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.

by Carole Owens, Managing Editor

Editorial

Short Term Rentals

The last item on the agenda of the Select Board meeting, December 10, was a problem presented by ten Stockbridge neighbors.

A house in their neighborhood was purchased by a nonoccupant-owner as a business — short-term rentals through the online booker, Airbnb.

The neighbors’ complaints included noise, a general unsightliness with large dumpsters in the yard, and overcrowding.

Overcrowding

According to the Tri-Town Health Department, the three-bedroom house had a septic tank rated for 6 occupants, but the property was advertised as a “party house” able to accommodate 15.

Tenant comments posted on Airbnb, said, at one point, the septic system apparently failed as there was a strong odor of sewage in the front yard.

Nonoccupant owners

In general, the neighbors’ complaint was that a nonoccupant owner did not care about the neighborhood as an occupant would, and that this new style business is not subject to the same regulations as a B&B or an inn would be. The neighbors appealed to the Select Board for help.

No regulations

Town Administrator Michael Canales explained that the Commonwealth placed no regulations on “Airbnb”-type businesses. Regulation was left to local governments. Stockbridge does not have any regulations for “Airbnb”s.

Two Planning Board (PB) members were present and were appealed to. One said a general bylaw regulating this new type of business could and should be written. Since the town is paying for one consulting planner and the PB requested funds for another, perhaps one could draft a proposed bylaw to regulate this hybrid. However, the second PB member pushed back and did not want the consultants to address a new issue.

Emerging problems

The issues before the PB are many years old without movement, and with some disagreement about their importance. The issue presented by the neighbors is the cutting edge of an emerging problem. The specific example may be an extreme case, but an extreme case may be a gift. In its extremity, it clearly demonstrates the breadth of the problems Stockbridge needs to address and regulate.

Addressing Change

Change is inevitable. We urge the PB to be flexible and responsive to emerging problems. This particular problem goes to the questions: what is the heart of our community, and what do we want Stockbridge to look like in future? Guiding the answers is to those two questions is the very essence of good planning.

There is a term in sailing — “yare”. It means quick to the helm — responding promptly — managing well. There is another sailing term — “in irons”. It means stalled unable to move. May our PB be yare and not “in irons” — not stalled and unable to maneuver as the world around us rapidly changes.

News

Town Boards and Committees

Notes from the Stockbridge Historic Preservation Commission

Meeting December 7 via Zoom

Commission Members:

Carl Sprague, Chair (present)

Peter Williams (present)

Jorja Marsden (present)

Pam Sandler (present)

Jay Rhind

Gary Johnston

Lisa Sauer (present)

The application to tear down 50 Lake Drive and build new was approved. The 945 square foot house built in 1962 was deemed to have no historic value as described in the bylaws.

Cottage Era estate Merrywood (on Old Stockbridge Road) recently sold, and Elm Court is currently for sale. Either or both may apply to the Historic Commission for changes or otherwise be on a future agenda.

Work on the Cat and Dog Fountain and the Horse Trough is moving forward with funds allocated by the Community Preservation Commission.

Notes from the Sewer and Water Commission

Meeting December 7 via Zoom

Commission members:

Donald Schneyer, Chairman

John Loiodice

Peter J. Socha

Also present Tony Campetti, Sewer Superintendent; Michael Buffoni, Water Superintendent; and Michael Canalis, Town Administrator

There were three topics under discussion:

1. Proposed new pumping station on Park Street: Tony Campetti made site visits and different designs were discussed. The cost was estimated at $100,000. Members discussed how much of the work might be done by the town in order to reduce that cost.
2. Vehicle Purchases: Michael Canales suggested that there are standards for establishing when to replace town vehicles. For example, a plow may have a shorter life than other town vehicles. In addition, Canales said, there are maintenance schedules that can be adopted to prolong the life of vehicles.
3. Impact of Covid: Michael Buffoni has an obligation, mandated by the Department of Environmental Protection, to inspect Backflow Prevention devices twice a year. It requires home visits. During Covid, Buffoni expressed discomfort about entering so many houses during Covid. It was suggested he contact DEP and ask if the inspections can be postponed.

Notes from Board of Assessors

Meeting December 7 via Zoom

Board of Assessors

Gary Pitney, Chair

Douglas M. Goudey

Thomas Stokes

Michael Blay, Principal Assessor

1. On the agenda were the FY2021 Exemption applications & certificates: those wishing to apply for an exemption have until April 1, 2021 to file.
2. FY2021 Real & Personal Property Abatement Applications: there were 20 applications for abatements compared to 38 last year. Those submitting applications include Elm Court, DeSisto, and Pinewood
3. Karen Williams, Town Collector/Treasurer: her last day is Friday, December 11, 2020. The Board voted to send a note thanking her for her service to the town.
4. Michael Canales is in the process of writing new safety protocols for Town Hall. They will be circulated when complete. They will include limiting ingress and egress to Town Hall and may also include amount of time (perhaps 15 minutes) that people visiting can be in Town Hall.
5. Tom Stokes said there was no update on Tax Exemption Pilot program.

Editor’s note:

1. An exemption is a reduction in the level of real estate taxes owed.
2. An abatement may be a tax reduction, or a rebate, granted for conditions of land or property verified by an inspection.
3. The Tax Exemption Pilot program encourages properties exempt from paying real estate taxes to make a voluntary contribution to the town.

Notes from Board of Selectmen

Meeting December 10, 5:30 PM via Zoom

The Select Board (SB) meeting began an hour early to interview the two candidates selected to replace Karen Williams, Town Collector/Treasurer, who is retiring. Her assistant, Christine Goretti, applied as did Erika Olsen, Collector/Treasurer of Clarksburg. The two women were each interviewed for 30 minutes. Both seemed equally personable and interested in the position. Goretti has work experience in Stockbridge. Olsen holds an advanced degree and has 12 years experience as a collector/treasurer. The decision will be made Monday night.

The Agenda during the regular meeting at 6:30 included:

1. The SB approved contracts for work on the following:
   • Cat and Dog Fountain
   • Curtisville Bridge
   • Consultant to write the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP)
   • The MVP is required before Stockbridge is qualified to apply for Action Grants.
2. All extant liquor licenses were renewed. There were no new applicants for 2021.
3. Renewal of the 2021 Entertainment Licenses was complicated by a Commonwealth requirement that all establishments in a given district must have the same closing time. In Stockbridge many diverse entertainment venues are in a residential district, and therefore must have uniform closings. Though their programs and usual closing times may be different, Naumkeag, Tanglewood, and the Berkshire Theater Group, for example, would have to close at the same hour because they are all located in a residential zone. The discussion was wide-ranging. The choice narrowed to an 11pm or a midnight closing. A suggestion was made that perhaps an 11pm closing could be required for outdoor events and midnight could be required for indoor events. A decision was postponed pending a query to the Commonwealth to determine if indoor and outdoor venues in residential districts could have different closing times.
4. For the final item on the agenda, see the SU editorial.

News

Openings and Closings in the Time of COVID

Governor Baker moved all communities back to Phase 3, Step 1 and instituted new restrictions

in an effort to combat the spread of the virus.

Statewide Rollback to Phase 3, Step 1: The entire Commonwealth will move to Phase 3, Step 1 of the Reopening Plan. In addition, the following updates to capacity limits will go into effect:

1. Outdoor gatherings at event venues and public spaces are limited to 50 people
2. Hosts of private gatherings larger than 25 people must notify their local board of heath prior to the event
3. Outdoor Theaters and Performance Venues are limited to 25% of capacity and no more than 50 people
4. Close Indoor Theaters and Performance Venues and indoor recreation businesses like roller rinks and trampoline parks
5. Reduce capacity from 50% to 40% for several industry sectors noted below:
   • Arcades/Indoor and Outdoor Recreational Businesses
   • Driving and Flight Schools
   • Gyms/Health Clubs/Fitness Centers
   • Libraries
   • Museums
   • Retail Stores
   • Office Spaces
   • Places of Worship
   • Lodging (common areas)
   • Golf
   • Movie theaters (no more than 50 people per theater)

Restaurants and Event Venues Protocols Updates: The following updates will be made to restaurant and event venue protocols with regard to face coverings, seating, and performances:

1. Wear masks at all times except when eating and drinking
2. Seat no more than six/6 per table and encourage customers to only dine with same household
3. Put a 90-minute time limit on tables
4. Prohibit all musical performances at restaurants
5. Close food court seating

Workplaces and Fitness Centers Protocols Updates: The following updates will be made to the Office Spaces and Fitness Centers protocols with regard to face coverings:

1. Require mask wearing in offices when not in your own workspace and alone
2. Require mask wearing at all times in gyms

All updates can be found on www.mass.gov/reopening

News Alert

Hackers Target Local Email

Stockbridge Updates News Alert:

Sophisticated hackers are targeting us locally.

To protect yourself DO NOT download any attachments or click on any links within an email.

If you have downloaded a potentially-infected file, you need to run up-to-date virus software on your computer or bring it to a computer repair professional to have it “cleaned”.

Michael Canales, our Town Administrator, has our IT team working on the problem. He also sent out a robo-call using Code Red today to alert townspeople of the problem.

As more is known, Stockbridge Updates will include it in our next issue.

Around Town

Best Christmas Town in America

Around Town

Local Elections 2021

Open seats in 2021

3-year terms: Moderator, Selectman, Board of Assessors, Board of Health, Tree Warden, Sewer and Water Commission

5-year terms: Planning Board, Planning Board, Housing Authority

Appointments: Finance Committee, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission — alternate

The current occupants of the seats are:

1. Gary Johnston, Moderator
2. Ernest (Chuckie) Cardillo, Selectman
3. Gary Pitney, Chair, Board of Assessors
4. Charles Kenny, Chair, Board of Health
5. Peter Curtin, Tree Warden
6. Donald Schneyer, Chair, Sewer and Water Commission
7. Christine Rasmussen, Planning Board
8. Gary Pitney, Planning Board
9. James Welch, Housing Authority
10. Jay Bikofsky, Chair, Finance Committee

Thank you all for your service.

These positions will appear on your ballot. The people currently in the seats may choose to run again or decline to run. All those wishing to run will submit nomination papers by April 28 with the requisite signatures. That earns them a place on the printed ballot.

Voters will familiarize themselves with the issues and learn where candidates stand. For example, with respect to Planning Board: are you in favor of more density or less? More development or less? A change in the Stockbridge Bylaws or not? Which candidate best represents your views? Stockbridge voters will then vote for candidates at the voting booth and will vote on the issues at Town Meeting.

Carole Owens, Managing Editor

Perspective

Stockbridge History

Patrick H. Craughwell, Stockbridge’s first Police Officer

(The Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay in New England)

In Council June 23rd 1739

Ordered that Ephraim Williams Esqr., Capt. John and Lt. Aaron Umpechene , principal

Inhabitants of the plantation in the County of Hampshire on Housatonic river lately erected

into a Township by the name of——*

Be and are hereby fully authorized & impowered to notify the freeholders and other qualified Voters (to meet) there as soon as may be in some convenient place in said Town in order to choose Town Clerk and all other Town Officers to stand till the next meeting of the said Town in March next

Sent down for concurrence Simon Frost, Deputy

In the house of Representatives, June 23rd 1739,

Read and concurred John Quincy Speaker

27th Consented to: J. Belcher

Stockbridge July ye 11 1739

At a town meeting legally assembled the

Votes (viz) Ephraim Williams Esqr. Moderator
Timothy Woodbridge Town Clerk
Capt. John Konkapot and Aaron Umpachene
Selectmen Josiah Jones, Constable

Other early Constables included Hendrick Wohpongseet in 1760, Robert Nungkauwat (son of John Konkapot) in 1762, Joseph Quunauquunt in 1764, Ephraim Paumkkaunkum also in 1764, Jacob Tusnuck 1767, Timothy Yokun 1769, Joseph Mhuttaune 1770, Jehoiakim Mhtocksin in 1771 and 1772, Daniel Wauwaupequenot in 1773 to name just a few.

Although Stockbridge appointed Constables throughout its history, the first police officer in the modern sense was Patrick H. Craughwell. In 1898 he was reappointed at a salary of $60.00 per month.

Selectmen’s Records Stockbridge April 10th 1896

Patrick H. Craughwell

At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Stockbridge held this day for the

within purpose

You are hereby appointed as a Police Officer in and for the Town of Stockbridge agreeable to Section 7 Chapter 423 of the Acts of 1893. At a salary of $60 Dollars per-month, and with all the powers of Constable except the powers of serving and executing civil process, to hold and discharge the duties of your office during the pleasure of the Board of Selectmen and when on duty, you are authorized to carry a club not exceeding eighteen inches in length, and such other fire arms as is necessary in the discharge of your duties. Before entering upon your duties you are required to take the oath of office.

Fred S. Aymar, James Burns, Charles E. Callender Selectmen of Stockbridge

*Editor’s note: Originally Stockbridge was in Hampshire County and had no name.

by Rick Wilcox

Perspective

Thank You

This has been a tough year everywhere, yet somehow our town government continued not only to function, but to do so with excellence and even improvement. I want to take a moment and personally thank the folks who make this happen, who show up and lead, no matter what.

First, thanks to Michael Canales and Theresa Zanetti. You keep the town running smoothly, and you have helped me immeasurably understand the issues and do a better job. Thanks as well to my friend Mark Webber, who kept the ship of state afloat as we searched for a permanent town administrator.

Thanks to Town Clerk Terri Iemolini and all of her volunteers who ran not one but two elections during COVID this year, managing them as smoothly as if we weren’t in a once-in-century crisis.

Thanks to Building Inspector Ned Baldwin and to Greg Pillory, Nick Fredsall and Jennifer Carmichael. Readers should know that over 500 permits were applied for in the past year, and these are the people who make sure what is built is built safely to everyone’s benefit.

Thanks to Tony Campetti, Mike Buffoni and the Sewer and Water Commission, led by Don Schneyer, who keep the pipes flowing in ways we never notice because we take for granted their amazing work.

Thanks to Hugh Page and the entire Highway Department. You keep our roads safe, our town lawns mowed, our cemeteries maintained and our sidewalks cleared. Thanks as well to our Tree Warden, Peter Curtain, who keeps an eye on dangerous trees and manages them on a tight budget.

Thanks to our financial team that includes Karen Williams, Ray Ellsworth and Christine Goretti for keeping the town’s finances in order.

Thanks to Peter Dillon, our Superintendent of Schools and the entire BHRSD team, and especially our teachers, who have kept our children safe while confronted with this unprecedented pandemic. Every day you put your commitment to your profession before all else and we have noticed and for which, the people of Stockbridge are eternally grateful.

Thanks to Animal Control Officer John Drake for his hard work and for always brightening my day anytime I see him on Elm St.

Thanks to our Principal Assessor Michael Blay and Clerk Tammy Touponce for their hard and fair work of assessing our taxes, and for the Board of Assessors lead by Gary Pitney, who make the calls every month to keep our Assessor’s Office on track.

Thanks to Chris Marsden, our Facilities Manager and our Emergency Management Director, for his diligence at keeping our buildings operating smoothly, for dealing quickly with our emergencies and for his insight into the repair of our historic structures like the Children’s Chimes Tower.

Thanks to our Chiefs, Vincent Garofoli and Darrell Fennelly, as well as all of our police officers, our EMTs and volunteer firefighters, who every day show up and without a moment’s notice are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to rescue and protect the people of Stockbridge.

Thanks to the Conservation Commission, led by Ron Brouker, who show up week after week to protect our wetlands and other natural resources and are the frontline of defense in a town of extraordinary natural beauty. Thanks as well to our Gould Meadows volunteers, also led by Ron, who keep this amazing park well maintained. And thanks to Laurel Hill Association and outgoing President Shelby Marshall, who quietly maintain the trails all around town that have been so important to us during this pandemic.

Thanks to Laura Dubester and our Green Communities Committee for helping us save energy and in doing so, help the environment. Thanks as well to Laura for spearheading the MVP project to address climate change impacts.

Thanks to Liz DiGrigoli and our entire Council on Aging, who, in an especially-tough year for seniors, have helped reinvent The Stockbridge Senior Center as an outreach organization and provide a vital lifeline to so many of our elderly in town.

Thanks to Dr. Charlie Kenny and the entire Board of Health as well as Jim Wilusz and the team over at Tri-Town Health, for performing your normal duties in addition to being our frontline of defense against the COVID pandemic here in town. Your efforts have truly been extraordinary.

Thanks to the Community Preservation Committee, led by Sally Underwood-Miller and the Cultural Council, led by Karen Marshall, both of which oversee the fair allocation of limited resources to help our cultural, open space and housing needs.

Thanks to our amazing Parks and Recreation team, led by Steve Knopf, and our town lifeguards who were able to safely keep our town beach open this year when many other towns couldn’t.

Thanks to the Stockbridge Housing Authority, led by Andrea Lindsay and Jim Welch, who have made our public housing the envy of the county and who manage housing vouchers for much of the rest of South County.

Thanks to our Historical Commission, led by Linda Jackson, our Historic Preservation Committee, led by Carl Sprague, and our Cemetery Commission, newly led by Karen Marshall, for protecting our historic structures and keeping intact the character and charm of our town year after year. I also want to personally thank Peter Williams for the wise counsel and institutional memory he provides to me whenever I call him, which, for him, may be annoyingly often.

Thanks to our Planning Board, led by Bill Vogt and our Zoning Board of Appeals, led by Tom Schuler, for ensuring that proposals for land use meet the requirements of our bylaws, among many other contributions and tasks.

Thanks to the Zebra Mussel Committee and the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission, led by Jaime Minacci, for protecting Lake Mahkeenac and for stewarding the lake and working with its many stakeholders to protect it now and in the future. Thanks as well go to Gary Kleinerman, our Harbor Master, who keeps a watchful eye on all things Stockbridge Bowl to all of our benefit.

Thanks to Bronly Boyd and all of our volunteers who have helped us manage searches for a new town administrator and new town treasurer/collector. Your expertise was instrumental in recruiting and vetting candidates for these important positions. Thanks as well to Jorja Marsden for her wise counsel and institutional memory of town hall.

Thanks to Kate Fletcher and the entire Fountain Committee for leading the preservation of the Watering Trough and Cat and Dog Fountain.

Thanks to our Finance Committee, led by Jay Bikofsky, who provide us with sage advice and counsel as we review the town’s budget. I would like to personally thank Jay as well as Bill Vogt, Steve Shatz and Jim Balfanz for always being available to me to answer questions and help me do the best job I can. Thanks as well to Gary Johnston, our Town Moderator, for not only running an effective annual town meeting, but for assembling this talented group of individuals.

Thanks to Barbara Zanetti and our Chamber of Commerce for making the best of a tough year and keeping us in the news. Thanks as well to CTSB and Steve and Rich, who have done an amazing job helping us conduct public meetings remotely. And thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Stockbridge Library, the Trustees, Tanglewood, Norman Rockwell Museum, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Berkshire Theatre Group, Chesterwood, Stockbridge Bowl Association, Marian Fathers, Waldorf School and all of our other non-profits for keeping the flame lit during a trying year.

Thanks to Chuck and Roxanne, my colleagues on the Select Board, for showing up every week to make the tough calls necessary to run this town, and for serving the town with honor, integrity and wisdom. At a personal level, thanks for, well you know, everything. I would also like to thank all of our prior selectmen, including John Beacco, Don Chabon, Terry Flynn, Chuck Gillett, Deb McMenamy and Steve Shatz for the wise counsel you have provided me. I have so much respect for all of you and for your service on behalf of the town.

Finally, thanks to Carole Owens, who has created this wonderful newsletter and kept it humming with new issues twice a month. I cannot overstate the importance of an informed community. This volunteer effort on the part of you and your contributors is really quite amazing.

This list is purposefully long and hopefully comprehensive, to demonstrate all of the people, many of whom are volunteers, who give their time to keep this town running smoothly. Happy holidays to all, and once again, my heartfelt thanks.

Patrick White is a member of the Stockbridge Select Board.

by Patrick White

Opinion

Our Planning Board — Is Something Missing?

The November 17 meeting of the Planning Board, which oversees the implementation of our town bylaws, gave us a glimpse into the thinking of at least a couple of its members following their Randall Arendt presentation on 11/5. Mr. Arendt, you may recall, is a paid consultant who delivered his views on Open Space Residential Design in a Zoom meeting attended by at least 70 people, mostly residents. Arendt’s book has been made available to the public by the PB in the library and I urge everyone to take a look at it as you think about changes in Stockbridge that our Planning Board wants to make.

In the November 17 meeting, the Chair, Bill Vogt, asked the PB for feedback on the presentation. There followed commentary from members wherein everyone expressed how good it was without engaging in much critical or substantive thinking. There was praise for the organizers and presenters. Christine Rasmussen asked if there might be a motion to hire yet another consultant to go ahead and write a new housing development bylaw based on the Arendt model.

You may recall that the town has already paid for a previous consultant, Joel Russell, who concluded that out current by-laws do not need major changes in this area and helped define some options for adjustments regarding the Cottage Era Bylaw. We subsequently have paid for another consultant who serves as a parttime staff person to assist the PB generally in its work.

At this point in the meeting, Chairman Vogt made some interesting and welcome remarks. He stated that he thought the PB might need to create more opportunities to “alert” people to the proposed changes and make them feel more “comfortable” about these changes. He also stated that the new consultant should not only be familiar with Open Space Design but also with our own development bylaws.

What’s missing? Simply put, the PB needs to consult with residents, not just alert them to what some might see as an inappropriate bylaw agenda being pushed forward. Mr. Vogt showed a sensitivity to public response to that agenda. The issue of large-scale development in Stockbridge has historic and far-reaching implications. This cannot be a one-way conversation.

by Bruce Blair

Opinion

Reader to Reader — We Got Mail

To the Editor:

Earlier this year, the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement “hit” Stockbridge. Signs showing support popped up in many locations — on private property as well as at businesses.

One resident of our town took it upon himself to really show his support by doing damage to various buildings, signs, police cars, town offices, and in Great Barrington did even more damage. DEFUND THE POLICE became the mantra.

To my knowledge, not a single sign in our town supporting that movement was damaged or stolen.

Some residents in our town, understanding that they also had First Amendment rights, put up some signs that said, “Support Our Police.”

Two residents in town — one, a veteran who admirably served our country and town, and the other a retired businessman, put up the supportive signs. Those signs disappeared. Each was able to get a replacement. Now, they were careful to take the signs down at night to prevent them being stolen again. As a month or so went on, one property owner was home when a group of young people went walking by during the day. His wife noticed one of the students walking away with their sign. Her husband yelled out the window telling the student(s) to put the sign back, because it was private property. They laughed and kept walking away with the sign. The owner said, he would call the police and the entire group just laughed at him.

The police responded and proceeded to have the student(s) return the sign to that property. Not only did they return that sign, they also returned the sign that had been stolen previously. It had been thrown in the weeds.

Now another property owner with a “Support Our Police” sign at his property had it stolen.

Is the Stockbridge revision of our First Amendment now to read, “You have rights — as long as we agree with them”?

Jim Balfanz
Stockbridge

To the Editor:

The facts of Mr. Balfanz’s letter are not complete.

It is true that a student from our school removed a sign from a lawn, and that a teacher was present. As soon as the teacher learned what had happened, however, she had the student return the sign and apologize to the homeowner, which the student did, contritely and sincerely. The class then spent the rest of the walk discussing personal property and effective ways to address differences of opinion.

We do not take a political position at our high school, and we encourage our students to act responsibly and as good members of the community. When teenagers mess up, as they sometimes will, we hold them responsible for their actions and help them make things right.

Stephen Sagarin
PhD, Executive Director, Berkshire Waldorf High School

Hi Carole,

There is no revised First Amendment, but we do apparently have some misguided people residing here who lack a basic understanding of the First Amendment and how a democracy functions.

Just as the town did not respond to the BLM vandalism episode by painting with a broad brush all who voiced their support for BLM as being lawless individuals, we should recognize that a group of students do not represent ALL students.

Lack of respect and broad, sweeping categorization of individuals has led to enormous polarization recently. It seems to be commonplace in the media to make generalized pronouncements about groups of people regarding their positions on various issues. Certainly, humans are a great deal more complex than this and every individual has a variety of positions on any of these topics.

Respect for everyone’s right to their point of view is critical to our democracy. Without respect and rational discussion there can be no social contract through which we reach consensus for the greater good and perhaps just as important, no opportunity to gain an understanding of one another.

Roxanne McCaffrey

Roxanne McCaffrey is a member of the Stockbridge Select Board.

Analysis

A Holiday Card

There is dispute about who wrote “Anyway”. Some say Mother Theresa; others name various American poets. This season, whatever you celebrate and however you celebrate it – Chanukah December 10 — 18, Twelve days of Christmas December 25 – January 5, or Kwanza December 26 – January 1 — this is a holiday card from Stockbridge Updates to its readers.

Carole Owens, Managing Editor

“Anyway”

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your conscience;
It was never between you and them anyway.

by Carole Owens, Managing Editor