April 27, 2010

Dear Friends,

In 2011 Great Barrington will celebrate its 250th anniversary of
incorporation as a town.  And what a celebration!  A parade and fire works,
of course.  But also an ethnic fair in the village of Housatonic, an antique
auto show, a gallery show of local artists, a homemade vehicle race, the
125th celebration of William Stanley's lighting of the town, a Great
Barrington souvenir book, and more.  Churches, Synagogues, Social
Organizations, Environmental Groups, and Arts Organizations are all planning
events as part of a year-long celebration of the people, history, landscape,
and culture of Great Barrington.

The 250th Anniversary Committee is already hard at work with weekly
meetings, a nascent website, a calendar of events and nowwith a logo.  The Committee launched a competition for the best logo to represent the town and its history.   Colin Wagner, a student at Monument Mountain, is the winner.

On Wednesday, April 28th, at 5PM, Colin's award winning logo will be
publicly unveiled at a ceremony at the new Great Barrington Fire Station.
The Committee will present Colin with a prize of 100 BerkShares, the
region's very own local currency. BerkShares board members Alan Glackman and Steffen Root will be on hand to congratulate Colin.

BerkShares is proud to be a small part of the preparation for a year of
celebration.  Won't you join with us?  The 250th Anniversary Committee is
seeking donations to create a series of events Great Barrington will be
proud to call their own. Many hours of volunteer time have already gone in
to preparations.  Much more must still be done.  You can support the effort
with a donation of BerkShares or a donation of your time.   Gifts of
BerkShares can be taken to the Fire Station or to Town Hall with a note
identifying them as a donation to the 250th Anniversary Committee. Remember to pick up a receipt for your records.

Great Barrington was originally the Northern Parish of the incorporated town
of Sheffield.  It was settled by English farmers coming from Connecticut and
Dutch farmers moving east from Kinderhook.  They soon came to wish for their
own "safety committee," and oversight of their own affairs, so filed for
separate incorporation in 1761.

Great Barrington's physical location helped it grow more quickly than its
neighboring towns.   Located in the river valley between mountains, it was
on both a north/south and east/west travel route, which brought vigorous
trade to town.  The Housatonic River flowed swiftly through town in a narrow
riverbed--perfect for grist mills, water mills and the developing textile
industry.

Nearly 250 years later, Great Barrington has become the commercial hub of
the Southern Berkshires.   The many locally owned shops, banks, farms and
restaurants, along with a thriving cultural community and a host of
environmental groups, attest to its economic resilience.  BerkShares is
proud to contribute to this economic independence--as an independent
currency for an independent region with a rich history.

Best wishes,
The BerkShares Team
P. O. Box 125
Great Barrington, MA 01230
www.berkshares.org