Issue: February-March 2016
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A nursing home revolution
By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer COHOES, N.Y. Administrator James Farnan shares a laugh with one of the residents of Eddy Village Green, a facility built a decade ago to replace an older nursing home in Cohoes. The complex is the first in the region designed to meet the standards of the Green House movement, a read more
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Riding to the rescue — Chatham farm helps horses
Chatham farm gives sanctuary to equines saved from slaughter By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer CHATHAM, N.Y. The mule Emma, one of the animals rescued by Equine Advocates, stands with the group’s founder and president, Susan Wagner. The group currently cares for 81 animals at its sanctuary in Chatham. Susan Sabino photo The four-legged residents of read more
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In Vt. schools, a merger mandate rankles
Critics say choice, local control at risk in push to cut costs By C.B. HALLContributing writer ARLINGTON, Vt. To comply with the requirements of Act 46, Vermont’s new school-district consolidation law, the Arlington district has been discussing such options as a merger with three similar districts — Poultney, Proctor and West Rutland — that read more
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Village in crisis over tainted water
In Hoosick Falls, contamination finding prompts fear, anger By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. For more than a year, some local citizens had been warning about the presence of a toxic chemical they’d found in samples collected from the Hoosick Falls water system, but state and local officials insisted the water was safe. Then read more
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Caffe Lena — Updating a folk-music landmark
Deal with developer sets stage for changes at historic Caffe Lena By THOMAS DIMOPOULOSContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. The narrow, steep staircase from Phila Street has been the main entrance to Caffe Lena since it opened in 1960. A planned renovation would allow visitors to reach the coffeehouse by elevator.Thomas Dimopoulos photo A historic read more
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Through art, a conversation about race
Exhibit tackles issues raised by Black Lives Matter movement By JOHN SEVENContributing writer NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Donte K. Hayes’ “Def Star Pick” was inspired by controversy over the choice of a black actor to play a stormtrooper in the new “Star Wars” movie. Courtesy photo Black Lives Matter, perhaps the most successful activist movement read more
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Why some school districts might call Vermont’s bluff
Here’s one bit of advice for small towns in Vermont that are struggling to figure out how to comply with Act 46, the state’s new school-district consolidation law: Don’t do anything crazy. The new law, adopted last spring, provides incentives for smaller school districts to join forces and sets a goal of having each district read more
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Developers change course, will save old school
Responding to a public outcry, the developers who wanted to tear down a historic school building in Great Barrington, Mass., have agreed to save it. Vijay and Chrystal Mahida, who already own two motels in Great Barrington and several others around the Berkshires, now plan to renovate the former Searles Middle School as an 88-room read more