1. Correction:
Notes from the PB — My notes read “SP”. PB members were discussing Special Permits ergo SP was special permits. Alas it was not. In this case, SP stood for site plan. Thank you to Anita Schwerner for catching the shift in subject and therefore the mistake.
2. A bit of Stockbridge history
It was April 1, 1867. On the Town Meeting Warrant were two articles, that in their day, were of importance and contention:
Article 12: To see if the Town will vote to impose a fine for fast driving across the large bridges in town. (In the day of the horse and carriage when fast would be 18 mph)
Article 14: To see if the town will allow cattle to run in the highways with or without a keeper.
3. What’s in a Name?
For those who asked Stockbridge Updates, the following is from the www.Mohican.com web site:
“What is our name? Our official name is Stockbridge-Munsee Community. We often call ourselves by variations of this such as Mohican Nation, or Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans. The original name of our people is Muhheaconneok or Muhheconeew, meaning “People of the Waters that are Never Still.” Over time, and Dutch and English contact, the traditional name became distorted and turned into variations such as Mahican or Mohican. Mohican is what we refer to ourselves as today. This should not be confused with Mohegan, a separate Tribal Nation. In addition to Mohican, we are also Munsee (Lenape). Munsee (Lenape) homelands are further south on the Hudson River Valley and Delaware River Valley. Munsee people are very closely related kin of Mohican people historically, and after the pressures of colonization many Munsee people joined together with Mohicans in Stockbridge. Stockbridge itself is not a culture, it is a placename, a town in Massachusetts where we lived in the 1700s.
In short, culturally, we are Mohican and Munsee people. Politically, our Nation is called the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.”
A. More What’s in a Name?
We call each other names — pet names and pejoratives, but mostly names are just descriptive.
For example, folks who come in here from outside are called outlanders. In Sweden they are called utbolingar (residing elsewhere), in the West and Midwest they are drylanders and wetlanders, in Scotland lowlanders and highlanders. All are descriptions without judgement, and yet it cannot be denied some take offense even though no offense is intended.
In a public meeting, I was called a woodchuck. It might have meant a dumb local. Yet I am proud to be a local and proud to represent a philosophy about protecting the environment that is the basis for what locals mean by preserving the character of Stockbridge. We take things differently when we listen, and we mean things in different ways when we talk. Be nice to give each other the benefit of the doubt.
4. Greetings from the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce
1Berkshire is accepting applications for the second year of Best Foot Forward Facade Improvement Micro-Grants. Applications range from window washing, awnings, signage, facade painting. Click on link below to view details. Applications are now open, and grants will be awarded until funding is exhausted. All grants must be fully utilized, and the work completed by June 30th, 2023. Apply: https://form.jotform.com/230045434240139
