MMRHS Teacher to Present Talk on the Enduring Value of Humanities Education

01:30PM / Thursday, August 20, 2026Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Michael Rosenthal invites community members to consider the role of the humanities during a public presentation on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3:00 p.m. at the Stockbridge Library.

Moral Technology and Cultural Memory: Humanities Education as the Framework for a Democratic Society explores how literature, storytelling, and reflective inquiry cultivate the critical thinking, moral imagination, and civic responsibility essential to a healthy democracy.

"I am on a mission to revitalize the humanities in a culture of ever-shrinking attention spans and instantly generated AI," said Rosenthal.

Drawing on the work of philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum and other scholars, Rosenthal will explore how the humanities help young people develop the critical thinking, moral imagination, and civic awareness essential to a democratic society. The presentation, grounded in his experience as a public high school educator, will be followed by a community discussion.

Rosenthal has taught English at Monument Mountain Regional High School since 2009. A playwright and former theater professor, he is also the author of The Eclectic Estate, a Substack publication exploring literature, culture, and education.

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Victim Identified in Fatal Richmond Crash

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
11:23AM / Friday, October 30, 2026

RICHMOND, Mass. — A 25-year-old South County man died Thursday in the fiery crash on Route 41.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office on Friday reported that the victim was Christopher Lee Kilmer, 25.

The single-vehicle accident took place on Route 41 in Richmond near 2715 State Road. A Hyundai Sonata driven by Kilmer was travelling northbound when it crossed into the southbound lane and off the road; the car was engulfed in flames when first responders arrived.

According to the DA's Office, West Stockbridge Fire and County Ambulance declared Kilmer dead at 9:53 a.m. when the Fire Department "was able to extinguish the fire."

"It was at this time (when the fire was extinguished) that first responders observed a single occupant in the vehicle and made the declaration of death," according to the press release.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken custody of the body.

On Friday morning, several South County fire departments posted tributes on Facebook to Kilmer, who they reported was a member of the West Stockbridge and Alford fire departments.

"Every first responder carries a fear that one day the next emergency call will involve someone they know, a friend, a neighbor, or someone they love. But perhaps the greatest fear of all is when that call involves one of our own," the post read.