The natural beauty of the Berkshires landscape is the pride of our fair county. What do we do when a precious part of that ecological sublimity is systematically threatened?
The view from the top of Monument Mountain offers an unparalleled perspective. In the shadow of this towering South County peak lies a landscape whose history is rich and long — and complicated.
Despite a rocky rollout, Massachusetts’ COVID vaccination campaign appears to be on the right track. By the end of the week, the Bay State will likely pass the significant mile marker of 2 million fully vaccinated residents. The commonwealth is also the first state with a population of at le…
“Be with us, for we have lost a son, a father, a friend and a partner.”
From the warmth and longer days of spring, optimism is blooming. Millions of vaccines going into Americans’ arms every day to advance the fight on the novel coronavirus doesn’t hurt, either.
While the scourge of COVID-19 has brought us low, it is possible for Massachusetts to emerge from crisis stronger than it was before — but it won’t happen on its own. To proactively build back better, we must acknowledge the inequities exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic, and boldly move…
Late last year, Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a landmark reform bill that will hopefully bring more accountability and oversight to policing in Massachusetts. At the center of this legislation is the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, and one of its members is poised to br…
When COVID turned the world upside down last year, municipal governance didn’t stop, but it did have to adapt. That adaptation could be key to making local democracy more accessible — even after we hopefully leave this pandemic in the rearview mirror.
On Friday afternoon, violence again shook the U.S. Capitol when a motorist rammed his car into a manned barricade, hitting two police officers. One of those officers, a man who spent 18 years guarding our most sacred democratic institutions, gave his life.
The COVID gauntlet has been a brutal one— particularly for local economies like those in the Berkshires that rely on the tourism and cultural sectors.
Quickly mass-producing and widely distributing a vaccine that’s effective against a novel viral pandemic is a herculean task that, fortunately, the U.S. has largely accomplished. While we’ve overcome many of the practical hurdles, we still face an intangible obstacle that continues to trip u…
There are many ways to measure the impact on our lives of the COVID-19 virus over the past year. We begin, of course, with the nearly 17,000 deaths in Massachusetts caused by the virus.
Coronavirus
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Amid COVID’s dark clouds, one silver lining for the Berkshires has been the early signs of much-needed growth for the region. The Eagle editorial board has suggested steps local and regional leaders should take to make the most of this trend. But Berkshire communities must also take care to …
Compromise and ambitious goals, it turns out, are not always mutually exclusive.
It’s an issue that’s bound to come up more frequently in the near future: As fifth-generation (known as 5G) cellular technology networks go up across America, many people will be unhappy with skyscraping cell towers also going up in their neighborhoods.
Everyone wants to get out from under COVID, and it can’t happen soon enough. The way back to normal is through vaccinations — that is, not only manufacturing and distributing doses but making sure they get into Americans’ arms.
Given the grave toll of the COVID-19 pandemic — more than half a million Americans dead and counting plus millions more suffering from sickness and economic anxiety — we can’t afford not to learn from it.
Late last year, The Eagle editorial board wrote that the departure of an embattled former Williamstown police chief would hopefully give the town an opportunity to restore trust and transparency at a department lacking in both.
As national vaccine production ramps up, Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has unveiled the state’s full COVID-19 vaccination eligibility timeline. All Massachusetts adults are set to become eligible for a coronavirus immunization by April 19.
For many, a return to a “normal” summer in the Berkshires can’t be complete without the singular experience of enjoying a concert at Tanglewood. It’s a treasure we had to sacrifice last year amid the coronavirus crisis — but now there is hope that we might enjoy it once again soon enough.
In the final round of this grueling fight against an invisible opponent, we are all desperately waiting for the bell to ring. But on Saturday afternoon, those at the Berkshire Community College COVID-19 vaccine clinic heard something else.
To find the idea that will transform a massive property like the Berkshire Mall, it takes a village — or, in this case, a county.
Editorial Cartoons
Letters to the Editor
To the editor: It was an emotional and solemn event this past Saturday in North Adams to salute police officers killed by felonious means while in the line of duty.
To the editor: This past two months, a group of parishioners from the First Congregational Church North Adams has been reading and meeting to discuss Carol Anderson’s "White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide." It is an intensely powerful exploration of the multiple, self-consciou…
To the editor: Is there any other Pittsfield resident who has concerns over the chicken rules, regulations and guidelines in the city being followed?
To the editor: In response to a second letter deflecting Republican responsibility for the insurrection and the claim "the democrats/left media fabricated an intentionally inflammatory narrative" ("Letter: I believe the left is lying about Jan. 6," Eagle, April 15) may I remind the writer th…
To the editor: I write this opinion in response to the other opinions I have read in this section recently.
Columnists
I was driving around the other day when I realized that the license tabs on my car had expired.
As we celebrate our second National Volunteer Week since the start of the pandemic, we want to reflect upon the amazing efforts of all of the Massachusetts residents who have stepped up to support their neighbors during these long and difficult months.
I don’t care how you pronounce it, you can’t have a garden without that luscious, juicy fruit. I can skip the cabbage, the kohlrabi and the radishes. I can omit the onions, the garlic and the rutabaga. Give me a plot full of tomatoes and I will be in garden nirvana.
WILLIAMSTOWN — It’s oddly reassuring to find evidence that humans aren’t alone in suffering the effects of cabin fever.
Local Events
The Berkshire Eagle's annual business feature puts a spotlight on downtown renaissances in Berkshire County.
A tribute to those we have lost, December 2020 - February 2021
The Eagle's guide to living with our furry and feathered friends
Look into the future of education in the Berkshires and Southern Vermont.
Prepare for the long-term with The Berkshire Eagle’s annual guide to financial readiness and life planning.
A tribute to those we have lost, September-November 2020.
Holiday gift ideas from your favorite local retailers.
The best of the best of Berkshire County, chosen by Berkshire Eagle readers.
