Editorial

Now We are Two

Stockbridge Updates completes its second year of publication

Community

There is an old story much loved and repeated. It is about a Stockbridge woman who walked over to her friend’s house one morning and arrived fully flummoxed.

“My dear, what is the matter?” her friend asked.

The woman explained, “I saw a person walking on Main Street that I did not know!”

True or apocryphal, those days are over. As Stockbridge grows and changes, we don’t know every face on Main Street. Yet, no matter how much our population or economic base changes, we want a strong community — as it once was — as it might be again. A local newspaper is one way to achieve that, and now we are two.

Informed Electorate

It was a January afternoon in 2020. There were about a dozen people sitting around my living room. I was trying to sketch out the reasons to create a Stockbridge newspaper. There were two: a strong community and an informed electorate.

By 2020, I had attended 40 Town Meetings, maybe more. One thing never changed: at times folks were hearing about an issue for the first time just minutes before they were asked to vote. A local, very local newspaper could inform the townsfolk about the issues long before Town meeting, and now we are two.

Then and Now

The second-ever newspaper in Berkshire County was the Western Star; published in Stockbridge in 1794. SU does not face two problems that early newspapers did. The Reverend Orville Dewey wrote about “an abominable smell caused by something in the manufacture.” Although a sober and religious man, Dewey wrote, “Gentlemen, it is a stink.”

Another reader complained about the ink coming off on his fingers as he turned the pages. Whatever else SU may face going forward, a digital newspaper avoids both those old-time inconveniences, and now we are two.

Stockbridge Updates has grown, hopefully, because we give the public what it wants. They want to know what’s going on, and what our elected, appointed, and paid officials are up to. They want a place to voice opinions and concerns. They want to see a nice-looking issue. Thanks to talented photographers and the beauty of our village, SU is lookin’ good.

The first issue appeared in August 2020, eight months after that January meeting, and now we are two. Thank you.

by Carole Owens , Managing Editor

News

Events

1. Norman Rockwell Museum — now through October — In Our Lifetime – Paintings by KADIR NELSON. More info @ NRM.org/events
2. Summer Fair — August 13 — 10am – 1:00pm — “Mini Grandma’s Attic”
   First Congregational Church 4 Main St — Baked Goods, Crafts, Cut
   Flowers, Fresh Produce, and Silent Auction

News

Notes from the Conservation Commission (ConCom), July 12, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• John Hart
• Lisa Bozzuto
• Jaime Minacci
• Tom LaBelle
• Sally Underwood-Miller
• Chuck Kohrer (alternate)
• William Loutrel (alternate)
• Ron Brouker, Chair via Zoom

1. Hart called the meeting to order (Brouker bad connection)
2. Minutes accepted as corrected
3. Vincent Park was seeking permission to remove trees. Park not present, so the matter was continued
4. Bernard Hahn seeking a Certificate of Compliance (COC). Hahn was not present, so matter continued.
5. Gregg Wellenkamp was not present, so the matter not present
6. Annie Selke submitted Notice of Intent (NOI) and was seeking (COC). Selke was not present, so the matters were continued. Underwood-Miller said Selke withdrew NOI.
7. Sarah Mnookin and Mike Parsons for One Dugway — Role of ConCom
   1. Determine potential negative impact on wetlands — the river is across the road, but work proposed is inside buffer zone — outside 100-foot buffer but inside 200-foot buffer
   2. Brouker recommended plans impacting buffer/river front/intermittent stream be sent to the new wetland consultant for review and recommendations to ConCom
   3. Consultant is David Cameron — formerly of Department of Environmental Protection – DEP)
   4. Repair/replacement of septic — Mike Parsons presented plans for new septic
8. Lisa Messinger (owner) and Greylock Design for 37 Mahkeenac
   1. Permission to remove trees
   2. Trees on someone else’s property — Con Com must have written permission from property owner
   3. Are trees danger to her property or individuals?
   4. Continued for site visit — Have map of area, mark trees to cut and obtain written permission from property owner for site visit and cutting
9. Public Hearing: Foresight Land Services for 3 Ice Glen Road. NOI — restoration of the weir and building patio including tree removal
   1. Delay work until “dewatering” unnecessary, that is, in a low-flow month
   2. Bozzuto hoped they would save the “big old” hornbeam because it is beautiful. She disagrees that it is a hazard
   3. Are they adding to impervious surface? Evidently not
   4. Are they within 200-foot wetland buffer zone? Evidently not
   5. Public Hearing closed. ConCom deliberation. NOI approved
10. Lake and Pond Overlay District (LPOD) currently overseen by Planning Board. Suggestion to transfer jurisdiction to ConCom as more in line with their other responsibilities.
    1. Moved to transfer, passed.
    2. Now might have to go to Town Meeting (will ask Town Counsel – TC)
11. ConCom Performance Standards
    1. TC reviewed, added to, and approved
    2. LaBelle suggested several edits
    3. Underwood-Miller suggested some wording changes to make more accurate — “remove ambiguity”
    4. Moved to accept Performance Standards as corrected — passed
12. Hart attended Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (SBSC) as ConCom rep
    1. He wondered if it should be disbanded as it is duplicative
    2. White said since it was established in a bylaw approved at Town Meeting; it would have to be repealed by voters at Town Meeting
    3. Underwood-Miller and LaBelle said SBSC was established to include Town in lake matters at a time when Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) was leading efforts with respect to the lake

Meeting Adjourned

News

Notes from the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (SBSC), July 15, Hybrid Meeting

Present:

• Roxanne McCaffrey, Chair
• John Loiodice
• Michael Buffoni
• Pat Kennelly
• Patrick White
• Jim Wilusz via Zoom
• Michael Nathan via Zoom

1. June 17 minutes approved as corrected; July 1 minutes approved as written
2. Kennelly read the six SBA initiatives as follows: SBA will assist the Town in working with GZA (consultant) to finalize the plans for the dredging process; SBA has agreed to help the Town obtain a more robust mechanical harvesting permit; SBA will continue its partnership with the Town to monitor and hand harvest the invasive water chestnut; SBA will begin a pilot program, offering financial assistance for our member lakeside residential organizations to hand pull invasive and nuisance vegetation; SBA has decided to not utilize the current final superseding order of condition — no fluridone or full lake treatment to combat Eurasian Watermilfoil — instead SBA has decided to pursue the use of ProcellaCOR for spot treatment of Eurasian Watermilfoil; SBA will establish a program to protect our small parcel of old growth trees in Bullard Woods as well as initiating a project to remove invasive plants from the forest.
3. Steve Roy, GZA: what is necessary to complete Lake Management Plan (LMP) — Monitoring, Maintenance, and Improvement
   1. Monitoring of Lake for endangered species, aquatic plants, and bacteria —
   2. Bacteria from septic systems and fertilizer – storm water run off
   3. Maintenance — hand pulling and harvesting weeds/invasives
   4. Improvements, for example, list sewer expansion, septic replacement with sewer hook ups, road construction, and land use changes which are anticipated development, and/or land protection plans
   5. Apparently, GZA expects Tri-Town Health and the Town to gather this information and give to GZA. ConCom hired Dr Coote to catalogue aquatic plants; Tri-Town oversees septic systems, etc.
4. White suggested a meeting for input from “stake holders” including the 8 beaches, 6 communities, camp, Tanglewood, etc around the lake. Who reaches out? GZA or SBSC?
   1. GZA silent
   2. McCaffrey said that was part of Outreach and Education
   3. White said that happened at end, but this should be at beginning
   4. Wilusz, for Tri-Town, said they explain best practices and have jurisdiction over septic systems — at time of sales or if there is a back-up
   5. There are ample previous reports and studies of The Bowl
5. Discussed information-gathering completion by end of July — gathered by SBSC and submitted to GZA? Include SBA six points?
6. Public comment: Anita Schwerner concerned about including SBA six points in a Lake Management Plan (LMP) submitted by the Town to DEP because the Town does not support use of herbicides. White responded that harvesting and dredging were the priorities. McCaffrey said plan could include “all options” not just what Town endorses.
7. Discussion of dredging. Completed process for permit to dredge is “still a ways out”, according to GZA
8. Wilusz mentioned materials he received from Environmental Justice.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: 1. The LMP is a 3 – 5-year plan requested if not required by DEP and is “appropriate for setting overall management goals and laying out the techniques that will be used to achieve those goals.” LMP is not a catalogue of all options available but “a laying out of the techniques that will be used…” 2. Environmental Justice, part of the Environmental Protection Agency, is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys: the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process.

News

Notes from the Select Board, July 14, Hybrid Meeting

Present:

• Patrick White, Chair
• Chuck Cardillo
• Jamie Minacci

1. Public Hearing: Special Permit for 3 Ice Glen to have four 1000-gallon propane tanks
   1. Two are installed
   2. All will be underground
   3. One of remaining two are for future use if there is future building
   4. David Adler, an abutter, pointed out that the map shows location of three or four and wanted to know — where will fourth go? Apparently, no one knew
   5. Apparently, they passed the permit for four 1000-gallon tanks and asked a rep to inform SB of the location when they have positioned the 4th.
2. White announced SBA Boat Parade scheduled for 10am – 1 pm Saturday July 16
3. White shared that he has spoken to residents of White Pines and Mahkeenac, and Lake Drive Association — approximately 250 people — answering questions and hearing concerns
4. White shared letter from resident of Mahkeenac Heights expressing pleasure about the restoration of Town Beach and Town Beach parking. White called on Hugh Page, thanking him for the work. Page said they are not done yet — that was only Phase One and there would be more improvements.
5. The Town received $16,000 from Austen Riggs (Payment in Lieu of Taxes — PILOT)
6. At the July 28th SB meeting, Jorja Marsden will report on Town scholarships and the Stockbridge cane (See the Story of the Stockbridge Cane in SU, Vol. II No. 15 8/1/2021)
7. The Affordable Housing Trust will have a seven-member board and be independent of any other Town Board — the Town Treasurer will oversee. Anyone interested in serving should let Select Board know.
8. Anita Schwerner was appointed representative to the Cable Advisory Board which negotiates the contract with cable (Spectrum) including the budget for Community Television South County (CTSB).
9. White said there had been complaints about tall grass in cemetery and called on Karen Marshal. Chair, Cemetery Commission, to report on current work.
   1. Over the years, mowing and weed whacking harmed gravestone in old section. The Cemetery Commission determined to stop cutting the grass in that area
   2. They propose to repair stones at a cost of $300,000
   3. They will then plant a ground cover that will not require mowing
   4. Marshall wanted all to understand the long grass is not a sign of neglect
10. Minacci was concerned that there are no signs or no visible signs on Elm Street and Sergeant Street. Joey Nejaimes said a sign would be helpful to his business
11. Cardillo, SB rep to SBA, reported on meeting with SBA, He said he was very pleased with cooperative working relationship between Town and SBA
12. Minacci was concerned that everyone launch boats from boat launch with Zebra Mussel station where the bottom of boats are washed before put into lake. Perhaps add a washing station near kayak and canoe racks?
13. One day liquor licenses for Berkshire Theater Festival and Chesterwood approved; also a one day entertainment license for BTF

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: CTSB serves the 5 towns of Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield. FCC requires local cable company — Charter Spectrum — to pay CTSB a fee to assure continued free public, educational, and government channels.

News

Notes from the Board of Assessors, July 18, Hybrid Meeting

Present:

• Gary Pitney, Chair
• Tom Stokes
• Doug Goudey
• Michael Blay, Town Assessor
• Tammy Toupence, Secretary

1. Pricing for upgrades: $2400 this year and estimated $3000 next year. The upgrades are to Geographical Information System (GIS) — online mapping
2. The appraisals of utilities (required by Mass Department of Revenue) are done:
   1. Berkshire Gas est. value: $2,231,000 (up $135,000)
   2. Mass Electric (National Grid) est. value: $12,402,000 (up est. $432,000)
   3. OnStar est: $9666 (up $728)
   4. Tennico, Verizon NE, and Spectrum evaluated by DOR
3. Toupence is doing work with results of personal property form
4. Sales: Blay
   1. 8 sales around The Bowl
   2. Estimated 39-40 total sales up 22 from prior years
5. Mass DOR looks at the land residuals (that is, the land value compared to sales price)
   1. Blay mentioned figures, for example, sales price $1.4 million with est. land value $100,000
   2. DOR expected in August (August 2 cancelled as Blay has a course)
   3. If DOR has an issue, will have to raise the percentage of sales cost attributed to land
6. Changes
   1. Commercial and rentals values — not much change (except rental costs are up)
   2. Real estate property values big changes (up)
7. Berkshire Railroad Museum and their request for nonprofit (501c3) status
   1. Question for Town Counsel to pose to Museum
   2. Stokes recused himself

Executive meeting to determine tax exempt status of property —

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Planning Board (PB), July 18, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Kate Fletcher, Chair
• Lis Wheeler
• Nancy Socha
• Marie Raftery
• Gary Pitney
• Carl Sprague
• Wayne Slosek
• Jennifer Carmichael, secretary
• Teresa O’Brient

1. Minutes approved as written
2. Report on transferring Lake and Pond Overlay District Bylaw permit process from PB to ConCom
   1. ConCom discussed but did not take vote
   2. Carmichael said the process was for ConCom to vote to accept; then public meeting and then place on Town Meeting warrant
   3. Fletcher said there is a special Town meeting that might take place this summer or fall and perhaps this transfer could be added to that warrant
3. Sign Bylaw review
   1. Sign bylaw was rewritten by a prior consultant but not accepted by PB
   2. Fletcher wanted to “clean up the language”
   3. Pitney wanted to give original bylaw, and the consultants suggested rewrite, and give to the new consultant. Pitney felt it was not important to “clean up language” but to add definitions — “what is a directional sign?” for example
   4. There was discussion about space created by historic architecture and the façade detail. Can a sign fill the space even if it would then exceed the size allowed in the bylaw?
   5. Are flags covered under the sign bylaw?
   6. What about sandwich boards? Sandwich boards are considered temporary signs and therefore regulated but by the SB not PB
   7. Several members agreed Lost Lamb exceeds sign bylaw by both size and number of signs.
   8. During public comment, O’Brient said the area around Lost Lamb has become too congested. So congested that it obstructs pedestrians — signs, flags, sandwich board, many tables, etc

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Cemetery Commission, July 26, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Karen Marshall, Chair
• Candice Currie, V Chair
• Pat Flinn
• Patrick White
• Terri Iemolini
• Michael Canales
• Roxanne McCaffrey

1. Minutes approved as written.
2. Chair asked Canales for updates on three issues: signs for cemetery, sewer line that runs through cemetery, and tree evaluation. Canales was not able to follow u on any. Chair asked if he could do by next meeting
3. There has been progress on cemetery garage — thank you expressed to Hugh Page, Superintendent, Highway Dept
4. Tour policy and application reviewed and voted on
   1. Add language telling application to submit to Cemetery Commission at Town email
   2. Change language — “Tours only allowed during open hours (hours when cemetery is open)”
   3. Vote: Policy and application approved as amended
   4. Post policy and application on Town web site
5. White pointed out if was the first meeting after Town election, so, new chair should be elected. White nominated Marshall. Marshall nominated Currie as Vice Chair. Vote to approve.
6. Phase one of cemetery maintenance: cleaning tomb stones
   1. Chair recommended training volunteers to reduce cost
   2. White recommended using professionals
   3. No vote taken
   4. Stones should be reset first and then cleaned — confirmed with consultant
7. Planting Thyme
   1. White checked with landscaper, and it may be trickier than suspected; ask experienced landscaper to meeting to discuss
   2. Chair discouraged that idea — insisted thyme best idea — others agreed
   3. Canales — keep grass but buy “trimmer guards” to protect stones from string trimmers
   4. No vote
8. Discussion about the complaint from a woman who thought the cemetery was not being maintained because the grass was being allowed to grow in oldest section. That was a decision made to protect the stones. Chair hoped signs would be put up explaining.
9. There was a question about the Sergeant stones — will check with consultant
10. The Chair wished to discuss the Bylaws — 1.1 Makeup of the Commission
    1. Right now, the Commission is 9 members — quorum 5 — and they are identified by position: Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent, Cemetery Consultant, rep from Laurel Hill, 3 SB members and 2 appointees by SB
    2. Chair wished to change it so that appointees are reduced to 5 appointed by SB and not identified by position.
    3. White said it was a matter of history and tradition that Laurel Hill was represented on Cemetery Commission
    4. Chair pushed back and asked: what do they bring to the table today? Further the Chair did not want the consultant of Town employees to vote. Further she was not pleased that the other 2 SB members do not attend
    5. White pointed out they both work and so a daytime meeting is difficult
    6. Again, the Chair pushed back and asked if she changed the time of meeting, would they attend?
    7. Finally White explained, and McCaffrey concurred, that Bylaw changes were made by the voters at Town meeting
    8. White explained that history and tradition matter
    9. McCaffrey said there was a reason for the original configuration — Clerk keeps the cemetery records, highway maintains cemetery, and consultant oversees burials
    10. Chair remained unconvinced and wanted new faces and fresh ideas
11. Chair was sorry they did not have time to her second agenda item — green burials — but Canales told her to keep meetings to an hour.
12. Chair wished to continue review of Bylaw and to recommend changes. She said it was Canales who wished this.

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s notes: 1. The Sergeant stones are the oldest in the cemetery. Reverend John Sergeant died in 1749. 2. Generally Bylaws are changed only if an error or problem arises. That problem or error is articulated and the least change to address it is made. The process is long and complex. It requires recommendation to SB, SB decision to place on it on Warrant, vote at Town Meeting, and if approved by voters (often 2/3 vote required), then review and approval by Mass Attorney General. “Old” bylaws are rarely construed as “out-of-date” but rather respected as rules that have successfully stood the test of time and governed well. The wholesale review of bylaws is a very new idea very recently occurring in Stockbridge. 3. This is not a complete report of the meeting. Repeating ad hominem attacks or denigrating our institutions is against SB policy. Go to CTSB for verbatim recording.

News

Notes from Conservation Commission, July 26, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Ron Brouker, Chair
• Sally Underwood-Miller
• Joe Gegioris
• Jamie Minacci
• Tom LaBelle
• John Hart
• Lisa Bozzuto
• Chuck Kohrer
• William Loutrel

1. Minutes approved as corrected. (Hart was misquoted. Did not say Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (SBSC) had no purpose but that it was duplicative and therefore unnecessary
2. Hart resigned as ConCom rep to SBSC; Underwood-Miller will serve as ConCom rep on SBSC
3. An ‘informal” about Pine Woods presented by Construct, Inc (owner of Pine Wood) — Minacci abstained
   1. Demolish old driveway, lay and repave new driveway
   2. No changes in drainage or location
   3. River 290 feet away but is in flood plain
   4. Land flat — control any possiblerun-off
   5. Written statement from contractor about procedure and protections
4. David McCarthy continued
5. Hired Fleetwood Environmental Solutions to advise ConCom on how to clear all these continued items.
6. Sarah Mnookin and Kelly, Granger, and Parsons for One Dugway Road – New septic
   1. Issues — an intermittent stream and across the road from Mohawk Brook.
   2. They will build three trenches in same location 60 feet from stream and 00 feet from brook — installing silt fences
   3. Await written communication from contractor — what he will do and how he will protect from erosion
7. 37 Mahkeenac Road — removal of 10 dead trees – Rrequest for Determination of Applicability (RDA).
   1. Even though dead, leave 2 because they are beneficial to the habitat — remove tops and leave 10-12 feet
   2. Do not grind stumps
   3. Negative determination
8. Steve and Olga B (orknowitch?) 17 Beachwood Drive — recent owners, Title 5 failure
   1. Connect to Town sewer at their own expense
   2. Only house in Beachwood not connected
   3. Hookup not far
   4. Asked to file RDA
9. Brief discussion of Performance Standards — anxious to finish
10. Discussion of transfer of Lake and Pond Overlay District (LPOD) from PB to ConCom
    1. LaBelle wanted to know of it can be done as ConCom is not a special permitting Commission — Underwood-Miller said Town Counsel was asked — could ask again
    2. Labelle was concerned that there were conflicts between PB and ConCom standards — Underwood-Miller said that was why the transfer was suggested — to resolve conflicts and simplify process
    3. Underwood-Miller will ask TC again and begin process.
11. Chair explained Town approved money for consultant to ConCom
    1. Fleetwood Environmental Solutions hisred for one year. David Cameron and Mark Stinson formerly of the Department of Environmental Protection Agency are the principles
    2. Knotty problems will be sent to them. Examples: when applicates bring lawyers; when applicants have approved plans but do not implement as planned; all the continued items on ConCom agenda every meeting
    3. Fleetwood can advise on enforcement — Bozzuto shared that in Great Barrington they issue a ticket — just like a parking ticket — for each day of noncompliance. The court enforces payment
    4. Chair asked that one applicant — 33 Lake Drive — be forwarded to consultants for comment and advise.
12. Interestingto note, though Stockbridge is a village is has more ConCom applications than anywhere else (perhaps) in whole state due to % of wetlands in Stockbridge

Meeting adjourned

Editor’s note: 1. Negative RDA means the applicant can proceed without ConCom ruling because the Wetland Protection Act does not apply and therefore ConCom does not have jurisdiction. 2. As with bylaw change discussed in Cemetery Commission, this change has to be voted on by both PB and ConCom, sent to SB and then to Town Meeting, and if approved, to Attorney General. 3. The continued items are matters that are unresolved because the applicant — asked to do certain things — has not and does not appear to explain or negotiate

Announcements

SU FYI

1. We are reaching out for more members of the team. Folks who work with us are so good and so generous. They do what they do well and without pay. They deserve a summer vacation or a sick day. SU needs a deeper bench. If you are skilled at editing or digital content management; if you are contemplating a career in journalism, and would like an internship, let me know. SU needs you!
2. SU is pleased to help promote Town events and those of our nonprofits. Here’s what you may not know. The extra issues (Stockbridge Updates News Alerts) actually cost money. Our mailing list is now so large the graduated fee just reached into the hundreds. To stay even, we will have to begin charging. When you let us know what you need, we’ll let you know the fee. Thanks for your understanding

Perspective

From the Desk of Peter Dillon

Superintendent Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD)

The most effective schools and organizations regularly look carefully at their practices and work to reflect and reinvent themselves.

We’re engaged in that process and doing a deep dive into how we assess students, how they demonstrate their understanding, and how learning and growth are graded.

We are one of five schools in Massachusetts selected to participate in the Rethinking Grading Pilot, a two-year project that will create a small, diverse professional learning community of practice of high schools to provide MA exemplars of transformed grading systems (e.g., transcripts, teacher-level grading practice, feedback to students, and grading transparency).

We hope to make learning more meaningful, engaging, rigorous, and applied. In the coming year, we expect to support teachers and students in moving past traditional quizzes and tests to more progressive measures which might include portfolios, panel presentations, experiments, exhibitions and demonstrations, and self and peer review.

Teachers are planning now and we hope to pilot some new assessments as school starts in late August.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions — Peter.Dillon@bhrsd.org

Next issue: I’ll share some updates on the start of school and some of the summer work that teachers and staff have been doing to support students.

Perspective

The Boston Post Cane — Lost and Then Found!

In 1909 The Boston Post in an effort to boost newspaper sales started the tradition of distributing gold headed walking canes. The publisher, Edwin Grozier distributed 700 canes to many towns in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The canes were awarded to the oldest surviving male in town although after much controversy eligibility was opened to women in 1930. The tradition of handing down the canes was considered a sign of respect to those who had lived a long life. In 1900 life expectancy for males was 49.7 years and females 50.9 and it was a public curiosity to read about friends and neighbors who in many cases had lived well into their 90’s.

Stockbridge and several surrounding towns received a Boston Post Cane. Lee and Lenox carry on the tradition of presenting their cane to their oldest resident in town. Surprisingly Williamstown, Becket and Hinsdale are the only other towns in Berkshire County I could confirm still have a cane.

So — where is the Stockbridge cane? What happened to it over the years? Many people claim to have never seen it while others claim it has been lost forever.

I became curious and asked that question myself. I visited several town halls in Massachusetts and Maine where in many cases the canes were still prominently displayed and actively awarded to their oldest residents. However, there are still about 250 towns in New England with no current record of use or display. But what about the Stockbridge cane?

I visited the Stockbridge Town Hall and was surprised to learn that yes, our cane too had been lost, albeit temporarily. It was awarded to the oldest Stockbridge resident many years ago and then promptly forgotten. Time went by and even though a handful of people questioned its whereabouts, memories faded and eventually few in town remembered the cane, its meaning or significance.

Years later rummaging through a closet in an old house in Stockbridge an heir to the recipient of that cane from many decades earlier finally found what many people thought was very lost.

The Stockbridge cane is now secure and well cared for in the Stockbridge Town Hall. For those of you who want to participate in its history just make an inquiry at the town hall. It’s our cane, found, honored and 113 years old.

Next issue: Stephen Fradley: The Story of the manufacturer of the cane by my Great Grandfather, JF Fradley and Co. of NY

by Stephen Fradley

Perspective

Cable Conundrum

The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 gave the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) jurisdiction over the cable companies. The FCC required that a cable company with more than 35 channels must provide (at no charge) public access, education, and government channels. The cable company was also required to pay a “franchise fee” to community television producing the content for those channels. A franchise fee was a percentage of money the cable company collected from its customers. The franchise fee was an annual monetary payment.

In 2019, the FCC continued to require cable companies to provide the channels and pay the fee, however, it allowed those companies to deduct the value of “in-kind services” — equipment, channel access, etc. — from the monetary payment. There were five members of the FCC in 2019. The vote was along party lines (3-2). Those opposed felt the change targeted local public, educational, and government information channels. They were concerned the change threatened the breadth of service public access stations could offer, that is, TV and online coverage of all town government meetings, and other locally produced informational programs.

In Berkshire County in 2019, the Five Town Cable Advisory Committee with two representatives from each of five towns – Stockbridge, Lenox, Lee, Great Barrington, and Sheffield – voted unanimously to urge the MA Attorney General Maura Healey (now a gubernatorial candidate) to file a lawsuit to overturn the FCC ruling. The lawsuit would prevent cable companies from cutting back or terminating funding for local public access channels and threatening their survival.

Today, in our area, the cable company with many more than 35 channels is Spectrum, and the public access television station is Community Television South Berkshire (CTSB). CTSB serves the five towns, and the Advisory Board is still in place. With no change in the FCC ruling, one result is CTSB faces service cutbacks. For example, CTSB may stop covering some governmental meetings.

The Five Town Cable Advisory Board will soon negotiate a ten-year contract with Spectrum. While the Board cannot overrule the FCC, there is much they can do in contract negotiations to assure CTSB is healthy and provides maximum information to the public.

This is the people’s issue: it is part of transparency in government — a way of keeping up with what’s going down.

Write a letter to the editor or to Michael Canales, Town Administrator, and Advisory Board representative. Let them know government meetings via Zoom matter. You want to attend even if you are away, can’t drive at night, or aren’t feeling well. Attend the negotiating meetings and express your desires.

by Carole Owens

Perspective

Cyanobacteria 101

A few years back the Board of Health had to issue an advisory warning about a Cyanobacteria bloom on the Stockbridge Bowl. All sorts of havoc ensued, including rerouting the Josh Billings RunAground. The Board determined to do its best to prevent such an occurrence in the future, established a citizens’ ad hoc committee to learn about Cyanobacteria, and subsequently asked the Select Board to put in place a testing program and preventitive plan, which was done.

Cyanobacteria are one-celled organisms, once thought to be algae, but they are more like germs – bacteria. Jargon terminology, like harmful algal bloom (HAB), perpetuates the original error. Like true plants, Cyanobacteria make oxygen using photosynthetic pigments, but the pigments are more primitive than those of plants. This is one of the testing means to look for Cyanobacteria. Other ways include sampling the water at different depths for oxygen and turbidity, among other things. Such testing shows the Stockbridge Bowl has huge numbers of Cyanobacteria all summer long, but they are very deep in the water, so they don’t bother anyone. It is only when weather conditions cause the deeper waters to mix with the upper layers that Cyanobacteria can rise to the surface and become problematic because they can produce toxins. Generally, Cyanobacteria don’t release these toxins into the water unless they die. Thus you can see a large colony on the surface of the water but testing the water for toxins comes up negative. Later, after the Cyanobacteria die, the visible evidence of the bloom disappears but the water can be full of toxin. This discrepancy can be confusing.

We have not had an HAB for a few years, but since we know Cyanobacteria are usually somewhere deep in the water.

In the next Issue of SU: Kenny will outline the procedures the Board and TriTown Health Department will take if a bloom should occur.

by Charles Kenny MD , Stockbridge Board of Health

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

Carole,

Excellent! article … only the Main Gate is in Lenox … USPS reigns. Raising the money reminds me of sitting in the Red Lion Inn when the Commonwealth wanted to put a prison at Shadow Brook. Those at the table pledged vast amounts and vowed that it would not happen. It didn’t … Jane and Jack were at their very best.

John Beacco

Dear John.

You are so right — only the entrance to the Main Gate parking lot is in Lenox. You have great memories of Stockbridge – I hope you write more of them down – and thanks for your kind words.

Carole

To the Editor:

It is now time to take a very close look at CTSB or Community (access) Television (for the) Southern Berkshires. Why? Soon there will be a new contract negotiated agreed between Spectrum and the five towns it serves — Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield.

This contract effects CTSB. Its mission has been to provide local, governmental, televised information that is important to the residents of those towns.

CTSB provides an in-home service to those who are unable to attend meetings that are important to our towns and the neighborhoods within them. How? CTSB “attends”, with their video equipment, government meetings. CTSB broadcasts and archives what transpires during those meetings so the viewing public can make informed decisions when they attend town meetings and/or vote on issues at the ballot box that impact their communities and neighborhoods.

Folks, it’s an effective way to provide transparency in government. It provides access to our aging voting public many of whom are unable to attend the meetings in person. It helps second homeowners stay connected even when they are away.

Covid 19 ushered in the need for Government to continue to operate with the need of feedback from the public with concerns about issues before our elected and appointed boards, commissions, and committees. Enter ZOOM administered until now by CTSB.

Zoom allowed residents to attend public meetings and speak up if they wish. The recordings of the meeting on TV and the Internet allowed voters to stay informed. It gave abutters and others who might be impacted by a decision a way to speak either in favor or against the matter before the board. Was it a welcomed addition to the already daunting tasks these boards, committees, and commissions have to deal with? Yes, and unfortunately no. This “super transparency” added more minds and opinions to the already complicated caldron of operations of town’s government.

So, here’s the issue: Do we, in our, (thank God), democratic, Western Mass communities welcome in the technologies of the 21st century that Covid 19 brought to us, or do we return to Town Governments that do their jobs with no immediate scrutiny unless one is able to attend in person?

In my opinion, and as a member of a “scrutinized” and Zoomed Town Conservation Commission in Stockbridge say, the more transparency of town government and the more input from residents the better we all will be.

John Hart

Dear John,

Indeed, CTSB provides a public service that we all appreciate. Another reader joined the conversation and added ideas about CTSB’s value as follows….

Carole

You can see any meeting after it takes place. The videos create a full record of every meeting. This allows those who may be working second shift, traveling, ill, zooming a different meeting etc. to still see any meeting. Meeting minutes may sometimes be incomplete or not posted in a timely fashion. CTSB videos serve as a critical archive.

Bruce Blair

Thank you both.

Carole

Dear Carole,

Is there any way to have the sign announcing the entrance ACTUALLY placed at the entrance [to Town Beach] instead of close to someone’s private driveway??

Thanks.

Irene Bernstein

Dear Irene,

Hugh Page explained that this is Phase One. There is more to come. I am sure the sign will be moved as the restoration of Town Beach and Town Beach parking is completed. Be patient — they are doing a phenominal job.

Carole