The Rogovoy Report 7.8.24

From around the corner to around the globe...

Jul 07, 2024

Biden Must Resign

(The Atlantic) by Adam Serwer - Joe Biden must resign the presidency. The last person to do so was Richard Nixon, who left in disgrace after abusing the powers of his office. Nixon had to resign because he led an assault on American democracy. Biden must resign for the opposite reason: to give American democracy its best chance of surviving.... The earlier Biden resigns, the faster the Democratic Party can move to reunite behind the new nominee and concentrate its efforts on keeping Trump from returning to the White House. Vice-president Kamala Harris would become the party’s presumptive nominee, enjoying the prestige and advantages of incumbency.

FASCIST TAKEOVER WATCH:

Fascism and fear, by Timothy Snyder (Thinking about...)

How to stop fascism, by Timothy Snyder (Thinking about...)

Why aren’t we talking about Trump’s fascism? (The Nation)

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bodywork Expert with Berkshire Roots Got Her Laurels at This Year’s Tony Awards

(WAMC) - A bodywork practitioner with Berkshire County roots was namechecked during this year’s Tony Awards. During his acceptance speech for Lead Actor in a Play on the night of June 16th, Jeremy Strong – best known for his Emmy-award winning portrayal of Kendall Roy on the hit HBO series “Succession” – thanked the team behind his performance in Henrik Ibsen's “An Enemy of the People." “Molly Kerns, I couldn’t have done this without you," said Strong. "I think a lot of people in this room share that sentiment.” In “An Enemy of the People,” Kerns guided Strong through a performance that had him on stage for the overwhelming majority of the play’s over two-hour runtime – including a fight scene.

The Campus, 2024, Installation view, with works by Francesco DiMattio (foreground) and Talia Chetrit (background) (photo Yael Eban and Matthew Gamber)

Six NYC Art Galleries Join Forces at The Campus Near Hudson

(Upstate Diary) HUDSON, N.Y. REGION - The latest addition to the mid-Hudson Valley’s burgeoning contemporary art scene, The Campus, located just outside the town of Hudson, N.Y., is a collaborative project of six cutting-edge New York City galleries: Andrew Kreps, Anton Kern, James Cohan, Bortolami, kaufmann Repetto, and kurimanzutto. The consortium recently purchased the 78,000 square-foot disused Ockawamick School, built in 1951, and vacant since the 1990s. The property also encompasses 22 acres of land for sculptures and outdoor installations. The seasonal space, open only on weekends, kicks off its program with a lively exhibition organized by former Andrew Kreps Gallery director Timo Kappeller. The show features works by more than 80 artists situated in 40 rooms spread throughout the sprawling venue. The Campus follows the model of Jack Shainman’s The School, a successful seasonal showcase for contemporary art located in nearby Kinderhook.

READ MORE:

Whatever your Tanglewood type — first-timer, serial lawn lounger — this guide has you covered (Boston Globe)

Beck to bring orchestral tour to Tanglewood on July 23 (LAT)

’Swing was king’ when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy came together in the 1990s. They swing into the Mahaiwe on July 12 (Berkshire Eagle)

Perseverance wins in Broadway star’s quest to renovate historical Great Barrington Home, documented in MAX series (Berkshire Edge)

New season of Berkshire Busk! brings music, arts to downtown Great Barrington (B Edge)

How a patriotic painting by Norman Rockwell became the internet’s soap box (NYT)

The 12th Yidstock music fest kicks off on July 11, runs through July 14 (Jewish Boston)

Neko Case, B-52s' Kate Pierson, Rhett Miller to headline Kingston's O+ festival in October (Chronogram)

NEWS FROM THE BERKSHIRES

Following a River Through the Heart of the Berkshires

(NYT) by Mark Vanhoenacker - For much of my childhood in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, I didn’t give a hoot about the Housatonic River.... Later, I came to associate the Housatonic with sorrow. An arched bridge over it, which I crossed on my walk to high school, marked the transition from home to the stresses of my teenage years. I learned, too, that reaches of the river acclaimed by Melville, Ives and Longfellow were laden with PCBs, an industrial pollutant. Tourists, taking their cue from locals, have only rarely ventured down to the Housatonic’s banks. But in recent years, the river’s cleanup (the next stages of which remain a source of fierce community debate) has reminded everyone who loves the Berkshires that the Housatonic needs our attention and — whether from a canoe or a riverside trail — abundantly rewards our affection.

Nate Maynard (left), a volunteer with Berkshire Environmental Action Team, described the condition of a culvert as programs director Chelsey Simmons recorded data. In the Berkshires, environmental groups and small towns are widening, replacing, and in some cases, removing culverts in an attempt to better corral water in a changing climate. (photo Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe)

In the Berkshires, an Effort to Corral Climate Change, One Stream at a Time

(Boston Globe) - Jane Winn, executive director and cofounder of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, began documenting stream crossings nearly two decades ago. At the time, the group’s purpose was almost wholly focused on whether wildlife — particularly brook trout — could easily pass through culverts. She would notify municipalities about problems and ask them to replace the aging infrastructure. She was usually turned down. Today, however, heavy rainstorms are more frequently exceeding the capacity of culverts. Those situations quickly become devastating and enormously expensive. Across the Berkshires, problems with storm-water management continue to crop up.

READ MORE:

Williamstown coping with more erosion along Hoosic River (iBerkshires)

Lee takes action following no response by General Electric in critical lawsuit juncture; company now agrees to comply (Berkshire Edge)

Eagle Mill abatement, cleanup in the works to redevelop site into mixed-use project in Lee (B Edge)

MASS MoCA, North Adams say eighth Solid Sound festival went off without a hitch (WAMC)

Fees and fines in North Adams get long-awaited update (WAMC)

Great Barrington to issue corrected tax bills (B Edge)

The Bookloft looks to the community for support (B Edge)

State awards Construct with $3.1M grant for Cassilis Farm (B Edge)

NEWS FROM THE HUDSON VALLEY

Jenae DiNapoli’s home along Jefferson Heights in Catskill

Catskill Is Taking a Resident to Court for Refusing to Mow Her Lawn

(ATU) CATSKILL, N.Y. - Jenae DiNapoli is due in Catskill Town Court on Monday to defend her lawn. It’s not a traditional lawn. Instead of manicured grass, there are scores of native plants she has purchased and put in the ground. DiNapoli said she has spent thousands of dollars on the yard and spends about three hours a day after work tending to it. However, DiNapoli received a notice on May 23 from John Acconero, the town’s fire inspector, stating her lawn violated a section of state property maintenance code prohibiting overgrown weeds. Her property was described as “overgrown” in the notice “which can leed [sic] to an infestation of unwanted pests and an enviromently [sic] unsafe condition.” Read also, What your lawn shows us about democracy, by Rex Smith (The Upstate American)

READ MORE:

Meeting on Monday to decide on project manager for Hudson sidewalk improvements (GoR)

Gas line replacement along Warren Street in Hudson expected to finish next month (HV360)

Wylder Windham named best hotel in upstate New York (HV360)

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary reaches 20 years of rescuing farm animals (Daily Freeman)

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