Editorial

You Are Missing all the Fun

A few years ago, during a Select Board meeting, a man was intent upon airing his opinion and getting on the record.  Very smart, well-educated, and focused, he was also quite hard of hearing. He had written out his remarks and was looking down at his paper. Perhaps he went on too long or perhaps his remarks were not welcome. In any case, the Chair picked up the gavel and asked for silence.

Please understand that invitation to speak for two minutes or three is a local preference. However, the Chair also has the power of the law. If a Chair asks someone to be quiet, that person must stop talking.

The gentleman, eyes on his paper, intent upon his remarks, went on even though the Chair had rapped the gavel.  Unaware that he could not hear the Chair, he appeared to be ignoring her.  The Chair gaveled again, and when seemingly ignored a third time, instructed the administrator to call the police to have the man removed.

Remember, the Chair has the power of the law.  There is no reason to set time limits.  We can trust our neighbors to know “that the mind can absorb no more than the seat can endure” and keep their remarks brief or the Chair has complete control without arbitrary rules.

You know, those pronouncements about time limits make folks feel bad – as if they are not welcome and as if the podium does not want to hear from the floor.

The man went on unfazed because he never heard a word.

Meanwhile – in the back of the room a man shouted out – “let him talk.”

Another man told the first man to shut up.  They stood up and faced off, civility forgotten, when…the policeman walked in. Certain of his duty, the policeman asked the two men to leave and followed them out into the hallway.

The man at the podium continued delivering his remarks utterly unaware. The Chair was flummoxed and therefore silent.

When the man sat down next to me, he asked “Could everyone hear me?”

When I burst out laughing, he asked, “did I miss something?”

See the fun you miss when you do not attend meetings?

From the agenda for a recent Select Board (SB) meeting: “Administrative or operational issues that need discussion/decision-making. Public Input by the public will be limited to three (3) minutes per agenda item. Total time will be ten (10) minutes that may be extended by the chair.”

Recently the SB appeared to suggest extending the two minute limit to three.  It is a step in the right direction, but the proper sentiment would be mutual respect. My goodness, wouldn’t it be nice if we just trusted our neighbors to limit themselves out of mutual respect, and our neighbors would come to the point, make it, and sit down out of mutual respect for us?   If we want people to come, to engage in their government, then we should make it warmer and more welcoming – it is already amusing.

by Carole Owens, Executive Editor

News

SU FYI

1. In the fall of 2024, Vern Tower collected our horse trough from the corner of Elm and Main Streets. He took it to his workshop in Richmond. MA. Though it was very damaged, the expectation was that we would have it back by Spring 2025. It was not to be.

Tower was incapacitated with a severe medical condition.  It required a serious, life-saving procedure, and a long recovery.   During the same time, he suffered the loss of his beloved partner of 35 years, Margaret Hensel.  It was a good deal to bear, but on a sunny day in May, we stood together in his workshop in Richmond and surveyed his progress. This is, ultimately, a happy story of recovery and skilled labor.

Master craftsman Tower found that the trough was cracked to the depth of its base in more than one location.

“They put the drain in the wrong place. It should be in the base not the side wall.” Tower explained.

When we saw it, he had repaired all the cracks that caused water to seep through the entire thick base of the rough-hewn local marble.  The tool marks where the shape was originally chiseled out were replicated by Tower blending the repairs into the body of the 145-year-old piece.  Tower’s repairs will be invisible after one last step. The color of the repairs has to be matched to color achieved over time – no easy task.

Once repairs on the trough are complete and returned to its spot in Stockbridge, Tower will turn his attention to repairing the original cat and dog of our famous fountain (what is there is a repaired replica).

The Horse Watering Trough, dated 1881, was fashioned out of rough-hewn, white, Alford marble. It was a gift to the village from Giovanni Albinola.  Albinola, an Italian, was imprisoned in Austria for political reasons.  When released, he settled in Stockbridge.   According to a document next door in the Stockbridge Library Museum and Archives, Albinola gave the gift of the horse trough as an expression of his “gratitude for the peace and hospitality he had found here [in Stockbridge].” The words carved into the face of the trough read: “Merciful Man is merciful onto his Beast, Utility is Preferable to Grandeur.”

Wreathed in marble dust and a wide smile, Tower shows us his tools-of-the-trade. Two enormous saws suspended from the ceiling on a mechanism which lowers the blade as it cuts through marble and presumably anything else. One complex piece of machinery with diamonds beads along a cable is also for cutting stone (even if it is a sad use of diamonds).  He built those himself.   Later, at his 125 year-old house, we learn he repaired and stabilized it, built a wonderful kitchen and rebuilt the barn next door. 

A happy story of recovery and skills put to use. Another happy thought: our horse trough, with Pan glaring, will return soon.

Carole Owens

1. Tanglewood: An Origin Story, an audio book, is coming soon! What is the new vision with which Andris Nelsons did not agree? Is Tanglewood about the change radically? Perhaps now is the moment to capture all it has been. Pre-order here.
2. Hannah Van Sickle Community Partnerships Power Hands-On Learning at Muddy Brook Elementary School

Students and teachers benefit from the generosity of local learning at Muddy Brook Elementary’s third-grade classrooms, driven by partnerships with three Berkshire-based nonprofits helping to bring hands-on learning to life.

“It has been a year of incredible growth for our students, and we have been fortunate to leverage several community partnerships that have deeply enriched our curriculum,” says classroom teacher Stephanie Kluka whose Team 3 colleagues include Dianna Lupiani, Vanna Maffuccio, and Maegan Warner.

“Throughout the school year, we have been honored to work with educators from The Mount, The Norman Rockwell Museum, and Mass Audubon… experts [who] have visited our classrooms multiple times, bringing history and science to life,” says Kluka, who provided details on each collaboration in what the classroom teachers dubbed a professional community “trifecta”:

• Literary Editing with The Mount: Educators taught students to amplify their writing by using the same “cut and paste” editing techniques used by Edith Wharton. This hands-on approach to revision significantly improved student engagement with transition words and essay structure.
• Social-Emotional Learning with Norman Rockwell Museum: In our second year of this partnership, we explored local history and social-emotional concepts through Rockwell’s iconic works, such as The Golden Rule, The Problem We All Live With, The Peace Corps: JFKs Legacy and The Four Freedoms. These lessons sparked deep discussions regarding equity, community service, and our shared freedoms.
• Scientific Inquiry with Mass Audubon: Students engaged in nature journaling, vernal pool observation, and the study of local habitats and adaptations, providing a vital bridge between our classroom science standards and the natural world around us.

Each partnership will culminate in a meaningful milestone: end-of-year field trips to The Mount, The Norman Rockwell Museum, and Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary—all hosted free of charge—a powerful example of what’s possible when schools and community partners come together. 

• The Literacy Network of South Berkshire welcomes education professionals Jeanne Lemlin and Marcy Mann to its Board of Directors.  Jeanne Lemlin is the James Beard award winning author of five cookbooks.  Marcy Mann worked as a teacher and Developmental Psychologist in New York City before moving to The Berkshires. Both volunteered with LitNet as tutors. 

 https://litnetsb.org    

News

From the Statehouse

The State Budget

There is a seven-step process to finalize the Commonwealth Budget for FY 2027, which begins on July 1, 2026.  The Governor proposed a budget in January.  Senate consideration is Step 4 of a seven-step process to reach a constitutionally mandated balanced budget process.  
Step 1: The Governor’s Budget. Governor Healey’s office was conducting budget hearings to learn residents’ priorities and seeking input from her agencies to inform her budget decisions.
The state budget process begins by determining revenue.  There is an assessment of how well the state’s economy is doing and an examination of past trends in the collection of income, sales, business, and other taxes, as well as from lottery sales. All these estimates together help state elected officials estimate how much money the state will have available (the “revenue”) to fund the state’s budget for the coming fiscal year. This is known as the “Consensus Revenue Estimate” (CEI), and the amount is reported on many newscasts as residents compare it to the previous year’s figures.  
The Governor and Legislature use the CRI as a base for their budget proposals to ensure balanced budgets. For the FY 2027 budget (note: July 1 is the start of FY 27), the CRI was set at $44.9 billion in Jan 2026. The estimate includes projected tax revenue growth (e.g., 1.7% to 3.1%), consideration of economic indicators, the “millionaire surtax,” and federal tax law changes in the creation of the  ”balanced budget” as required by the state constitution If the Governor or Legislature wants to spend more than is agreed in the CRI, their budget proposal will have to include new revenue proposals.
Governor Maura Healey sent her FY 2027 budget proposal to the Massachusetts Legislature on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Known as House 2 (H.2), the $62.8 billion spending plan follows the state constitutional requirement to submit a proposal by the fourth Wednesday of January. Key features of her submission included: 

• Spending Increase: A 1% to 3.8% increase over the previous fiscal year, depending on the inclusion of surtax revenue.
• Fair Share Surtax: Allocates $2.7 billion from voter-approved surtax revenue toward education and transportation.
• Education Aid: Proposes a 3.2% increase for Chapter 70 education aid and $20 million for rural school aid.
• Local Support: Includes $1.36 billion for Unrestricted General Government Aid to support municipal services. This is the funding that helps towns balance their budgets. 

Step 2: House of Representatives Budget (April) The House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) reviewed the Governor’s budget and, after conducting public hearings, drafted its own version.

The House budget was finalized on April 29^th.  Items of interest to residents of Berkshire County in the House’s budget include:

• Rural School Aid: The House bill funds rural school aid at $10 million for eligible towns and regional school districts. While this is a priority, it is $2 million less than in fiscal year 2026. There is an expectation that the millionaire’s tax revenue will plug this hole. 

• Education Funding (Chapter 70): The budget includes $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, marking the sixth and final year of the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) implementation.
• Special Education (Circuit Breaker): An additional $2 million was secured for the Special Education Circuit Breaker, aimed at helping districts manage high-cost, intensive needs education.
• Regional Transportation: The House budget provides $112.3 million for regional school transportation and $6.8 million for out-of-district vocational transportation.
• Road Maintenance (Chapter 90): Following a previous 2025 law, many Berkshire towns are seeing a 75% to 90% increase in Chapter 90 funds for bridge and highway projects.
• Local Housing Repair: 10 towns are receiving a combined $4.5 million in federal funds to repair aging housing stock.

Step 3: House Budget Debate and Passage (April 2026)

The full House of Representatives debated, amended, and voted on the House Ways and Means budget proposal. Once approved by the House, this became known as the House 2 on April 29, the $63,41 billion budget bill was finalized

Step 4: Senate Budget Development begins. 

Editor’s note: Proposed budget MA FY 2027 is $63.3 billion  

by Christine Rasmussun

News

Notes from the Finance Committee (FC), April 2, 2026, Hybrid meeting

1. The auditors reported to the Finance Committee and gave Stockbridge an excellent report.
   1. Town Administrator Michael Canales brought four additional items to the Finance Committee for consideration

1. The Regional Animal Shelter was inspected by the state and there are mandatory repairs. 

The shelter is in Lee on Route 102. The repairs are estimated at $72,900 and Stockbridge’s share is $14, 406. 

FC reviewed and recommended

• Stockbridge had an Opioid Fund formerly in a special account and dispersed from time to time.  New state rules require that money to be placed in Free

Cash and dispersed annually to eligible health care facilities. Currently there

Is $12,904 to be dispersed

• Stockbridge Stabilization Fund has $2,330,000 in it. In Free Cash there is $700,000. Disposition of funds to be voted on
  • Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad (SBAS) request

A letter was sent to the Select Board requesting $25,000 for operating expenses. SBAS serves 17 houses in the Furnace District of Stockbridge

The request is for one year only as Canales anticipates Stockbridge Fire and Rescue will be up and running after that. However, at the SB

meeting, SBAS CFO Patrick White requested an additional $25,000 toward the purchase of an ambulance. The SB approved both to be added 

to the Warrant for vote of the Town in two separate articles.

FC member, Rich Bradway, was concerned that $25,000 sounded like an arbitrary amount and wondered if it could be broken down. FC member, Roxanne McCaffrey, also preferred there be more detail or a breakdown.

FC member, Steve Shatz, said the organization (SBAS) has been mismanaged for years and these articles should not be recommended by the FC until after Great Barrington votes at their Town Meeting (to see what they awarded). Shatz continued by saying that a $25,000 as a capital expense is so little, because, in the FC’s calculation, an emergency vehicle can cost as much as $800,000. He concluded that the request for $25,000 for operating expenses if it is only for one year was “okay.”

Diane Rous said it was a comparatively small amount of money and we wanted the coverage in an emergency.

In answer to McCaffrey, Canales reported that they responded to 49 calls from the Furnace District – that would be $500/call. Everyone felt that was very reasonable. Canales also said SBAS also receives reimbursement per call from other sources. Bradway and Jim Balfanz said SBAS was “too disorganized.” Again, Shatz commented that they did not have ability to “sustain long term.”

Editor’s note: 49 calls in the Furnace District if only for the 17 Stockbridge houses would be almost 3 calls per household in one year. 

News

Notes from the Finance Committee (FC) April 23, 2026, Hybrid meeting

Chair Jay Bikofsky and Steve Shatz clarified that their job was to review and recommend to the SB and Town Meeting for or against the twelve articles on the Warrant that are financial matters.

They then went through all the Warrant articles under their purview. The Chair announced that he was asked not to read each article.  (To follow along, Stockbridge Updates has attached  

the Warrant here. )  Holly please attach the same warrant here that we attached to Notes from the Select Board in last issue

Review and Recommendation of Articles

Article Three – staff salaries – recommended

Article Four – 4.7% increase in operating budget – recommended

Article Five – Berkshire Hills Regional School operating budget – recommended

Article Six – BHRS capital budget – without new school build – recommended

Article Seven – OPEP transfer – recommended

Article Nine – recommended all sections except for sections 18 and 19

                           18 and 19 in Article 9 are the SBAS request for $50,000 for operating and capital expenses

                           18 SBAS operating budget recommended for one year

                           19 – again strong disapproval by Steve Shatz of SBAS as “complete mismanagement” and he added that Stockbridge will not get value of money spent ($25,000) on ambulance because 

Stockbridge will be up and running before ambulance even delivered. Shatz concluded, “SBAS threw their request up against the wall to see what sticks.”  FC will make no recommendation until they

see what Great Barrington decides. Will know what GB does before Baby Town Meeting 

                             Article Ten – Sewer – recommended

                             Article Eleven – Water – recommended 

                             Article Twelve – CPC – recommended

                             Article Fourteen – Cemetery – recommended

Editor’s note: To discuss these items with the Finance Committee and to ask any questions – attend the Baby Town Meeting – May 11 6pm – Town Offices.  Each Article will be read and all questions and comments addressed in preparation for Town Meeting May 18

News

Notes from the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC), April 27, 2026, Hybrid meeting

The Chair, Carl Sprague, announced there was a single agenda item. The Congregation of Marians, 2 Prospect Hill Road, were seeking permission to demolish a building.

The Committee has the responsibility of determining if a building is historically significant and disallowing demolition when it is determined that the building in question is.

The Marian’s were seeking a permit to demolish a building to build a 30 car parking lot. Representing the Marians were Matt Jacobs, Andrew Sansom, Brother Mark,

Bethany Price, and Brian Forsythe.

HPC Member Peter Williams did the research and discovered the building was a part of the former estate, Eden Hill.  It was the “Horticultural House” and was one of ten structures on the property considered significant by the Mass Historical Commission. The Committee asked if the parking lot could be located elsewhere given the vast number of acres.

Marian representatives shared that they did not want to build a parking lot and bear that expense but the Stockbridge Fire Chief disallowed parking where it had been as it could block fire and emergency equipment. They also felt they could not locate it elsewhere because it would be a long walk uphill to the church and many attendees were elderly. 

Williams shared that it had an identification number STO 536 and was on the National Register of Historic Places.

Marian representatives countered that it was in bad shape and the Building Inspector should condemn it and then they would tear it down due to structural damage.

HPC asked why they had not maintained the structure.

Demolition was denied.

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), May 5, 2026, Hybrid meeting

1. Form A for 9 South Street.  North of the gas station, one sister has a piece of land in front of the other sister.  She will sell a small piece to that sister. It is nonconforming, does not provide frontage, and is listed as unbuildable. PB granted permit.
2. Town Administrator Michael Canales presented a list of suggested fees for different permits.

Right now, Stockbridge only charges for special permits.

The fees would cover the advertisement, certified mailing, and staff time required in the permit process

Chair Kate Fletcher observed that he forgot the Form A in his list; Canales said he would add it at $100.

The list was discussed without reading it or showing it in a screen share so no one attending by Zoom could consider the suggestions

One PB member was concerned that Stockbridge not make fees onerous.  Another member asked where the fees would go and Canales said they would cover costs so the Town is not subsidizing any application.

The Motion to accept fees was made and passed.

• Canales then mentioned that he listened to a PB meeting where it was suggested that an applicant could appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) if he disagreed with a PB decision. Canales said PB could not say that. PB could say the person could appeal but not 

to whom (there are other choices such as the court system) and elected officials could not appear to direct an applicant

News

Notes from the Select Board, May 7, 2026, Hybrid meeting

1. Chair Jamie Minacci announced that appointed seats to Boards, Commissions, and Committees will be filled on June 8, 2026. Anyone – whether you have an appointment now or are seeking one for the first time, should email the Select Board and express your interest. At the Select Board meeting on June 8 – the appointments will be made from those who expressed interest.
2. The SB reviewed the suggestions from Town Administrator Michael Canales for new fees and fee increases. They are for permit requests for everything from signs to subdivisions. According to Canales the fees are intended to cover any costs and assure that the Town is “not subsidizing private endeavors.” Moved and passed as suggested.
3. Canales suggested Lee and Stockbridge Councils on Aging merge by sharing a director. Katie Szwyd, Director, Stockbridge Council on Aging will become the Director of both Lee and Stockbridge Councils on Aging.  Moved and passed. (See Editor’s Note) 

• Anita Schwerner asked that the fees enacted and the list of appointed positions open be made available to the public. SU reprinted the list of fees for your convenience here. For the list of positions, click here  

https://www.stockbridge-ma.gov/media/20581

Applications for Licenses and Permits Fees Alcohol Licenses (Applications for new licenses and to license amendments are available through the  ABCC ( Alcohol Beverages Control Commission) website • Restaurant/General On Premises All Alcoholic    $900 • Restaurant/General On Premises Beer & Wine    $350 • Club All Alcoholic    $500 • Package Store All Alcoholic    $1,000 • Package Store Beer & Wine $500 There is a $100 processing fee for all liquor license amendments. Annual License Applications • Common Victualler (Retail, Restaurant) License    $25 • B&B/Innholder’s License    $25 • Entertainment License – Annual     $10-$250 (Refer to License Fee Schedule) • Entertainment and Amusement License Policy Temporary License Applications • One Day Beer & Wine or All Alcoholic License    $30 per day • One Day Entertainment    $15 – $75 (Refer to License Fee Schedule) • Hawkers, Peddlers and Transient Vendors and Filming Permit    $35 • Tag Sale     $25 • Temporary Sign Permit  free Curb Cut / Street Opening Permit Application   $50 Special Permit 6.1.2    $200 and the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs. Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office. Special Permit other than 6.1.2   $200 plus the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs. Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office. ZBA Permit (Variance, Appeal…)  $200 plus the cost of publication of notice and mailing costs.  Applications must be delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office. 

• Town Administrator review – high marks on financial matters, budget, debt management and planning. Lower marks on Human Resources – “difficult conversations” in HR. Out of a possible 45 (highest score) Canales received a 35. This is his first review in his years as Town Administrator and follows rather than precedes a new 5-year contract
• Town Administrator’s Report
• Shadow Brook needs work and an evaluation is underway. This evaluation is required to qualify for state grant for repair of waterways.
• Stockbridge received a state grant for paving RTE 183
• The costs of Larrywaug repairs is up to $600,000
• Boat Ramp is officially closed this month but some accommodation for some boats (SBSC mentioned there are boats on the lake).
• Salt Shed (at Transfer Station) cannot be repaired and will be replaced
• Horse Trough should be completed and returned this summer. (Vaugh Tower was ill but is now better – see SU FYI above)
• A citizen came in with an item to discuss.  From her house, she can see the wetlands by the Industrial Park and has observed much trash being thrown into the wetlands. She and her neighbors have picked up some, but the amount is beyond them now. She asked at the Transfer Station and was now asking the SB to whom to report this and how to get it cleaned up. The SB suggested she tell the Police and the Highway Department.

Editor’s note: A decade ago, in 2016, then-Representative Smitty Pignatelli put forward the Community Compact. It proposed, as a cost saving devise, shared services in education, public works, public safety, and human services. It also allowed Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge to share a town administrator.  However, when a vote in Stockbridge was required to proceed, it was voted down. Lee and Lenox did share a Town Administrator for a while, but it failed, and Lee backed out of the arrangement and hired their own Town Administrator. Under our current Town Administrator, this plan is being enacted. This time it is from the bottom up not the top down – sharing a Town Administrator is not mentioned – however education (Berkshire Hills Regional School District), public works (Building Inspector), public safety (fire and EMT) and Human Services (Tri-town Health and now Council on Aging) have merged and the suggestion is to merge more.  A vote of the Town Meeting be required before; why isn’t it before Town Meetin for a vote this time? TM is the legislative branch of our government (the purse) and certainly the basis of all these mergers is spoken about as a cost saving measures.

News

Notes from the 3-5 Member Study Committee, May 7, 2026, Hybrid meeting

1. Wide ranging conversation about how to decide if expanding to a 5-member Select Board is a good choice.
2. David Adler spoke with Lanesborough to determine on what basis they decided to expand. He spoke to Town Administrator Gina Dario. It was she who had the idea to expand in order to “increase diversity.”  The idea to expand was passed at TM in response to a Citizen’s petition a few years ago and is being acted upon this year. An increased SB would increase costs to the Town unless, as Lanesborough did, Stockbridge decides to level fund. That means take the amount 3 SB members cost per  year in stipend and benefits (insurance and later possibly pensions) and divide that amount by 5 decreasing the amount per member but holding the cost to the Town level. Jorja said the current SB may vote soon on whether or not to cut stipends and benefits (unclear what they would vote on cutting).
3. Members Sally Underwood-Miller, Don Chabon, and Peter Strauss objected, saying if the point was to encourage more participation in Town government, cutting benefits and stipends seemed the wrong way to go. The three agreed that one way to encourage participation was to offer benefits and stipends.
4. Jorja Marsden said only SB and Board of Assessors members have benefits.  The Assessors are eligible but do not take the insurance. Two SB members have both stipend and insurance and take them. Jorja takes the stipend and the insurance but she ,has insurance due to being an retired employee of Stockbridge after 31 years not as SB member. Someone asked why only those two Boards but Jorja did not know.
5. Patti Caya said she was the “data nerd” and offered some statistics. For example, Stockbridge is older, that is with a higher median age (65 years old).  Tose towns that changed from a 3-member to a 5-member SB had a younger median age.
6. Adler said we are not saying SB members have to be younger – a discussion followed about who had more time – older people or younger people. Strauss said a goal cannot be to encourage only younger people. We want them involved but what Caya’s median age data shows Stockbridge has fewer young people.
7. Bruce Aurbach mentioned the problem when Patrick White quit SB: with only 2 members, there were matters that could not be addressed because a third vote was required. 
8. Chabon mentioned that with only three SB members, no two members could talk outside of a public meeting due to Open Meeting Laws. With 5, 2 could talk outside of a meeting.
9. Some thought that was a good idea, but Caya did not. She said her experience in Stockbridge has been that there is too much “backroom,” and she would hope all conversation on issues would be in public.
10. Strauss said it was his impression that the real problem in Stockbridge was that the Town Administrator (TA) runs the SB rather than the SB running the TA and that needed to be reversed.
11. Adler said what was needed was that both needed to be strong.
12. A member pointed out that legally the SB must be stronger than TA because the elected officials (representatives of the people) have the power to hire and fire the TA and SB votes on the issues. 
13. That prompted another member to suggest that they decide on what serves Stockbridge the best.
14. Caya said that elections might be based on popularity rather than skill to do the job and she added that “not necessarily better to go to 5” because talk “behind the scenes could be traumatic.”
15. Many members said they had an opinion when they volunteered to serve on the study committee, but now they were unsure. They were willing to study and discuss.

Watch Now!

Stockbridge Updates on Air:

Childcare in America: Marianne Vallee, Director, Lenox Children’s Center, now closed, Asst. Director Donna Lamke, and parent Rebecca Li.

Events

Events

1. Memorial Day Activities: Monday May 25, 10:45am Meet at Congregational Church for transportation to cemeteries. 11am Benediction and Taps at cemeteries 12:15pm Parade down Main Street 12:45pm Memorial Day Program near Children’s Chime Tower 1:45pm Community picnic Following picnic tour of Chime Tower and Chime Tower concert\
2. Berkshire Botanical Garden Programs for May 
   • More information at www.berkshirebotanical.org

May 16: Cultivating Mushrooms

May 16:  Artist Tour “Ephemeral Garden”

May 22: South Africa Tour info session

• Stockbridge Library presents a discussion between Larry Rohter, author of “River of Doubt,” and Jim Brooke, Saturday, May 16, 3pm

May 19 at 6pm “Vase Worthy Gardening” with Chris Ferrero

• Chesterwood Presents Summer 2026 Exhibitions:   The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory, and Loss, runs May 15 through October 31.

Grigori Fateyev’s Art Studios: How Artistic Processes Inform Architectural Design will be held in the Woodshed Gallery at Chesterwood.

     More information about Chesterwood and its programs chesterwood.org

• Children’s Chimes Inaugural Re-opening Day, May 25^th, after the Memorial Day parade and picnic, at the Children’s Chime Tower between Old Town Hall and the Congregational Church  

           For the first 140 years the town upheld the wishes of its donor, David Dudley Field,              to have the chimes played every day at 5pm from Apple blossom to Apple drop.     Field himself played for 43 years. In 2017 it closed for repairs, opened briefly, and closed again for more repairs. Now the Town of Stockbridge will celebrate its grand re-opening.

• Norman Rockwell Museum presents a Walking Tour on May 23^rd and May 30^th, 1pm.  Take a guided walking tour of downtown Stockbridge and discover how the town and its inhabitants both inspired Norman Rockwell and appeared in some of his most iconic works of art. Explore the history of this 1734 village–including its Mohican origins. Stops will include Norman Rockwell’s home on South Street, his first studio on Main Street, the Old Corner House (site of the original Norman Rockwell Museum), Chief John Konkapot’s property, the Red Lion Inn, the former site of Alice’s Restaurant, and more! Rain or shine. Reservation required.  $20 fee. Tours meet on Main Street in front of The Old Corner House, 48 Main Street. To reserve your spot please visithttps://www.nrm.org/events/norman-rockwells-stockbridge-walking-tour-10/

• Towson University Concert Choir New England Tour Thursday, May 28 at 7pm West Stockbridge Village Congregational Church, 45 Main Street.  University choral groups from Maryland’s Towson University make a stop in West Stockbridge as part of its 2026 New England tour. This free community concert features a diverse mix of music including works by Elaine Hagenberg, Marques L.A. Garrett, and Rene Clausen.  Tickets: Admission is free and no advance tickets are needed. Doors will open at 6:30pm. This concert is co-presented by West Stockbridge Village Congregational Church and Berkshire Choral International.

Perspective

Honoring the Heart of Our Community

by Samantha L. Anderson As I step into the role of Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC), taking the baton from founder Liana Toscanini, I’ve been struck by something both simple and profound: the Berkshires shows up for one another.

Again and again, I see a community that is creative in the face of constraint, deeply committed to mission, and grounded in the belief that this region can be a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It’s what drew me to live here, and it’s what makes this role so meaningful.

My path to this work has been shaped by years alongside nonprofits and philanthropy—co-founding initiatives, partnering with funders, and supporting organizations as they grow. I’ve seen what’s possible when organizations are well-resourced and connected. I’ve also seen how much leaders are asked to carry, often with limited support.

That’s where NPC comes in.

We exist to strengthen nonprofits in practical, tangible ways—through training, fiscal sponsorship, and operational support—so organizations can stay focused on their missions. Just as importantly, we create space for connections. When nonprofits learn from and collaborate with one another, their impact expands well beyond what any one organization can achieve alone.

You can see that impact across Stockbridge alone—from the clinical care of Austen Riggs Center to the creative energy of Berkshire Art Center and Chesterwood; from the natural beauty stewarded by Berkshire Botanical Garden and the Housatonic Valley Association to the cultural legacy of the Norman Rockwell Museum; from community anchors like Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and Berkshire Waldorf High School to essential services at Riverbrook Residence. These organizations, alongside partners like the Red Lion Inn, Mungy, and other local businesses, help define the fabric of this community.

At a time when many nonprofits are being asked to do more with less, strong infrastructure and shared support matter. They help turn ideas into action, and they ensure leaders feel less isolated in the work.

As I begin, my commitment is to listen, to learn, and to build on the strong foundation already in place. NPC is here as a resource and a partner, evolving alongside the needs of this community.

I hope you’ll be in touch to share your work and explore how we can support you.

It’s a privilege to be part of this community, and I look forward to what we will build together.

Perspective

The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory, and Loss

Presented in the galleries of French’s recently renovated residence, the exhibition commemorates the 250^th anniversary of the nation’s founding. It brings together works by French and his colleagues that celebrate notable Americans and address themes of loyalty, freedom, triumph, and grief.

 “As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, institutions across the country are grappling with how to address themes of patriotism in a politically charged and divided time,” says Chesterwood’s Curatorial Researcher and Collections Manager Dana Pilson.“By centering the 250th as a constructive moment, the works presented are intended to spark contemplation and conversation, and to foster an understanding of the past and hope for the future.”

French’s iconic Minute Man is a seven-foot-tall statue cast from melted down Confederate canons. It was unveiled in Concord, Massachusetts on April 19, 1875, the centennial of the battles of Lexington and Concord which ignited the American Revolution. French’s Minute Man – the iconic farmer-turned-soldier, ready to fight at a “minute’s notice” – continues to represent freedom, patriotism, and the American spirit.

 The west gallery will highlight models and maquettes for some of French’s monuments to war heroes, including the George Washington equestrian for Paris, France, the Lafayette Memorial in Brooklyn, NY, and the standing Abraham Lincoln for Lincoln, Nebraska. Also included are models for monuments commemorating victory, such as the First Division Memorial in Washington, DC, and the figure of Disarmament for the temporary World War I Victory Arch in New York.

 The east gallery features works by French and his colleagues that focus on the human cost of conflict and war. French felt that a war memorial should emphasize sacrifice, not glory; the flag-cloaked Mourning Victory laments her dead. Margaret French Cresson’s Unknown Soldier calls attention to the utter heartbreak of young soldiers giving their lives for ideals of patriotism and freedom. As Margaret French Cresson wrote “to French war was the supreme tragedy and every way in which he approached it brought out, not the terror nor the horror nor even the glory and triumph, but always the pain and sense of loss.” French’s models for In Flanders Field, for Milton, Massachusettsand Death and Youth for the St. Paul’s School War Memorial illustrate his belief in the dignity of death and his desire that his works serve as a comfort and a consolation.

by Rebecca Davis

Perspective

Lee Restaurant Week 

It wasn’t necessary for the town to close Main Street to traffic, as with the Taste of Lee on Founders Weekend, to remind me to attend Lee Restaurant Week. But a call from a friend was. My husband Tim and I walk on Main Street often and noticed this event on sandwich boards a few times, then promptly forgot. We like to support new local eateries by showing up soon after they open. We often return to favorite restaurants to celebrate special times with friends. We also enjoy reading Stockbridge Updates. So, when a friend asked, I had no choice but to fulfill my civic duty to dine and write with relish – in that order.

The Lee Chamber of Commerce boasts more than 60 establishments serving food and drink, and featured 18 participating restaurants for Lee Restaurant Week, all which I plan to visit this year. Punch cards available at the participating restaurants challenged us to get four stamps in order to enter a prize drawing. A variety of incentives invited locals and vacationers alike to try something new and rediscover old favorites in Lee—Gateway to the Berkshires, daily if possible. Participating restaurants offered unique dishes, prix fixe menus or special pricing with a wide variety of cuisines and unique atmospheres throughout the week. 

Thank you to the Lee Chamber of Commerce for giving us this opportunity to enjoy being tourists in our own backyard. Thank you to the many amazing restaurants and eateries, dedicated owners, chefs, staff, farmers, and appreciative foodies. I savor exploring the delights right here under my nose as a ‘tourist’ in the town where I live and hope more of us will too. Cheers!

Editor’s note: Patricia “Niti” Martin is owner of Doing Well Yoga

by Patricia “Niti” Martin

Perspective

Children’s Chimes Tower, Stockbridge, Mass

 The Children’s Chime Tower was built on the site of the original church in Stockbridge, which stood here from 1739 until 1785. The church was established by John Sergeant, a missionary who moved here to convert the Mahican people to Christianity. He served here until his death in 1749, and he was replaced by Jonathan Edwards, the former Northampton pastor and prominent theologian who helped influence the First Great Awakening. Edwards was here until 1758, when he became the president of the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University.

The present church building was built in 1824 during the pastorate of David Dudley Field, who served here from 1819 to 1837. He and his wife Submit raised their nine children here, four of whom became prominent figures in American history. 

The Children’s Chimes bell tower in front of the church was built in 1878 by David Dudley Field II, in honor of his grandchildren, with the intention that, “It will be a memorial of those who are enshrined in my heart, while the ringing of the chimes at sunset I trust will give pleasure to all whose good fortune is to live in this peaceful valley.” Today on its 200^th anniversary it is still rung, according to his wishes, every evening at 5:30 between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The Tower includes 10 original chimes (F to A1 with Eb and Bb), the eleventh one was installed in 1975. Renovations of the tower were made in 1973 and a complete 200^th anniversary over hall with new ropes and levers was completed in 2023. The tower has been closed for structural repair since the fall of 2024 but will reopen every day from May 25 to August 2, 2026. 

The ringing of the chimes will begin on Memorial Day 5/25/2026 and end on August 2^nd. If you are here then and have questions or have a child who wants to play the chimes, please wait until 6:00pm when the door is opened, and someone will be out to talk to you.

Children are invited to play the chimes from 1:15-2:15 on Memorial Day and then again three more times on special Saturdays during the summer TBD. For a schedule or more information please contact 

               Andrea Goodman at satbchoiur@yahoo.cob

by Andrea Goodman

The Last Word

Reader to Reader 

To Stockbridge Updates:

Nicely done everyone! 

Skip & Robin Skowron 

Hi Carole, 

 I hope you’re enjoying spring and the promise it brings for warmer weather! As you know, I’ve been a loyal reader of Stockbridge Updates since its inception and continue to believe it constitutes an important contribution to the community. I’ve noticed recently that many of the submissions are often longer than they’ve been in the past. (You originally instituted a rule that articles needed to be no more than 400 words.) If that standard is different now, please advise and tell me what it is!

 Many thanks. Larry (Larry Ackerman)

Larry, 

Thank you for being a loyal and observant reader. I always felt limiting to 400 words would encourage readers to read the full article. However, recently, contributors argued for longer pieces. We tried it. I am open to the will of the readers – longer with more detail or shorter and to the point?

Carole

Hi Carole,

I would like to subscribe to the newsletter but can’t find the link to subscribe. Please add me to your list as I find this information very helpful and relevant. Thanks!

Andy Lowitt Great Barrington

Welcome aboard, 

I signed you up. Great to have a neighbor from Great Barrington as a subscriber. For future reference go to www.stockbridgeupdates.com there you can sign up or leave a comment or send a Letter to the Editor. You can also read all past issues – there are more than six year’s worth – and look at the stellar photos. 

Best, Carole