Bidwell House Museum to Host Guided Hike Aug. 27

MONTEREY, Mass. — On Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 a.m., Bidwell House Board member Rob Hoogs will take guests on a guided walk to explore the Bidwell grounds, including stone walls, old roads and the original Meeting House site.

The terrain can be uneven so wear proper shoes, and bring water and a snack. If the walk has to be postponed or canceled due to weather, the Museum will let guests know 24 to 48 hours in advance.

The walk is limited to 20 people and pre-registration on the Museum website is required, https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/a-historic-hike-at-the-bidwell-house-museum/.

If you would like to book a tour of the Museum after the walk, please contact the Museum at bidwellhm2@gmail.com

The Bidwell House Museum grounds—196 acres of woods, fields, historic stonewalls, self-guided trails and picnic sites—are open every day, dawn until dusk, free of charge. The house is open for guided tours from Memorial Day to October by appointment only.

The program of events can be found on the museum's website: www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.

Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

 

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 

 

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

 

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

 

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

 

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

 

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.