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. 

LitNet Opens Pittsfield Location, Seeks Tutors

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
08:17AM / Sunday, September 06, 2026

LitNet has been serving English language learners for 35 years.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For 35 years, the nonprofit Literacy Network has helped adult learners, particularly immigrants, build English and literacy skills, and its new Pittsfield location makes these services more accessible than ever.

 

Last week, Literacy Network, also referred to as LitNet, started expanding into its new space in Crawford Square, located at 37 North St.

 

While LitNet primarily serves Spanish-speaking adults, it also works with learners who speak Portuguese, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Eastern European languages such as Ukrainian and Russian.

 

The organization is maintaining its offices on Park Street in Lee. Executive Director Leigh Doherty said the added 1,500 square feet of space will allow the program to expand upon many of the things it has been doing for years.

 

The space will serve as a public tutoring hub in Central Berkshire, offering rooms for one-on-one tutoring, classes and workshops, and a welcoming area for learners to read and study. The larger, more visible location will also allow for expanded evening and weekend hours, making it easier for learners and tutors to connect and for community members to discover the program. 

 

Popular workshops include an English for business class, an advanced English book club, and an idioms and slang class to learn the nuances of English, Doherty said. "We listen to our learners."

 

The feedback the adult learners provide based on their need has helped shape the programs classes and services, she said.