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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Pittsfield Families Frustrated Over Unreleased PHS Report, Herberg Slur Incident

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Parents are expressing their frustration with hate speech, bullying, and staff misconduct, which they said happens in Pittsfield schools. 

Community members and some elected officials have consistently advocated for the release of the redacted Pittsfield High School investigation report, and a teacher being placed on leave for allegedly repeating racist and homophobic slurs sparked a community conversation about how Pittsfield Public Schools can address injustices. 

The district's human resources director detailed the investigation processes during last week's School Committee meeting.

"People are angry. They feel like when they spoke up about Morningside School, it was closed anyway. They feel like they speak up about the PHS report, and that's just kind of getting shoved under the rug," resident Brenda Coddington said during public comment.

"I mean, when do people who actually voted for all of you, by the way, when does their voice and opinion count and matter? Because you can sit up here all day long and say that it does, but your actions, or rather lack of action, speak volumes."

Last month, School Committee member Ciara Batory demanded a date for the 2025 report's release to the public.

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Pittsfield High's former dean of students was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

Executive summaries were released that concluded the claims of inappropriate conduct between teachers and students were "unsupported." Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody countered one of the unsupported determinations, writing on Facebook last week that she knows one person can conclude with confidence and a court case that pictures of the staff member's genitalia was sent to minors. 

"During this investigation, we sought to determine the validity of allegations about PHS Administrator #2 sharing a photograph of female genitalia with PHS students on her Snapchat account," the final executive summary reads. 

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