Scandals may influence U.S. Senate race
Sometimes important national events overtake more parochial affairs in state elections, and this may be happening in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate special election. The race between Democratic Cong. Edward Markey…
Hormones calling
I almost went berserk at the FedEx office today while carrying a human-sized box. The lady smirked and told me the button to open the door is right in front…
Wine events mark start of summer
Wine activity in Berkshire County is gearing up for the summer season, when cold weather and snow are not deterrents. The county thrives on tourism, which creates a padded market…
Pulitzer Prize-winning novel forms complex view of titular character
Advertised as a book of short stories – 13 of them – Olive Kitteridge is actually separate chapters of a narrative in which each character comes at the reader with…
‘Frances Ha’ reflects 20-something life with distinctive style
Those attending the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) had the opportunity to see Frances Ha, a compelling new film currently in limited release in the United States. Frances Ha is…
Does Don Quixote drink La Mancha’s Zagarron wines?
At one time when La Mancha was mentioned, I had visions of windmills, Don Quixote and everlasting sunlight. After a recent tasting of newly-arrived wines from Bodegas Zagarron, a postwar…
Welfare for the dead
Some unusual fireworks erupted at the State House last week that are guaranteed to keep popping this week and beyond. State Auditor Suzanne Bump said her office discovered 1,164 cases…
Williams College student publishes book on golf experiences
I wasn’t sure what drew me to attend a book signing/question and answer session at The Bookstore in Lenox on May 25, but I was there. It was raining, so…
‘Half the Sky’ is remarkable tale
A lovely old Chinese proverb opens this book: “Women hold up half the sky.” It represents the faith and hope with which the authors write this remarkable book. Everyone should…
Farmers markets and tag sales, yay
[media-credit id=3 align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]New Englanders are hardy people. I love the way no one around here “spazzes out” about the weather. Even in the middle of winter blizzards, New Englanders…