Editorials

Tuesday, August 19 Take a good long look at the Savoy School this year; it likely will be its last. And get ready to call out the bucket brigades to help out the Fire Department and to travel by snowmobile everywhere this winter because even if the state does fix up the main road, the town won't be able to plow or maintain it and the rest of them very well.   Full Story

Saturday, August 16 From Shirley Davis This is a River Fest favorite. My daughter Sue and her husband, Ian, and my two grandsons, Daniel and Thomas, attend and I always cook lentils, hummus and ratatouille for them to bring, along with pita bread. You guessed it, their tent is the most popular one at the River Fest!   Full Story

Saturday, August 16 Holy Lady of Fatima, Batman! As reported earlier in the week, the Catholic Church is at it again. No it is not supporting Russia in the invasion of Georgia (surprisingly). The dioceses have issued decrees, closing churches as if they were haberdasheries, because they are no longer turning a prophet (oops, profit).   Full Story

Saturday, August 16 Food conversations with Jane and Julia Jane: I bought re-useable cloth grocery bags last week, and I'm feeling pretty good about it, as I've been giving some thought lately about how I can be a little greener in my kitchen. Julia: Oh, I am not very good at this. I am so guilty when it comes to not taking care of our planet in my own kitchen.   Full Story

Thursday, August 14 Dan Bosley is a day late and a few million dollars short in his bid to halt the church closings in Western Massachusetts wrought by the all-powerful and holier-than-thou Diocese of Springfield. The time to have called for public discussion of the church closings would have been during the so-called "listening sessions" during which the diocese heard only from a selected few.   Full Story

Wednesday, August 13 One can understand the need for the Diocese of Springfield to consolidate, close churches and merge parishes in order to absolve debt brought about by dwindling membership in the wake of horribly mishandled sex-abuse cases involving Catholic priests. One can also understand the anger and sadness of the many faithful parishioners, here in North Berkshire and well beyond,   Full Story

Monday, August 11 It has been heartening to see the overwhelming support from the community shown to the DeMayo family after a lightning strike ignited a fire that destroyed a barn at their Bonnie Lea Farm on Thursday. According to Carol DeMayo, the volunteers and friends who came to help on Friday alone totaled more than 100, including a number of children and teenagers.   Full Story

We think the Catholic Diocese of Springfield doth protest too much. In an emotional, wide-ranging letter Thursday, the Rev. Msgr. John J. Bonzagni chastised a recent Transcript editorial for being sarcastic, cynical and off the mark concerning the diocese's plan to deal with the inevitable consolidation of parishes and closing of churches.   Full Story