SU FYI

1. This is the 65th issue of Stockbridge Updates. In 2 1/2 years SU covered almost 500 Town meetings, published over 1,000 photographs, and welcomed more than 400 contributors and letter writers to our pages. Jump in — follow three simple rules (see SU Policy below) and what you write, SU posts. SU is a purveyor of news and a forum.

2. James J. Wilusz, Executive Director of Tri-Town Health, shared that $75 Gift Cards are available in South County for those getting their COVID Booster Shot.

Residents 5 years old or older are eligible to receive a $75 gift card to Stop and Shop, Cumberland Farms, Target, or Walmart between February 21st and March 31st for getting their COVID Booster shot at the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative's ongoing clinics, while supplies last.

Appointments are required and there are slots available most weekdays 10-4 and some Saturdays 9- noon at the Tri-Town Health office in the Airoldi Building located at 45 Railroad Street in Lee.

Vaccines eligible for the $75 gift card include Pfizer Bivalent COVID Boosters for ages 5 and older. Flu vaccinations also will be available for ages 6 and older but are not eligible for the gift cards. All vaccines are provided at no cost to patients, although it is asked that participants bring their insurance card and COVID card, if applicable.

These $75 gift cards are being provided by the MA Get-Boosted Program in accordance with the Vaccine Equity Initiative, which works with rural communities to increase vaccine acceptance and access.

Appointments are required and can be made by going to https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/tritown. People needing assistance with registration or who have questions about how to get their primary series of COVID vaccinations or can contact Jill Sweet at 413 717 7209. Further information on this program can be found at www.sb-phc.org

3. At its February 8 meeting, the Stockbridge Council on Aging announced the SB selection of its new director, Roxanne McCaffrey. Congratulations Roxanne!

Thank you, Chris McCarthy, Jack Gremli, and Theresa Zanetti for your hard work getting the Senior Center up and running.

4. 2023 Local Election, Stockbridge Town Government, here are the open seats. Want to run?? Pick up papers at Town Offices.

3-year Term:

Selectman
Board of Assessors
Board of Health
Parks and Recreation
Sewer and Water

5-year term:

Planning Board

5. Did you know? Town Meeting and Election Day used to be reversed. We voted first and attended Town Meeting (TM) after election day. At TM, winners were announced.

Why was it changed to voting the day after TM? Maybe there was a good reason and perhaps someone knows what it was.

The thing is, it might have been better the way it was and here's why. Anyone running for office may be constrained at TM and say very little. Anyone running would not want to say the wrong thing, defend the wrong position, turn off a voter, and lose that vote the next day. It seems unfair to the candidate and to us who might benefit from hearing all points of view — especially from our representatives. Unless there is some good reason, let's vote first and have TM second.

Photo: Gary Pitney