Introduction

Stockbridge Updates Statement of Purpose

To inform without opinion or pressure and give readers the facts they need to make their own decisions.

To provide space for opinion, but since facts and opinions are different, to clearly mark opinion pieces, and clearly identify the opinion holder.

Stockbridge Updates is a periodic newsletter delivered through email.

Carole Owens, Managing Editor

by Carole Owens

News

Board of Health Notes: USPS Reverses Decision; Glendale Post Office to Remain Open

Notes from the Stockbridge Board of Health

USPS Reverses Decision; Glendale Post Office to Remain Open

The Stockbridge Select Board, Board of Health, Town Administrator, and Town Counsel; State Representative Smitty Pignatelli, State Senator Adam Hinds, and US Representative Richard Neal all made inquiries. It appears to have an impact but officially no reason was given.

November 18, 2020 Minutes of the Board of Health Meeting

Present: Rae Williams, Henry Schwerner, Charles Kenny. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kenny electronically at 11:00 AM. The meeting was designated an emergency meeting. No prior agenda was published.

New business: Dr. Kenny notified members of the imminent closure of the Glendale Post Office and the consequent rerouting of its mail to the town’s Post Office. It was agreed that this would bring many extra people into town in an already dangerous epidemic situation and create a hazardous situation with respect to the public health.

A motion was made to consult town counsel to try to stop or at least delay the closure. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Kenny at 11:30 AM.

Respectfully submitted,

Charles Kenny MD, November 18, 2020

Follow-up from Charles Kenny, Chair, Board of Health

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, it was announced that the United States Post Office in Glendale was going to be closed immediately and approximately 100 mailboxes transferred to the Stockbridge Post Office.

The Board of Health held an emergency meeting to discuss the effects of such a closure.

Local boards of health have no jurisdiction on federal property. The Board determined the resultant significant increase in people visiting the already busy facility in town would be counterproductive to the ongoing efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. The Board voted unanimously to instruct our Town Counsel to act to prevent or at least to delay the closure until the epidemic had been brought under control. The Board also contacted every one of our state and federal representatives to ask each to intercede for similar reasons. The Board of Health worked with the Select Board to accomplish the same purpose.

Town Counsel determined that nothing could be done. Local boards of health have no jurisdiction on federal property. Offices of U.S. Congressman Neal and State Senator Hinds attempted to assist, but because this was deemed to be an “emergency closure”, they found no specific way to assist us.

Subsequently, a notice posted in the Glendale Post Office advised that the relocation was to be delayed “indefinitely”. In spite of inquiries by both boards, no explanation either for the sudden closure announcement or for the indefinite delay has been forthcoming. Such explanations would be valuable in planning relocation and for the safety of the community in general.

The daily new COVID-19 case rate in Massachusetts recently passed the highest number recorded during the surge last Spring. Hospital bed capacities throughout the state are now being used at over 60 percent levels. Berkshire County has just experienced a rapid rise in case numbers.

It has already been a long and taxing year. With the holiday season upon us, we all need to recharge our batteries and bring to bear the same successful effort that brought us safely through the Spring and Summer.

by Dr. Charles Kenny

News

Stockbridge Bowl Herbicide Treatment: Order of Conditions (OOC)

In summary, the OOC requires four stages, each dependent upon successful completion of the stage before. Each stage occurs in one season creating a four-year process. Note that the SBA and DEP negotiated the terms of the OOC. The town recently adopted the OOC to settle the Town Wetland Bylaw lawsuit brought by the SBA in Superior Court.

Stage 1: Identify two test plots and a control plot, each with at least 50% Eurasian Milfoil. Count the stems using an independent diving team from UMass to determine the plant community in each of the plots.

Stage 2: Apply the herbicide Fluridone to the two test plots.

Stage 3: Determine the effectiveness of the Fluridone treatment by recounting the stems of the plant community in the two treated plots. The success of the test will be evaluated based on the effectiveness of Fluridone at killing the milfoil and the propensity of native plants to grow in its stead.

Stage 4: Should the test demonstrate the eradication of invasive milfoil and the regrowth of native vegetation then a permit will be granted for whole lake treatment with Fluridone.

This year there was no Eurasian Milfoil so Stage 1 could not be completed. The DEP agreed to delay Stage 1 until 2021. Therefore, the four stages can now be completed no earlier than 2024. Should the amount of milfoil not meet the required threshold of 50% of plants in 2021, then the process cannot begin until 2022.

Click here to read the Order of Conditions in its entirety.

News

Planning Board Notes: PB Funds New Consultant for Cottage Era Bylaw Revision/Replacement

Notes from the Planning Board

In summary: PB Funds New Consultant for Cottage Era Bylaw Revision/Replacement

The Planning Board voted to recommend that the Town Administrator and Select Board write an RFP for a consultant to create an Open Space Residential Design bylaw. The Planning Board opted not to accept the bylaw written by the prior consultant, Joel Russell, and is instead recommending the Town hire a new consultant.

Minutes from the Planning Board Meeting: November 17, 2020

“Present: Chair Vogt, Vicechair Rasmussen, Member Pitney, Member Slosek, Member Raftery, Member Socha and Jennifer Carmichael, Secretary; Absent: Member Fletcher.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

The Special Permit for 35 Glendale Road was requested to change an accessory building into a second residence (guest house). The property is in the R1 zoned district and has approximately 6 acres. Town Counsel said the Special Permit could be granted if it is in compliance with section 6.3.6; however, if the second residence is ever rented it needs to be rented as affordable housing. The permit was granted.

The Special Permit for 24 Lake Drive: the Conservation Commission approved the house and area for the septic system. The project is to build a 1200 sq. ft. house, a 3-bedroom septic system and well and a driveway within the buffer zone to the wetlands which extends to the outlet of the Stockbridge Bowl. They would like to build a boardwalk to have access to the waterfront out to a dock. The boardwalk goes through the LPOD (Lake and Pond Overlay District). The boardwalk will be on helical piers put in by hand. It will be 42 inches wide, 32 inches high with half inch spacing between the boards. No vegetation will be uprooted, light will pass through the boards to allow light to reach the vegetation underneath. The dock will attach to the boardwalk and extend out 25 feet and be 200 sq. ft.; it will take up only a quarter of the distance across the outlet. Conservation has approved the boardwalk plan as presented tonight. A motion to grant the permit carried.

The Special Permit for 20 Mahkeenac Shores Road for a change to the footprint, the elevation, and the style of the house. The Conservation Commission issued a stop-work order. The height and width are unchanged from approved plans, the mass of the building has been decreased by removing the roof dormers. Abutters objected to the placement of the boulders along the shoreline. There was another meeting with the Conservation Commission proposed. The public hearing was continued until December 1st.”

The presentation by Randall Arendt received positive feedback overall. Those who objected saw the Arendt plan inappropriate for Stockbridge, and also objected to the expenditure for another consultant. However, calling it “familiarizing the voters with the conservation open space and residential bylaws”, the PB voted to continue to hire more consultants.

“Motion: The Planning Board recommends under the provision of MA General Law, Chapter 30B (the procurement law) the Town of Stockbridge Select Board seek quotes from a sole source provider or at least three qualified consultants. The Town of Stockbridge is seeking quotes under the provisions of MGL Chapter 30 B for a single practitioner or team of two or more planning consultants, with Massachusetts experience in writing successful conservation aka open space residential bylaws for small towns, and who have professional and or planning board experience working on the implementation of bylaws that can be used to guide their recommendations. The person or team hired will be familiar with the information in the concepts outlined in “Open Space Residential Development: Preserving Networks of Conservation Lands in a Density-Neutral Way” presented to the Town on November 5 and available on Zoom. They will review the Town’s existing bylaws and regulation and other draft or enacted bylaws dealing with the subject matter and through an information-gathering process draft bylaw(s) and possibly regulations for review and adoption at the Planning Board hearing and Town Meeting. The work is time sensitive with a goal of completion of the bylaw for the 2021 Town Meeting.” The motion carried.

News

Select Board Notes: Entertainment License Discussion

There was no meeting on November 26 (Thanksgiving Day). However, at a previous meeting, Michael Canales, Town Administrator, made a presentation with respect to Entertainment permits and closing times.

Those who propose entertainments (e.g. plays, concerts and events) request permits from the town. In granting a permit, the town can place conditions.

Stockbridge residents near to entertainment venues are concerned about permitted closing times. To limit noise and congestion associated with entertainment, some residents would prefer an earlier closing.

However, Canales explained that there is a regulation that requires all entertainments in a residential-type zone to be granted the same closing time. In neighboring towns, Canales reported, most entertainment venues are in areas zoned for business. There is less possibility for conflict. In Stockbridge, Tanglewood, the Berkshire Theater Group, Norman Rockwell Museum and Naumkeag, for example, are all in areas zoned residential, as is the luxury Hotel Wheatleigh for their nightly outdoor entertainment. That places the needs and desires of the venues in possible conflict with those of the residents.

In seeking a solution, the town is restricted by the requirement to make the closing times uniform. So, for example, if a concert at Tanglewood closes at 11 p.m. other venues in residential areas would also have an 11 p.m. closing time.

The discussion was continued by the Select Board until December 9 to give residents, businesses and non-profits who will be impacted a chance to weigh in.

News

Notes from Chamber: Small Business Grants

Notes from Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce

Berkshire County COVID-19 Adaptation Fund Announced

Grants Will Provide Support to Both For-Profit and Non-Profit Small Businesses

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with the office of Senator Adam Hinds, announced today the availability of grant funds through the Berkshire County COVID-19 Adaptation Fund. Grants through this program will help businesses and organizations with up to twenty-five employees address expenses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants may use funds to cover a range of eligible expenses including the purchase of PPE and other COVID adaptation supplies, as well as general business expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, or insurance. BRPC will begin accepting applications online on December 1st.

This program will be available to both for-profit and non-profit small businesses in Berkshire County, with maximum grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on number of employees. Preference will be given to applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) owned businesses.

“We understand that this current public health and economic crisis has had an outsized impact on communities of color,” said BRPC’s Executive Director, Thomas Matuszko. “We urge minority-owned businesses to apply for these funds and will look to issue awards as quickly as possible.”

BRPC is currently also helping to administer two regional Community Development Block Grant programs specific to for-profit businesses with five or fewer employees with low-to-moderate income owners.

The fund will also consider applications of up to $15,000 from established non-profit organizations to support programs aimed at supporting individuals and groups of individuals impacted economically by COVID-19. Organizations seeking to apply for programmatic support should contact Berkshire Regional Planning Commission directly by emailing Senior Planner Laura Brennan at lbrennan@berkshireplanning.org.

Program details, including additional information about eligible expenses, are available on the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission website at www.berkshireplanning.org.

by Barbara Zanetti, Executive Director

News

Health Reminders: COVID/Medicare

COVID Update

On November 23, 2020, the Commonwealth sent “Guidance for town meetings during COVID”. Guidance included not attending if feeling ill of if high-risk for COVID. Informing officials as rapidly as possible if anyone tests positive for COVID after attending a meeting. Wearing masks, limiting the number of attendees, ventilating the room, and observing social distancing by placing chairs six feet apart continue to be recommended. Acceptance, even encouragement of meetings via Zoom is expanding to include town meetings.

Medicare Plan Deadline Reminder

December 7th is the last day to change your Medicare Plan. This is an annual event. You cannot change plans at other times during the year. For comparison shopping you can check options at: www.medicare.gov

Learn what plans are available in this area– not all are. Learn the comparisons between the plans– the comparative cost and benefits. Be aware there are many telephone numbers and web sites advertised on TV and on the web. The chief goal of many is to sell plans rather than to provide a service — to inform you about plans available.

You can also call the Stockbridge Council on Aging Director (298-2170 x263) who can put you in touch with our local SHINE counselor, Winnie Veretto, who can then assist you in choosing the appropriate plan for your needs.

News

The Birth of Stockbridge Updates

Readers asked about the genesis of Stockbridge Updates, and we are pleased to answer.

The birth of Stockbridge Updates: January 2020, in a pre-COVID world, a group of friends and neighbors met at my house. The discussion was wide-ranging. Toward the end, I suggested we create a newsletter.

The goal of this newsletter: Stockbridge government remains nearest to pure democracy. That means at elections, town meeting and special town meetings, the people decide. Therefore, nothing is more important than an informed electorate. The goal of the newsletter would be to inform Stockbridge voters.

The first step: At the January get together, I asked if anyone was interested in working on a newsletter. There was some interest, a small group met a couple of times, but in the end, I found I was going forward alone. I approached a number of Stockbridge folks about sharing their knowledge by writing a column from time to time. Among them was Patrick White.

The next step: Patrick said he too wanted a newsletter. He suggested a name, Stockbridge Updates, and he had a goal– transparency in government. His goal was close enough to mine to make it workable. We agreed to go forward together.

What actually happened next: Patrick won election to the Stockbridge Select Board. Being a selectman limited his time and what he could say. Therefore, we determined that Patrick should have no role in editorial decisions, limiting his contribution to donating his tech and web design skills. He built a custom content management system for Stockbridge Updates and designed the template for the website and emails, providing an automated way of producing each issue. Patrick sometimes contributes information and ideas, and he writes a column whenever he feels he has something important to say.

Unless otherwise attributed, I do the writing. Guest writers, identified by byline, add immeasurably to every issue. I am managing editor and Lenore Sundberg is the SU line editor.

Patrick finds or takes photos and creates videos as do I and other contributors.

Payment: I received emails recommending payment via membership fee or subscription. I am grateful readers think SU is worthwhile. However, this is a volunteer effort. I do it because I think it is a good thing to do. I believe in the goal. That is equally true for the contributors, Lenore, and Patrick. If that ever changes, and any of us receive any material compensation, SU readers will be the first to know.

Carole Owens,
Managing Editor

by Carole Owens, Managing Editor

Around Town

Shop Local

Stockbridge Merchants Holiday Video on CTSB

Watch the Stockbridge Holiday Merchants Tour, a video produced at no cost to the town by the Select Board and the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce, with the incredible support of CTSB!

Click here or on the image directly below.

Click the preview directly above to watch the video.

by CTSB, the Chamber and the Select Board

Around Town

Nightwood, Winterlights, Bidwell Auction

Opening and Closing in the Time of COVID

Nightwood at The Mount

Thursday–Sunday, 5–8 pm until January 3; reserve on-line

Winterlights at Naumkeag

Sold out in 2020.

Bidwell House Museum Virtual Auction Open for Bidding

As part of its annual appeal, the Bidwell House Museum has an online auction with dozens of items, now through Dec. 12, 2020. All proceeds go to the museum’s annual appeal. Click here or on the image directly below to visit the auction site.

Click the image to visit the Bidwell online auction.

by Carole Owens

Opinion

Opinion: Dialogue, not Lawsuits

The venerable Stockbridge Bowl Association is suing the town again so that, in essence, those of us who pay taxes in Stockbridge and who are also members of the Association are suing ourselves. I myself, as a member of the Association and as a taxpayer of Stockbridge, do not value this misuse of money.

Besides being willing to waste the taxpayers’ money, the leadership of the Association has treated representatives of the town with notable disdain, most recently in the Stockbridge Bowl Association newsletter and at annual summer meetings. Because both the town and the Association want what is best for the lake, a new approach is needed, one characterized by respect.

by Steffi Fletcher

Perspective

Stockbridge History

In the last issue of SU, we ran an image of Vice President Elect Kamala Harris in a dark suit briefcase in hand striding beside a white wall. On the wall is the silhouette of a little girl taken from a painting by Norman Rockwell.

The silhouette represented six-year-old Ruby Bridges breaking the color barrier by attending the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana. From the first Black female in an all-white school to first female of color elected Vice President, the image was created by Bria Goeller who said, “We hoped it would inspire young women.” The Goeller image went viral.

Sixty years earlier the Rockwell image became an iconic image of the civil rights movement. It was commissioned in 1960 by Look magazine and ran on the January 14, 1964 cover. Rockwell called it “The Problems We All Live With”. It was painted in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the model for six-year-old Ruby Bridges was eight-year-old Stockbridge resident Lynda Gunn. It is amazing how often pivotal moments in American history have a connection to this tiny Massachusetts village.

Never was Stockbridge more than a village. Founded in 1739, its population was virtually unchanged in its 281-year history. And yet…

Stockbridge was home to:

• Three Supreme Court Justices: Stephen Johnson Field appointed by Abraham Lincoln; David Josiah Brewer and Henry Billings appointed by Benjamin Harrison
• The man who laid the transatlantic cable, Cyrus Field
• The man who invented the electric trolley car, Stephen Field
• President Thomas Jefferson’s aide, Congressman Barnabas Bidwell
• Vice President Aaron Burr’s mother, Esther Edwards Burr

The first transatlantic cable was received in Stockbridge. It was sent from Cyrus Field to his brother Jonathan. The Hudson River School painters, Frederick Edwin Church, Asher B. Durand and George Inness painted the Housatonic River, Monument Mountain and Gould Meadows to name a few locations in Stockbridge.

While residing in Stockbridge:

• Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls, House of Seven Gables, and collected his first royalty check for The Scarlet Letter.
• Frank Crowninshield and Norman Rockwell created the illustrations for Vanity Fair and the covers of the Saturday Evening Post.
• Author Catharine Sedgwick created the images symbolic of American life in words as Rockwell did a century later in pictures.

The description of the village itself became synonymous with Americana. The history of Stockbridge was more than a picture or a paragraph, it was a window into who we were as Americans and who we wished to be. The people of Stockbridge contributed to the history of the nation.

Ours is a history worth preserving.

by Carole Owens

Here's How

How to Watch Zoom Recordings of Town Boards on CTSB

Today it is all about knowing how to connect. Not connecting socially but connecting online. We no longer physically attend meetings; we Zoom. Life is conducted remotely. What if you miss a meeting and want to catch up? Recordings of the meetings are available on Community Television for Southern Berkshire (CTSB). Here’s how to find them:

1. Go to ctsbtv.com
2. Click on the image associated with government channel 1303
3. Scroll down a bit to the GOV LIST GALLERY “on demand” section

Conversations

Video: A Conversation with BHRSD

A conversation between BHRSD Superintendent Peter Dillon, Monument Mountain Principal Kristi Farina and Stockbridge Selectman Patrick White. Topics include a host of COVID-related challenges and strategies, what’s next for the high school, expanding vocational training programs, and much more.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/R7dr8Jj77LI
Superintendent Peter Dillon and MMRHS Principal Kristi Farina discuss the school district with Stockbridge Selectman Patrick White.

by Patrick White

The Last Word

Reader to Reader — We Got Mail

Joan: Carole, great Update edition — especially loved the Bowl article — and thanks for using my picture. I mentioned to Patrick White that photographing Stockbridge is a favorite hobby — and I’m happy to offer use of any. Just let me know — when and what you would like. I go from the beauty of nature to High Lawn cows! Be well. Thanks for creating this newsletter. The town could benefit from more dialog and less categorical divisions — first vs second homeowners, SBA vs town, etc. The beauty of a small town is connection. Stay safe. Be well.

Joan/Joan V. Gallos, Professor Emerita, Wheelock College

Carole: Joan, thank you so much for your contribution to SU. I love cow pictures!

Carole

by Carole Owens