Dear Carole,

Happy anniversary and congratulations!

Thank you for the breakdown on everything happening in our town government. It is a great reminder that people can make a difference in how the town is lead.

Thanks also for all the meeting notes. I know how time consuming it is, but informed citizens are our biggest asset.

Finally, thanks to all the contributors. The photos and historical articles help make this news outlet my favorite.

Best, Jess Prince

Dear Jess,

Thank you for the anniversary wishes.

Carole

Hi Carole,

I have been enjoying SU and I thank you and your group for doing such a great job on keeping us informed on the many aspects of life here in our wonderful and beautiful community.

As many of your readers know, I had been suffering from an extremely painful sciatica situation for many months. As the Annual Town Meeting approached, the dates for my corrective surgery and the necessary pre-op procedures and the meeting appeared to be on a collision course. Once the final dates were confirmed I realized that it would be impossible for me to conduct my duties of Moderator on June 12th.

Therefore, I followed the procedure recommended in the “Town Meeting Time” handbook for town officials. First, I contacted town Clerk Terry Iemolini to see if she would agree to moderate the meeting. Obviously, this made no sense as it is her responsibility to maintain the legal record of all business transacted at the meeting. From there I searched for someone who in my opinion might be willing to cover for me in what appeared to likely be a long and protracted assembly. My first choice was former Chairman of our Board of Selectmen and current member of our Finance Committee, Steve Shatz. After checking on the legality of Steve acting as Moderator while serving on the Finance Committee and finding that there was no problem with that dual duty, I approached Steve and thankfully he agreed after some thoughtful deliberation. My duty of finding a well-qualified, even-tempered and willing temporary replacement for me was complete. As Steve reminded me several times — he still had to be elected to the position at the beginning of the meeting, but that was out of my hands and subject to the will of the voters present that day.

I want to thank Steve for filling in for me and by many accounts doing an exceptional job in what was definitely a very difficult forum. I was confident that his integrity and his long-expressed desire to do what is in the best interest of Stockbridge would carry the day, as it did.

Finally, I am so grateful to the multitude of town residents who expressed concern for my obvious discomfort over the past many months. I am overjoyed to report that since the operation was performed, I am 95% back to being my former self; ready, willing and able to resume all of my duties as the elected Town Moderator of Stockbridge.

Gary

(Gary D Johnston is our Stockbridge Town Moderator)

Hi Carole,

The attached is a photo of the bench location at the edge of Stockbridge Bowl, on the Gould Meadows trails. You may want to use it in the UPDATES. Please keep up the good work.

Arthur Dutil

Hi Arthur,

Thank you for the beautiful photo and for all you and your team of volunteers do at Gould Meadows.

Carole

Dear Carole,

Here is my suggestion for using some of the additional Stockbridge funds [SU July 15 issue Town Square].

With use of multiple detours in Interlaken, as a result of closing the bridge connectors to many streets, there is increased traffic to include construction, delivery, and as pickups hauling lawn mowers as well as regular commuter and tourist cars using the detour side streets. The other day I counted 20 vehicles on North Church Street in one direction in the middle of the day in a ten-minute span.

Given this kind of traffic, it’s an absolute necessity to have a stop sign on North Church Street to Rte. 102, and yield signs at the intersection of North Church and Hill, and at the intersection of North Church and Larrywaug.

These Stockbridge rural roads are not sufficiently wide enough for two vehicles traveling in opposite directions to pass each other without one of them driving into the ruts of the street edge, or lawn or brush. At the intersections there is so much overgrowth, or tall flowers, that sometimes you can’t see the cars coming to the right or left of you.

Stop and yield signs would provide an extra amount of vehicular caution in an area ripe for accidents.

Misha Forrester

Dear Misha,

Thank you for your thoughts.

Carole

Hi, Carole,

Thrilled to contribute to the anniversary edition. What a gift you make with the Update to the community.

Be well. J

J

Editor’s note: The writer is talented photographer Joan Gallos.

Dear Joan,

And what a contribution you make to SU.

Thank you,

Carole