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Author Edith Wharton would have been 150 years old this year.

The Mount Celebrating Wharton's Sesquicentennial

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LENOX, Mass. — The Mount will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Edith Wharton, the Pulitzer Prize winning author who designed the gracious estate, on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 3:30 to 7.

Throughout 2012, The Mount and other cultural institutions will be celebrating Wharton's birthday by hosting events highlighting her significant influence on contemporary culture, literature, entertainment, and design.

Birthday Celebration, Jan 28
4:00    Birthday toast
4:15   Screening of Wharton's 'The Old Maid' (95 mins)
6:00   Cake and refreshments
6:15   Reading from Wharton's memoir, 'A Backward Glance'
Events are free and open to the public but seating is limited. RSVP at 413-551-5100 or rsvp@edithwharton.org
Both a historic site and a cultural destination inspired by the passions and achievements of Wharton, she designed and built it in 1902. The house embodies the principles outlined in her influential book "The Decoration of Houses," published in 1897. The property includes three acres of formal gardens designed by Wharton, who was also an authority on European landscape design, surrounded by extensive woodlands. 

During the 10 years Wharton called The Mount her home, she went from being a sickly, depressed, unpublished young woman to being one of the most read and highest paid authors of her time. While at The Mount, Wharton wrote both "Ethan Frome" (set in fictitious Starkfield, Mass.) and "The House of Mirth." Most of her novels chronicled old New York society, including "The Age of Innocence," for which she became the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize.

Programming at The Mount reflects Wharton's core interests in the literary arts, interior design and decoration, garden and landscape design, and the art of living. Annual exhibits explore themes from Wharton's life and work.

For additional information about both Edith Wharton and the Mount, including a calendar of events, visit EdithWharton.org.


Tags: sesquicentennial,   The Mount,   Wharton,   

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Lanesborough FinCom Chair Resigns After Warrant Approval

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — With a new fiscal year comes new leadership for the Finance Committee.

Chair Jodi-Lee Szczepaniak-Locke officially resigned on Monday and the panel decided that Vice Chair Stephen Wentworth would assume leadership for the time being.  

A few months ago, Szczepaniak-Locke announced that she would be vacating her post and the committee after the FY25 budget season. On Monday the committee endorsed draft warrant articles for the annual town meeting, its last responsibilities before the close of the fiscal year.

The former chair was brief in her departure, confirming her resignation and leaving, but has previously stated that the decision came from an attendance issue with a member not being resolved.  

"I believe in truth and honesty and a lot of you know me and you've known me for years and that's what I think is the most important thing," she said to the Select Board in February.

"So you all can have at this. I am done and I wish you all the best of luck but it's not worth it. It's not worth it to me to participate in this anymore."

Town Administrator Gina Dario clarified that the warrant articles are being finalized and it is possible that numbering could change.

"Certainly, we do not anticipate any changes of a financial impact and nor do we expect any new articles entering the current warrant," she said.

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