Sunday, November 1, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

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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.

Lulu ‘n’ Hershey

The staff at Cafe Perspectivo -- Lulu and Hershey's creative coffeehouse -- has invented startling new ways of perceiving the world with sound... you could call it a blue-tooth glass armonica. Ben Franklin would have loved this!

Searles School: Why not residential?

Community comes from residents, not tourists. Tourists come here because of our vibrant community.

EDGEWISE: Arts activism can change the world

It was no accident that the realization of equality for gay Americans was preceded by a good decade of arts activism.

Lulu ‘n’ Hershey

Have there been any duets written for piano and glass armonica? If you know of one, please send to Lulu and Jessa, care of the Berkshire Edge.

Hotel at Searles School will benefit Great Barrington 

In his letter to the editor, Dick Solar writes: "As a 40-year resident of Great Barrington, I think about development and change long and hard, and this is an opportunity to improve the town."

Lulu ‘n’ Hershey

Back at the Cafe Perspectivo, Jessa the barista has developed an obsession with obscure musical instruments.

Searles School hotel plan violates intent of town bylaw

In his letter to the editor, Stephen McAlister writes: "What’s at stake here is the integrity of a New England town meeting, the most direct form of democracy on the planet."

Follow the Yellow Brick Road…but stay away from Main Street

In his letter to the editor, Carl Stewart of Alford writes: "There is a specific statute that deals with the liability of towns for damage caused by improperly maintained roads; it is MGL, chapter 84, section 15. (MGL is the General Laws of Massachusetts.)"

Lulu ‘n’ Hershey

Oh NO!! Lulu and Hershey have come up with the scariest Hallowe'en creation ever! Even Bram Stoker, even Mary Shelley would shiver before this hobgoblin.

Sharing services: Reinventing the Berkshires for the future

It's time to reinvent ourselves and think about a Berkshires for the next generation. We need to envision a Berkshires for the generation yet to be born.

EDGEWISE: Singing the GB hotel blues

The silver lining of this autumn of our discontent is that the streets and proverbial water coolers of Great Barrington are suddenly buzzing with neighbors newly engaged with the civic life of our town.

Lulu ‘n’ Hershey

Lulu and Hershey are cooking up something special for Halloween -- what could they be carving with that huge pumpkin?

The Berkshire Hotel would redeem a Bridge Street eyesore  

In his letter to the editor, Andy Moro of Housatonic writes: “The naysayers can't stand someone living the American dream proposing to develop an eyesore into something that will benefit the town.”

Swap out Great Barrington’s new cobra-headed Main Street lights

In his letter to the editor, Chip Elitzer of Great Barrington writes, of the Main Street reconstruction project: “The new, overpowering array of tall, cobra-headed street lights is not mandated by the DOT, nor is the intensity of the illumination."

Hotel proposal would bring needed jobs, tax revenues

In his letter to the editor, Patrick Fennell writes: “It is time to end this nightmare and embrace a positive change and a chance to upgrade Bridge Street and give the community a positive shot in the arm.”