Issue: May 2017
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Bennington — Transforming a downtown
By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer BENNINGTON, Vt. The historic Putnam Hotel building anchors a redevelopment project that covers nearly a full square block in downtown Bennington. George Bouret photo Over the next four years, local civic leaders say a cluster of vacant or underused properties in downtown Bennington will be transformed into a thriving urban… read more
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Exploring the ukulele’s deeper side
Former journalist turns to song, recording and touring By JOHN SEVENContributing writer NORTH ADAMS, Mass. North Adams singer-songwriter Francesca Shanks will hit the road this month for performances across the Northeast and Midwest with Joe Aidonidis, her one-man backup band.George Bouret photo As the ukulele has become a popular performance instrument, it’s also contended… read more
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Phasing out the plastic shopping bag?
Pittsfield pursues ban, following lead of five Berkshires towns By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer PITTSFIELD, Mass. Anna Masiero, left, and Micayla Levesque bag groceries at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, whose Pittsfield store has already stopped offering single-use plastic shopping bags to customers. Susan Sabino photo The days of supermarkets packing groceries into single-use plastic shopping bags… read more
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Keeping the spirits local
Washington County distillery relies on area corn and grains By STACEY MORRISContributing writer FORT ANN, N.Y. Tom McDougall, left, the general manager of Lake George Distilling Co., and owners Robin and John McDougall show off some of their products at the distillery’s headquarters in Fort Ann. Joan K. Lentini photo John McDougall was propelled… read more
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In verse, Phillp B. Williams takes on tough themes
Debut poetry volume draws award for Bennington visiting professor By KATE ABBOTTContributing writer BENNINGTON, Vt. The writer Phillip B. Williams, who is teaching at Bennington College this year, won a Whiting Award this spring for his first volume of poetry. Bound, it begins.Wasn’t night what lingered where sweat leftsalt, where breath touch-expired?“Bound” is the… read more
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Plan for a downtown gets the big stuff right
We have learned over the past few decades in our region that there are many ways to wreck a downtown. We’ve also learned, with good reason, to fear ambitious redevelopment schemes concocted in the name of saving struggling downtowns – plans that too often have done more harm than good. So it’s worth taking a… read more
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More Syrian refugees now expected in Rutland
At least seven more families fleeing the Syrian civil war are now expected to resettle in Rutland later this year, despite the Trump administration’s efforts to halt the flow of new Syrian refugees to the United States. Rutland’s former mayor, Christopher Louras, volunteered the city more than a year ago as the new home for… read more