![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0012_cr-300x176.jpg\")
<\/div>Major Makeover from Resort to Spa<\/a>After purchase by Miraval the Cranwell resort is undergoing a major transformation into a high-end spa.<\/div><\/li>\n![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/div>Preserving the Iconic Small Town Qualities of Stockbridge<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-22_114506-300x184.png\")
<\/div>Preserving the Iconic Small Town Qualities of Stockbridge<\/a>The Laurel Hill Association has ramped up its longtime role as an active protector of the scenic beauty and local character of Stockbridge. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Stimulating Region’s Media and Film Industry<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-20_131645-300x191.png\")
<\/div>Stimulating Region’s Media and Film Industry<\/a>BFMC launches training and other initiatives to foster the growth of film and video production in western Massachusetts.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>City Cultural Commissioner Looks Back<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0008_cr-300x260.jpg\")
<\/div>City Cultural Commissioner Looks Back<\/a>As she departs, Megan Whilden reflects on challenges of revitalizing Pittsfield’s cultural sector.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>From Flat Tire to Hotel Ownership<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0020_cr-1-300x244.jpg\")
<\/div>From Flat Tire to Hotel Ownership<\/a>An accidental stop led Carl Faulkner to role as owner of Williams Inn and community leader.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Pandemic Spurs growth for Sanitary-Products Business<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0012_cr-1-300x158.png\")
<\/div>Pandemic Spurs growth for Sanitary-Products Business<\/a>High demand and Navy contracts boost Zogics to new level of growth.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Art for the Covid Era<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0017_cr-300x217.jpg\")
<\/div>Art for the Covid Era<\/a>Clark Museum’s first outdoor sculpture exhibit coincided with the move from indoor gatherings due to Covid.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Retailers Prepare for Covid Christmas<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0027_cr-300x210.png\")
<\/div>Retailers Prepare for Covid Christmas<\/a>Merchants brace for unknown impacts on peak shopping period as the Season of Togetherness is replaced by Social Distancing <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Equine Therapy and Recreation<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-16_193742-300x232.png\")
<\/div>Equine Therapy and Recreation<\/a>Berkshire Horseworks expands to augment its therapeutic programs with recreational offerings.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>New Studio Features Fonts<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-13_140544-300x256.png\")
<\/div>New Studio Features Fonts<\/a>Couple launch new studio to combine expertise in design and creation of fonts<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Covid Sparks Real-Estate Market Frenzy<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0011_cr-300x282.jpg\")
<\/div>Covid Sparks Real-Estate Market Frenzy<\/a>Following initial slowdown Covid pandemic accelerates rise in demand and prices in region’s real estate market.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Covid Makes Child’s Play More Complex<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-12_203258-273x300.png\")
<\/div>Covid Makes Child’s Play More Complex<\/a>Day Care program has to adhere to complicated rules to protect children.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Development Moves Forward Despite Covid<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-12_155713-300x183.png\")
<\/div>Development Moves Forward Despite Covid<\/a>Couple transforming large old mill into mixed use housing, commercial and event complex. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>High-End Hi-Fi<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0020_cr-263x300.jpg\")
<\/div>High-End Hi-Fi<\/a>Rogers High Fidelity fills a niche market for vacuum tube audio equipment.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Adding Coding to Region’s Job Mix<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-11_171005-300x170.png\")
<\/div>Adding Coding to Region’s Job Mix<\/a>Program provides introduction and instruction in software coding as an accessible skill to create new opportunities for region’s workforce.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Are Plastic Shopping Bags on the Way Out?<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Guidos.bagging.2-300x210.jpg\")
<\/div>Are Plastic Shopping Bags on the Way Out?<\/a>Pittsfield considers banning plastic shopping bags in stores, as other Berkshire communities have done.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Restoring an American Giant<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/48-American-Chestnut-Tree-300x170.jpg\")
<\/div>Restoring an American Giant<\/a>Pittsfield orchard is part of a broad national effort to bring back the once-prevalent American Chestnut tree. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Colorful Painted Pianos Take to the Streets<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Piano-10-Sabino-1-300x214.jpg\")
<\/div>Colorful Painted Pianos Take to the Streets<\/a>Artistically redesigned pianos appear throughout Berkshire County to raise funds for the Berkshire Music School.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Building a Coalition to Make Pittsfield Work<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Alisa.Costa_.6.Sabino-300x213.jpg\")
<\/div>Building a Coalition to Make Pittsfield Work<\/a>Working Cities is a coalition of local government, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and businesses to improve city’s economy and quality of life.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Historic Church is Slated for New African-American Cultural Center<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/11.Clinton.church.Sabinot-298x300.jpg\")
<\/div>Historic Church is Slated for New African-American Cultural Center<\/a>A community effort aims to restore a vacant and deteriorating old church building <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>“Right to Repair” Law Raises Questions of Technology and Privacy<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-2022-04-08_23-13-08-300x160.jpg\")
<\/div>“Right to Repair” Law Raises Questions of Technology and Privacy<\/a>Ballot issue will determine who has access to vehicle data and how it is used.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Business Helps Clients Expect the Unexpected<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-2022-04-08_20-31-28-300x211.jpg\")
<\/div>Business Helps Clients Expect the Unexpected<\/a>Pittsfield venture provides emergency-response training and protective services.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Revitalization Taking Shape in Pittsfield Neighborhood<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0001-1-300x246.jpg\")
<\/div>Revitalization Taking Shape in Pittsfield Neighborhood<\/a>Several initiatives have come together with the goal of revitalizing the low-income Morningside neighborhood.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Publisher Fills Neglected Niche<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-08_171652-300x246.png\")
<\/div>Publisher Fills Neglected Niche<\/a>Artist Book Foundation publishes high-end art books, a niche other publishers have abandoned. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>New Ski Area Owner Prepares for Covid Winter<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-11_084852-300x200.png\")
<\/div>New Ski Area Owner Prepares for Covid Winter<\/a>Owner of Bousquet Mountain invests in expansion while preparing for Covid limitations.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Covid Aid Expands to Larger Food Security Iniative<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-05_085849-300x293.png\")
<\/div>Covid Aid Expands to Larger Food Security Iniative<\/a>Program to provide emergency food relief grows into multifaceted initiative to expand access to quality food.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Bartholomew Block Given Overhaul<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_203832-1-300x200.png\")
<\/div>Bartholomew Block Given Overhaul<\/a>A familiar property in the center of Sheffield has been given a new lease on life, and brought new businesses to town.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>A New Model for Saving Farmland<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_172614-300x221.png\")
<\/div>A New Model for Saving Farmland<\/a>Project will test an emerging strategy of using private investment capital to preserve farmland and make it available to farmers on affordable terms. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Raising a Poet’s Profile<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_170147-254x300.png\")
<\/div>Raising a Poet’s Profile<\/a>Organization hopes to add the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay to the list of popular attractions around the region.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Couple Gives City New Arts Center<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Whitney.1805500px-300x234.jpg\")
<\/div>Couple Gives City New Arts Center<\/a>\nA Pittsfield native\u2019s desire to give something back to her hometown has led to the creation of a new arts center in a converted mansion..<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Pipeline Plan Prompts Protests<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_163548-300x165.png\")
<\/div>Pipeline Plan Prompts Protests<\/a>A controversial plan to build a major new natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to eastern Massachusetts is likely to advance to its next phase in September.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Medical Marijuana Opens a Growing Market<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6203937-300x220.png\")
<\/div>Medical Marijuana Opens a Growing Market<\/a>The recent legalization of medical marijuana in New York has created opportunities for entrepreneurs and Growers.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>New Lebanon tests a new approach to spurring tourism<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-04_112844-300x197.png\")
<\/div>New Lebanon tests a new approach to spurring tourism<\/a>\u201cBehold! New Lebanon,\u201d encourages visitors, to discover the diverse mix of skills, enterprises and scenic beauty in the town.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Program Serves as Matchmaker for Farmers and Landowners<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/4Farm1.sabino-1-300x215.jpg\")
<\/div>Program Serves as Matchmaker for Farmers and Landowners<\/a>Farmer Landowner Match Program, connects farmers searching for land and property owners who want to lease farmland for agricultural use. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Efforts Aim to Preserve Scenic and Historic Tract<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_0972-300x200.jpg\")
<\/div>Efforts Aim to Preserve Scenic and Historic Tract<\/a>The Shaker Swamp, which extends over nearly 500 acres in New Lebanon, is one of two areas that would be preserved from development under pending conservation projects in the town.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Connecting Rail Routes to Create a Regional Bike and Hiking Trail<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_1384-300x225.jpg\")
<\/div>Connecting Rail Routes to Create a Regional Bike and Hiking Trail<\/a>Ongoing efforts progress to create a network of regional hiking and biking trails by connecting former railroad track routes. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Contemporary Art in Historic Settings<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-03_153515-300x250.png\")
<\/div>Contemporary Art in Historic Settings<\/a>Visitors to the historic homes of 19th century artists Frederic Edwin Church and Thomas Cole are entering an aesthetic time warp this season with a major collaborative exhibit of contemporary artwork inspired by the painters.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Artist Depicts “Forgotten Holocaust”<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-03_150920-2-300x242.png\")
<\/div>Artist Depicts “Forgotten Holocaust”<\/a>Maria Kolodziej-Zincio has created a set of 20 encaustic paintings that tell the story of her mother\u2019s family\u2019s deportation to Siberia under Stalin.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Chatham Farm Saves and Gives Sanctuary to Equines\u00a0<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-02_152250-300x230.png\")
<\/div>Chatham Farm Saves and Gives Sanctuary to Equines\u00a0<\/a>Equine Advocates is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to rescue horses, mules and donkeys. <\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Theater Restoration Reaches Final Act<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-02_150127-300x244.png\")
<\/div>Theater Restoration Reaches Final Act<\/a>The curtain has risen at Hudson Opera House for the final act of a restoration that has been underway for nearly a quarter-century.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Firm Pioneers Legal “Life Care” Suite of Services for Seniors<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/0014_cr-300x193.jpg\")
<\/div>Firm Pioneers Legal “Life Care” Suite of Services for Seniors<\/a>Services help seniors navigate the legal, medical and practical complexities of aging.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Eggs, Farms and the Law<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-04-01_134644-2-300x186.png\")
<\/div>Eggs, Farms and the Law<\/a>A controversial new ballot initiative would mandate humane standards for animal products sold in Massachusetts.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Charting a High Road to the Future<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/IMG_1409-300x225.jpg\")
<\/div>Charting a High Road to the Future<\/a>The Berkshire Natural Resources Council has launched an ambitious plan to create a network of interconnected walking trails throughout the Berkshires.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Project Gives Students a Taste of Space<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2022-03-30_123131-300x179.png\")
<\/div>Project Gives Students a Taste of Space<\/a>A mock Space Shuttle is a vehicle for young people to learn teamwork. (NY Times article.)<\/div><\/li>\n- Pittsfield Voters Approve Surtax to Fund Preservation and Parks<\/a>
After a series of controversies in recent years in which developers demolished or threatened to raze historic structures in Pittsfield, voters have approved the creation of a local property tax surcharge that could help to preserve local landmarks. On Nov. 8, city voters approved Question 5, which will impose a 1 percent surcharge on local\u2026 Read more: Pittsfield Voters Approve Surtax to Fund Preservation and Parks<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>Making A Home A Stage<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2022-03-30_085718-300x240.png\")
<\/div>Making A Home A Stage<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/johntownes.com\/Tree\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2022-03-29_230436-1-300x141.png\")
<\/div>