<![CDATA[The Village Green News : Community Life ]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/s/foodculturehttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2E1z!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfce8f81-4a95-4119-8619-679ec2e4a3c3_500x500.pngThe Village Green News : Community Life https://www.villagegreennews.com/s/foodcultureSubstackSat, 17 Oct 2026 14:47:42 GMT<![CDATA[Lambing at Lila's Mountain Farm]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/lambing-at-lilas-mountain-farmhttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/lambing-at-lilas-mountain-farmTue, 07 Apr 2026 20:51:03 GMT

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]]><![CDATA[The Villagers: Don and Sophie Brazie]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/the-villagers-don-and-sophie-braziehttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/the-villagers-don-and-sophie-brazieTue, 07 Apr 2026 20:41:18 GMT“I tell everybody I graduated high school on a Saturday, and I’ve been working full time since that Monday.”

Three generations in the same trade: we Don Brazie Senior, Don Brazie Junior, Ben Brazie and Sophie Brazee

Don Brazie’s family arrived in Housatonic in 1910 from Poland to work in the Monument Mills, which produced textiles between the 1850s and 1950s. His mother’s maiden name, Koldys, and her mother’s maiden name, Bubriski, will be familiar to those who follow local basketball — Randy Koldys was the long-time Monument boys coach until very recently — and Alice Bubriski was the unofficial “mayor” of Housatonic until her death in 2008. Don’s grandfather was a Housatonic plumber, and his father, Don Brazie Senior, is still a Housatonic plumber.

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Today Don Junior is in his 25th year of owning D & B Plumbing, and his kids are bucking contemporary trends by sticking close to home and following their father into his trade. Ben, 2021 graduate of MMRHS, works with Dad on Fridays and for a…

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]]><![CDATA[Pass-It-On: The 2026 Dominican Republic Trip]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/pass-it-on-the-2026-dominican-republichttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/pass-it-on-the-2026-dominican-republicThu, 02 Apr 2026 14:03:31 GMT Read more

]]><![CDATA[A New Tradition Sparked in Southfield]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/a-new-tradition-sparked-in-southfieldhttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/a-new-tradition-sparked-in-southfieldTue, 31 Mar 2026 23:40:37 GMTWhen New Marlborough neighbors Kenzie Fields and Oleander Stone decided to launch a monthly Sunday potluck in early February, they had no idea if the concept would catch on. But by March, the gathering had doubled in size and included a healthy cross-section of the community — introverts and extroverts of all ages, genders, and interests. People came early to mingle during the “coffee hour” and stayed for the after-dinner “activity hour” — in this case, presentations by two gardeners from the community, who shared their innovative techniques with a rapt crowd.

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The idea for the suppers was an outgrowth of ongoing conversations between the two organizers and their partners about the need for more community connections, especially during the long winter months. They wanted to keep things simple, but more importantly, they wanted to offer something that anyone — and everyone — could take part in. Stone had been inspired by a 2023 documentary, called Join or Die, based on social scientist R…

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]]><![CDATA[Save the date: Shire Stories presents "Rescue"]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/save-the-date-shire-stories-presentshttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/save-the-date-shire-stories-presentsSun, 29 Mar 2026 11:27:07 GMT

Storyteller Annie Trainor at Barrinton Hall in February 2026.

JOIN SHIRE STORIES FOR AN OPEN STORY SLAM WITH A THEME OF

RESCUE

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 7 PM

BARRINGTON HALL (the old Crissey Farm)

$5 at the door or online (tickets available soon)

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THIS WILL BE AN UNFILTERED, UNCURATED, THROW-YOUR-NAME-IN-THE-HAT EVENT, WITH A 5-MINUTE LIMIT ON STORIES, WITH 10 STORYTELLERS MAX.

COME PREPARED TO TELL YOUR STORY OF REDEMPTION, CLOSE CALLS OR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL JOB AS A LIFEGUARD, AMONG OTHERS.

SPREAD THE WORD TO YOUR STORYTELLING FRIENDS, AND SEND QUESTIONS TO 413VILLAGEGREEN@GMAIL.COM

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]]><![CDATA[Where the Sidewalk Ends: ]]>https://www.villagegreennews.com/p/where-the-sidewalk-endshttps://www.villagegreennews.com/p/where-the-sidewalk-endsFri, 20 Mar 2026 11:32:03 GMT
Three pedestrian fatalities, in 2006, 2015 and January 2026, happened in the same vicinity. Photo by Evelyn Battaglia

I am, and always have been, an avid walker. For me, walking is a core part of everyday life, whether I’m exercising the dog, catching up with friends for a walk-and-talk, or heading downtown for shopping and dining. After living in New York City for 20 years without a car, walking is second nature, and it remains a defining part of my routine here in Great Barrington. While a midday hike on our local trail systems offers a welcome escape, it is the simple act of walking my neighborhood streets that keeps me truly connected to the pulse of my community.

I’m not alone in my perambulations. Many of us in the Berkshires relish the fresh air and the impromptu encounters with neighbors. But we also know that rural towns like ours often lack pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

The Bigger Picture: Pedestrian Safety by the Numbers

Across the United States, pedestrian deaths have r…

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