Sadly, the anticipated maestro (now a youthful 67) had to withdraw; stepping heroically into the breach was a familiar presence at Tanglewood who knows his Sibelius: English composer, conductor, and pianist Thomas Adès.
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.
Some 120 demonstrators showed up to a hastily organized rally at Great Barrington Town Hall, one of more than 1,000 rallies nationwide occurring at 5 p.m. to support the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election..
The selectboard announced that, about a year ago, it had commissioned a report by David Prickett of DPC Engineering to gather information on the water systems in the town, what the capital needs are and whether there are redundancies.
According to the selectmen, the committee's charge will be to "oversee several town-sponsored events and programs honoring Du Bois," including: the Du Bois Day Celebration; the annual Du Bois Festival (from Martin Luther King Day through Feb. 23); banner installations; collaboration with UMass Amherst and local educational institutions and arts, historical and community organizations; and more.
In her letter Carol Diehl writes: "The petition to repeal the single-serve plastic water bottle ban might never even have come up if the proponents of the ban had, from the beginning, presented it in a way that related it specifically to the needs of Great Barrington."
The divide between the natives and those from outside the area is as wide as it's ever been. Don't take my word for it or judge based only on Monday night's meeting. As of Tuesday afternoon the Great Barrington Community Board Facebook page contained more than 500 comments.
Town moderator Michael Wise said nonvoters (including minors and nonresidents) are allowed to attend the special town meeting and speak if they obtain permission.
It was not clear how Kate McCormick would perform the duties of register, a full-time job, and continue to be managing partner of the law firm previously run by her father, Edward G. "Buddy" McCormick.
At 33, Kate Feuer Burke represents a much-desired but disappearing demographic in town: a young professional with children who brings new vision and energy to the board.
The six candidates for Great Barrington Selectboard range from two men and one woman who have been on the scene for a long time to younger office seekers looking for generational change on the board.
The battle royale involved the planning and select boards. For weeks, the two panels had been at odds over which should be the special-permit-granting authority in regards to the marijuana production and sales facilities, and whether most, if not all, of the facilities should require a special permit.
What started off as a civic exercise turned into a lesson in how a righteous cause can gather steam, convince fence-sitters, transition to a generational issue and overwhelm the opposition.
More than 40 businesses and organizations had signed off on the plastic water bottle ban, including Guido's, Prairie Whale, SoCo and the Berkshire Co-op Market.
There is a reason Amatul-Wadud cares so much about people. It's because, as a lawyer specializing in probate, families, custody and visitation rights, "I get to see people in their most intimate spaces."
Friday, March 23, is the last day nomination papers can be obtained from the town clerk for candidates who want to be on the ballot for the Tuesday, May 15, nonpartisan municipal elections.
