The Rogovoy Report 12.24.23

From around the corner to around the globe...

Dec 23, 2023

In its 15 years of existence, the Rogovoy Report has always been free. This is a commitment I made at the outset, and I still stand by it.

Fortunately, over the years, there have been plenty of readers who – with little prompting -- have expressed their appreciation for the work and time that goes into creating the weekly Rogovoy Report and its companion newsletter, the Weekend Cultural Preview, in the form of voluntary paid subscriptions.

To all of you who have already chosen the path of voluntary paid subscribers, thank you. I cannot overstate how much your enthusiasm and support mean to me.

These days, about 3,000 people subscribe to the Rogovoy Report. About 60 of those are paid subscribers. Honestly, that’s not a lot. It would be great if we could reach 100 by the end of the year.

Subscriptions are $5 monthly or $50 annually. I know this all adds up quickly – believe me, I pay for subscriptions to way too many Substacks and even more to the news sites and online magazines from which I gather and curate the news to present to you – but it would be a great help to my efforts. At least it would help defray some of my expenses.

If you would like to pay something less than $50 or $60 per year, how about you sign up for the $5 monthly subscription and then just cancel your payments after a few months, at the point when you feel like you have paid enough for the year. Really, I won’t mind this at all. And you will still continue to receive the Rogovoy Report after you cancel your payments. What a deal!

So again, please consider becoming one of the forty new paid subscribers out of the 2,940 who currently receive the Rogovoy Report but have not yet made the leap. Let’s get to 100 paid subscribers before the calendar turns to 2024.

Thank you so very much.

Seth Rogovoy
Editor, The Rogovoy Report

REQUIRED READING

The Great Cousin Decline

(The Atlantic) - Within many families — and I’m sorry to have to say this—cousins occupy a weird place. Some people are deeply close to theirs, but others see them as strangers. Some cousins live on the same block; some live on opposite sides of the world. That can all be true about any family relationship, but when it comes to this one, the spectrum stretches especially far. Despite being related by blood and commonly in the same generation, cousins can end up with completely different upbringings, class backgrounds, values, and interests. And yet, they share something rare and invaluable: They know what it’s like to be part of the same particular family. Going forward, not as many people will be in that peculiar position. The average number of cousins is declining in the U.S. and much of Europe, and the same trend is predicted to hit other parts of the world in the coming decades.

READ MORE:

Americans who would traditionally be homeowners are instead renting. They’re sparking new kinds of neighborhoods, changing savings patterns — and even buying different light fixtures. (WSJ)

The promises and failures of the American twentieth century suffuse Ben Lerner’s new book of poems and Tom Piazza’s new novel (NYRB)

The ultimate best books of 2023 list (LitHub)

Some of the hundreds of participants at a community vigil in support of Israel on Oct. 11 in Pittsfield (photo Shaw Israel Izikson/courtesy Berkshire Edge)

Berkshire County Synagogues Receive Bomb Threats

(Berkshire Edge) BERKSHIRES - Three synagogues in Berkshire County received bomb threats via email, in a series of email threats made against synagogues across the country. The bomb threats were made against Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire in Great Barrington, and Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield. Police departments are taking additional precautions and adding patrols of local Jewish organizations. Read also, Threats to synagogues are a call to vigilance and community compassion (Berkshire Eagle)

Great Barrington Police Chief Apologizes for ‘Distrust and Alarm’ Over Book Search at Middle School

(Boston Globe) GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. - The police chief in Great Barrington has apologized for causing “distrust and alarm” or negatively impacting anyone when his department was called to a local middle school earlier this month to investigate a complaint about an illustrated novel about gender and sexual identity. A plainclothes officer went to W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School on Dec. 8 after receiving a complaint that an illustration in the novel, “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, could be considered pornographic and obscene and the book might not be suitable content for an eighth grade classroom. The incident sparked community outcry and a walkout of more than 100 students at another school in the district. Gov. Maura Healey issued a statement saying “book banning has no place in Massachusetts. Read also in Berkshire Edge, Berkshire Eagle, New York Post, The Independent, The New Republic

READ MORE:

Lee Select Board urges EPA to use rail to transport toxic PCB materials (Berkshire Edge)

Six towns to EPA and GE: Use rail to transport PCB waste from the Rest of River cleanup (B Eagle)

Great Barrington’s Theory Wellness becomes first employee-owned cannabis company in the state (B Edge)

As Great Barrington Airport ignores some special-permit conditions, the town's government takes no action (Berkshire Argus)

A snowless December? With a week to go, what are the odds? (B Eagle)

A look back at the bars and restaurants that closed their doors in 2023 (B Eagle)

NEWS FROM THE HUDSON VALLEY

Rodgers Book Barn has over 20,000 titles made up of “old and unusual” books (photo Phillip Pantuso / courtesy ATU)

Independent and Used Bookstores in the Hudson Valley

(ATU) - Whether you’re looking for the newest bestsellers or a new-to-you used book, these independent and used bookstores around the Hudson Valley will help you find your next page-turner — or add to your ever-growing to-be-read pile. This curated list includes everything from new and used bookstores, speciality shops and bookstores with offerings beyond the literary, from gifts to community events to full cafes and bars with local brews on tap.

READ MORE:

Hudson businesses angry over timing of National Grid construction, downtown street closures (ATU)

New sandwich shop in Hudson hopes to fill void left by Cascades (HV360)

Plans unveiled for Charles Williams Park in Hudson (GoR)

Gov. Hochul signs bill to move some New York elections into even years (WAMC)

Offshore wind projects along Hudson River expected to create 3,200 new jobs (ATU)

New York’s population falls again, leading nation in decline (ATU)

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