Tuesday, November 10, 2026

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JOHN BREASTED: The Great Barrington Selectboard’s credibility gap

Transparency does not require officials to reveal legal strategy. It does require them to tell voters when the town has been sued.

Legislative pay raise is unwarranted, unethical

In her letter to the editor, Rachel Branch writes: "No one ought to be legislating better pay and benefits for themselves while being part of the Legislature...an outrageous conflict of interest."

Jack Spencer, a devoted friend of Stockbridge Library

In her letter to the editor, Katherine O’Neil writes: “We will forever be indebted to him for sharing his commitment to and enthusiasm for learning, books, and history with us.  Jack Spencer represented the very best of us and will be sorely missed.” 

The Bill of Rights and Constitution of the United States

On this President’s Day, when our nation is in turmoil and its democracy may be in doubt, let us remind ourselves of – and celebrate -- our Constitution and its Bill of Rights, that guarantee our rights as free citizens, regardless of race, creed, country of origin, or gender, in a country guided by the rule of law and the will of its people, freely expressed.

COMMENTARY: Resisting the temptation to withdraw

Fake news has become a mantra from the man who employs the practice of inventing information. 

ORANGE ALERT: The (sometimes)daily outrage

"They — we'll be fine with the environment. We can leave a little bit, but you can't destroy businesses."

ORANGE ALERT: The (almost) daily outrage

A nuclear tidbit from the chaotic Trump press conference.

SOUL SUPPORT: The Strait Path

Sometimes the path appears to be straight, and easy. But that can change.

From crisis to opportunity for our students

In her letter to the editor, Sharon Gregory of Great Barrington writes: “Town officials and school committee members should open discussions with other towns in order to create an expanded regional high school district.”

ORANGE ALERT: The (almost) daily outrage

After the press conference, reporters followed Trump to the elevators in Trump Tower, and Trump told them: No, no one on his team had any contact with the Russians.

The Little Blue Engine and the Boy with the Lemon-Colored Hair

The boy only grinned and shouted back, “Backward goes faster than forward. Look how fast I’m going already!”

From bogeys to tweets: A rogues’ gallery of Trump’s team

Trump's team defended its use of the Jewish star, claiming that the star was... a "sheriff's badge." The alt-right got the message, and anti-Semites chuckled.

Reforming public education funding would benefit school districts statewide

In his letter to the editor, Chip Elitzer writes: “For all 58 Massachusetts school districts, that additional amount in FY2017 [that would have been raised by the Education Finance Reform Act] would have been $210 million.”

LEONARD QUART: An abnormal spring day

Every day another egregious or horrific decision is made under Trump’s aegis, and it rests heavily on the collective psyche of people.

Trees hold the key to repairing the world

As climate change threatens the delicate balance of our eco-system, we are reminded daily of the profound interaction between our personal behavior and the environment.

ORANGE ALERT: The (almost) daily outrage

Julius Evola eventually broke with Mussolini and the Italian Fascists because he considered them overly tame and corrupted by compromise. Instead he preferred the Nazi SS officers…

SOUL SUPPORT: Notice this giant obstacle

How can we notice the very small steps we can take?…One at a time, they add up…