Saturday, September 19, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

David Scribner

A writer, photographer and journalist, David Scribner served for 10 years as editor of The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, prior to which he was editor of The Middletown (Conn.) Press. Most recently, he spent four years as news editor of The Berkshire Record. His essays have appeared in Yankee magazine, Vermont Life and other publications, his reviews in the Pacific Sun, and his photographs at the International Center for Photography in New York City. His short stories have been published in literary magazines, and his play, “Invasive Species,” was premiered at New Stage Performing Arts in Pittsfield under the direction of Nicki Wilson.

written articles

KEIGWIN + COMPANY: High-energy dance at MASS MoCA

“The Pillow build audiences for dance year-round, and one of the ways in which we do that is through our partnership with MASS MoCA. Audiences will be wowed by KEIGWIN + COMPANY’s unstoppable energy and style.” -- Ella Baff, Executive and Artistic Director of Jacob's Pillow

Pothole Paradise

In keeping with the annual appearance of this trying period that tests our talent for nimble handling of the steering wheel to dodge those pesky chasms in the pavement and to vault the rolling frost heaves, we invite our readers to send us photos of worst pothole they’ve encountered.

Joan E. Polesak, 80, of Alford, weather spotter, founding member of ambulance squad, member of Thursday Morning Club

Joan was very active in the community: She was a weather spotter, founding member of ambulance squad, a member of Thursday Morning Club. the Alford Gardening Club, the Alford Cemetery Commission, and a member of the Ski Patrol at Stratton Mountain, Vermont.

Harvey Notis, 93, of Pittsfield and Great Barrington

After graduating from Pace University, he went on to become the Chief Executive Officer of Stakelum-Lints Inc., a prominent oil delivery company based in Cedarhurst, Long Island.

Smooth sailing for Elm Court resort at Lenox ZBA hearing

"Gilded Age estates are the Berkshires. They are the distinguishing characteristic of our region, like the great country homes of England." -- Laurie Norton Moffatt, Director and CEO of the Norman Rockwell Museum "Restoring Elm Court in this way is like embalming a corpse. It's a trade off, more than a fair trade." -- Gregory Whitehead, speaking for the Old Stockbridge Road Neighborhood Association

Bill Cooke to seek seat on Great Barrington Selectboard; Phillips declines to run for re-election

"We have to find a way to make it possible -- and attractive -- for families with children – young families – to come into town and settle here. That’s my first priority." -- Bill Cooke, on one of the reasons he is seeking to run for the Great Barrington Selectboard

Desegregating the Berkshires – 54 years ago  

"My Tanglewood roommate, James Tranks, an African American double bass player from Philadelphia, walked into a barbershop in Great Barrington which immediately pulled down its blinds and told him the barbershop was closed. The same thing happened at a second barbershop in Great Barrington shortly thereafter and in Lee the following day." -- Tanglewood Fellow Jim Levinson, recalling an incident in the summer of 1961

Luxury hotel to be proposed for Searles School complex

"You could imagine that demolition is anathema to historic preservation. On the other hand, you could get a new structure that pays homage to history. It all depends on what the Selectboard is willing to do.” -- Town Planner Christopher Rembold

100 brave Arctic chill to call for return of commuter rail service

"Sustainable economic development will occur because our regions will be far more attractive to young entrepreneurs and investors when we are connected again by passenger rail to New York, and to the world.” -- Train Campaign founder Karen Christensen of Great Barrington

At Berkshire Playwrights Lab, fundraising is performance art

"We’re a theater company that develops new plays. So it stood to reason (at least in my mind at 1 a.m.) that we should at the very least be entertaining in our appeal and do what we do best … present new plays. And thus, a fund-raising idea was born." -- BPL Artistic Co-Director Joe Cacaci

‘The Stamp Act’: An exhibit protesting continuous war

"The show investigates and documents the apparent American need, or drive, for war, from the day the first settler arrives from elsewhere." -- Writer Phil Johnson

Bits & Bytes: Food for the homeless, Farm Games, and an Autumn Social

"We set up a table at the Farmers Market in Pittsfield with a full place setting and a sign that simply says ‘support our farmers while caring for our homeless -- buy something today and leave it on this table.’ " -- Eddie O'Toole, Social Responsibility Committee of Unitarian Universalist Church

Bits & Bytes: FilmColumbia 5-day festival

Among the opportunities at the FilmColumbia festival is a screenwriting panel during which audience members are invited to submit a scene from an original screenplay that the panel of actors will read through live.

Bits & Bytes: Pre-Halloween fun at Fairgrounds; candidates forum; Simon’s Rock art show

At the Great Barrington Fairgrounds, October 25, a day of pre-Halloween festivities, including the screening of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare before Christmas." On Tuesday, Oct. 21, there's a Berkshire Hills School Committee candidates forum at the Senior Center; and an exhibit of work by Jacob Fossum opens at Simon's Rock.

Bits & Bytes: Shred Day, then BerkshireSpeaks

BerkshireSpeaks: Seven pioneering speakers will present their visions of what it will take for the Berkshires to thrive and prosper in the coming decades.

Bits & Bytes: Berkshire Shorts; Montessori tour

This year’s Berkshire Shorts will feature a block of contest entries in “The 30 Day Film Challenge,” a contest in which local filmmakers had 30 days to write, shoot and edit short films.
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