“The retreat brings people together, builds community in the forest, gets participants outside and off their screens, and uses nature sustainably to heal and inspire minds and souls,” stated Great Mountain Forest Executive Director Michael Zafros. Retreat registration closes on July 30.
Selectboard Chairman Sean Stanton wondered if the town should vote down the school budget, as a “statement,” to “stoke the fire a bit,” because education “feels a little bit inequitable in the way it’s funded.”
“This young man here [Fire Chief Charlie Burger] works 90 hours a week. We’re burning him out. I asked for it for years. It’s very much needed.”
-- Former Fire Chief Harry Jennings
Depending on what happens this week with the school budget, to be voted on this Thursday (March 3), the property tax rate could go up from the current rate of $14.29 per thousand to $15.15, a 6 percent hike.
In order to avoid too big an increase to taxpayers, the school committee has to cut between $400,000 to $600,000 this year. Still, Great Barrington will see an almost 7 percent increase, Stockbridge will see a 9 percent increase, and West Stockbridge, a 3 percent increase.
In her letter to the editor, Suzie Fowle writes: "The Town of Great Barrington just set a dangerous precedent: If a developer starts with an unreasonable, untenable proposal, he or she will be rewarded for scaling it back."
“The applicant has taken it all very much to heart and wants to do...what is right for the community…we all have the potential to get something good for Great Barrington.”
--- Sean Stanton, chairman of the Great Barrington Selectboard
Economic development promised by both the 100 Bridge and hotel projects on Bridge Street helped the town get a $2.1 million state grant to work on roads and utilities along this emerging commercial corridor.
The hotel was designed by the same people who designed the adjacent former Bryant School, turning it into Iredale Mineral Cosmetics’ modern world headquarters while sensitively preserving the former school’s charms.
Eagleton School is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) and Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). In early January, Great Barrington police began an investigation into allegations of physical and emotional abuse of students.
"It's a sad day for the Berkshires. I would say without hesitation that Ben Downing has been the best state senator the Berkshires has ever seen."
--- State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli (D-Lenox), commenting on Sen. Ben Downing's decision not to seek election.
In her letter to the editor, Maia Conty of Great Barrington writes: "Building an economic infrastructure dependent on imported wealth does not actually create a secure and sustainable local economy. It creates a servant/nobility-based economy."
“If they’re waiting for someone to lose their child it’s unconscionable. Whatever their formula is should not involve a dead body.”
--- Ben Hillman, whose daughter was involved in an accident where the Monument Mountain Regional High School driveway exits onto U.S. Route 7
“We are delighted. We feel good about the town. Vijay [Mahida] cares enough that he stepped up in a big way. They’re doing something very brave.”
-- Save Searles School founder Bobby Houston
In a joint letter to the editor four concernedGreat Barrington residents write: "If they are truly listening, then surely they are getting the message: Tearing down Searles to put in a new oversized 95 room hotel while pretending to “preserve” the historic site is not acceptable."
“I am very confident that we will be able to stand here sometime in the future, and find that Castle Street has been transformed by this restoration.”
-- 20 Castle St. LLC principal Thomas Borshoff, upon acquiring the firehouse in 2014
