Editorial

Editorial: Those who show up

“Decisions are made by those who show up.” Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing

On October 1, in Lee, approximately 85 registered voters showed up and made decisions about four issues:

Whether to reimburse the LePrevost family, owners of 104 Center Street, $8,535.21 for damages to their residence sewer line. Passed

Whether to spend $17,500 on a tire machine that changes and balances tires within the town’s new Fleet Mechanic Department Passed

Whether to continue to have a Board of Public Works, a volunteer group, oversee the town’s water, sewer and water supply conservation or to have the Superintendent of Public Works process water connections, hydrant use, and issue water or sewer bill abatements. Passed

Whether to reorganize the town’s zoning regulations to make way for bylaws pertaining to battery energy storage systems (BESS) as Lee lacked permitting regulations covering renewable energy projects – a new Clean Energy section of the local bylaws. Passed

The population of Lee is approximately 5,719 with about 4,784 registered voters. 85 voters is 1.7% of eligible voters. That is a very small percentage to make big decisions.

It was a Special Town meeting, and perhaps attendance at the annual Town Meeting is better. That is true in all of the 18 towns in South County, but not by much. For example, Great Barrington has a population of about 7,172 with 5,180 registered voters. The seven-year average attendance at Great Barrington Town Meetings was estimated at 269 or 3.75%. At the annual Town Meeting in May, 2026, there were 340 voters or 3.78% present.

An increase at annual Town meeting? Yes. However, an increase from 1% to 3% of registered voters deciding for a town of thousands may not be a hoped-for outcome.

The population of Stockbridge hovers around 2000 with about 1700 registered voters. Attendance at the Stockbridge Town Meeting is usually about 300 or 17.6% of registered voters. It seems across South County, the smaller the population, the larger the percentage of registered voters who shows up. The population of Alford is 481 with 410 registered voters. Fifty-two, or 12.6% of registered voters, voted at the last Town Meeting. A two-digit percentage is better than a single digit; however, the bottom line is this: in none of the 18 towns in South County did the attendance reach a majority of registered voters. In a country where, we say, majority rules, nowhere does a majority show up and rule.

There seems to be a great deal of overwrought news coverage about the midterm elections and the possibly tricky, unfair, and illegal things the party in power may do to stay in power. Seems we could be equally impassioned about the number who simply do not exercise their right to vote.

We could do two things: vote and do a better job of getting a bigger percentage of voters to take part. Or is it up to them, and all we can do is remind them: use it or lose it.

by Carole Owens, Executive Editor

Watch Now!

Stockbridge Updates on Air:

Philanthropist and Community Leader Bobbie Hallig

News

SU FYI

1. In Memoriam: Eleanor Clary – dear EL. She was a history teacher, a union rep, a board member, a good friend, and a good laugh around the tea table. You will be missed. One mutual friend wrote “so many fond memories.” What could be a better epitaph? Rest in peace.
2. The Lenox Historical Commission (LHC) celebrated its 50th birthday on the first weekend in October. There were talks and walks and cake! As part of the celebration, LHC has a plaque program to identify historically significant Lenox buildings that are more than 75 years old. Currently there are 30 plaques installed, primarily in the Historic District. The plaques are a way of supporting historic preservation and celebrating your building’s unique place in time. The plaques typically identify the year the building was constructed and the name of the original owners. If you are interested in more information, email lenoxprojects@gmail.com
3. Voting 2026
   
   By mail: Stockbridge Town Clerk Tammy Touponce mailed our mail-in ballots out on Tuesday (October 6). They should have arrived.
   
   Early voting, in person, is: 9am to 1pm on Saturday October 17th and 24th ; 9am to 3pm on October 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23; also 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30.
   
4. Detailed information about the ballot questions, nine in all, including pros and cons, can be found in the 2026 Information for Voters booklet from Secretary of State Galvin and mailed to us. It is also available online: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/information-for-voters/archive/IFV_2026%20English.pdf
5. Monument Mountain Regional High School Celebrates Four Members of the Class of 2027

BHRSD Superintendent Peter Dillon presented the awards on behalf of Principal Christopher Barnes and the high school’s guidance team, recognizing students for their accomplishments and the many ways they make their school community proud. “What a joy to recognize students for doing great work in so many different ways,” said Dillon to a small crowd of family and friends, before speaking directly to the honorees: “We’re super proud of you! Keep doing what you’re doing, being role models for [all].”

Four local students were recognized for their achievements, leadership, and contributions to the school community:

Clay Steven received the MASS Superintendent’s Award

Banyan Bourla received the National School Development Council Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership

Jasper Livak received the National School Development Council Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning.

Adalyn D’Aniello received the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award. Questions? Ask hannah.vansickle@bhrsd.org

6. ACLU presents The Democracy Download – four lessons for election season. Here they are:
   1. Lesson 1: Misinformation 101
      Learn how to identify false information online, check what you’re seeing against trusted sources, and respond when you spot something that isn’t true. 
   2. Lesson 2: Your Questions, Answered
      Our experts tackle the internet’s biggest election questions head-on: Can results be trusted? What safeguards are actually in place to protect our elections? We’ve got a video series to go even deeper. 
   3. Lesson 3: The Facts on Mail-In Voting
      You’ve probably seen claims about mail-in voting online. But what’s actually true? Get the facts on mail-in voting and what to know if you’re planning to vote by mail this year. 
   4. Lesson 4: What to Expect on Election Day
      Go into Election Day prepared: Know your rights, know what to bring, and know what to do if something feels off.
      Take the course today.

Analysis

Events

1. Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, Stockbridge Library, Stockbridge Police & Fire Departments, and Stockbridge Coffee & Tea present the Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Walk. It will take place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 6pm. Marchers will meet at the corner of Main & Pine Street at 6:00 p.m. and march up Main Street to the front lawn of the Stockbridge Library for cider and donuts. The pumpkin walk-about with lighted pumpkins carved by local businesses and area children is at the library. The fire truck will be stationed there also. A Halloween story time will take place at 6:30pm and Drop-in Halloween crafts inside the library from 6:00-7:30 pm. In case of rain, the parade will be cancelled, and activities will take place in the library.

Children and businesses interested in showcasing a Jack-O-Lantern of their own should drop them off at the library any time before 5:30pm October 30. (The library staff will light them and provide candles). You can take them home at the end of the evening.

For more information, contact the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce.

2. Berkshire Natural Recourses Council presents Autumn Awe Walk, Alford Springs, Alford, Saturday, October 17, 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Click here for more information

Witches on the Water Event & Fundraiser, Stockbridge Bowl, Stockbridge, Sunday, October 18, 1:00 pm — 3:00 pm

Click here for more information

Joint Hike with OLLI, Olivia’s Overlook, Lenox, Wednesday, October 21, 9:30 am – 11:30 am Click here for more 

3. Norman Rockwell Museum presents American Stories Curator Talk: Black Excellence and Everyday Life, October 23, 9:30am

https://www.nrm.org/events/american-stories-curator-talk-black-excellence-and-everyday-life

American Stories Curator Talks

Spend a morning with our curators exploring Norman Rockwell Museum’s expansive and thought-provoking exhibition commemorating 250 years of America. Each session will focus on a theme drawn from the exhibition. This program occurs before public opening hours, providing a unique opportunity for reflection and enjoyment of the exhibition.

Black Excellence and Everyday Life: Russell Lord, Chief of Curatorial Affairs will discuss how Black artists – -including contemporary illustrator Kadir Nelson, history painter Charles Lilly, and legendary American photographer James Van Der Zee, represent the dignity, struggles and pride of Black Americans. Lord will also look closely at the work of Robert Carter, Bryan Collier and Melvin Edwards who used their art to educate and speak out for political change and social justice.

$20 plus admission; $10 Members

Upper-level Members get free tickets: 2 for Gallery Guild Level and 4 for Artist’s Forum Level.

Limited space: reservations recommended.

4. Stockbridge Library: Join us Saturday, October 17 at 3pm, for a compelling and timely author talk on Tom Rosenstiel’s latest book, The Next Journalism: How the Press Must Change To Serve Democracy. After the author talk, books will be available to purchase.
5. Preservation Mass presented 2026 Historic Preservation Summitt: How to Save a Building, October 15 (today) in Dover MA.

2026 Historic Preservation Summit: How to Save a Place. Historic preservation advocacy takes coalitions, compelling arguments, a clear understanding of the rules, and the resilience to push forward when obstacles arise. This one-day intensive presents four sessions built around real-world strategies you can bring home and put to work immediately. You’ll leave with a toolkit, a deeper understanding of the advocacy landscape, and a network of fellow preservationists who are facing the same challenges. Afternoon networking rounds out the day. Limited scholarships available.

For all those interested in this tough and rewarding work, we missed it, BUT contact info@preservationinc.org to request the materials.

News

Journalism Corner

1. On October 8, 2026, Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) presented “Democracy and the Press Under Siege.” Thomas Jefferson said we could not have a democracy without a free press. The highly respected journalists at the VIM program – Marty Baron, Amy Sorkin, and Barry Meier – agreed a free press is nothing without facts and truth and journalists with an alliance to both.

If this is a government of by and for the people, then we the people need to be educated and informed. We need to know. We need fact and truth whether we agree with it or not. We cannot productively use spin, conspiracy theories, hype, or lies.

Interestingly, Baron brought up local news and its importance. In today’s world, local news takes a backseat to national news. Baron pointed out that his story about Priests abusing young people started locally (in Boston) and became national and international news. Perhaps because human frailty is the same in Peoria, Washington D. C. and Minsk. Baron made the point that if local news dies, is stifled, or is coopted, local corruption blossoms.

2. Writers Guild presents Banned Books: How Readers & Writers Can Respond, Thursday, November 5, 2026, 2pm. Featuring authors Malinda Lo and Patricia McCormick, moderated by Authors Guild General Counsel, Cheryl L. David Webinars are free to attend, but registration is required. Join us for a conversation about how authors respond when their books are challenged or banned, and the ways writers navigate these moments while continuing to stand behind their work. Whether you’re an author, a reader, or simply interested in the freedom to read, we hope you’ll join us. Q&A will follow the presentation; you can pre-submit a question when registering for the event. A recording will be made available for those who cannot attend live. Click here to register.

Why is information about banned books in Journalism Corner? In order to become an informed citizen and an educated voter, there is more to read than newspapers. We might wonder why what is banned is banned. Who decides? On what basis? What don’t they want us to know?

News

From the Desk of Dr. Graham Boettcher, Executive Director, Norman Rockwell Museum

I’ve been at the Norman Rockwell Museum for just over a month and have been delighted by how welcoming people have been and how closely connected this community is. I’ve also discovered that people here care deeply about what’s going on around them. More than once, someone has recognized me from the news of my arrival and stopped to introduce themselves. Almost invariably, the conversation turns to the Museum and a favorite memory of a visit, or even a personal connection to Norman Rockwell. Many have asked about my impressions of life in the Berkshires as a newcomer. For one thing, I’ve learned that if you want to send someone in Stockbridge a letter, you’d better know their post office box number. I’ve discovered that transfer stations are important gathering places—not only for transferring refuse and recyclables, but also for transferring information. And I’ve learned never to take a cell phone signal for granted. Without Wi-Fi, I couldn’t use my phone at home! All joking aside, it’s heartening to discover just how much this community cherishes the Museum. It isn’t simply an institution located in Stockbridge; it’s part and parcel of what makes this community unique. One of the things that drew me here was how deeply cultural institutions are woven into life in the Berkshires. That isn’t the case everywhere, and it’s certainly something to be proud of. True to its name, the Norman Rockwell Museum houses and presents the nation’s largest collection of his works — 868 pieces strong— but we are also home to more than 24,000 works by over 350 artists, spanning the 19th century to the present. I’m excited to share more about who we are and what we do as an institution, and I suspect that even longtime visitors and friends will be surprised by what they discover. I was drawn to the Museum by the timelessness of Norman Rockwell’s art. He finds moments of humor and humanity in everyday life that we can all relate to. When confronting more serious subjects, including some of our country’s most pressing social issues, he reminds us of our core values and gives us something to aspire to. These messages feel especially relevant today. Perhaps that’s part of what has made my introduction to the Berkshires so gratifying. In the warmth, generosity, and sense of community I’ve encountered here, I’ve glimpsed many of the same qualities that Rockwell celebrated in his art. As I settle into my new home, I look forward to getting to know more of my neighbors, sharing my enthusiasm for Rockwell and countless other artists, and becoming an active part of the community beyond the walls of the Museum.

Massachusetts Senator Paul Mark

I am happy to again give the latest news on current events at the State House for Stockbridge Updates. It’s an exciting time as we approach election season and the people have the chance to consider action on nine ballot questions. We are also in the final stretch of the legislative session where work continues, and we await action on twelve important bills that we want on the Governor’s desk as soon as possible.

The ballot questions cover a wide range of issues, from gun control to housing to how elections would work in the state. In Massachusetts, we have an opportunity to participate directly in the lawmaking process through ballot initiatives and referendums. It is important that we take that responsibility seriously and do our best to learn about the issues before us and make the right choices. There are information sessions happening in the Berkshires, the Secretary of State mails us an informational guide explaining each of the questions, and there are advocacy groups working for or against each of the questions. If I can offer any information, please feel free to reach out to my office directly.

Our legislative rules changed this session and extended the deadline for action on important bills through January 5th, 2027. This was a change from the traditional August 1st deadline that normally would have already passed. The good news is this provides a longer opportunity to gather the best information possible and hear advocacy to make sure we get things right. The bad news is that humans instinctively wait for deadlines to act and some of these items need to be done quickly. The twelve major bills that remain are the BRIGHT Act, a public higher education bond, the DRIVE Act, an economic development bond, the READY Act, an environmental bond, data privacy, expanding primary care physician access, public records access, safety of pets, teacher retirement benefits, violence against healthcare workers, campaign finance rules for ballot questions, cellphones in schools, and legislation to lower energy bill costs. If you have questions on any of these or would like to advocate for provisions that are important for us to include in the final versions, please contact my office directly.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve as our voice in the Senate. My full contact information is available at www.senatorpaulmark.com and our office number is (413) 464-5635. With my best wishes.

News

News from the Statehouse

Costs of Heating Your Home this Winter

By Christine Rasmussen

The cost of staying warm this winter in the Berkshires is being decided in Boston. Many people remember the program that was first launched in 2008 and was designed to conduct home energy assessments, distribute LED lightbulbs, and ensure homes and businesses were weatherized and well-insulated. It was called Mass Save.

It has become one of the few tools available to the state to drive decarbonization for a sector of the economy that accounts for 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Helping households switch from their oil or gas heating system to an electric heat pump is much more expensive than a traditional insulation job. Mass Save also expands rebates and incentives toward renters, moderate-income customers, and customers living in designated equity communities — populations that have historically been left out even though they also pay into Mass Save.

Since its adoption, Mass Save has become one of the largest energy efficiency programs in the country, with a $4.5 billion budget for the current three-year cycle; the costs are added as a fee on customer bills, and those costs have become a point of contention between the House and Senate.

As you may remember, earlier this year the House wanted to cut the Mass Save Program budget by $1 billion, and the Senate rejected that proposal. Lawmakers are now negotiating whether the program’s budget should be cut, capped, or left to program officials to figure out. A conclusion should be reached before the deadline of January 3, 2027, when, under the FY 2027 rules, the legislature must adjourn the present session and any bills not passed will need to begin the process again.

Adding to this complication is a requirement that the utilities administering the program submit, by the end of March, a draft plan that will chart the course for what Mass Save will seek to accomplish between 2028 and 2030. The Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) is weighing two primary paths forward under tighter fiscal constraints:

• The Broad Approach (Lower Cost): Focus on traditional, less expensive weatherization and insulation. This would reach more homes and offer immediate bill relief but deliver fewer long-term emissions reductions.
• The Deep Approach (Higher Cost): Continue aggressively funding expensive electric heat pumps and solar installations while prioritizing low-to-moderate-income and designated equity communities. This yields higher climate benefits but reaches fewer households overall.

However, all the work on the plan that is overseen by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council may be upended without a legislative compromise authorizing the program’s budget. Governor Maura Healey, who is up for reelection, has avoided taking a definitive stance on the proposed $1 billion cut, though she previously embraced a future budget cap.

Proponents of Mass Save warn that cutting the budget is counterproductive. They point to data showing the program’s long-term value: an analysis by the Acadia Center found that $8.4 billion in ratepayer investments between 2016 and 2024 yielded $16 billion in savings. In addition, a $1 billion cut to the program would result in $4.5 billion in lost benefits to consumers. And on the hottest day of 2025, the program saved $2.6 million in a single hour by reducing strain on the electrical grid.

Opponents point out that Massachusetts residents already pay some of the highest electricity and gas bills in the country. Because Mass Save is funded directly via mandatory customer surcharges (amounting to 7 to 14 percent of gas and electric charges), critics argue that the program’s massive $4.5 billion budget is actively driving up the state’s cost of living. Mass Save has also largely stopped offering rebate incentives for upgrading heating oil, propane, or natural gas systems, shifting its focus almost entirely toward electrification. As a result, millions of ratepayers who still heat their homes with traditional fossil fuels continue to pay into the program through mandatory fees but are structurally unable to take advantage of the rebates.

by Christine Rasmussen

News from Great Barrington (GB)

In September, the Finance Committee welcomed Patrick White to consider his view of the economic situation in which GB finds itself. According to his fifty-page report, White predicted the Town would be in receivership by 2032 (six years). Not surprisingly the Committee asked White what he suggested as solutions to this unhappy news. He suggested two “fixes” that will be familiar: shared services, also called municipal consolidation, and Residential Tax Exemption (RTE).

Shared Services

A decade ago, 2016, Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, advocated for the consolidation of administrative services emphasizing efficiency and cost savings. Specifically, Pignatelli suggested a shared administrative officer for the towns of Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge, While Stockbridge resisted, and voted against the suggestion at Town Meeting, Lee and Lenox moved forward with plans to share a town administrator.

Legislation Signed — In 2016, a bill was signed allowing Lee and Lenox to share a town administrator, reflecting a step towards regional collaboration.

The experiment began in 2017 when Lee and Lenox commenced sharing a town administrator.

Four years later, in 2021, they voted unanimously to cease the agreement. Neither the cost savings nor the satisfaction with the service provided met expectations.

Residential Tax Exemption (RTE)

RTE has been debated annually for years. To reduce the two sides to two sentences (perhaps unfairly): one side saw it as an aid to locals who have a lower income than the second homeowners and can less easily afford rising taxes; the opposition saw it as unfair to second homeowners.

White acknowledged the unpopularity, but fashioned it as a protection of the working class living in GB that is needed by the second homeowners (plumbers, electricians, gardeners, house cleaners and house sitters, etc.) When he served as a Stockbridge Select Board member, he described RTE as a way to encourage growth of the younger population in a village where the median age is 65.

Editor’s note: Over the last decade, through experiment, we have seen that shared services work only when applied carefully in selected areas.

RTE is not popular with voters, however, it can work when it hits the sweet spot. That is, when the population reaches 60/40. When 60% of the population of a municipality are second homeowners and 40% are full-time residents, then it seems to work with some advantage to residents and very little burden to second homeowners. The sweet spot allows it to work for everyone as a revenue collector but does not do anything else. It does not fully protect the working class from income disparity nor does it encourage first-time homeowners to buy. RTE does offer a measure of relief for current homeowners without overly burdening second homeowners.

News From Lee

The “last beam” ceremony for Lee’s Public Safety Building took place on June 17, 2026. The projection is that the 37,900-square-foot Lee Public Safety Building project currently under construction will be complete and in use by August 2027. What is a “last beam” ceremony? Celebration of the placement and installation of the last beam necessary to complete the frame.

In the midst of the planning and building, the Fire Chief Ryan Brown, a key member of the planning team, was placed on administrative leave pending completion of an investigation. An Acting Chief was immediately named. There were no details given except that the matter should be completed within weeks. Watch this space.

The Lee Public Safety Building located at 35 Railroad Street will contain Lee fire, police, and emergency medical services. According to its website, “provides services to the citizens of the Town of Lee and visitors to the town, the Massachusetts Turnpike from mile 6 to mile 24.5, and medical response to the towns of Stockbridge and Tyringham, as well as here in Lee.”
 

News From Lenox

News from the ZBA meeting, October 7, 2026

ZBA members Al Harper, Arthur Oliver, Robert Shuster, Christine Conklin, Daniel Shanker, and Chair Robert Fuster, Jr. unanimously approved the application from the Vanderbilt Berkshire Estate (Elm Court) with four conditions:

Incorporate the conditions required by the Stockbridge Select Board on April 21, 2026

Incorporate the Lenox conditions required on July 14, 2015 (except when they are obsolete or now determined illegal such as reconsidering a special permit if a condition is not met)

No on-street parking on Old Stockbridge Road

No Certificate of Occupancy until all water/sewer hookups installed and approved

Two other conditions – access to public parking on the grounds and architecture congruent with the character of the neighborhood – were withdrawn after assurances from the owner.

Notes from the Lenox Historical Society

President Charlie Flint proposes…

I have an important question concerning the redirection of Main Street in 1790. I know of no other town that underwent such a major change to its downtown area. Would your committee (Lenox Historical Commission) consider piecing together a map showing the original properties and their owners before the road was altered?

One starting point could be the eighteenth-century General Patterson house, now the bank at the corner of Main and West Streets. From there, we could work northward, tracing the names of abutting property owners through the deeds. I would be happy to work with you on this project.

The Lenox Historical Society has an outstanding report on General Patterson’s house written by AJ Rudin for Shirley Vincent’s ninth-grade class at Lenox High School, as part of the research project “Ourselves, Our Town.” We considered it college-level work and one of the most impressive student reports we have ever read. It could provide a valuable foundation for this research.

This pre-1790 information is a missing link in our rich history. I have long felt that additional colonial records must exist somewhere—in early newspapers, the Massachusetts State Archives, or the Registry of Deeds etc. A change of this magnitude, affecting homes and properties in the center of town, surely deserves further investigation.

I believe this project would be a perfect fit for your committee and the Lenox Historical Society to work together, and it would be a meaningful contribution to our understanding of early Lenox.

Thank you for considering it.

Just for Fun: A Bit of Background

By Carole Owens

We know the first Europeans to settle in Lenox were John and Sarah Hinsdale, although we do not know the exact year they arrived. We know John and Sarah were related by marriage to Timothy Woodbridge. Timothy Woodbridge (February 27, 1709 – May 10, 1774) was an American missionary, deacon and schoolteacher, later a judge, representative, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Stockbridge. Woodbridge had a massive land grant in what is now the Lenox/Stockbridge border along Old Stockbridge Road and we know that that is where John and Sarah Hinsdale built their home.

We know they were in Lenox in 1751 because Rhona Hinsdale, first European child born in Lenox, arrived on November 28, 1751. Born in 1724, John would have been 27 years old. Ironically, we know the family was in Lenox in 1755 because they left. It was in the midst of the French and Indian War (called the Seven-Year War in Europe) and rumors were rife that the tribes allied with the French would march through Stockbridge/Lenox on their way south. Stockbridge built “strong houses” (forts) and settlers living all around the area fled to the strong houses when danger seemed imminent.

John and Sarah might have called the town in which they resided – Stockbridge. Confusion about where the boundary lies persists to this day. Or they might have called it Yokuntown. Jehoiakim Yokun, a mid-18th century Native American of the Mahican tribe reputedly purchased all the unsold land between Stockbridge and Pittsfield – what we call Lenox and Richmond today – for 12 English pounds from two fellow tribesmen. The land was subsequently acquired by the English in the 1750s.

It is a story that needs context. For example, the name “Jehoiakim” may indicate that Yokun was baptized by the Dutch in the Hudson Valley, a region where most Mahicans resided at the time. Furthermore, the Native American community had a different understanding of land ownership than the “English.”

Yokun subsequently was active in the French Indian War (1754). Later, his son Timothy fought in the American Revolution (1775). As a member of the Stockbridge Militia, Timothy fought at the Siege of Boston and died in a battle in the vicinity of Bronx, N.Y.

In 1767, Yokuntown split off from Richmond and was incorporated. It was named Lenox in honor of Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox, a British aristocrat and political figure who was a strong advocate for colonial civil rights. The name Yokun was dropped and perhaps forgotten until 1971 when George Wislocki, first director of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, protected the area and named it Yokun Ridge. Yokun Ridge is part of West Stockbridge Mountain and Lenox Mountain, a ten-mile stretch of Taconic Mountain south of Pittsfield that separated Lenox and Richmond. Also Native Americans had a different under Lenox became the Shiretown (county seat) in 1786 and remained so for 82 years. During that period the courthouse was built. It is still standing and used as the Town Library. Town Hall was built, then moved from Walker Street to Housatonic Street, and reused as a shop and restaurant. Buildings were not demolished. In good Yankee fashion, they believed in “waste not want not.”

There was an Influenza Epidemic in 1789 and 1790 sickening and killing many.

According to the New England Historical Society, the epidemic certainly reached Lenox, Massachusetts, in late 1789 and again in spring 1790, bringing significant illness and death to the community consistent with the broader New England epidemic pattern. That is the backdrop for the moment when Lenox re-routed the main road through town. Could it also be a cause?

by Dana Godewaagen, Carole Owens

News from Stockbridge

Notes from the Stockbridge Select Board (SB), October 1, 2026

Chair Chuck Cardillo announced that Lisa Bozutto is moving to Maine so Stockbridge needs a new Tree Warden. Interested parties, please email the Select Board.

1. Michael Nathan, Chair of the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission, advisory to the SB, gave a report that included the following:
   1. Concern about the Lily Pond at the causeway is the first of two main concerns.
   2. There were no Water Chestnut plants found in the lake this year
   3. Float planes land on The Bowl and it could constitute a safety hazard to others on the lake including boaters, swimmers, water skiers, etc.
   4. Wakeboard motorboats are a hazard to the lake itself. They churn up the bottom and cause risk to plant life, small aquatic species, and may have some relation to creating cyanobacteria blooms
   5. Charlie Kenny would like to conduct a study to determine if, when there is a cyanobacteria bloom, it is necessary to close whole lake or only a section?
2. Harvey Waller attended the SB meeting to let them know October 10th, 11th, , and 12th is coaching weekend. The coaches will travel from Orleton Farm on Prospect Hill Road to Highlawn Farm on the 10th , The Mount on the 11th , and through Stockbridge on the 12th.
3. Conor Glasheen from MassDevelopment – Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) The name ex-plains that it is an assessment on our real estate taxes, and the money goes toward clean energy ans achieving “net zero.” Glasheen wanted the SB to know 36 state and the District of Columbia signed up. It doesn’t pay the whole cost of improvements, he said, “it is part of the capital stack.” He will return on the next SB meeting to answer questions.
4. Michael Buffoni, Superintendent of Water, employee in Stockbridge for forty years, spoke about his dissatisfaction with new hires being given longevity that he worked 40 years to earn. He said, “I can’t wrap my head around why it is being done.”

Cardillo and Canales talked about a competitive marketplace in which to find qualified workers. Buffoni suggested they give a signing bonus if something is needed to tilt the scales in Stockbridge’s favor but not credit for years they did not work for Stockbridge. With longevity comes more paid leave and a higher salary. Buffoni wanted to make it clear he was speaking on behalf of other Town workers as well as himself. The response was that Stockbridge had to be able to hire the best, be competitive, and that was in the best interest pf the Town.

5. It is estimated that the cupola will be removed by October 19.

News from Stockbridge

Notes from the Fire Station Planning Committee, October 2, 2026

The presentation was on space/need. The name of the presenter was not given. He reported the needs include a kitchen, utility room, offices, common space, sleeping area, etc. The estimated space is 19,000 to 23,000 square feet. He estimated costs for a two-story structure at about $18,000,000 plus site prep estimated at $4,000,000. The cost of a one-story building was estimated at about $16,800,000 plus $4,000,000 – total construction cost $20 – $22,000,000.

Notes from Agricultural and Forestry Commission (AFC), October 5, 2026

Chair Matt Boudreau announced that the Superintendent of the Highway Department will handle the Tree Warden’s job as it relates to emergencies such as tree removal or tree clean up after a storm.

The bulk of the meeting was then focused on invasives: Bitter Sweet, Sumac, Phragmites, etc. Bittersweet, for example, can kill a tree given time and can easily kill bushes including lilac. It is a huge and growing problem. The discussion was long and detailed. The suggestions were to apply for funds through CPC and other state grantors to remove the invasives and to educate the public about the destructive power of the plants, and (very important) how to recognize them.

The AFC also discussed the proposed fund they would lie to establish to purchase properties coming out of 61A.

Editor’s note: The AFC now has the power to buy sell hold or lease land. The municipality has the right of first refusal on all property coming out of 61A. 61A is a tax classification that allows for a lower taxes on property conserved for open space, agriculture. or forests. When the owner removes it from 61A (usually to sell) the owner owes back taxes and the municipality has first right to purchase.

Notes from Board of Assessors (BOA), October 6, 2026

Assessor Michael Blay reported that

1. The Sales Analysis was completed, submitted to Department of Revenue and approved.
2. Valuations established for categories of properties – e.g. private, business, and utilities
3. New growth estimated at $11,000,000 which would (hypothetically) result in $81,000 is new tax income
4. What follows that work is establishing the tax rate
5. The Tax Classification Meeting (TCM) date was suggested as October 29th The TCM is a meeting open to public with time for comments. By law, all tax classifications are discussed and voted on including small commercial, private property, and all exemptions.
6. In the Overlay account there is $200,000 and the BOA must determine if more is needed.

Editor’s note: the Overlay Account is a key component of municipal finance that is designed to fund abatements and exemptions of committed real and personal property taxes for any fiscal year. Abatements arise due to requests to lower property tax assessments, while exemptions are tax reductions for certain eligible individuals, such as veterans or seniors. The overlay funding amount is determined by the board of assessors and may be raised in the tax rate without appropriation. Understanding how the overlay works can help local governments maintain fiscal responsibility and accountability.

As part of the annual budget process, the assessors should be analyzing the overlay’s fund balance to determine whether it is adequate—this can be calculated by taking into consideration account balance, the average of abatements and exemptions granted in the previous five fiscal years and any liability associated with cases pending before the Appellate Tax Board (ATB). If the account balance is not adequate, the assessors can raise additional funds required through the tax rate setting process without appropriation. The entire finance team should be part of this process, as it has direct impact on the ensuing fiscal year’s budget.

Perspective

Another Way to Think About the Residential Tax Exemption

By Peter Strauss

Two weeks ago, John Hart forcefully urged the residential tax exemption here, acknowledging cons without identifying them. Let me, also a full-time resident with a high assessment, suggest what they are — at root, relieving full-time residents able to pay their taxes from fully supporting Stockbridge, and disproportionately burdening all second homeowners. rich and poor. Not all second homeowners are rich.

Alternative programs already exist that can help residents having difficulty paying real estate taxes. And rising Stockbridge real estate assessments have kept our tax rate low, since higher net assessments permit lower taxes to produce the revenue that will meet the town needs. Compared to other Berkshire communities, our tax rates are low. Our tax rates would have been much higher had our assessments not risen.

The RTE lacks an income cap limiting its availability to the needy. Their real estate valuations, on the whole, will be lower than those applicable to land owned by the financially comfortable. Thus, a cap would result in a much smaller revenue shortfall for the rest of us to make up by paying a somewhat higher tax rate. Financially capable residents would then fully share in supporting the town. Full year residents benefit more from the town’s services than second homeowners, not all of whom can comfortably pay their real estate taxes.

Because RTE lacks an income cap, the lion’s share of RTE benefits would go to financially capable full-time residents. A much larger shortfall in tax revenue would result, requiring a significantly higher tax hike. Why should the financially able be freed from fully sharing the town’s needs? Hart’s RTE argument is basically selfish, and its unfairness to second home- owners – rich and poor – is clear. Let us, rather, seek changes that would permit an RTE income cap.

by Peter Strauss

Reader to Reader

Reader to Reader

Dear Carole (if I may),

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve enjoyed looking at the Stockbridge Updates website and believe it will be a very valuable source of information for me as I get to know this community. As the new kid on the block, I’m delighted to provide the attached submission. Thank you for the opportunity and for all you do to keep us connected and well informed! I look forward to getting to know you.

Warmly, Graham
Graham C. Boettcher, Ph.D.
Director and CEO Norman Rockwell Museum

Carole,

We need to step back and look at what is happening to our town, it is dying. We need to find a way to reduce 2nd homes as we are getting ready to build a new multi-million-dollar high school to focus on the trades. We will be educating students to benefit other areas of the country as the young folks cannot afford to buy homes here. Also, we need to slow down of stop development as I have never seen a time when the police have had to chase bears out of downtown. Their territory has been invaded and eliminated. Is it really fair to have wildlife destroyed at the convenience of humans?

Also, we need to stop the destruction of history by allowing major modification to historic homes. I daily see what has happened to the Whitney house on Church Street, the back of which was also Mum Bets home moved there by the Whitney family according to historical documents gathered by the late Larry DeMott whose mother was Grace Whitney. Tourism and second homes are killing us.

I know of some local doctors who want to retire but can’t just get out of their practices, but no young doctor can afford a home here. Berkshire County residents are now routinely traveling to Springfield for medical care.

Norman Rockwell told me that he did not want the museum to be in Stockbridge but wanted it to go to Philadelphia instead. I met up with him and Molly in front of the library, and he was looking really down and I asked him if he was alright. He then told me “They want to put a museum here in town in my name but I don’t want it but they won’t listen to me”

Harold French

Carole,

I am a retired educator and appreciate your columns in the Eagle for filling me in on our history that was left out of my compliance-based education, including my three college degrees. If I was still teaching, I would use your columns for class discussions.

I agree that “the problem is … our inability to follow its laws.” As the moral fiber of our society is challenged by our current leadership, my question is, “We clamor about our rights, but what about our responsibilities to maintain those rights?”

I wondered if you have read Richard Haass’ book, The Bill of Obligations. His approach smacks of patriarchy, so I prefer responsibility rather than obligations, but I agree that we need more than rights for a “functioning, flourishing, democracy.”

I consider myself a “street minister” who strives to lead by example, not preaching from a pulpit or teaching at the front of a classroom. Your columns inspire me, not only to be a better citizen, but to be a better person. Thank you for sharing your communication talents with our community. What you do makes a difference!

Vicky Smith

Dear Vicki,

Thank you so much for your kind words. You may or may not know that Berkshire Preservation Inc. (BPI) is developing a history and civics curriculum to be distributed free to any private, public, and charter school that wishes it.

As a retired teacher, and one who felt you missed something in your education, I would love to talk to you. Email any time and we will set up a time. I would like to make that a general invitation to any teachers who feel as Vicky did or feels their students are missing out now.

Thank you, Carole