Editor’s note: This op-ed is by award-winning journalist Telly Halkias. It first appeared in the Berkshires Advocate Weekly.
When Edie Karlin, 78, passed away in December from congestive heart failure, I should have known the Advocate wasn’t far behind.
After three decades, this week was the last gasp for the venerable Berkshires weekly, where I served as its longtime Vermont correspondent. It became another victim of the industry’s new normal.
Longtime Advocate reader Edith (“Edie”) Siegel Karlin hailed from Pittsfield, Mass. The retired teacher was an Ohio State grad and held a master’s degree from the former North Adams State College. While her husband Sam and children Sharon, Eric and Joel were the loves of her life, a passion for learning was its foundation.
At the core of Edie’s being was reading; that’s how I came to know her. My family owns a used bookstore here in Vermont, and years ago Edie approached us to sell her books.
When she first called, I introduced myself. Edie’s well-oiled tumblers clicked into place: “Wait – I know you! You write for the Advocate. I never miss your columns!”
And so, as a result of my weekly column and other features and reviews I contributed to the Advocate, a friendship blossomed.
Twice a year, in May and November, Edie and Sam drove from Pittsfield to Bennington to drop off books she had read over the past six months. Even in more recent years, as I split my time between Vermont and my home in Maine, I never missed their visits.
On that first trip, the volume of books stunned me. I thought they would bring a box or two; instead it was more than 150 titles.
Simply put, Edie read a book a day.
Karlin family visits became ritual. In fact, I marked the New England seasons by their arrival: mud season and spring, then late fall and stick season.
With the help of Sam, Sharon or Eric, we unloaded books in my driveway. The entire time Edie stood leaning on her cane, whipping up a dose of family chatter, mostly regarding her Advocate readings and how they related to life.
Her body, while fading with each trip, didn’t keep her mind from being as honed as a meat cleaver. A typical exchange would start with: “Telly, you wrote a column four months ago about … ” and we would go from there.
Often our discussions centered on the Advocate’s history – which had many Green Mountain connections. Edie had devoured its offerings since 1981, and we discussed its editorial direction and my involvement. I always reminded Edie I had been an Advocate reader long before I began writing for it, in 2006.
Edie epitomized what New England readers outside big cities bring to the table every day: a sharp wit, a deep love of the region, and an appreciation for arts, culture, and the human story.
There was the decade-long editorial spot of the talented and visionary Mark Rondeau, now county news editor at the Bennington Banner, and Vermont’s finest journalist on religion. His tenure saw the Advocate shaped into the superb form it held to its final day.
Then came the late Glenn Drohan, about as passionate a hard news journalist as New England has ever seen. Following him was the versatile and community-oriented Rebecca Dravis, who began her career years ago at the Rutland Herald. Today, she is a regional coordinator of volunteers for the Girl Scouts.
Two brief editorial tenures followed: the eloquent Nichole Dupont, and Shawn Hartley Hancock. Both continue to write in New England.
Edie and I shared stories of events covered by the Advocate, and how each editor put their own stamp on the overall presentation: the Advocate was a direct reflection of its editor’s personality.
Edie loved these twists, and consumed each issue as it hit the stands.
The Advocate’s last editor was Erik Sokolowski, now an online multimedia editor at the Berkshire Eagle. He was tasked with steering the newspaper in a “more town news, less arts and culture” direction, and to adopt a direct-mail distribution model on top of its regional spread.
Like the three editors before him, Erik respected my work and experience. He was open to suggestions and dialog, and gave me a chance to resolve differences, even contentious ones. Once we established mutual ground rules on his watch, he had the final say, as it should be.
A writer can’t ask for more, and so to all my Advocate bosses, I’m deeply appreciative for the opportunity to bring Vermont news, and my commentaries, south and west of the borders.
I’m also grateful for Edie Karlin, whose heart gave out long before her spirit ever would.
Edie was the best among us. She epitomized what New England readers outside big cities bring to the table every day: a sharp wit, a deep love of the region, and an appreciation for arts, culture, and the human story.
And this is what links her to my work today in VTDigger. This neophyte non-profit of just three years, and its editors and writers work hard to give the best product possible in a highly competitive market chock-full of discerning readers.
It’s those readers that make our efforts worthwhile, however tough the business of journalism has become today.
Last November, Edie didn’t make the trip north to Vermont to deliver her books, having been laid up in bed after surgery. But Sam had a message for me when he dropped them off:
“Edie is restless and wants you to know she’ll see you in the spring.”
I’ll miss covering the Advocate’s Vermont stories, but will yearn for its readers even more. Among them, the inherent humanity of Edie Karlin will stand out as a beacon — a light to guide us — long after the turn of her beloved newspaper’s last page.
You may e-mail Telly Halkias at tchalkias@aol.com or follow on Twitter: @TellyHalkias