Boston Magazine Honors Steven Valenti and Barrington Stage

12:00AM / Thursday, August 04, 2005Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Boston Magazine has recognized a longtime business staple in the city of Pittsfield, along with the city's Tony Award-winning playhouse in its annual "Best of Boston" list.

For the first time, the magazine devoted a section of the list to the Berkshires and gave a nod to Steven Valenti Clothing for Men in downtown Pittsfield as the region's best men's clothing store.

The magazine raves, "So many stores have forsaken good, old-fashioned service for the ubiquitous bottom line. But integrity still means something at this North Street shop."

In addition, Boston Magazine lauded Barrington Stage Company, which will soon call Pittsfield's Berkshire Music Hall its permanent home. The magazine rated BSC as the region's best alternative theater, saying: "Once in a blue moon, a regional theater becomes a Broadway darling. That time is now for the Barrington Stage Company, whose '25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' scored not one but two Tony Awards this year, including best actor for the company's own Dan Fogler."

Pittsfield Mayor James M. Ruberto congratulated Valenti and the Barrington Stage for the recognition in the "Best of Boston 2005" in the August issue of Boston Magazine.

"It's fantastic to see attention being paid to some of the people who are making Pittsfield a great place to live and work," said Ruberto. "It's just another sign that the rest of the world is beginning to see all that this city has to offer."

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Scenic Vistas, Open Spaces Central to Berkshire's Rural Character

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
05:19AM / Thursday, August 27, 2026

This is the first of a two-part series looking at types of land trusts, their missions and their place within the Berkshires.

Land is an essential resource for life. We all spend the vast majority of our lives directly connected to the land or in structures built on it. Land is also a central core of the global ecosystem that makes the earth sustainable for all lifeforms.

The landscape has special significance in the Berkshires. It is a central element in the region's scenic rural character and quality of life, as well an economic resource that is a basis of tourism.

Access to land, and control of its use, is largely based on ownership. This system enables people to own homes, build businesses, establish communities, and pursue other goals and activities.

However, the private use and control of land can also be a source of contention and conflict — from debates about development at local planning boards to international wars over territory.

Traditionally, local and regional planning policies and regulations such as zoning have been used to balance the concepts of private ownership with shared public goals and needs. In addition government ownership provides land for schools, roads, infrastructure, parks and nature preserves, and other public purposes.

In recent decades another form of land ownership and control has gained increasing visibility and prominence. This concept is often known as land trusts.

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