Monday, September 28, 2026

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Barbato Disposal & Excavating—built on hard work and ingenuity

Mark and Carmen Jr. Barbato are carrying on the family business built by their dad, who is still a hands-on participant.

BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES: BerkShares Business of the Month is the Berkshire Mountain Inn in Great Barrington

I spoke with Berkshire Mountain Inn co-owner Reilly DeBow about the 260-year-old building's history, her and her husband Currie's plans for the inn, and their embrace of BerkShares.

TECH & INNOVATION: Stability and feedback

Feedback is necessary for systems to keep working. Otherwise they become unstable. As the world around us changes more rapidly, the ability to receive an error signal, respond, and adapt may be more important than ever.

CAPITAL IDEAS: Are your bonds safe after the Fed hikes interest rates?

Just because the Fed raised rates doesn't mean you should rush to sell all your bonds.

BUSINESS BRIEFS September 28, 2026: Business news in the Berkshires and beyond

Business news from MCLA, The Clark, Berkshire Film and Media, Willams College Museum of Art, Mill Town Foundation, and more

MICKEY FRIEDMAN: AI — Align or kill

Given the wide disparity of our experience, and our principles, choosing the ethical and moral guideposts for AI agents might be as complicated as setting human public policy.

PREVIEW: Viano Quartet brings Haydn, Janáček, Dvořák, and Mendelssohn to South Mountain Sunday, Oct. 4

A wide-ranging program gives the Viano Quartet room to move between Classical precision, Romantic lyricism, and the emotional intensity of the 20th century.

STEPHEN COHEN: Our oxen are being gored

All of us can do something particularly significant to help alleviate many of the ills that concern us. It won't take much time, and it will help with everything from climate change to stopping wars around the world to ending domestic problems in our nation.

Pedestrian struck in crosswalk on Main Street in Great Barrington – Story updated

This is at least the third incident this year in town involving a pedestrian hit by a driver.

EPA’s Sept. 22 office hours in Lee reveal GE truck travel violations, updates on status of UDF, Housatonic Rest of River vernal pool study, dust curtailment

The measure offered residents the opportunity to connect, ask questions, and voice concerns relevant to the 13- to 15-year remediation plan.

Pretty Smart Burlesque to return to the Buttonball Barn, Wednesday, Sept. 30

The Berkshire Edge spoke with Ms. Pretty Smart herself, Olivia Sblendorio, about The Barn, burlesque, and breaking barriers.

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Joan Sawyer Wood, 94, of Sheffield

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, starting at 10 a.m., followed immediately by a service at 11 a.m. at Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington.

Douglas William Bairstow, 82, of Lenox

A service celebrating the life of Douglas W. Bairstow will be held Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Dalton.

Roger L. LaBrecque, 93, formerly of New Marlborough

A graveside service with military honors was held at Our Lady of the Valley Cemetery.

Peter S. Daniels Jr., 61, of Stockbridge

A funeral service for Peter S. Daniels Jr. will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. at the Birches-Roy Funeral Home, with Fr. Peter Naranjo officiating. Burial will follow in Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Great Barrington.