To: Stockbridge Updates

Amen to courtesy and curiosity!

Mary Langeron

Letter to the Editor, Stockbridge Updates

A priority for the League of Women Voters, including this chapter in Central Berkshire County, is voter education. We realize that even after all the work of 2024, we still have elections to consider this Spring in each of the 18 towns of this newly formed 3rd Congressional District of the Commonwealth. The State Secretary has a helpful list of the towns and the address and names of all the Town Clerks but does not list the dates for the elections or the town meetings. After an online search of each of the town websites, I was able to compile this list of dates for town meeting and town elections and for the last filing date for anyone interested in running for office in their town’ When I could not find the dates, Town clerks were prompt in their replies to me for clarification.

There are many dates for local elections in Massachusetts!

Here is a draft of a Town Election Schedule for 2025 across the 3rd Congressional District: (XX indicates missing date)

3rd Berkshire District of MA Town Election Schedule 2025
Town	Town Meeting	Election Day	Last Candidate Filing
Alford	Tues May 13 @ 6pm	3rd Tues May 20
Beckett	2nd Sat May 11	Sat May 17 @ 10-7
Dalton	Mon May 5	May 12	March 24
Egremont	Sun May 4	Tues May 13
Great Barrington	Sat May 3	Tues May 13
Lee	Thu May 8 @ 7pm	May 12 7-8pm	April 7
Lenox	Mon May 10	Mon May 10	Mon Mar 22
Monterey	May 3	May 6
Mount Washington	Tues May 6 (ck)	3rd Sat May 18
New Marlborough
Otis	May 20	May 27	April 8
Richmond	3rd Wed May 21	?
Sandisfield	Sat May 17 @ 10am	Mon May 19 @ 12-6
Sheffield	1st Mon May 5 (?)	?
Stockbridge	Mon May 19 @ 6:30	Tues May 20	Tues Mar 20
Tyringham	Sun April 6 @ 5-7pm	?
Washington	Wed May 11 @ 7pm	Sat May 17
West Stockbridge	Thu March 20	Mon May 12

Ramelle Pulitzer, President, League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County

Ramelle,

Thank you and your membership for all that you do.

Carole

Hello Carole,

I would let you know that I have been involved in real estate development since 2016 as well as consulting for the last year for the CDC of South Berkshire on their affordable housing, workforce housing and economic development work. So your accounting that only one person on the trust has any experience in the area is not correct.

I would also like to add that Jan Ackerman was the CFO of Yale. I don’t think she needs housing experience to be a smart and trusted voice on a volunteer trust. The truth is, the Affordable Housing Trust was created by members of the town, and is amongst the most educated of any of the volunteer boards in town. I do think having people with experience in the area is a great thing and am very much in agreement about that… but if you think that people with more experience in housing are going to advocate for Less housing, you’re probably mistaken.

I hope we can all come together to create housing opportunities that everyone can get behind.

Thanks,

McCaela Donovan

Dear McCaela,

Thank you so much for writing Stockbridge Update and thank you for the correction.

Carole

Email exchange: Stockbridge Updates inquired of Dr. Charles Kenny, Chair, Stockbridge Board of Health, if the 24 (or more) Stockbridge residents near enough to Housatonic to be on the Housatonic Water Works could safely dig wells instead of waiting for HWW to correct the water quality problems which seem bogged down in legal wrangling.

Kenny responded by contacting the EPA:

Re: Well – pcb contamination in Stockbridge

From: Kenny, Charles

To: Dumville, Kelsey

Cc: carole42@verizon.net

I have been asked if it is safe to drill wells for drinking water for homes along the Housatonic River, just north of Housatonic and just south of Glendale, or if there is any existing prohibition against it. I have been told that, in the 1970s, the wells in this area were tested (probably by Mass Department of Environmental Quality and Engineering (DEQE) and found to be contaminated by pcbs. They were condemned and closed. I understand that the Housatonic Water Works Company (HWW) extended its service into Stockbridge when all these wells were shut down. HWW is now facing a crisis in the service it provides and could limit them.

I asked Mr. Saadi Motamedi, Acting Deputy Regional Director of the Bureau of Water Resources of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (EPA – one of the spinoff departments when DEQE was dissolved), Western Regional Office, about the prior condemnation, or any existing prohibitions and he knew of none. He offered technical assistance to anyone who would drill such a well.

Understanding that well drilling is expensive, does EPA know anything about the prior well closures or reasons someone should not drill new wells? Would EPA have authority to test the groundwater for pcbs in that part of Stockbridge? If such contamination was indeed a factor in the well closures, would the current river remediation plan be expected to eliminate the contamination and permit well installations?

Thank you.

Charles Kenny MD

Chair, Stockbridge Board of Health

Good afternoon, Dr. Kenny,

I’m checking in with the site team to see if we have any information on the wells in this area. Will be in touch soon.

Best, Kelsey

Editor’s note: When the EPA supplies an answer, SU will post it.

Hi Carole,

My name is Brett Roberts, and I am a Senior Planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). I also happen to live in Stockbridge, so I appreciate the great service that Stockbridge Updates is for our town.

In my capacity at BRPC, I work on a program called the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP). HMLP is a state-funded no-interest loan program to provide modifications to those in need of accessibility improvements to their homes. Eligible applicants include homeowners and landlords (with fewer than 10 units) with necessary changes needed to their homes to keep disabled or elderly family members in their own homes. I’ve attached a press release with more information on the program and how to get in touch with our staff regarding this opportunity. There is also a flyer attached for your reference.

I was wondering if this could be included in the next edition of Stockbridge Updates as a press release or just as information. We have presented this to a few boards in Stockbridge, but always great to have it where more people can see it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!

Best,

Brett

Editor’s note: Brett Roberts is the Senior Housing Planner, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Dear Brett,

Thank you for working with Stockbridge Updates getting the word out about this very important project. Helping older folks remain in their homes is as important to maintaining a stable and diverse community as helping young people to purchase houses and work in their hometown. SU looks forward to your article in our next issue.

Thank you, Carole

Hi Carole!

The B entered some stories in the New England Better Newspaper Competition, including your piece from issue 3 called “Born in the Berkshires.” We heard from the org that we won in several categories, including for your column for History Reporting! Congrats and thanks for a nice column!

Amy

Editor’s note: Amy Conway is Editor in Chief of The B, a new magazine from The Berkshire Eagle

Dear Amy,

Thanks! Aren’t you nice for letting me know, recognition is always appreciated by all of us. Please keep up your great work – the new magazine is looking good and reads wonderfully.

Carole

Editor’s note: About the New England Better Newspaper Competition The New England Newspaper & Press Association’s Better Newspaper (NENPA) Competition is New England’s largest journalism recognition program.

This prestigious competition celebrates the skill, passion, and determination it takes to produce top-quality publications. It offers an exciting opportunity for talented newspaper professionals to be recognized for their exceptional work.

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