December 2025
850-Acre Palmer Brook Property To Be Sold to Mass Audubon
By Marcia Parnell The Strassler family of Great Barrington and Alford, long-time owners of the Palmer Brook property here in Becket, have signed an option-to-purchase agreement with Mass Audubon for $5 million for the 850-acre tract, including a 125-acre lake. The undeveloped, pristine property lies between Plumb and Tyne Roads and has operated as the […]
Letter from the Editors
As we wrap up the year, we want to express our gratitude to our community of readers for supporting us in so many ways, from cheering us on, suggesting story ideas, and contributing articles, to donating to help sustain this all-volunteer effort. We also want to remind you that the Becket Beat will not publish […]
Top-Notch Service With a Small-Town Vibe
By Cathy Terwedow Perched atop the corner of Routes 8 and 20 in Becket is the “down-home” dispensary of Himalayan High. Down-home because they believe in the simplicity and authenticity of living in rural America, a place where you know your neighbors, and you believe in small business. In short, a place like Becket. Mike […]
Community Collaboration Results in $117K Grant to Improve Digital Access and Literacy for Becket and Washington Residents
By Marcia Parnell With the installation of fiber-optic, high-speed Internet service completed in Becket and Washington over three years ago, it seemed the work of the respective town broadband teams was done. But the availability of grant money to take it a step further, by improving digital access and literacy, represented too great an opportunity […]
Expanded Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) Services for Seniors in Becket
By Linda Shaw BRTA has begun serving Berkshire County rural communities with a small bus. The service is available for individuals 60 years and over and has wheelchair access. Not just for medical transportation, the bus can also be used for other activities like grocery shopping, movies, concerts, or visiting friends and family. It operates […]
Becket Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Looking for New Projects
By Mary Canty The Community Preservation Act (CPA) in Massachusetts helps communities obtain funding to develop open space and recreational facilities, create affordable housing, and preserve historic sites. It was enacted in September 2000 and has been adopted in 201 communities in Massachusetts. Becket has been an active member since 2008. During that time the […]
Mark your Calendar for“Protecting Your Personal Information On-Line”
Two Sessions: Tuesday, December 9, 6:30 pm at Becket Town HallThursday, December 11, 2 pm at Washington Town Hall Learn what you need to know to feel secure online, and improve your digital literacy. Information sessions and workshops on various technology topics will be held each month through October 2026. Topics and dates will appear […]
Becket Washington Community Partnership (BWCP) News—December 2025 / January 2026
Yoked Parish Community Emergency Outreach Program (CEOP) As the holidays approach, perhaps you’ll consider a donation to the CEOP, which helps individuals with one-time emergencies such as fuel assistance (a tank of propane), car repair (a new tire), medical needs (eyeglasses, crutches, inhaler), or even just a tank of gasoline to get to work. Demand […]