To the Editor:

Please remove me from your list of subscribers. At first found Stockbridge Updates factual and informative, but as time has progressed it has become more slanted towards an agenda and factually inaccurate.

In the September 2nd issue you stated “Want a third? How come, for the first time in Stockbridge history, there are sirens being used? Who decided that and by what process?” I’m not sure what your agenda is here but making categorically false statements, even in the editorial section, is both wrong and dangerous. While I do not speak for the town or any of our emergency services, I can tell you, with over a quarter of a century of serving our community in the fire service and EMS, that use of sirens is not new. In many ways we have decreased the use of sirens when the use of our four fire whistles was discontinued some years back.

At a time when we are being constantly flooded with misinformation I think it is important that we hold those doing so accountable and for me that starts locally. My assumption is that you have best interests of our community at heart, but your actions are having the opposite effect.

Daniel Weston

Editor’s note:

Please see correction above. Please be aware that we do not add or remove subscribers. At the bottom of every issue there is a click through: “We value your privacy. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list by clicking here you will be removed.” Just click. If you wish to subscribe, go to www.stockbridgeupdates.com and enter your email in the upper right corner and press submit.

Carole,

I’m still catching my breath after reading your proposal. Wow! Just… WOW!

What you’ve created for us is absolutely stunning – it’s beyond perfection, honestly. You’ve captured not just what we need to raise funds, but the very heart and soul of why this matters.

I’ve already started ordering all of your books because I clearly need to learn from someone with your extraordinary talent and vision. You’ve shown us possibilities we hadn’t even dreamed of.

I know you and Moose are having lunch tomorrow, and I’m so disappointed I won’t be able to join you to thank you properly in person. Please know that your work has left us speechless (in the best possible way) and filled with hope for what we can accomplish together.

With immense gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,

Jennifer Joyce, Kripalu Director Gifts and Giving

Dear Carole:

I am concerned about the draft regs only being beneficial for Cape and the Islands. They are active in feeding the committee thoughts that benefit them.

The small lots are something that I think Stockbridge may look at. I don’t see Stockbridge embracing that, but I may be wrong. It is good that towns will be able to regulate movable homes.

The regs will be adopted by the first of the year giving towns an opportunity to review the regs and decide if they want to adopt it at their spring town meetings.

Cheers, Christine (Rasmussen)

Carole

I would like to write a piece advocating the denial of the funding of a new MMRHS but am unsure how you and your readers would react to such a LTE.

I could send a few new pictures if you let me know what your deadlines are for submission.

Jan Wojcik

Jan,

All articles are welcome. Whether SU likes it is irrelevant. You have the right to express your opinion. You write it; SU posts it.

Carole

Dear Ms. Owens,

I am writing in response to your recent complaint concerning the conduct of the Police Chief. In keeping with the Town of Stockbridge’s use of standard personnel procedures, all complaints are first reviewed at the initial validation stage to determine whether they warrant further investigation. After reviewing your complaint alongside your email to the Chief on September 4, 2025, I find that your contemporaneous description of the interaction matches the Chief’s account and does not support your later characterization of the exchange. On that basis, the matter does not meet the threshold for advancing beyond the initial review stage, and no further action will be taken at this time.

I would also note that your September 4 email included a request for the Chief, and a request for me in the complaint, to submit material to Stockbridge Updates. My understanding is that you manage Stockbridge Updates a private publication that solicits contributions from the public and regularly features commentary and opinion. While every individual has the right to communicate with such outlets, it raises ethical concerns when a citizen making a complaint simultaneously asks a department head or Town Administrator to provide written material for publication in a forum they operate and presumably profit from. The Town must ensure that its official communications remain impartial and avoid even the appearance of undue influence.

Thank you for bringing your concerns forward. This matter is considered closed unless new, substantive information is presented that would warrant reopening the review. Please be assured that the Town remains committed to transparency, fairness, and appropriate public access to its proceedings.

Michael J. Canales
Stockbridge Town Administrator
P.O. Box 417
50 Main Street
Stockbridge, MA 01262
Email: TownAdministrator@stockbridge-ma.gov
Phone: 413-298-4170 ext 100

Dear Carole:

I enjoyed meeting you at the Krugman/Pollock talk. I’m told your excellent article appeared in the Eagle today. Could you send me a link?

Later: Excellent column. Thanks. Come again to the Meeting House!

Ellen Sweet
Board Member, New Marlborough Meeting House
Chair, Literary Committee

Dear Carole,

The coming of October always raises the same issue with me: Why do [members of the SB]

vote down the Residential Tax Exemption? Frankly I, among many, would very much like to hear the DETAILS THAT EACH OF THEM must have for voting against it. I just returned from Chatham on Cape Cod where it was voted for to take effect in 2026. The overseer of the house we rented is a realtor who, strangely knew nothing about it. I did speak with a second homeowner from Wellfleet who had no issue with the 35% more that they paid. They, being compassionate when it comes to those it benefitted, had no issues with paying more on their second home taxes.

So, again Selectboard members, what are the DETAILS of your reasoning when it comes to your votes against in the past?

Full time Residents of Stockbridge~ let’s begin the process now of finding out their DETAILED logic when voting it down. I certainly hope it is NOT, “Someone told me to.”.

John Hart

Carole

I never have been more disappointed in Stockbridge than as of late. I was born and raised here, as were both of my parents. Seeing a reigning selectman putting up lawn signs for the other selectman running for election on the lawn of the chairman of finance was disheartening. No wonder Lisa Sauer would not run again. Then Patrick is run out, then Hugh. Who is actually running this town?

Judi Barnes

Responses to a Town event scheduled on Rosh Hashanah

Carole-

Thank you for bringing this to our attention and I share your concern.

I will reach out to the COA in the morning. Unfortunately , we have dealt with their type of issue many times.

Thanks,

Dara
Dara Kaufman
Executive Director, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

Dear Carole-

I reached out and they are rescheduling the workshop to a different date. Katie and I spoke and she now understands better. I also sent her the a Jewish calendar for 2025 and 2026.

Thank you again for bringing this to my attention.

Best,

Dara
Dara KaufmanExecutive Director Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

Carole

Elie Weisel said: Indifference is always the friend of the enemy.

Hi Carole-

Because the communication reached your desk, it is obviously up to you to determine whether to post it. If you do, transparency would be the reason.

Carole

I’m sure it wasn’t intentional however, I think it’s offensive when a scheduling mistake of this magnitude is not apologized for, corrected, and promptly rescheduled. I’ve experienced this situation a few times in my long experience as a member of various groups or organizations. Most groups were instantly apologetic and quick to change the date in deference to our religious practices and sensibilities. In only one case was the Jewish complainant dismissed out of hand as Katie seems to have done in her response to Anita. In my cited case of the organizers’ initial refusal to recognize Jewish particularity, when our spokesperson underscored that the date conflicted with the holiest day of the Jewish year and was equivalent to them scheduling the meeting (ie. potting class) on Christmas, the organizers came through with an abject apology and a new date.

Carole

I think it was a mistake and maybe it won’t happen in the future. It doesn’t seem that any attempt was made to reschedule.

If responses can be punitive, for the first time, SU will accept unsigned letters but remember the rules no pejoratives, no ad hominem attacks, no threats.

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