgrounds Co-founder Janet Elsbach, after GBFG application was rejected for being late
Applicants said they were thwarted either by snarled Main Street construction traffic, or technological glitches. This may create a dilemma for the committee, which has now decided to vote on whether to accept the late applications.
The Senior Class at the Berkshire Waldorf High School in Stockbridge is exploring imaginative ways of representing the history of a particular place, talking with those involved in it, and then translating their impressions into a collaborative "documentary illustration." The first topic the class selected is the ongoing restoration of the Great Barrington Fairgrounds.
The Circus Smirkus performances are a benefit for the Great Barrington Fairgrounds Redevelopment Project. The Smirkus theme is: “Anchors Away for Atlantis, a maritime merriment under the briny big top.”
"It is a general blessing to proceed,” said Janet Elsbach, of the Great Barrington Fair Ground (GBFG). The situation has evolved into “a constructive partnership” between the organization and the town.
We are not professional developers. We’re the leading edge of a community movement to get this done and to make this happen at the fairgrounds.
-- Janet Elsbach, co-proprietor of the Great Barrington Fair Ground
