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Monday, November 2, 2026

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Sheela Clary

Sheela Clary is a writer and teacher born and raised in South Berkshire county. She's interested in exploring the issues that affect the region, and in building community through place-based storytelling classes and events. She teaches Italian language and cooking, as well. Her writing can also be found at her Substack newsletter, Clarity. (https://sheela.substack.com Clarity | Sheela Clary | Substack a periodic, carefully composed newsletter exploring my obsessions, such as the state of our common life in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the stories of unheard-from people, the beauties of Italian, and the mysteries of good writing. Click to read Clarity, by Sheela Clary, a Substack publication. Launched 8 months ago: sheela.substack.com

written articles

Learning

REVIEW: How do you define success?

For the most part high-achieving, low-income students do not apply to highly selective colleges. Many under-reachers live outside of cities, are white, and attend smaller high schools. I have seen this phenomenon play out at Great Barrington’s Monument Mountain High School. Honors track low income students are more likely to apply to schools less selective than their grades and scores would recommend.
Life In the Berkshires

The third Sunday in September

Perhaps it’s the ugly times we’re living through, here and everywhere, that makes me love the Josh, and having 373 reasons to cheer.
Life In the Berkshires

Our Golden Doors

Jonathan and Fatima’s success story today — car parked outside and apartment whose rent they pay on time and which comfortably houses a growing family — was made possible by the very hard work, and very long hours, of many people, coordinating their assistance among many local social service organizations.
Viewpoints

The Lolita Express vs. Team USA Express

Which is it, America? You’re making me dizzy! Where do you stand when it comes to your female half? Are we queens of the world or the shit under your shoes?
Viewpoints

Just the suggestion of justice is making my week

We are a nation of laws, and this week, unlike in far too many recent weeks, it feels like the law is winning. It feels this week, if just for this week, like our law exists to protect the vulnerable, not to facilitate the cruelty of entitled men.
News

PROFILE: Sen. Adam Hinds looks back at legislative accomplishments – and challenges

The Edge recently sat down with Hinds in his Pittsfield office to discuss his proudest accomplishments, how to align workforce development needs with the education system, and his hopes and concerns about the rollout of recreational marijuana in the state, among other things.
Life In the Berkshires

“It’s not just opinions flying around the room”: The Berkshire Conversation Project considers gun violence

One local group of about a dozen people has started a conversation about guns by learning how not to interrupt each other.
Life In the Berkshires

‘Good Science for Good Parenting’: Reducing risks for alcohol, substance abuse

Among the special concerns of the youth coalition members is a perceived deprioritization of health in our schools.
Arts & Entertainment

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘What the Constitution Means to Me,’ an inspired message for our time

This play made me wish our education system still fostered the art of rigorous, respectful debate.
Life In the Berkshires

ISO: Adventurous investors for a community icon

There is a rumor that the Cove Bowling Lanes is the inspiration for the bowling alley that was a central setting in the Coen Brothers’ 1998 cult classic film “The Big Lebowski” starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi.
Viewpoints

A matter of philanthropy – or vanity

Kids’ welfare ought to be our first, second, third and fourth philanthropic priorities and when the kids are all set with food, shelter, loving adults and good schools, then we may turn our attention to the adults, and then to the animals.
Learning

Monument Mountain ninth-graders meet the pros on first Career Day

The morning served as a kick-off to the district’s initiatives to deepen connections between the district and the community, and help even the school’s youngest students start to envision a future for themselves in the work world.
Life In the Berkshires

Opening the Weedgates, Part VII: Youth at risk

Four years ago, 70 percent of South Berkshire 12th-graders reported having used marijuana at least once, and 41 percent reported use within the past month. In 2019, those numbers are 52 percent and 36 percent respectively.
Viewpoints

Merit. Schmerit. College. Schmollege.

The worst part of the cheating scandal was not that the parents paid to cheat, but that they took pains to ensure their children didn’t know they’d won the golden ticket through devious means.
Life In the Berkshires

Interview with Chris Tucci of Railroad Street Youth Project, panelist at ‘Weed Is Here, Now What?’ forum

"Recreational cannabis means that we are talking about cannabis. That’s a good thing. Young people are asking unsolicited questions, neighbors are talking to each other. ... We developed norms ... We’re starting to talk about what does safe use look like for adults? What is the norm?" --Chris Tucci, Railroad Street Youth Project deputy director
Life In the Berkshires

Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington speaks out on criminal justice reform, marijuana legalization

"As a parent, and someone who’s worked with young people who are at risk, I’m very concerned with how we protect young people from marijuana. We know that marijuana is devastating for developing brains. If your kids get drunk before school, you’re going to notice. But if they’re smoking marijuana, it’s a lot harder to tell." --Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington
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