The Berkshire Edge LLC is a locally owned, regional publication. Our goal is to provide – regularly and in depth – content that truly reflects the life, interests and aspirations of this unusually rich and vibrant community.

Guided by respected journalistic standards, the principle of fairness, the quest for truth, a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice, and an abiding admiration for the independent spirit of the Berkshires, The Berkshire Edge offers in-depth local news reports and features, perspectives on the arts, wide-ranging commentary, and a comprehensive calendar of events – all written, illustrated, and, in some cases performed, with wit, intelligence, insight and humor.

1. We have several stories about one of Great Barrington’s favorite sons, W.E.B. Du Bois. The Du Bois Legacy Festival will commence with a dance performance organized by Jacob’s Pillow that will be performed at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington on Saturday, Feb. 22:
https://theberkshireedge.com/w-e-b-du-bois-an-enduring-educational-legacy/
https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-grand-piano-trios-author-talk-at-lee-library-potluck-a-play/

2.  The Environmental Protection Agency has announced its final cleanup plan for the Rest of the River, from Pittsfield to the Connecticut line. It proposes the creation of a landfill for low level PCB contaminated soil; and shipping the high polluted material shipped out of state to a treatment facility. But not everyone was satisfied with the remedies, as this letter indicates:
https://theberkshireedge.com/no-berkshires-pcb-dumps-period/
3.  Meanwhile, our “It’s Not That Simple” team of Selectboard member Ed Abrahams and his sidekick Pedro Pachano are urging Great Barrington residents to take part in the 2020 Census. Federal and state grants for infrastructure upkeep depend on census accuracy:
https://theberkshireedge.com/its-not-that-simple-be-counted-it-is-that-simple/

4. Meanwhile, our peripatetic columnist Alan Chartock waded in the national political debate over the 2020 presidential election with a column in which he predicted that former NY City Mayor Michael Bloomberg could beat incumbent Donald the Trump. The column sparked heated debate:
https://theberkshireedge.com/alan-chartock-56/

5. And in this week celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, we have a little story about how the Stockbridge Library had acquired Daniel Chester French’s ’Standing Lincoln’ statue:
https://theberkshireedge.com/more-on-the-acquisition-of-the-standing-lincoln-by-the-stockbridge-library/
6. Finally, to entertain us during the dark days of winter Barrington Stage is hosting its annual 10 x 10 New Play Festival in Pittsfield. Ten plays of no more than 10 minutes are selected for this festival …  and have been written just for this event. Full disclosure, some years ago your editor here had a play selected for this festival — its title was “Invasive Species.”
https://theberkshireedge.com/theatre-review-barrington-stages-10×10-new-play-festival-a-lively-collection-to-fight-off-the-cold-weather/

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