We have an election in May 2026. The following people took out papers to run for the following positions. If the word “returned” appears, it means they collected the required signatures and returned their papers.
From our Town Clerk: Here are the candidates in the order you asked for:
Select Board – Jorja Marsden-returned
Planning Board – Carl Sprague and Don Chabon
Board of Assessors – Brandi Page
Parks and Rec – Collette Forbes – returned
Board of Health – Rae Williams
Housing – Jimmy Welch – returned
Water and Sewer – John Loiodice
Only one seat has more than one candidate running (PB). It would be nice if voters had a choice, and more seats were competitive. If you are pondering, jump in.
Our condolences to John Hart upon the death of his mother. Jane Sibley Murphy Hart was born in November 1925 and died more than 100 years later in January 2026. She was the mother of six children, a homemaker, volunteer at the Episcopal Church, and on the Board of Berkshire Place. She was a member of the Lenox Club and Mahkeenac Boating Club. Jane was remembered as a attractive woman, a great cook, lover of sports, and an avid reader. She will be interred in the Hart Family plot in Stockbridge Cemetery in mid-April. Our best wishes to John. Mary, Patrick, and Ryan.
Selina Lamb, BIRCH Properties, shared statistics about our local real estate market compiled by Berkshire Multiple Listings. “The average sale price is up about 9% year-over-year and about +10% YTD. Prices are trending higher overall. Pending activity is softer: 53 this month vs 77 last year (down 31%) and 134 YTD vs 155 (down 14%) The busiest range is $300 – 399,000. Inventory is still tight. Prices are trending higher overall (about + 22% year-over-year and + 7% YTD). Homes are moving a bit faster.”
Last issue, Stockbridge Updates reported that the Stockbridge Select Board (SB) has named a committee to study switching from a 3-member to a 5-member SB. The members of the committee are Jorja Marsden, David Adler, Bruce Auerbach, Patty Caya, Don Chabon, Nancy Gilbert, Terri Iemolini, Cheryl Resetarits, Peter Strauss, and Sally Underwood-Miller. This is a significant change in our government organization. If you have an opinion, join the conversation, attend a meeting, get in touch and share your view.
Follow-up: the Board of the BSO met with the orchestra members on March 17, 2026. Passionate speeches were made in support of Maestro Andris Nelsons, however, it was apparent the Board was united in its decision. Boston newspapers reported that, “Boston Trustees: We could explain but we won’t.” (See letters on this topic from Lincoln Russell and Eleanor Tillinghast in Reader to Reader.)
