NORTH ADAMS — To read about it in major outlets like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, what happened this weekend in North Adams was a pretty major event.I'm speaking of the opening of Building 6 at Mass MoCA, of course, but the … more

HATFIELD — President Donald Trump's budget for fiscal year 2018 proclaims to be a "blueprint to make America great again." On the contrary, it does the opposite. It strips away much of what has made America great since its founding.It erodes … more

RICHMOND — People perpetually ask why newspapers and television just bring the bad news. Why not print or televise some good news, they want to know. Well, for one thing, news gatherers are basically in the business of telling you about things … more

PITTSFIELD — The health care bill known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA), replacing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), is now heading toward the United States Senate. As the Congressional Budget Office report released last Wednesday … more

WILLIAMSTOWN — Confessions of an inveterate litter picker: I cannot pass by a bottle, can, piece of plastic or worse without a twitch, which usually results in my picking it up.That is why the day after the Great Williamstown Litter Cleanup, … more

LENOX — The combination of Donald Trump's open contempt for the news media and his own unrestrained hostility, even on the world political stage directed at leaders of NATO nations, gave us yet another week of disturbing developments at home … more

New digs A reconfigured approach to Pittsfield Public Schools' alternative education programs is moving forward. The School Committee approved a one-year lease for about 2,000 square feet of space at 53 Eagle St. The $36,810 price tag includes daily … more

PITTSFIELD — As Memorial Day draws near, I'm feeling the power of this time of remembrance. Most days, the news comes at me thick and fast. It seems like every hour brings a new political development or foreign incident. As a result, I find … more

PITTSFIELD — The first sign of spring is an early dusk fly-by of a V-formation of Canadian geese dissecting the evening sky in a southward arc. Fast forward to the next morning and at the far end of the meadow I see multiple dark shapes … more

DALTON — As kids we all sang about Old MacDonald and his farm, but that ditty was more about making animal noises and less about the farmer's work. What did Farmer Mac grow and where did his sell his produce? Back in the beforetime, when I was … more