By Bill Shein
June 30, 2031
“[One Lenox resident] told the Selectmen that the slogan is dividing the town.” – From “Criticism of Lenoxology marketing plan continues,” Berkshire Eagle, June 25
Sometimes it’s funny how things work out, you know? I mean, here we are, in the year 2031, enjoying our flying cars and telepathic InterGoogWeb service and coping with summer temperatures that often reach 140 degrees. (You were right, Bill McKibben! We cooked our own goose!) And the town of Lenox? It’s doing great.
One of those "Entering Lenox" street signs, seen here in the year 2031 with a "Lenoxology" reference.
And yet it was just 20 years ago that the little town of Lenox, in what used to be called Berkshire County – long since renamed “Manhattan North” – began a discussion about how to increase tourism to the historic village.
Remember that back in 2011, the local economic picture was grim. Many Lenoxites were rightly concerned. Was the town’s economic base diverse enough? Might a newfangled “marketing and public relations campaign” attract additional tourism dollars? Soon a committee was formed, options were reviewed, proposals were considered, and action was taken.
And then all hell broke loose. READ MORE >>
