The Top Left Corner

Tammy Daniels discusses the results of the preliminary elections in North Adams and Pittsfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a little more than one bruising month of political skirmishes to find out who among yesterday’s elections winners will lead their cities through the thorny political, fiscal, and social issues that seem a long way from resolutions.

 

If you want to have a discussion about the news we’re covering at Greylock Glass, why not head on over to our public Facebook Group for the Greylock Glass? There you can carry on spirited (though always respectful) conversations and debates about the issues that turn up in our news coverage.

 

As we re-boot the “Audio iBeat” segment of the Top Left Corner, Tammy Daniels, Managing Editor at iBerkshires.com offers listeners a crash-course on journalism.

 

NOTE: This episode, which  features conversations with both Kate Abbott and Tammy Daniels, ran so long that breaking it up into two parts only made sense. This, Part II, is our informative and insightful discussion with Tammy Daniels.

Yes, we have so totally missed talking to Tammy every week. Summer got way away from us both, and before we knew it, news starting congealing into history. We have some great ideas for stories coming up in the next few weeks, so we’re both super excited to launch into Autumn news-harvesting mode.

In this episode, Tammy shares some of her views on journalistic best-practices, objective reporting in a historical context, and how the changes taking place in media are affecting the way we consume information. Considering that iBerkshires is probably the oldest digital-first newspaper, she’s in a unique position to ponder these issues.

If you’re a news junkie who wants to peel back yet more of the layers that often obscure the media machine, I encourage you to give a listen to two shows that dissect media coverage of current events in a marvelously perceptive way:

The Media Project from WAMC—The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events with The Times Union’s Rex Smith, WAMC’s Alan Chartock, University at Albany Professor Rosemary Armao, and Daily Freeman Publisher Emeritus Ira Fusfeld.

On the Media—WNYC’s weekly investigation into how the media shapes our world view. Veteran journalists Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield take a closer look at what the news media does and doesn’t say, and the impact that has on our society.

If you want to have a discussion about how the Greylock Glass covers the news, why not head on over to our public Facebook Group for the Greylock Glass? There you can carry on spirited (though always respectful) conversations and debates about the issues that turn up in our news coverage.

 

Kate Abbott, former editor at Berkshires Week, talks a bit about her new media property, BTW Berkshires, and a whole lot about the practice of journalism

NOTE: This episode, which  features conversations with both Kate Abbott and Tammy Daniels, ran so long that breaking it up into two parts only made sense. This, Part I, is our extremely engaging talk with Kate Abbott.

Readers from the Berkshires and well-beyond have found Kate Abbott’s warm and evocative writing voice to be that of knowledgeable friend. For 15 years, she has explored the region with a curiosity that has served her readers well through a number of print and online news entities.

With the launch of her own “BTW Berkshires,” Kate’s combined editorial and photographic skills fuel her exploration and lead her further into the landscape of her interests, occasionally farther afield to points beyond the borders of the Berkshires.

In addition to her writing in BTW Berkshires, don’t miss her work in Rural Intelligence, Take Magazine and, Arte Fuse Magazine.

TLC—BERKSHIRE BUSINESS OUTLOOK

Emily Watts, new Director at the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce says mission focus should be both inward and outward to promote Town strengths

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce has named Emily Watts as its new Executive Director, the Chamber’s Board Chair Jason Dohaney announced earlier this month. Watts, who currently curates and produces artistic work throughout North County, succeeds Sandra Thomas beginning August 2015.

“It’s an exciting time in Williamstown right now with record visitors at the Clark, excellent progress at Highland Woods and Cable Mills, and advances by the School Building Committee,” Board chair Jason Dohaney said. “I’m eager to work with Emily and our business community to build on this progress.”

“I moved to Williamstown just a couple of years ago and have fallen in love with this community. The Chamber has an important role in knitting together our values and our commerce, and I’m excited to a part of that,” Watts said.

For the past fifteen years, Emily Watts has brought organizational and operations expertise to a variety of cultural and economic development organizations. As the Program Director for the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at the University of Houston, Emily helped design and curate the public programs of the Center, with a particular focus on creating the infrastructure for CounterCurrent, a new, five-day, multi-venue, interdisciplinary performing and visual arts festival. Formerly, as the Program Director for Insurance at Fractured Atlas, Emily educated artists in the intricacies of insurance coverage and worked with insurance companies to develop policies that address the specific needs of the arts community; in that role, she presented workshops regularly across the country for artists and arts organizations on insurance, risk management, and emergency preparedness. Over her time there, she took the program from its modest beginnings and grew it to be one of the most profitable programs at the organization, insuring thousands of artists in all disciplines around the country. A graduate of Wesleyan University, Emily is a founding Board member of Makers’ Mill, the new North Adams Makerspace; FreshArts, a Houston-based arts service organization; and skybetter & associates, a Providence-based dance company dedicated to changing the way we make, disseminate, and discuss performance.

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce serves Williamstown and our neighboring communities by supporting efforts in communication, education, and coordination of our members, our residents, and our visitors.

 

Tammy Daniels returns from vacation to discover that the rumors and speculation surrounding the recent FBI presence in Adams have solidified into a shocking story.

As managing editor of iBershires.com, Tammy confronts the question: Is Alexander Ciccolo a terror suspect? Certainly his statements seem to reveal some deeply troubling possibilities. Charges so far, however, only include one count of illegal firearms possession. Ciccolo’s own lawyer believes that more charges are likely.

Tammy and I discuss, in this slightly revamped format of the iBeat section of the show, whether or not “terror suspect” is an apt label for the Ciccolo, and how likely it is that the accused has any real grasp of the reality of the situation. Also, the role of the FBI itself is worth examining—how much assistance can the FBI provide a suspect in planning and equipping a potential terror attack before the word “entrapment” surfaces?

Be sure to follow the story as it develops at iBerkshires.com.

 

Have you used the amazing calendar at Destination Williamstown?

I just had to give a shout-out to my buddy over at Destination Williamstown, Sandra Thomas, who does a spectacular job keeping us informed about the myriad opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and just plain leisure through this awesome site. Check it out before you plan your next weekend itinerary.

PLUS: Christine Casella, Justice of the Peace, on Love

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce sends outgoing Interim Executive Director Sandra Thomas off with a bang. Well, actually, Sandra organized the Town’s Fourth of July celebration, so I suppose you could say she will be conducting her own brass band (two, in fact) as she steps down from this post. She describes the many, many area activities occurring this weekend, many of which can be enjoyed at no cost.

So, what will Ms. Thomas be doing after this weekend? As you’ll hear, she has big plans to keep building the ultimate online local events resource, Destination Williamstown, growing and offering a multifaceted window into the Williamstown area’s offerings.

AND as the Williamstown Film Festival shifts its focus to documentary film-making, Sandra Thomas will be involved in the metamorphosis into what will surely be an exciting 2015 season. We’ll devote considerable airplay to that issue, guaranteed.

Celebrating Marriage Equality

When we spoke to Justice of the Peace Christine M. Casella a month or so ago, we had no idea the level of spontaneous physical and online celebration of gay marriage that would erupt this past week.

The interview with this amazingly warm-hearted Pittsfield mom and (surrogate mom to many) clearly could not wait for the soon-to-be unveiled “Berkshire Business Outlook” show. While not giving too much away, let’s just say that when Mom’s on a mission of love and justice, there’s not much chance of any man putting asunder what she helps join together.

PLUS: Do You Care Where Your Food Comes From? Country of Origin Labeling Requirements on Track to Be Repealed.

Berkshire Cultural Resource Center Has a New Director, and a Slightly Different Tilt to the 2015 Downstreet Art Festival.

Michelle Daly, Program Coordinator at the Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, has a LOT on her plate. If there’s an event happening or a pop-up gallery to be overseen, chances are, Michelle is there to make sure it comes off without a hitch. The Downstreet Art Festival is no exception. Launching tonight in grand form, this season-long extravaganza pulls together every imaginable variety of performance, exhibition, and installation you can think of.

She described the subtle changes in the festival and the organization that are occurring now that Jennifer Crowell is the new director, and explains the increased focus in collaboration.

With a little luck, we’ll have Michelle back on the show regularly to bring us up to date on all the amazing activities surrounding the Festival.

When you see her out and about, make sure to let her know she rocks.

 

Repeal of Country of Origin Labeling Passes House. Roger Noonan, President of the New England Farmers Union Explains What’s at Stake

You want to know where your meat has been. It’s as simple as that. (Country of Origan Labeling (COOL) allowed customers to know where animals raised for food were born, raised, and slaughtered. A surprising and diverse collection of powerful interests think maybe you don’t need to know that information anymore. Roger Noonan, president of the New England Farmers Union, describes why America put COOL into effect two years ago, and tries to simplify the tangled rationale of why the legislation may be repealed soon.

 

PLUS: Cheshire votes no on pipeline; Child traffic fatality in Adams, Hotel on North opens.

The Greylock Glass Gets Some Perspective on the News with iBerkshires and we are joined by a new voice from Berkshire Family Focus.

Mary George of Berkshire Family Focus offers some great options for area swimming holes!

But first, Tammy Daniels, managing editor of iBerkshires.com joins us to provide another glimpse at some of the popular stories that are making headines this week. Be sure to follow their reporting daily to keep up with the goings-on in the Greylock zone. We talk about new hotel splendor in Pittsfield, KinderMorgan pipeline opposition, graduations, the form of government of North Adams, and a fatal traffic accident in Adams. The Adams Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call the Adams Police Department at 413-743-1212.

 

 Kelly Bevan McIlquham Drops by to Share a Special Summer Camps Update from Berkshire Family Focus.

We end this episode with a discussion of many, but by no means all, of the great places to cool your heels in the freshwater get-aways and swimming holes in Berkshire County with Mary George of Berkshire Family Focus, THE go-to resource for all things family fun and education in the Berkshires. Check out their “Weekend Lowdown” listing here!

Also, we mentioned BFF’s “Tips from a School Nurse” Article” in a previous episode. The article is online here.

 

PLUS: North Adams Police Officers Recognized for Saving Life; Target: Summer Tag Sales

The Greylock Glass Gets Some Perspective on the News with iBerkshires

Firstly, Tammy Daniels, managing editor of iBerkshires.com joins us to provide another glimpse at some of the popular stories that are making headines this week. Be sure to follow their reporting daily to keep up with the goings-on in the Greylock zone. We talk new North County pastaria, Greylock school options, and much more. Then, Kelly McIlquam offers some options for summer enrichment opportunities for kids.

 

Kelly Bevan McIlquham Drops by to Share a Special Summer Camps Update from Berkshire Family Focus.

We end this episode with a discussion of many, but by no means all, of the summer camp choices available for youth in Berkshire County with Kelly Bevan McIlquham, founder and editor of Berkshire Family Focus, THE go-to resource for all things family fun and education in the Berkshires.

 

Summer Camps/Activities options mentioned on this episode (there are MANY more listings at the Berkshire Family Focus Camp Directory!):

 

Rock On Camp 2015

Berkshire Community College Kids Academy

Berkshire Museum Camps

Shakespeare & Company: Riotous Youth

Dalton CRA

Girl Scouts: Camp Bonnie Brae

Montessori School of the Berkshires—Summer at Montessori

Berkshire School of Etiquette

Camp Humane

Institute for the Musical Arts

Art Ninjas at MASS MoCA

IS183 Art School of the Berkshires Camps

Community Recreation Center Camps

Lenox Community Center

Lee Youth Association

Williamstown Youth Center

Adams Youth Center

Central Berkshire Stages

Barrington Stage—KidsAct

Berkshire Theatre Group camps