Around Town

By Olga May Milligan12:00AM / Thursday, November 11, 2004Print Story | Email Story

Back in the swing of things GREAT BARRINGTON â€” For quite some time I could not walk around town, due to the fact that I broke my ankle when I slipped over the garden hose and fell down concrete steps. Anyhow, now, after learning to be more careful and to appreciate the wonderful gift of being able to walk again, Iâ€™m delighted to once again continue writing my column for The Advocate. It seems many changes have gone on in Great Barrington during the past summer â€” many for the better, and many not so good. When I broke my ankle in July, I discovered, much to my dismay, that I needed to go to Pittsfield to have surgery, due to the fact there was no surgeon at Fairview at that time. That brought me much stress and strain. However, now I am pleased to announce that for anyone needing orthopedic care immediately, Fairview Hospital is now in the position to offer it. This is a much-needed service for our community and all the surrounding towns. Fairview invested over $500,000 transforming the upper floor of the Doctorâ€™s Building space into six modern exam rooms, a cast room, a new x-ray suite, as well as ample office space and waiting area. Board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Kevin Mitts, Dr. Pier Boutin and Dr. Anthony DeFelice will provide a full spectrum of inpatient and out-patient orthopedic services and coverage for Fairview. That is great news, as it means South County patients do not need to travel to Pittsfield for routine or emergency orthopedic services, including surgery. Great Barrington is delighted to welcome the doctors. Now, after these great surgeons fix us up, we can go Fairview Hospitalâ€™s Physical Therapy Department on the third floor of the hospital, and they will help us put the finishing touches to our recovery! â€¦One person in town who deserves great admiration is Jane Iredale. Jane came to this country from England and began a cosmetic business in her kitchen in Austerlitz, N.Y. However, her cosmetics not only make one look great but also are actually good for the skin, as they contain pure minerals. Janeâ€™s mineral cosmetic business has grown into one of the most outstanding in the world. She was one of the first to introduce a mineral cosmetic much needed by plastic surgeons, dermatologists and domestic and international skin-care experts. Many of her clients include the rich and famous, movie stars and the not-so-rich of famous. The treatment is within the reach of anyone needing a pure mineral cosmetic, not only to protect their skin but also to make them look great! In the year 2000, it was a great day when Jane moved to Great Barrington and purchased a run-down historic, huge house on Church Street. She transformed it into elegant headquarters for her cosmetic company. Church Street has become a showplace, with another building Jane purchased, and she has turned it into a charming house for her relatives. It makes one feel as if they are walking down an English country lane, passing an English cottage garden. One feel one can even smell the fragrance of lavender and roses. Now Jane has purchased yet another building, from the Cavanaugh Plumbing Co. on River Street. She plans to use it as a warehouse for her growing cosmetic company. Due to Jane, Great Barrington is richer by $715,000 in property taxes. She also employs as many as 40 people. Great Barrington could use more great business people such as Jane Iredale, who has turned one of our shabby streets into one of the most attractive in town. She has always been most generous to our many civic groups by inviting them to tour her charming house and business. â€¦For many years, the Great Barrington Garden Club planted lovely flowers under the trees on Main Street. This year, everyone missed the usual display. Apparently, the Great Barrington Garden Club (of which I was a former president) decided not to plant the flowers. I can understand why. Much effort the Garden Club members went to year after year, doing the plantings only to have the attractive displays spoilt by people throwing garbage in them. One must question why Great Barrington doesnâ€™t fine those who litter our streets. That certainly could bring in much needed revenue â€” especially during the summer months, when Iâ€™ve noticed many teenagers smoking and throwing their cigarette butts on the ground. Again, no one takes responsibility. Storeowners could help by picking up in front of their stores. Perhaps this is a thing of the past, when before a storekeeper opened his store, he first swept in front of it. This I should think would help keep our Main Street looking attractive. Most store owners do clean up in front of their stores, and they deserve a big thank you! And Iâ€™m sure that no sooner than they are clean, they are messed up again! â€¦A most important subject now is the re-use of the old school buildings. Searles Middle School was built and given to the town by Edward Frances Searles. This wonderful building was designed by his friend, architect Henry Vaughan of Boston, and completed in 1898. Mr. Searles gave the town $70,000 to build the school, and the town gave $30,000. Imagine trying to build this magnificent Queen Ann/Georgian Revival design for $100,000 today. In 1929, Searles School received major alterations, and in 1937, the addition to the building was built. One trusts whoever buys the building will appreciate not only the great value of it but also the wonderful story of the generous donor Edward F. Searles. The William Cullan Bryant School was built in 1888 and named after the famous American poet. Bryant served as the town clerk and justice of the peace for the town. Most of the stone to build the school came from the local Berkshire Heights. The Bryant Elementary School is the oldest school in Great Barrington and has been in use for 115 years. And the building still looks magnificent, with its Roman arch doorway and wonderful stone structure. Now the time has come to decide what to do with these wonderful old historic buildings. A while ago, a Re-use Task Force Committee was formed under the capable chairmanship of Tony Blair. This committee has worked hard over many months, and it wants the citizens of Great Barrington to be included in the important final decision-making. Expressing â€œtheir own personal inputâ€ for the best way to benefit the town in the re-use of these wonderful, old historic buildings. Posters designed by Tony Blair will be posted over town asking â€œWhat Do You Think? Wanted: Community Input. What should be done with the Searles and Bryant Schools?â€ The public is asked to attend a â€œvisioning sessionâ€ on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the Searles gymnasium on Bridge Street. It is hoped there will be a huge public turnout, so every citizen can have his or her voice heard. These two schools have great sentimental and historic value. It is important we choose the best possible way to preserve them. â€¦There is a bronze memorial plate sitting on the southeast lawn of Searles High School that should not be forgotten. When I look at it, I remember a lovely lady, Joan S. (Cook) Raifstanger, 1934-1983. Joan was a â€œbeloved teacherâ€ in the Great Barrington schools for 21 years. She was married to Donald Raifstanger and they had two sons. For many years, I sat next to Joan in the choir loft in St. James Church. The two of us sang in the soprano section, and I grew so fond of her as we shared singing together. My heart was saddened at her early death at only 49 years of age. However, her memory will always live on with this lovely memorial plate, left for all to remember her. â€¦Our bridges in town need attention, especially the one on Bridge Street. It is a disgusting mess â€” rusty and covered with graffiti. Our other bridge leaving Main Street shakes quite a lot. Many times while waiting at the traffic light, Iâ€™ve experienced my car shaking. I often wonder, is this normal? Is the bridge safe? â€¦A lovely note to end on as I walk slowly away from Joanâ€™s memorial this lovely late Autumn day: I, along with everyone in Great Barrington, and in all the surrounding towns always feel each year that this must be our most beautiful fall! And isnâ€™t it true? Only nature provides that magical touch that turns each new autumn into the loveliest one we always feel we have ever seen!

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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

02:13PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."

The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School.

The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday.

The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season.

The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations.

"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.

"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."

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