Lanesborough Opts Out of Early Voting By Mail

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will not be able to cast ballots early by mail but can they can still request an absentee ballot for the town election.

Last week, Clerk Ruth Knysh asked the Select Board to opt out of early voting by mail for municipal elections. Her request came after the state expanded access last year.

"An act passed to allow early voting by mail for local elections. It used to be just state and federal," she said. "So my thought on that is it's not in my budget, it's a lot of extra work added on me. I'm only one person in there."

Knysh explained that all of the mail-in ballots would have to be opened and processed by herself before being checked against signatures in the state computer.

"It's a process and the local elections are not well participated in," she said. "I'm just worried that if that is an option to vote by mail, we're going to get hundreds of people that don't typically vote wanting to vote by mail because they can."

The Select Board accepted the request, understanding the nature of Knysh's concern. The board also approved her request to have a police officer at the polling location for every election to "preserve order and protect the election officers." This also is now required by the state.

So far, incumbent Michael Murphy is being challenged by Barbara Davis-Hassan and Deborah Maynard for a three-year seat on the Select Board. 

Third No Kings Rally Adds War in Iran to List of Grievances

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
06:24PM / Saturday, March 28, 2026

 

State Sen. Paul Mark was at four rallies on Saturday. He and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, both seen here in Pittsfield, said what they heard today will inspire them on Beacon Hill. . 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Even the frigid wind couldn't silence the voices of thousands of protestors across the county.  

 

In Pittsfield, more than 1,000 people were at the Common, wearing custom T-shirts, and costumes ranging from the Statue of Liberty to inflatable animals, or just holding signs condemning the President Donald Trump and his administration. 

 

This third "No Kings" rally, following on the protests last June and October, saw hundreds of thousands of Americans and others across the world take to the streets and the parks to oppose a growing list of actions made by the administration. 

 

This time, signs protesting the war against Iran joined others focusing on constitutional rights like voting and free speech, democracy, and protecting marginalized groups.

 

Activists, musicians, and some public officials attended the protest, including state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier in Pittsfield; state Rep. John Barrett III was in North Adams. None of the legislators spoke at the rallies. 

 

Farley-Bouvier said the people of Pittsfield were at the rally in resistance and joy — standing up together to say, "enough is enough."

 

Some days the role of a state representative is hard and days like this inspire and rejuvenate the drive to go back out there and fight another day, she said.