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During the 10 years Wharton called The Mount her home, she went from being a sickly, depressed, unpublished young woman to being one of the most read and highest paid authors of her time.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.
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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures.
Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).
All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;
All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and
All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County.
To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.
In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated.
"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season."
As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration.
The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:
Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing
Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live
Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents
Create year-round housing for artists
Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment
Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing
Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots
Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence
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Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Northumberland Road.
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The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. click for more
