Home / Archive / VOL. V NO. 11 06/01/2024 / Editorial: A Wider Audience

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VOL. V NO. 11 06/01/2024

Editorial: A Wider Audience

After almost five years, Stockbridge Updates will begin its transition to a wider audience. We live in a small town in a bigger county in a state of 351 municipalities. 

Stockbridge Updates was founded to inform and there is relevant information beyond the border of Stockbridge. Perhaps more accurate information comes from looking at the whole picture. Just as better solutions may come from sharing, cooperating, and getting to know one another better.

We wrestle with the availability of affordable housing. Maybe we cannot solve that problem if our focus is restricted to Stockbridge. Maybe we can solve it if we widen our lens and consider a three-town solution. 

Stockbridge is aging. Moving from a median age of 45 to a median age of 60 affects how many volunteers there are in the fire department, on boards, and committees. We may need shared services. 

We have models in the district school system and Tri-Town Health. As costs climb and the full-time population shrinks, we may want to follow those models. We may want to hone our skills in how to share and plan with others.

For similar reasons, SU will grow with a special section on Commonwealth Matters. It was interesting how many suggestions made at Town Meeting would counter state law. If any had passed, the Attorney General would have struck them down. It’s an unnecessary misstep easily fixed by making more information available from multiple sources.

South County has sparkling writers, retirees from all walks of life, and workers who know a thing or two. Moreover, Town Administrators in other towns can fill us in on their top-line accomplishments and problems. We can learn and admire, imitate, or lend a helping hand.

SoCo Updates will invite them all to tell us about the world around Stockbridge. If you think you are one of those people from any one of those towns, get in touch. If you want to get onboard and help us grow, get in touch. www.carole@stockbridgeupdates.com

Stockbridge Updates stands for transparency and will now aim to spread information to all of you from a wider base — standby — we’re working on it.

Photo: Jay Rhind

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Stockbridge Updates Statement of Purpose

To inform without opinion or pressure and give the people of Stockbridge the facts they need to make informed decisions.

To provide space for opinion, but since facts and opinions are different, to clearly mark opinion pieces, and clearly identify the opinion holder.

Stockbridge Updates is a periodic newsletter delivered through email.

Carole Owens, Executive Editor

Stockbridge Updates Policy with Respect to Submissions

SU welcomes your letters and other submissions on all Stockbridge subjects, history and current events, news and human interest, whatever is on your mind. As with articles and opinion pieces, letters are 400 words or less, no personal attacks, and always attach your name. SU does not include personal information and will delete telephone numbers, email addresses, post office boxes, and street addresses. Limit one submission per month.

Carole Owens, Executive Editor

Stockbridge Updates: Format

SU is attempting to present a consistent format for readers. SU begins with its Table of Contents. The SU Editorial is next and then the News. News is divided between one-time events, such as the election and events around town, and recurring reporting, such as the Notes from… section. It is called Notes from… because SU attends the town meetings, takes notes, and reports what happened. If SU has a comment or question, it is at the end of the meeting identified as Editor’s Comment or Editor’s Question. The next section is Contributors. Under contributors, you may find Stockbridge history, opinion pieces, or information from a Committee Chair or elected official. Our final section is Reader to Reader, our letter section. The issue closes with the SU Statement of Purpose and Policy for Contributors. We welcome all letter writers and contributors; deadline on the 10th for the issue posted on the 15th of the month and on the 26th for the issue posted on the first.

Your Submissions Welcome!

Submit comments, opinion pieces, and letters to the editor to carole@stockbridgeupdates.com

If you want to look at back issues, go to: our archive page

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Stockbridge Updates

carole@stockbridgeupdates.com