Editorial

Editorial: A School in Stockbridge

VOTE! October 23, 2023 6 PM

Attend Town Meeting and Vote! Yup the merger is now dead but the Senior Tax Work off is on the agenda and — even though Egremont declined — put Stockbridge on the record.

Attend and Vote. Thank you.

Breaking news: Egremont Votes No — 2 to 1. Since the Commonwealth requires that districts vote as one — the merger is dead. On the other hand…

Say the word “school” at a Stockbridge Town Meeting and everyone votes “aye” and always did.

As early as 1776, Stockbridge had three schools. Elsewhere in Berkshire County, the battles were epic over allocating money to build just one school and the cost of running it. In Stockbridge there were so many schools, the Town had to hire a Keeper of the District Schools. 

John Fisk arrived late in 1776 to serve as the new Keeper of Schools and to teach. Formerly a Revolutionary War officer from a Connecticut regiment, Fisk was paid a respectable 11 pounds 30 per month (about $2000 today). Just as important as a good wage, in Stockbridge, teachers were highly respected members of the community. 

A notice was posted on the Stockbridge Elm: “The utmost caution should be observed to do or say nothing in a manner likely to come to the ears of children as to injure the reputation of their teacher.” 

Our early history makes it doubly sad that we have not had a public school in this Town since the Plain School closed its doors in 2006 — 17 years ago. The following year, Town Offices moved into the school. Even if the merger had been adopted, we still wouldn’t have had a public school in Stockbridge.

However, here’s the good news: we have a vibrant private high school in the village — the Berkshire Waldorf High School (BWHS). Things are moving. BWHS is raising the funds and signing the papers necessary to purchase Old Town Hall as a permanent home. This being Stockbridge, the school will move into Old Town Hall, and the old school is the new Town Offices. Nevermind — Once again Stockbridge will have a permanent school building in the village. It will be wonderful to welcome a school to Stockbridge. 

Read on and read all about it.

by Carole Owens , Executive Editor

News

SU FYI

From the Berkshire Waldorf High School

The Jane & Jack Fitzpatrick Trust has awarded Berkshire Waldorf High School a $250,000 grant toward the cost of remediating asbestos in Old Town Hall as part of the school’s project to purchase and renovate the building as its permanent home.

Earlier this year, the Myrin Institute provided a multi-year grant of $500,000 directed at this effort. Individual donors have provided a significant portion of the overall $6.5 million project cost. 

Trustees of the Fitzpatrick Trust write, “The Berkshire Waldorf Board has done great work in finding a permanent home for the school, while at the same time preserving a beautiful and important historical building on the town’s Main Street.”

Asbestos remediation will be a first step toward the planned renovation. Architectural and engineering work by Pamela Sandler Architects began last year, and the school hopes to begin actual construction in January 2024. 

Stephen Sagarin, Berkshire Waldorf High School Executive Director, said, “We cannot adequately express our gratitude to the institutions, and more than 100 donors, who have contributed to the project so far for their generosity and dedication to our school and to the Town of Stockbridge.” 

Board Chair Teresa O’Brient added, “This project is the last, best hope for Old Town Hall to avoid demolition. It will provide millions in direct economic benefit to the Town of Stockbridge, both in terms of construction spending and ongoing support of town merchants.”

The Fitzpatrick Trust grant is contingent on school ownership of the Old Town Hall, currently owned by the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, UCC. The Church and Berkshire Waldorf High School have entered into a purchase and sale agreement, contingent on the Stockbridge Zoning Board of Appeals approving a variance. The hearing will likely occur before Thanksgiving 2023.

The Old Town Hall has been unoccupied since 2007, when Stockbridge Town Offices moved into the former Stockbridge Plain School. The building was originally constructed in 1829, with a larger addition in 1904. 

Berkshire Waldorf High School, founded in 2002, enrolls approximately 50 students in grades 9 through 12. The school provides an education for adolescents using existing facilities and resources. Among them are: Stockbridge Library, fields, and courts; Shakespeare & Company and the Berkshire Theater Group; Berkshire South Regional Community Center; Berkshire Art Center, local artists’ and artisans’ studios.

From the Healey-Driscoll Administration 

$4 Billion Affordable Homes Act to Increase the production of, and lower the cost of, housing. 

This multi-pronged approach includes $4 billion in capital spending, 28 substantive policy changes, three executive orders, and two targeted tax credits. The majority of the spending will have benefits for moderate-income and low-income households. Click here to read The Affordable Homes Act.

The Purpose

“The cost of housing is the biggest challenge facing the people of Massachusetts. We said from day one of our administration that we were going to prioritize building more housing to make it more affordable across the state,” said Governor Healey. “The Affordable Homes Act delivers on this promise. It’s the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history.” 

The Funding

The Transfer Tax — Healey administration wants to give cities and towns the option of adopting a real estate transaction fee of 0.5 percent to 2 percent on the portion of a property sale over $1 million. Additional legislation and policy changes would result in funds.

What will the Affordable Homes Act do? 

It is estimated it could create more than 40,000 new homes in Massachusetts, chipping away at a shortage that was estimated at 200,000.

A total of $1.6 billion will provide for the repair, rehabilitation and modernization of the state’s more than 43,000 public housing units 

$200 million would be authorized for the Housing Innovations Fund to support alternative forms of rental housing for the homelessness, seniors, veterans, and transitional units for persons recovering from substance abuse. 

$115 million to ensure new affordable housing developments meet “green” standards 

Allow accessory dwelling units less than 900 square feet “by right” throughout the state 

$1.83 billion would be directed to housing production and preservation as follows: 

$800 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to provide resources to create or preserve affordable housing and first-time homebuyer opportunities for households in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. 

$425 million for Housing Stabilization and Investment Fund to support preservation

$175 million for HousingWorks Infrastructure Program to fund municipal infrastructure projects to encourage denser housing development. 

$100 million for Commonwealth Builder to spur construction of affordable homeownership opportunities. 

$100 million for Mixed-Income Housing to support middle-income housing production. 

$50 million for the Momentum Fund — initiative designed to leverage state resources to support large scale, mixed-income multifamily development. 

Editor’s note: As a Justice40 Community, Stockbridge will be eligible for many of these grants. SU volunteers to help in preparation of any of the grants as a contribution to the village. 

From: Robert T Leverett; Subject: Ice Glen

Jared Lockwood and I have begun an update of the measurements of the big trees growing in and surrounding the Glen. We have a long way to go but have already remeasured a few of the most prominent white pines. The numbers tell a story of continued growth despite the advancing age of the forest. This, in turn, speaks to the continuing positive climate role of Ice Glen’s trees. Treating the hemlocks and ashes is proving to be a good climate mitigation strategy.

Yesterday, we remeasured the huge Ice Glen pine at the south end of the Glen. I’m pleased to report that it is now 13.52 feet in girth and 163.25 feet in height! That is up from 13.43 feet in girth and 161.8 feet in height as measured by Jared in 2020. Using a statistical volume-biomass mode named FIACOLE, this amount of growth represents the sequestering of about 409 lbs of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere each year– an impressive amount considering that the pine is probably over 300 years old. Oh yes, the Ice Glen Pine has joined the ranks of single-trunk, forest-grown white pines with a trunk volume of 1,000 cubic feet or more. It is a very exclusive club. 

We climbed and volume-modeled the pine in Oct 2006. At that time, the pine’s trunk volume was 920 cubes. The current trunk volume based on our statistical models is 1,042 ft^3. The addition has been 122 ft^3 gained in 17 years, or 7.2 ft^3/year of wood and bark. This does not include the underground growth which is usually given as 15%. This brings us to 8.3 ft^3 of trunk volume growth per year. 

In time, we’d like to compute the above-ground carbon stored in pine-dominated area on the north side of the Glen. There’s a story yet to be told about Ice Glen’s trees.

Congratulations Selina Lamb 

Rural Intelligence, a respected digital resource in our region, just named Selina Lamb and Birch Realty top five Best Agency and top five best agent.

Selina thanked all who voted for her, “As the new kid on the block and with a very different take on how to support buyers and sellers, it means the world to us to get to the top 5. We are loving supporting our clients new and old every day, our way: incisive analysis, deep perspective, best-of-marketing, and a lot of fun along the way!”

She is hoping to get to Number one in the next round of voting between now and November 13th. If you want to participate, go to https://ruralintelligence.com

News

Events

Halloween Parade & Pumpkin Walk-About Planned in Stockbridge

The Stockbridge Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Walk-About will take place on Friday, October 27, 2023 for area children. Marchers will meet at the corner of Main & Pine Street at 6:00PM and march up Main Street to the front lawn of the Stockbridge Library for cider & donuts and pumpkin walk-about with lighted pumpkins carved by local businesses and area children. A Halloween storytime will take place at 6:30PM and Drop-in Halloween crafts inside the library from 6:00-7:30PM.

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 (The library staff will light them and provide candles). You may take them home at the end of the evening. 

In case of rain the parade is cancelled. Events will continue in the library.

These events are sponsored by the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, Stockbridge Library, Town of Stockbridge and Stockbridge Coffee & Tea. 

For more information, one may contact the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce at (413)298-5200.

2023 Ice Glen Walk Stockbridge

From the Stockbridge Fire Department 

The Stockbridge family friendly moonlit hike into Ice Glen followed by a celebration around a bonfire will take place Saturday, October 28th. The event is sponsored by Stockbridge Fire/Rescue/EMS and Parks & Recreation. 

The guided tour will start from Stockbridge Town Park on Park Street in Stockbridge at 6:00pm, proceed down South Street, onto Ice Glen Road and through the Glen returning to the park for a bonfire, cider and donuts. It is an easy hike, even for the less experienced. Stockbridge Firemen and volunteers will be at points where there is uneven terrain. It is recommended that you wear sturdy footwear, warm layered clothing (sweatshirts, fleeces, etc.), hats and gloves and don’t forget a flashlight to help guide you with the group! A fall celebration bonfire at the Stockbridge Town Park starts immediately after the hike. All are invited to the bonfire even if you can’t make the hike. Cider and Donuts for everyone!!

Please leave pets at home. In case of rain or inclement weather the walk is cancelled. 

For more information, one may contact the Stockbridge Fire Department at (413)298-4866.

Exhibit on Mohican History and Culture at the Mission House Museum

From Trustees of Reservation — The Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, a federally recognized Tribal Nation in Wisconsin with origins in the Hudson and Housatonic River Valleys, has an exhibit on Mohican history and culture at the Mission House Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

The exhibit, Mohican Miles, was created through collaboration between the Stockbridge Munsee’s Cultural Affairs Department and The Trustees of Reservations. The exhibit will be accessible to visitors during the hours of the Mission House Museum from Thursday-Monday from 10AM to 4PM.

In conjunction with the exhibition, special programs are presented by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. For example, Honoring our Traditional Seed Relatives presented by Lucy Grignon, a successful traditional seed gardener in the Ancient Roots Homestead on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in Wisconsin. Her program helped to recognize and identify the traditional seed relatives of the Mohican Homelands. 

These programs and workshops are free, but registration is required as space is limited. Workshops are held outside when possible. Upcoming Stockbridge-Munsee special events — What is Indigenous Education and the SMIL, Saturday, November 4, 2023, 11am to 12 pm

Learn from Dr. Sandra Barton the Standard Model of Indigenous Learning (SMIL) that she developed and uses in teaching college courses and training workshops with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. The SMIL is the only instructional design model designed to meet the unique needs of Native Americans but has also been used in non-Indigenous learning environments to great success. Click here to register.

Tribal Medicines Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, 11am to 12pm

About Tribal Medicines

Join Misty Cook, a traditionally trained Stockbridge-Munsee herbalist, as she explores and explains the use and history of the plants in the Mission House medicinal garden.

This workshop is free, but registration is required as space is limited. The workshop will be held outside, so please dress according to the weather. For more information or to make a reservation, please go to https://thetrustees.org or email kknisley@thetrustees.org 

Hosted by Stockbridge Library, the weekly Poetry Program

Our upcoming events: 10/25/2023 Andrea Deeken

11/1/2023 Holly Iglesias & Landon Godfrey: One Poem – Two Poets

11/8/2023 Robin Lysne

11/15/2023 Rolly Kent

All readings are recorded and are accessible on the library’s YouTube channel. Visit stockbridgelibrary.org to find out more.

News

From the Desk of the Town Administrator, Michael Canales

Stockbridge has forged a collaborative partnership with the neighboring towns of Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox. Together, we have established a shared inspectional and enforcement program, catering to the specific needs of each town while meeting the requirements set forth by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The central goal of this venture is to optimize resources and reduce redundancies. As part of this partnership, the Four Town Municipal Inspections Department will be created to oversee and coordinate inspection activities.

A crucial aspect of this collaboration is the appointment of Matt Kollmer who will serve as the Building Commissioner. This role entails overseeing various aspects of building inspections and regulations across all four towns. Additionally, three local inspectors will be appointed to form the core workforce for this program. Their primary responsibility will be to conduct inspections, enforce regulations, and provide support to the communities.

These inspectorial roles are distributed as follows: one inspector for Lee and Lenox, another for Great Barrington, and a third inspector for Stockbridge, serving half-time and assisting as needed in any of the four towns. This flexible approach ensures that the program can efficiently adapt to the evolving needs of each town, especially during peak seasons or special circumstances.

Residents and businesses in Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox can anticipate numerous advantages from this cooperative initiative. Most notably offering greater convenience and quicker response times for applicants. The pooling of resources will enable the towns to invest in advanced training and professional development for the shared inspectors, resulting in more knowledgeable and capable enforcement personnel.

This program is founded on efficiency and resource sharing, once all the positions are filled. Currently we have Matt Kollmer as commissioner and one inspector, Rian Dowd, who are keeping all four towns covered. Jennifer Carmichael, Administrative Assistant, provides years of experience in the Stockbridge office. In the next months we hope to have the remaining two inspector positions filled and the department running to its full capabilities.

Stockbridge, in partnership with Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox, is taking a proactive approach to improving services, enhancing regulatory compliance, and creating a more efficient and responsive system for our communities. The Four Town Municipal Inspections Department is a promising model of cooperation that builds on the model of Tri Town Health that has served our communities well for many years.

Perspective

From Our Cemetery Commission Vice Chair Candace Currie

Thank You to all the Cemetery Volunteers

Thank you to all the people who volunteered their time and energy for cleaning marble monuments. I hope you’ll be back next spring as we continue this preservation project in our sweet town cemetery.

Hats off to Tom, Marty, Louise, Amanda, Pat, Marie, and two home-schooled teens, Leah and Judah. And thank you to our guests from Pittsfield’s St. Joseph’s Cemetery; Peter, MaryBeth, and Jane who wanted to learn about our successful project. I’m sorry if I’ve missed someone, however, thank YOU, too.

The cemetery commission is so grateful for the expertise and enthusiasm of Bill Remson and Ian Steward from Preservation Inc. and their preservation colleague Annie Rubel.

Join us next spring for more marble monument cleaning and discover the stories behind the stones.

The Last Word

Reader to Reader

To the Editor:

Cleaning Marble Monuments, I scrape away the lichen with a plastic putty knife. Plastic doesn’t harm the marble. A soft-bristled brush removes some of the finer lichen bits living on the engraved roses framing the unreadable name. I spray water on the stone and then spray with cleanser, D/2. More lichen appears. More brushing dislodges biological growth. A stream of water from my spray bottle methodically chases the dirt from top to bottom, left to right, running down the face of the stone. I scrub some more. Through an orange hue of suds, the letters begin to reveal themselves – R E H T S E, ESTHER!

Sincerely,

Candace Currie, Vice-chair Cemetery Commission

Carole,

My wife and I lived in Stockbridge from 2015 — June 2021, and then we moved to Maine to be near both of our kids and our grandson. I moved to Kripalu in November 2014 to become their VP Finance. My involvement with the Stockbridge Library was as Board Treasurer (July 2017 — June 2018) and then as Board President (July 2018 — June 2021).

I started the weekly poetry program at SLA during poetry Month (April 2020) as a way for people to find some solace during the week. It took off after that and we just started Season 4. 

I have been remiss in not emailing you earlier. Our program is on Wednesday’s at 12:30 pm via zoom.

Your weekly update letter is great.

John Gillespie

To the Editor:

In response to Laura Dubester’s comment in The Edge that in Stockbridge the part time residents have a “median income of more than $250,000”, I say she’s painting us all with a very wide brush! My family’s income is about $70,000, and our so-called second home is a small cottage my father built in 1947 that has had little improvement. It isn’t insulated or winterized, so it’s in use primarily from Memorial Day until Labor Day for a couple weeks and on weekends. The chimney needs repair so we use a small space heater on occasion. 

As for the RTE promoted by John H. Hart and others, NOT all second-home owners have the finances to handle any additional tax burden. I add to the local economy but am hit by unfair costs…I pay TWICE as much in sewer fees for the approximately 14 weeks maximum I could occupy my cottage in Stockbridge than I do for the entire year at my primary residence! I receive a sewer bill for the seven months I am not there and use NO water. We don’t have metered water, and Stockbridge determines the sewer rate by the number of bedrooms, NOT by the amount/sources of water usage! My husband and I (who conserve and have low water usage) thus pay the same rate as those with three bedrooms but perhaps many more in residence for a greater number of months, and while we only have two sinks, one tub and one toilet, they may be using a dishwasher, clothes washer, outside faucet or outside shower! 

One bedroom is tiny with just enough room for a twin bed and a dresser at its foot, and a small space to walk alongside. At one time it wasn’t considered a bedroom because it doesn’t have a closet, but last year an assessor told me if someone sleeps there (a young child on occasion) then it’s a bedroom and is thus used to determine what we pay in sewer fees!

My cottage is my refuge away from noise, medical appointments and procedures, plus a respite from social devices or even a TV, and a place to gather with friends and relatives. For this “privilege” I’m expected to pay a disproportionate amount in taxes?

Unfairly targeted,

Lynda Overlock