Triplex Special Screening 'A Book By Their Cover'

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Triplex Cinema announces a special screening of local filmmaker John Tedeschi's fictional narrative film "A Book By Their Cover," inspired by local events in Berkshire County, as well as  events around the country including book bans connected with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. 
 
The film was shot entirely in the Berkshires.
 
The film will screen on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a conversation with the director as well as members of the cast and crew. Tickets are available for purchase at the Triplex website, thetriplex.org.
 
According to a press release:
 
"A Book By Their Cover" tells the story of Samantha, a 12-year-old girl who discovers a book while staying at her grandparents' house. The book, a medical journal written in 1962, piques Samantha's curiosity about sexuality. After discussing it, Samantha's parents give her another book, "The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families," written in 2020 by Rachel Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni. "The Every Body Book" is widely considered to be a valuable and groundbreaking resource for parents navigating early conversations with children about puberty, consent, sex and gender.
 
Samantha brings the book with her to school, where the school janitor sees the book, is upset, and confiscates it. The book is turned over by the school administration to the police and an investigation ensues. The film deals with the aftermath of these events, which play out during a town meeting where opinions about the book and the police investigation that followed are played out.
 
A similar situation occurred last year at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School over the well-known book "Gender Queer," an incident which serves as inspiration for the film. In a statement provided to the "Berkshire Edge" Tedeschi said, "the film is not a true story, it is not a film that uses the words ‘based on true and actual events,' and the characters are not intended to appear as any actual person. The film was inspired by many things, it is a mirror, as you say, of events but it is not the actual likeness."
 
 
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Lee Breaks Ground on Public Safety Building

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Lee Town Administrator Chris Brittain says the community voted to invest in its future by approving the new $37 million complex. 

LEE, Mass. — Ground was ceremonially broken on the town's new public safety building, something officials see as a gift to the community and future generations. 

When finished, Lee will have a 37,000 square-foot combined public safety facility on Railroad Street where the Airoldi and Department of Public Works buildings once stood. Construction will cost around $24 million, and is planned to be completed in August 2027.

"This is the town of Lee being proactive. This is the town of Lee being thoughtful and considerate and practical and assertive, and this project is not just for us. This project is a gift," Select Board member Bob Jones said. 

"This is a gift to our children, our grandchildren."

State and local officials, including U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, gathered at the site on Friday, clad in hard hats and yellow vests, and shoveled some dirt to kick off the build. 

Town Administrator Chris Brittain explained that officials have planned and reviewed the need for a modern facility for the public safety departments for years, and that the project marks a new chapter, replacing 19th-century infrastructure with a "state-of-the-art" complex.

"The project is not just about concrete and steel, it's a commitment to the safety of our families, the efficiency of our first responders, and the future of our community," he said. 

He said he was grateful to the town's Police, Fire, and Building departments for their dedication while operating out of outdated facilities, and to the Department of Public Works, for coordinating site preparation and relocating its services. 

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