The Mount Announces 2025 Summer Season Programming

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LENOX, Mass. — The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, has announced its 2025 summer season, with the theme "Where Stories Come Alive."

The season will include author talks, writing workshops, readings, performances, a sculpture exhibition, community events, and youth and family programming.

Author Series:

  • Summer Author Series: This series, running from July 7 to Aug. 26, will feature authors discussing their works related to the theme "Trailblazers." Authors scheduled include Michelle Young, Andrew Lipman, Susan Morrison, Tess Chakkalakal, Dava Sobel, Laurence Bergeen, Amy Reading, and Elyse Graham.

  • In Conversation with André Bernard: This series will feature conversations with individuals from the fields of politics, journalism, social science, and the arts. Scheduled guests include Adam Gopnik, Danzy Senna, Jayne Anne Philips, Judy Collins, Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and Susan Glasser and Peter Baker (date TBD). The series will run from June 26 to August 21.

  • Building Old New York: This new series will focus on the history of New York City institutions and landmarks. Speakers include Anthony C. Wood (July 9), Jonathan Conlin (July 16), Henry Wiencek (July 30), and Sara Cedar Miller (August 20).

Additional Talks:

  • Isaiah Stavchansky will present "What This Place Makes Me: Contemporary Plays on Immigration" on June 2, in partnership with Literacy Network and Restless Books.

  • "Nature Writing Now" with Vanessa Chakour and Jennifer Kabat will be co-sponsored with Mass Audubon and Orion Magazine on Aug.13.

Celebrating Edith Wharton:

  • "Wharton on Wednesdays" will feature readings of Edith Wharton’s short stories from June to October.

  • A staged reading of "Cultivated Friends" by John Dennis Anderson and Karen Vuranch will be presented.

  • Emily Orlando and Tripp Evans will discuss the re-release of "The Decoration of Houses" on July 23.

Writing Workshops:

  • Adult writing workshops will include a class by Isaiah Stavchansky on immigration and family ancestry stories, and "Writing for the Wild" with Vanessa Chakour.

  • Youth workshops (ages 10-14) will be offered by Carolyn Mackler, Ruth Chan, and Margaret Young.

Live Music:

  • The "Sounds of Summer Concerts," curated by Michael Junkins, will include performances by Standard Edition (June 24), Gato 6 with Suzi Stern (July 24), Natalia Bernal Community Day Concert (August 10), and George Schuller Quintet (August 28). These are free concerts.

  • The "Under the Tent for Kids" series will feature Little Roots (June 15), Wintergreen Trio (July 13), and Mister G. (August 10). These are free kids' concerts.

Other Programs:

  • Free family programming will be offered on Sundays from June to August.

  • "Sculpture at the Mount" will run from May 24 to October 19, featuring contemporary outdoor sculpture with the theme "Movement."

Passes and tickets will go on sale in April 2025.


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Pennrose Breaks Ground in Lenox, Bringing 68 Units of Affordable Housing

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LENOX, Mass. — Pennrose announced the groundbreaking of 238 Pittsfield Road, a 68-unit affordable rental community.

The development will bring much-needed affordable, family-friendly housing options to the area.

The community will consist of 10 residential buildings offering a mix of 23 one-bedroom, 38 two-bedroom, and seven three-bedroom apartments. Of the 68 total homes, 57 will be affordable for households earning from 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) up to 80 percent AMI, with the remaining 11 units available at market rate rents.

A community building at the entrance of the development will offer resident-focused amenities, including event space and a fitness center, along with on-site offices for Pennrose management and resident services staff.

"238 Pittsfield Road builds on the progress that the Town of Lenox has made in addressing the region's pressing needs for affordable, family-sized rental housing," said Karmen Cheung, Regional Vice President at Pennrose. "This partnership with the Town of Lenox continues to deliver communities that give families of all sizes a place to call home. Together with Forge, these two communities reflect our long-term commitment to meeting the diverse housing needs of Berkshire families."

Currently only 7 percent of Lenox's housing stock is deed-restricted affordable, falling short of the 10 percent goal established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Additionally, approximately 90 percent of the town's existing affordable housing is limited to seniors, and market-rate rental options remain sparse.

238 Pittsfield Road is located a mile down the road from Forge,  a mixed-income community that celebrated its grand opening in August. Together, the two sister developments will add a total of 133 new affordable units to the town.

The project continues Pennrose's collaboration with the Town of Lenox and is guided by the goals of the Town's 2017 Housing Production Plan, 2021 Master Plan, and 2002 Gateway Redevelopment Plan.

The project is financed via federal 4 percent tax credit and state tax credit allocations from the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), with the National Equity Fund as the syndicator and Rockland Trust and US Bank as the investors. Rockland also provided construction debt, and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) provided both permanent debt and Workforce Housing Funds. MassDevelopment is the bond issuer, and EOHLC provided additional soft sources and operating subsidy. Finally, the Town of Lenox provided local Affordable Housing Trust and Community Preservation Act funds, as well as funds through the Commonwealth's HousingWorks Infrastructure Program (HWIP).

Haynes Construction is serving as general contractor and The Architectural Team as architect for the development.

Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in early 2028.

 

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