IN THIS ISSUE: VOL. IV NO. 6 3/15/2023
Notes from the follow-up Community Preservation Committee (CPC), March 3, Hybrid meeting
Notes from the Finance Committee (FC), March 2, Hybrid meeting
Notes from the Council on Aging, March 8, Hybrid meeting
Notes from the Select Board, March 9, Hybrid meeting
Notes from the Stockbridge Board of Health, March 10, Hybrid meeting
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDS)
by Christine Rasmussen
NEWS
St. Patrick's Day Senior Center Event Rescheduled to Friday
EDITORIAL
Editorial: Making a Village
Where there was land available, people came. Where there was clean water to drink, moving water for power, and arable soil, people stayed. It was a beautiful land but unforgiving.
In 1749, a traveler described it as, "A wilderness of forty miles on the east, a wood of twenty miles on the west, and a great and terrible wilderness on the north which reaches Canada."
Between the vast stretches of dark and uninhabited land were tiny settlements. They lived close together to watch over and help one another. They were a hardy and resourceful people and yet they were a settlement not an incorporated village.
To incorporate, that is, to be self-governing, collect taxes, and be given a name, the General Court in Boston had requirements. From day one, there were absentee owners and settlers, but the Court required more settlers. On every land grant, the Court demanded acres be cleared and cultivated, so, there had to be enough year-round residents to work the land.
The General Court required that the people come together, and as a cooperative body with pooled resources, build roads, a village square with meetinghouse and school. Only then could they apply for incorporation. Sheffield was the first to be incorporated in 1733. In 1739, Stockbridge was the second.
Unmaking A Village
We live in interesting times. We are presiding over the undoing of all the original requirements. No one need argue that change is inevitable and as times change so must we. We know that. Still the moment is worthy of a pause to consider, a nod to the inevitable, and a doff of the hat to what was.
We gave up our school to regionalization and are regionalizing town services. We are 60% part-timers. We built affordable housing in clusters away from the unaffordable — separating neighbors.
There is a coming apart as folks form closed email/chat groups. The real tragedy is that anyone in the group who shares the emails with anyone outside the group is called a traitor. In that way, neighbors become combatants. We are too small to absorb all that and survive. Heck the United States of America is too small.
There are problems to solve. There are many ideas. On whichever side of whatever issue, those so convinced they are right that they can push, and secretly plot, will do more harm than good, because, win or lose, it really, truly, is how you play the game.
Settling this land required strength and ingenuity — we need both now.
Carole Owens
Managing Editor
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
NEWS
SU FYI
1. A Rescue
Congratulations to our police, fire, and rescue. On March 3, 2023 between 2:30pm and 3:30pm, a fisherman was pulled from the icy waters of Stockbridge Bowl. Those responding were Fire Chief Vincent Garofoli, Deputy Fire Chief Neil Haywood, Police Chief Darrell Fennelly, Search and Rescue Team Jay Rhind, Bill Markham, Travis Searing, and Richmond Fire Department (RFD). The man was rescued and transported to Berkshire Medical Center. Read on...
A First-hand Account from Jay Rhind, Lieutenant, EMT, Search & Rescue Dive Team
Good morning, Carole-
At 2:30 Stockbridge Fire Department (SFD) received a call for a man through the ice in the vicinity of Lake Drive (the ice fisherman was out near the island).
SPF was 1st on the scene, and I arrived soon after followed by our Rescue truck driven by Travis Searing, and other firefighters from Stockbridge and Richmond.
Bill Markham, Captain SFD, and I donned our yellow Mustang Rescue suits. The Ice Rescue Sled was brought to shore, and we headed out.
The ice was thin, and we were walking, breaking through, getting stuck in the mud, but we kept going. Bill was able to assist by breaking through the ice, pushing, and pulling the sled towards the man. It was an exhausting and heroic task. Bill waited mid-way out as I continued on and finally made it to the man in the water.
He was holding onto the edge of the ice with only his head above water. I was able to get him lifted onto the sled and the shore crew pulled us back across the ice and water to shore.
This was a huge team effort, and everyone deserves a big congratulations for this rescue. SFD practices year-round for just this type of call, and everything paid off with SFD and others being able to save this man. Thank you, Carole. Think Spring! Jay
Photo: Jay Rhind
2. Take the survey!
Sue Elliott, Chief Audience Officer, writes: We at Norman Rockwell Museum care deeply about making the art we share with you, our community, and our visitors, meaningful. But we need your help. Will you please share your thoughts by taking our survey?
Our visitors come to us with different needs and values, and we want to understand them so we can best serve you. From how museums (like ours!) can help expand learning while also addressing the challenges our society is facing, we need to hear your thoughts.
To learn more about how we can do this, we are participating in a national survey of museum-goers, sponsored by the American Alliance of Museums. This survey will provide us with data from our visitors as well as nationwide results for context, helping us be more effective in the coming months and in the communities we serve.
The survey only takes about 9 minutes to complete, but in those 9 minutes you will help our team make better decisions for our future. And as a thank you there will be an opportunity for you to win one of ten $100 Visa gift cards!
Participation in this survey is voluntary and no questions are required. All responses to this survey will be kept confidential. Your response will not be used for any future solicitation. The survey can be found here. If you have any problems with the survey itself, please contact the survey administrator, Jessica Strube, at jessica@wilkeningconsulting.com. Simply go here to get started on the survey.
NEWS
Events
1. Stockbridge Library March 2023 Artist: Jay Rhind
Artist Statement: When I was in high school, I received a gift from my parents, a 35mm Pentax camera. I was instantly off and running. My ultimate goal is to try to make the ordinary look extraordinary" and as French photographer Mark Riboud so well said, "Taking pictures is savoring life intensely every hundredth of a second."
Photo: Jay Rhind
2. Ventfort Hall — Tea And Talk
On Tuesdays at 4pm from June 20 — August 29 (except 4th of July) — Speakers to be announced followed by tea.
3. The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires offers "free stuff" from April 3 – June 19
Workshops on Funding — Click here to complete your registration. Questions and more details? Email sarah@npcberkshires.org.
4. Lionel Delevingne: "Points de Vue"
March 31 – April 30, 2023
Opening reception: Saturday, April 1, 2023, 2 pm – 6 pm
510 Warren Street Gallery
510 Warren St., Hudson, NY
Hudson, NY — 510 Warren Street Gallery is pleased to present the photographic works of Lionel Delevingne in a show titled "Points de Vue" beginning on Friday, March 31st, and continuing until Sunday, April 30, 2023. An opening reception with the artist will be held on Saturday, April 1st from 2 to 6 pm.
"I discover beauty everywhere — in water, ice, snow and in the strength of a tree."
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
NEWS
From the Desk of Michael Canales, Town Administrator
Hi Carole — Please see announcement below.
This is a weather notice from the Town of Stockbridge: In anticipation of the coming storm the Town of Stockbridge has declared a snow emergency from 5:00pm today until noon on Wednesday, there will be no parking on town streets during this time and residents are encouraged to limit their travel to allow for the clearing of streets during this extended storm.
Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday and all scheduled meeting are cancelled. The Transfer station will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for staff to assist with the storm and anticipated clean up on Wednesday. The senior center monthly lunch has been postponed to Friday.
Winter Storm Safety Tips from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency can be found on our website under news. Community members in need of assistance during the storm should contact 911.
Winter Storm Safety Tips from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency can be found at https://stockbridge-ma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Winter-Storm-Safety-Tips.pdf
Thank you for your cooperation and please remain safe.
Photo: James Lawson
NEWS
Notes from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), February 27, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Sally Underwood-Miller, Chair
- Tom Stokes
- Patrick White
- Gary Pitney
- Linda Jackson
- Jay Bikofsky
- Carole Owens
- Representatives for applicants
- Minutes from January 5 and 19 minutes approved as written.
- A fee for Ericka Olesen's services from administrative funds — approved.
- Lis Wheeler in person and Ranne Warner via Zoom for Affordable Housing Trust (AHT), request $225,000 for repairs at Pine Woods. Request withdrawn until the extent of the need determined. Bikofsky said $225,000 that AHT has in hand could be used for determination. Stokes thought AHT had to return to CPC to ask permission in order to spend that money. White said no. Owens agreed since CPC already awarded that money. Underwood-Miller will ask Town Counsel.
- Charles Adams for Pennrose LLC — affordable housing at Brushwood Farms Lenox — request for $100,000. Owens asked, although in Lenox, does Stockbridge get credit for affordable housing units toward state requirement? No. Request declined.
- Riverbrook - $50,000 for new fire escape - approved.
- Heaton Court — two requests: $67,529 to complete siding; $15,000 for driveway repair. Approved.
- Berkshire Theater Group — Town Counsel concerned if it qualifies for historic preservation — for example proposed asphalt roof rather than cedar shingles as originally used. Is it restoration or rehab? Declined.
- Acquisition of Swann property — "Fenn Farm" - 351 acres on side of Monument Mountain - appraisal $2.2 million. Request from CPC $300,000. Approved as "up to $300,000" as ultimately needed with unused portion dedicated to "open space". Approved.
- Waldorf School — $185,000 approved for Americans with Disabilities (ADA) access – including elevator (lift) and mold/ remediation. Approved.
- ConCom requested $5200 to clear invasives and beautify the land on the left side of entrance to dump donated as a bird sanctuary. Approved
- Friends of Goud Meadows requested $11,916 for plantings and to clear invasives. Approved.
- Cemetery $42,000 for restoration work on the tombstones of John and Abigail Sergeant. Approved.
- Library requested $5600 to digitize /microfilm part of collection and $3875 to restore daguerreotypes. Approved
- Laurel Hill Association of $70,000 requested to restore Mary Flynn Trail, $20,000 approved.
Meeting adjourned
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
NEWS
Notes from the follow-up Community Preservation Committee (CPC), March 3, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Sally Underwood-Miller, Chair
- Tom Stokes
- Patrick White
- Gary Pitney
- Linda Jackson
- Jay Bikofsky
- Carole Owens
- Members from the Affordable Housing Trust (AHT)
- Minutes approved as written.
- Chesterwood requested $20,000 of total $115,000 needed to restore garden wall. Approved.
- Stockbridge Bowl Association of the $16,500 request for kiosk, clearl invasives and identify old growth trees in Bullard Woods, $11,500 approved.
- Stockbridge Land Trust — "up to $300,000 approved with balance dedicated to open space" approved. Owens made a plea to reword motion to grant "up to $300,000 to Stockbridge Land Trust with balance placed in an undesignated account rather than open space account so as not to tie CPC's hands. No action.
- Request from Pine Woods was not written by Pine Woods. Owner of property has to submit the proposal or append a letter agreeing to the work. Not considered.
- Affordable Housing Trust request for $50,000 for evaluation and condition report of Pine Woods. Approval contingent upon AHT getting written approval from Construct Inc.
Meeting adjourned.
Editor's Note: Only the property owner can grant access to property and approve changes to the property. In the case of Pine Woods, the owner is Construct, Inc., not the Town.
Photo: Bill Bean
NEWS
Notes from the Finance Committee (FC), March 2, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Jay Bikofsky, Chair
- Steve Shatz
- Jim Balfanz
- Pam Boudreau
- Diane Reuss
- Ed Lane
- Jorja Marsden
- Bill Vogt
- Jamie Minacci, (SB)
- Patrick White, (SB)
- Michael Canales, Town Administrator
- Minutes voted to accept, however,
- Chair wanted to append bios of all the FC members — perhaps one sentence each with financial background.
- Vogt suggested one sentence to added to minutes stating the Moderator appointed FC members because of our financial background. That passed.
- Chair explained would discuss Town budget absent school budget being prepared by Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD) for Great Barrington, Stockbridge and W. Stockbridge. Chair summarized BHRSD preliminary figures as follows:
- Total enrollment 1205 students.
- Total budget-- capital and operational — is approximately $35,238.733.
- Of which Stockbridge's share was 2.38% and is now 3.94% UP 1.56% based on property values and general affluence.
- Operational: Stockbridge's share in dollars is approximately $3,733,143.
- Capital expenditures — Stockbridge share approximately $78,450.
- As the discussion continued, some confusion about dollar amounts.
- Canales presented overview of Town budget without school budget. Proposed budget is up only 2.1%. Shatz suggested that since there was so little change that FC not review the budget line by line.
- Canales moved to employee salaries and suggested a 2.5% increase in salaries.
- Vogt said that seemed low in light of inflation.
- Bikofsky said important that we retain our staff — "good team".
- White said if raise pay beyond 2.5% that raises baseline and each year that goes up. Over ten years for example could be an additional $350,000. Rather than doing that, give bonuses this year to offset inflation.
- Vogt and Balfanz seemed to support idea of bonuses and baseline remaining the same., but Shatz cut off discussion objecting to the process and asking who was supposed to be advising whom?
- Canales shifted to capital expenses. Vogt asked how much would it cost to put sewer all around lake? Canales said millions and they were studying issue.
- Shatz complained there was too much money in free cash and the stabilization fund. He remembered FC voted that it should be 10% and now it is 37%. Bikofsky said it was due to COVID. Canales said Curtisville Bridge and dredging would "eat up" overage.
- Canales continued Town has many capital projects in the works and wants to wait until some or all are done before adding new ones.
- Canales was concerned that an annual [loan] payment that was usually $100,000 will be $200,000 this year.
- White suggested using $100,000 of the $150,000 available in the Reserve Fund from the current fiscal year. That leaves the balance of $50,000. He suggested that, were the town to have an emergency requiring more than $50,000, we could use American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) to cover any difference. White asked for comment on suggestion.
- FC seemed unwilling to discuss any issue before budget complete. Apparently seeing their job as review and comment on a completed budget prepared by Canales and White and referred to FC by SB.
- Again, fruitless back and forth about who advises whom.
- One FC member did compliment on an excellent budget. "Seemingly miraculous" that with inflation, the budget hardly went up.
Meeting adjourned
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
NEWS
Notes from the Council on Aging, March 8, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Chris McCarthy, Chair
- Jack Gremli
- Ron Muir
- Diane Sheridan
- Nancy O'Brien
- Roxanne McCaffrey, Director
- Michael Canales, (TA)
- Patrick White (SB) via Zoom
- The Chair welcomed Roxanne to her new position
- February minutes approved as corrected
- Gremli reported that the Organizational Guide was complete — a hardcopy will be given to McCaffrey and put in file and electronic copies sent to ExDir and members.
- Muir and Gremli reported that February Senior Center luncheon was a success with over 40 in attendance. Fun had by all – pizza, chocolate, and Beatles trivia
- McCaffrey reported
- 25 reservations for March luncheon.
- Trying to get Brian Cruey (Naumkeag) for a program in April.
- She also related a call from a retired nurse asking what is protocol if someone has COVID but needs a ride to the doctor? McCaffrey said she tried to reach Jim Wilusz, Tri-Town Health Director. She was unsuccessful but did talk to Dr. Charles Kenny, Chair Stockbridge Board of Health, who told her if COVID patient is asymptomatic and wears mask, can ride the bus. McCaffrey said Kenny felt everyone should get COVID and then we can achieve herd immunity.
- Gremli objected and asked if this was official policy? McCaffrey restated that is came from Kenny.
- McCarthy said could not have such a policy without informing people.
- White said this was not the venue to discuss public health policies related to COVID. (Please see Editor's note below).
- McCarthy stressed importance of good programming. McCaffrey asked COA for suggestions. Canales said the Director should bring suggestions to the Council for their approval.
- More discussion on details of meal and program planning. McCaffrey suggested healthy meals and also that since they have a kitchen maybe they sould cook rather than purchasing meals.
Meeting adjourned
Editor's note: 1. SU put out a news alert immediately offering the link to the recommendations of the Mass Department of Public Health regarding COVID. 2. Charles Kenny, Chair, Tri-Town Health and Stockbridge Board of Health, and Jim Wilusz, Executive Director, Tri-Town Health, sent a joint letter as follows: Carole, Below is the letter we sent to the Council on Aging to correct inaccurate statements made during the March 9 Council meeting. Please feel free to reprint it. Charlie.
"Greetings members of the Council,
In view of the below email, I think the discussion today requires further clarification.
The Stockbridge Board of Health and Tri-Town Heath Department recommend first of all that you follow the guidelines of the Mass DPH regarding Covid.
Secondly, if the transportation services you intend to provide originate from Great Barrington, I suggest you also contact the Great Barrington Health Department for advice.
Neither the Stockbridge Board of Health nor the Tri-Town Heath Department is staffed to create a comprehensive policy for the Council.
If a specific issue arises concerning transportation through Lee, Lenox, or Stockbridge, please feel free to contact Tri-Town for an opinion. For example, the issue brought up to me today involved the transport of a recently Covid-positive person to a doctor's office.
First, the doctor in question should be notified to determine if it is medically advisable to transport the person at this time or preferrable to wait and follow the DPH recommended isolation procedures.
If the doctor decides the visit should take place in spite of the disease, an authorized ambulance service should be utilized.
Charles Kenny MD
Chair, Tri-Town Board of Health
James Wilusz RS
Director, Tri-Town Health Department"
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
NEWS
Notes from the Select Board, March 9, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Lee Select Board members - Shawn Regnier, Chair, Bob Jones, Gordon Bailey
- Stockbridge Select Board members - Patrick White, Chair, Jamie Minnaci, Chuck Cardillo
- Town Administrators Lee and Stockbridge
- Fire Chiefs Lee and Lenox
- 18 via Zoom
- Could not determine how many attended in person.
- White welcomed everyone to the joint meeting and explained there was one agenda item — considering a merger between Lee and Stockbridge fire and rescue
- Intermunicipal services in shared building. All Stockbridge volunteers were thanked by White and told if they wish to stay on they will be welcome.
- Lee Fire Chief and Stockbridge Fire Chief stressed the need.
- Stockbridge has increasing numbers of part-time residents and an aging population.
- Stockbridge had a 90-person volunteer fire department but now has an 8 volunteers and all must retire by 70 years old.
- Lee already is on-call, sharing services and equipment with Stockbridge. The Lee Chief hopes sharing firehouse and staff will increase response time.
- The Chiefs wanted to assure everyone that there will be problems but right now there will be no diminution of service.
- White said cannot kick this can down the road.
- During public comment firemen were present in person and on Zoom with the intelligent questions that come from experience.
- Regnier said the questions asked and the need underscored that they should firm a study committee. White concurred and said it should move with deliberate speed but not rush an important process.
- White called for new volunteers and encouraged anyone interested to contact him or the Fire Chief.
- The two select boards agreed the advisory board should consist of one select board member from each town (Cardillo and Jones), the two fire chiefs, the two town administrators, one volunteer (chosen by the volunteers) and one citizen member from each town.
Meeting adjourned
NEWS
Notes from the Stockbridge Board of Health, March 10, Hybrid meeting
Present:
- Charles Kenny, Chair
- John Lioidice
- Jim Wilusz, Executive Director, Tri-Town Board of Health
- Henry Schwerner, vis Zoom
- Citizens who receive their water from Housatonic Water Works (HWW)
- Minutes of June 16, 2022, approved as corrected.
- Chair announced "Citizen Speak"
- Seven or more spoke about HWW, the color and quality of their water. All reported
- Discoloration.
- The need to buy water to drink — "even my dog won't drink it".
- The number of years — more than 3 years — that the problem has persisted without HWW, DEP, or the Town of Great Barrington correcting the situation.
- More than one reported outside water quality testing showed unacceptable levels of magnesium (discolors) and possible carcinogens.
- One speaker said some water appears clear rather than brown and still tests with unacceptable levels.
- They asked Board of Health to at least alert the public to health risks
- They asked that BOH find a way to hold HWW accountable and do something to correct the situation.
- Wilusz said those receiving HWW water are predominantly Housatonic/ Great Barrington residents but also West Stockbridge and Stockbridge residents. Stockbridge does maintain pipes that are in Stockbridge. Wilusz asked for copies of water quality testing.
- Kenny said he spoke to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and they had asked HWW for remediation proposals. DEP received some and approved one. Evidently this is a slow process.
- Kenny and Wilusz said they were studying issue, gathering information, and trying to determine what they could do.
- Last agenda item — Massachusetts "Opioid settlement" — each municipality will receive a percentage. State asked if municipalities could coordinate.
- Wilusz said Tri-Town Health is coordinating with the Rural Recovery Center to serve substance abuse disorders.
- Kenny suggested postponing further discussion until next meeting.
Meeting adjourned
Photo: Jay Rhind
PERSPECTIVE
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDS)
by Christine Rasmussen
Living in the Berkshires, we're dependent on neighboring towns to provide services for our well-being, like food and drug stores, medical professions, etc., so working region-wide while honoring home rule on economic development makes good sense. The strategy lifts all boats in a county with a median household income in 2019 of $59,230, a statistic that continues to lag the U.S. figure ($65,712) and the state figure ($81,215) and per capita income for Berkshire County in 2019 of $35,616, compared with $46,241 for the state.
After working diligently for ten years, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) received designation from the federal Economic Development Administration in January of 2022, establishing the county as an Economic Development District (EDD). This designation recognizes the region's enthusiasm for and competence in collaborating around economic development work and innovation-driven economic growth.
Over the last year, BRPC brought together a diverse group of business, non-profit, and community leaders to develop a broad-based vision for a more robust economic future for the county. The plan, called the Berkshire County Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDS) for 2023-2027, focuses on three themes: People, Community, and Economy, with goals that will serve as the framework for prioritizing Economic Development efforts in the region over the next five years:
1. Healthy People - Foster the well-being of all residents by ensuring affordable and equitable access to food, housing, education, and healthcare.
2. Resilient Communities - Equip our municipalities to serve their constituents, steward resources and manage governance effectively.
3. Future-Ready Workforce - Prepare our workforce through a lifespan approach to education, training, upskilling, and career versatility.
4. Strong Business Environment - Provide a streamlined ecosystem of support for a diverse range of businesses through access to capital, technical assistance, and expansion opportunities.
5. Robust Infrastructure - Prioritize improvements to critical economic prosperity and resilience elements, including transportation, utilities, and communications.
Pursuit of these goals are a shared responsibility of economic development practitioners, business owners, and municipal leaders alike. Stockbridge's Board of Selectmen and Agriculture and Forestry Commission are already working on the first goal of improving access to food by building on our "brand identity" with a rich agricultural tradition, historic properties, and outdoor recreational activities enhancing the lives of residents and visitors by exploring the creation of a farmers' market this summer.
Editor's note: Christine is the Stockbridge Board of Selectmen's delegate to BRPC.
Photo: Lionel Delevingne
THE LAST WORD
Reader to Reader
To Stockbridge Updates
I would appreciate a timely correction. This is what I actually said at the meeting: I'm really confused. The assumption [of the proposed, revised ADU language] is that if it were a part-time resident that purchased the property, they would be renting both units, rather than the part-time resident buys the property and rents out the ADU — maybe to a town person — who lives in town and rents it as an apartment. Why is the assumption that [a part-time resident] is going to rent out both as short-term rentals? If you had adequate rules around the short-time rentals you wouldn't have to assume that. But because you're not actually regulating the commercialization of the short-term rentals, you're then just penalizing who can build an ADU. It's just a curious question. The assumption is that a part-time resident cannot build an ADU for the good of the town, only a full-time resident can. I just find that an interesting question.
Regards,
Patty Caya
Dear Carole,
There will be a citizen's petition article on the Annual Town warrant to allow voters to decide if members of the finance committee will be elected in the future rather than appointed by the town moderator.
It is not about the qualifications of the current members of the finance committee which seems to be the way that it has been interpreted by the committee chair and members. The last two finance committee meetings have been spent discussing their bios and how to reflect in their minutes that they are qualified. We trust that they are qualified or wouldn't have been appointed.
It is doubtful that those who wrote the original bylaw foresaw the possibility of the same person being moderator and appointing all committee members for over 43 years. Times change and that's why bylaws can be amended.
The Democratic Town Committee formerly endorsed electing representatives to this important committee because it is more transparent and more democratic. It gives all who wish to serve — including the present members — the opportunity to run and all voters the right to choose.
- As present members' terms expire, the seat will on the ballot and any interested party can run.
- Present committee members will be able to run as incumbents as well as other interested townspeople
- An informed electorate will choose who sits on the committee.
Thank you for Stockbridge Updates and all you do to keep us informed!
Best wishes,
Anita Schwerner, Chair, Democratic Town Committee
Photo: James Lawson
Stockbridge Updates Statement of PurposeTo inform without opinion or pressure and give the people of Stockbridge the facts they need to make informed decisions. To provide space for opinion, but since facts and opinions are different, to clearly mark opinion pieces, and clearly identify the opinion holder. Stockbridge Updates is a periodic newsletter delivered through email. Carole Owens, Managing Editor Stockbridge Updates Policy with Respect to SubmissionsSU welcomes your letters and other submissions on all Stockbridge subjects, history and current events, news and human interest, whatever is on your mind. As with articles and opinion pieces, letters are 400 words or less, no personal attacks, and always attach your name. SU does not include personal information and will delete telephone numbers, email addresses, post office boxes, and street addresses. Limit one submission per month. Carole Owens, Managing Editor Stockbridge Updates: FormatSU is attempting to present a consistent format for readers. SU begins with its Table of Contents. The SU Editorial is next and then the News. News is divided between one-time events, such as the election and events around town, and recurring reporting, such as the Notes from... section. It is called Notes from... because SU attends the town meetings, takes notes, and reports what happened. If SU has a comment or question, it is at the end of the meeting identified as Editor's Comment or Editor's Question. The next section is Contributors. Under contributors, you may find Stockbridge history, opinion pieces, or information from a Committee Chair or elected official. Our final section is Reader to Reader, our letter section. The issue closes with the SU Statement of Purpose and Policy for Contributors. We welcome all letter writers and contributors; deadline on the 10th for the issue posted on the 15th of the month and on the 26th for the issue posted on the first. Your Submissions Welcome!Submit comments, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor to carole@stockbridgeupdates.com If you want to look at back issues, go to: our archive page Stockbridge Updates—pass it on. |