LENOX – The Bookstore, which has been serving the reading pleasure of Lenox residents and visitors for nearly 40 years, has been expanded for the first time with the opening of a used book emporium next door.
The appropriately named Next Door BookStore fulfills a long-nurtured dream of Matthew Tannenbaum, who has owned The Bookstore on Housatonic Street since 1976, despite ads that quip “serving the community since last Tuesday.â€
He leased the new space in July after the Three Hills and a Cloud gift shop closed. Then he quickly began stocking new shelves with second-hand books, as well as new classical and jazz CDs.
“I’ve always needed more room, especially as the summer approaches,†Tannenbaum said, “and I’ve always had a desire to have second-hand books. Once before I had a second-hand book department in the basement here, but that was a long time ago.â€
He added, “People are always asking for second-hand books. It’s a way to complement the book store. One of the things the town cried out for was CD music, classical and jazz. Jeremy Yudkin, Tanglewood’s musicologist, advised us what to get.â€
Tannenbaum said the used book supply is growing daily/
“Customers bring them to me. I’m buying books, accepting donations and trading for credit, all by appointment only,†he said. “The focus is on good books, which has always been the focus of this store. We are not ruling out any subjects, but we don’t want textbooks or magazines.â€
As for whether the store has felt the competition from large bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble, and from transactions on the Internet, Tannenbaum said, “They take away business, but The Bookstore runs at full capacity all the time. Customers who may fall off the wagon and go shopping online for quicker service or better prices ultimately don’t get as good prices or as good service as they get from me. We are not hurting for customers.â€
He added, “The bookstore is a destination for people from all over the country. Within the last few weeks, a customer drove from Nebraska to meet me because she had read about me in a book years ago.â€
Tannenbaum learned the book trade in New York City, where he worked at the famous Gotham Book Mart. He also was a book trade buyer and wholesaler before coming to the Berkshires.
“I have enjoyed selling books to several generations of full-time and part-time residents,†he said. “I’ve had a wonderful time being the bookseller in town with all the help I’ve gotten from the community, which has been very wonderful to me. When my wife got sick and when she died, the very close community helped me out very, very much.â€
Tannenbaum lives with his two daughters, Shawnee, 18, and Sophie, 14, in Housatonic. He settled there in 1985 after living for a few years in Lenox.
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Dalton Announces New Supplier for Energy Program
DALTON, Mass. – The Town of Dalton has signed a thirty-four month contract with a new supplier, First Point Power.
Beginning with the January 2026 meter reads, the Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new rate of $0.13042 per kWh. The Program will also continue to offer an optional 100 percent green product, which is derived from National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), at a rate of $0.13142 per kWh.
For Dalton residents and businesses who are enrolled in the Town's Program, the current rate of $0.13849 per kWh will expire with the January 2026 meter reads and the new rate of $0.13042 per kWh will take effect. This represents a decrease of $5 per month on the supply side of the bill given average usage of 600 kWh. Additionally, this new rate is 3 percent lower than Eversource's Residential Basic Service rate of $0.13493 per kWh. Residents can expect to see an
average savings of $3 per month for the month of January 2026. Eversource's Basic Service rates
will change on Feb. 1, 2026.
Dalton launched its electricity program in January 2015 in an effort to develop an energy program that would be stable and affordable. From inception through June 2025, the Program has saved residents and small businesses over $1.7 million in electricity costs as compared to Eversource Basic Service.
It is important to note that no action is required by current participants. This change will be seen on the February 2026 bills. All accounts currently enrolled in the Program will remain with their current product offering and see the new rate and First Point Power printed under the "Supplier Services" section of their monthly bill.
The Dalton Community Choice Power Supply Program has no fees or charges. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.
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