Carole,

As chair of the Stockbridge Cultural Council, I was delighted to see your piece about this year’s awards. We are always looking for ways to get the word out; this was perfect.

Just need to clear up one minor point: we had the press release sent from Smitty Pignatelli’s office, (because he has a larger reach than we do), but he wasn’t part of the decision-making process. All the projects were chosen by Stockbridge Cultural Council members.

Again, many thanks for helping us remind Stockbridge that we’re here and giving out money!

Best,

Karen Marshall

Dear Karen,

Thank you for all you and your committee do and thank you for taking the time to write.

Carole

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Dear Carole,

As we near the end of the school year, I want to thank the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, the Shrine of The Divine Mercy and the Town of Stockbridge on behalf of the community of Berkshire Waldorf High School—students, parents, teachers, and members of our Board.

Our school has been able to hold classes in person for most of the year—with (so far) zero cases of COVID—because of the generosity of the Congregational Church, Pastor Brent Damrow, and Will Garrison, who welcomed us in to use their Meeting Room and Sanctuary as classroom spaces in order to maintain appropriate distance and ventilation. On any given day, half our students are in our school building on Pine Street, and half are at the Church. We simply couldn’t have operated as we have without the generosity of the Church.

And, in a year when the Class of 2020 didn’t know if they would be able to graduate in person, the Marion Fathers, particularly Father Kaz Chwalek and Father Anthony Gramlich, welcomed us to use the outdoor Shrine last August for our ceremony. And, for the Class of 2021, the Shrine is welcoming us again this June.

Balancing the requirements of safety, of education, and of institutional viability has been a challenge for the past year, and Berkshire Waldorf High School simply couldn’t have done it as well as we have without true partners in the Town of Stockbridge.

Many, many thanks, Steve

Dear Steve,

Thank you for bringing the joy of a school and the sound of children into Stockbridge once more.

Carole

Editor’s note: Stephen Keith Sagarin, PhD, is Executive Director & Faculty Chair at Berkshire Waldorf High School.

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Dear Carole,

This is in response to [a news report] about the 4/22/21 Select Board Meeting in your Stockbridge Updates of 5/1/21.

I want to address the discussion on 4/22/21 in regard to the dredging that’s been proposed for the Stockbridge Bowl. It was stated by Greg Wellenkamp that the portion of the outlet south and west of the gas pipelines has not been affected by silt buildup and therefore does not need to be dredged. This is completely untrue. This area, also known as the Cove, has, in fact, been filled up with silt. When I first moved into my family’s home on the Cove, in the summer of 1965, this area was used by lots of kids as a swimming hole. There was a rope attached to a tree and local kids loved swinging on this rope and then jumping off into the cove. The Cove was deep and clean. Now this area is very shallow and filled with vegetation. How did this happen? Silt build up is the answer.

The Cove is an area that is still enjoyed by many for boating and fishing, but not swimming any more. If this area of the outlet is not addressed in the dredging plans, just as Michael Nathan has stated for the other part of the outlet, the southwest outlet and the Cove will become wetlands and untouchable. This will be a great loss for our quintessential New England small town. The Cove is beautiful, and its loss will be tragic. This gorgeous area must be included, as promised by the SBA, in your dredging plans.

Respectfully submitted,

Henry P. Schwerner, M.D.

Dear Henry,

Thank you for correcting the record and thanks for all you and Anita do for Stockbridge.

Carole

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Dear Carole,

Stockbridge does not need fixing; it requires caring. Stockbridge is a gem of a community: So unique that people world-wide aspire to visit, often relocate, for its grace, solitude, safety, charm, beauty, history, and culture. My position was, and is to continue to protect, and care for what our predecessors have so graciously gifted us as a place to live a great life.

Gary Pitney

Dear Gary,

Thank you for your 15 years of service on Stockbridge Planning Board in addition to your service on the Board of Assessors. Those who quietly take on the work of this wonderful village, deserve our thanks.

Carole

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Dear Carole,

Just a note to say how much I loved your editorial. Well done.

Thanks, Larry Ackerman

Dear Larry,

How nice to receive a compliment from a writer as good as you are.

Carole

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Carole,

I wanted to thank you for your even-handed informative coverage of the upcoming Stockbridge Town Election. All know we are coming out of a difficult period in our Nation’s history and have learned that nothing is more important than accurate and reliable news. Our Town, like many, will be facing numerous challenges. Challenges that will require elected leaders who are on top of their game. And with good information our citizens can make intelligent choices at the poles on Tuesday May 18. The contribution of Stockbridge Updates is much appreciated. Keep up the good work.

Don Chabon

Candidate for Stockbridge Select Board

Dear Don.

Thank you for the kind words — much appreciated. And thank you for your years of service to Stockbridge.

Carole

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