Sandy Balayan highlights a new Players Circle at Paige’s Place in Otis where skilled musicians gather every other Sunday to play, collaborate, and connect through music.

In “Gen X Musings,” Patricia Racine reflects on life between the analog and digital eras and how that perspective informs the changes she sees in Otis today.

After a long winter, Margie Klein says the Otis Community Garden is gearing up for another season of growing fresh food and community connections. Since 2008, volunteers have helped provide vegetables and herbs to local food pantries — and new gardeners are always welcome to join in.

From voting logistics and absentee ballots to transportation and timing, this guide has everything residents need to participate at the Annual Town Meeting on May 19 and Town Election on May 26.

Sandy Balayan takes us behind the scenes at how the community favorite Knox Trail Inn is getting a bold refresh as owner Brooke Tame reimagines the bar for better flow, function, and a livelier guest experience.

In this reflective and gently playful installment, Katharine Adams muses on names, identity, and the winding origins of her “Rural Ethicist” column—where rambling thoughts, rural life, and a love of language all converge.

From the glacial heights of Tyringham Cobble to the haunting ruins of Ashintully Gardens, Patricia Racine explores a Berkshire valley where quiet Shaker history meets Gilded Age grandeur. Part hike, part time travel, it’s a landscape that rewards every step with a story.

This guide highlights essential local services for older adults in Southern Berkshire County, from Medicare counseling and Meals on Wheels to transportation, food support, and community centers like the Otis Council on Aging, offering practical ways to stay connected, supported, and well.

A new chapter could be opening for the Otis Library—and it comes down to a vote that will shape the town’s future for decades. This is a rare opportunity, and what happens next could change how the community gathers, learns, and connects.

Otis is gearing up for a full day of community celebration on June 13th. From live music and local vendors to family-friendly fun at Otis Ridge, Margie Klein and Susan Ebitz invite everyone to join in a true “Otis is the place to be” summer gathering.

As spring turns to summer, Terry Gould highlights the small-town spirit that keeps the pantry—and the community it serves—strong.

The Snack Social is back with Patricia Racine serving up a delightfully unexpected summer pairing guide that proves potato chips and cheese might just be the ultimate duo.

Peter Cameron traces the moment indecision gave way to revolution, as colonial hopes of reconciliation with Britain collapse into open conflict after Lexington and Concord.

We often focus on the words we say, but as Richard Spaglio explores in this month’s Communication Corner, what we don’t say with our bodies may matter even more.

Patricia Racine reflects on a viral image of a lonely mall Easter Bunny. With warmth and honesty, she explores what we’ve gained in convenience, and what we may be at risk of losing.

Margie Klein captures the quiet magic of spring’s return, as tarps come off and the garden begins to stir back to life. From shared work to the promise of fresh harvests, her update celebrates the simple, satisfying joys of growing and giving.