Editorial

Editorial: Who We Are

At the Historic Preservation Committee meeting on December 12, Chair Carl Sprague reported that the garden structure on Prospect Hill Road designed by Daniel Chester French in 1915 was torn down.

Buildings are the repositories of our memories. Through them we tell our story. We point and say, “that is the house I grew up in” and so the tale of a life begins. Tearing down an historic building creates a rent in the fabric of one life or our lives. It makes it harder to explain who we are as a people, a town, a nation.

French, the sculptor of The Minute Man, Concord, 1874, Alma Mater, Columbia University, 1903, and Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Memorial, 1920, left behind in our wee village his house and studio preserved by the National Trust, “The Spirit of Life”, Saint Paul’s Church, 1914, and a wealth of memories. He loved Stockbridge and called it heaven. The garden structure on Prospect Hill Road could have remained the starting point for the story of who he was and who we were. Now it is gone.

Some mourn. Some are shocked that anyone would do such a thing — they feel the loss. Some think this is nonsense. They say, who cares? Progress is what matters — tomorrow not yesterday. Recently someone wrote that our kids don’t care about our local history — if true, it is very sad. Those untethered from their own past are adrift. Edmond Burke wrote, “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” Those who don’t know history, evidently, are doomed to tear down a valuable piece of it.

Where do individual rights end and communal interests begin? What is the penalty for an assault on our history? What is the penalty for making a community sad?

by Carole Owens , Managing Editor

News

SU FYI

1. Tri-Town Health has baby and children’s car seats — free. They will install. Only 50 left — call now.
2. The 8 Town Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) received a $125,000 Efficiency and Regionalization Grant (See Contributors below for more information)
3. Elm Court sold. The purchaser is the former owner of Blantyre, Linda Law, Menlo Park, California. Law said it would not be a private home or a resort, but did not offer any specifics about what it would be.

News

Events

1. Berkshire Botanical Garden — January 4, “The Power of Water”; January 7, “Science of Plant Propagation”; January 14, “Winter-Tide Herbal Spa Day”.
2. Senior Center is launching new activities: Walking Club with Chris and Nancy. Join us in the town hall gym on Tuesday & Thursday mornings at 10:00am.
   1. Knitting Group: with Roxanne McCaffrey, Wednesdays at 11:30 am.
   2. January Luncheon Wednesday, January 18th 11:00am Poet and artist Leslie Kline
   3. February Luncheon: February 15th 11:00am — Beatles Love Song theme

News

Notes from the Historic Preservation Committee, December 12, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Carl Sprague, Chair
• Peter Williams
• Pam Sandler
• Lisa Sauer
• Also present – Lisa and Mickey Kammeyer

1. September 19 Minutes approved as written
2. Lisa and Mickey Kammeyer, owners 1 South Hill Road, permit to move an historic barn about 100 feet
   1. Committee determines if structure is historically significant. If significant, it determines if the proposed work is a substantial alteration to structure.
   2. Unclear if historic and work would not significantly alter the structure — approved
   3. The Kammeyers moved from Egremont and assumed Stockbridge — like Egremont, Great Barrington, and Lenox – would have an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Bylaw. Sandler said Stockbridge does not have an ADU Bylaw and that is “bad”. (Consideration was tabled by the PB)
3. Linda Jackson, Chair, Historic Commission, called Historic Preservation Committee and alerted them that the garden pavilion designed by Daniel Chester French in 1915 for Professor and Mrs. Felix LaMont at Fair Acres (22 Prospect Hill Road) was torn down.
   1. Sprague called it “a disaster” and the Committee was in shock
   2. How did it happen? Did Ned Baldwin, Building Inspector, know about it and did he grant a permit to tear it down?
   3. Did owners just bulldoze it without asking anyone?
   4. Committee will check further with Baldwin
   5. Committee agreed that a fine should be imposed. The bylaw states a fine of $100 per day be imposed until the mistake corrected. The question is — how can it be corrected? The original is gone, Could a replica be built?
   6. Sprague asked if there are photos. Williams said yes. (Photograph accompanies this report).
   7. Chair asked to alert SB
4. Sauer was sad that the center section, the oldest section, of a house was demolished. Williams explained the demolition was permitted as could not be saved however pieces of the structure were saved for reuse.

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Conservation Commission (ConCom), December 13, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Ron Brouker, Chair
• Sally Underwood-Miller
• Jamie Minacci
• Lisa Bozzuto
• John Hart
• Joe DeGiorgis
• Chuck Kohler
• William Loutrel

1. Minutes for November 22 approved as corrected.
2. Property at 10 Pine Street — replant buffer zone between yard and road – work approved
3. 3 Averic Road — upgrade failed septic system — approved
4. Certificate of Compliance for work done by White Pines at bridge — site visit before it can be granted
5. John and Judy Peyron, owners of Larrywaug property, proposed work — approved
6. Underwood- Miller discussed changes in filing fees for applications including Scenic Mountain applications.
   1. Underwood-Miller also wished to rewrite the Scenic Mountain application form.
   2. Town charges $100 and ads cost $75 — Underwood-Miller wants to raise fees
   3. Asked consultant what other towns do. David Cameron said they don’t charge. They pass cost of advertising on to applicant
   4. Have to change Bylaw to raise fees, current fees cover costs, and there have been no complaints
7. Consultant said his quarterly allotment is used up and asked: should he proceed? Brouker said he would speak with Michael Canales, Town Administrator
8. Notice of Intent (NOI) for 82 Interlaken Road
   1. Appears work and NOI do not match
   2. Apparently a second driveway was built. Is it a construction driveway or permanent?
   3. Appeared they removed stumps
   4. Blasting and more work done than proposed or approved
   5. Consultant will drive by and look

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from the Kampoosa Stewardship Committee, December 19. Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Laura Beasley, Chair (via Zoom)
• Arthur Dutil
• Lisa Bozzuto
• Louise Gashet
• Rich Bradway

1. Minutes of November 21 meeting approved as written
2. This was a work session for a new committee. Initial work:
   1. Collect data on the history of the first committee, cross-sharing history and documents from, for example, Natural Habitat Restoration Reports, and determining the present condition of Kampoosa from owners such as the Nature Conservancy
   2. Include “stake holders” as committee members or partners — for example property abutters — one present via Zoom and pleased to be invited — to let them know the Kampososa Committee is “back in business”
   3. Share history and documents with stakeholders
   4. Write a Mission statement — so the committee can communicate: “Here is who we are and what we are trying to accomplish”
3. Others contacted: Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Mass Wildlife Office, Tennessee Gas (no response), Lee Land Trust (no response), Natural Heritage and Endangered Species program, etc.
4. Bradway suggested digitizing information for easier access and recommended a program he may buy for Stockbridge Land Trust
5. Kampoosa is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and the committee wants
6. To know what is going on now and what has gone on in years since last Kampoosa Committee folded
7. To write a clear mission statement — what they will do
8. Resource management — who is doing what now for benefit or study of Kampoosa
9. Guidelines for abutters

Meeting adjourned

News

Notes from Tri-Town Health, December 20, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Charles Kenny, Chair
• Hank Schwerner
• John Loiodice
• Bob Wespiser
• Noel Blagg
• Dianne Romeo
• Zachery Roberts
• John Kearns
• Jim Wilusz, Executive Director

1. Minutes of the June 6 meeting approved as written
2. Chair congratulated the Lee Board of Health for their “efforts regarding the PCB dump” proposed for Lee.
3. Wilusz presented the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year subject to approval of Board.
   1. Salaries ($260,498) and benefits ($100,000) TOTAL ($459,097)
   2. In addition, Tri-Town receives fees for services to hundreds of Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge residents in vax clinics and to the home-bound, and testing services (septic systems and restaurants) and grants for specific programs including one to distribute car seats. Tri-Town has 50 car seats for infants and children remaining — they are free and staff will install. Please contact Tri-Town office (413-243-5540)
   3. Budget approved
4. The Board received complaints alleging violations of the Open Meeting Law. Wilusz reported the matter is now resolved — no violation found by local counsel or the Attorney General’s office. There was a request that minutes of the meeting — where possible — be verbatim
5. Tobacco Regulations — a draft is complete; a public meeting will follow

Meeting adjourned

Perspective

RSDPB Receives a Grant

The 8 Town Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB), in partnership with the Berkshire Hills Regional School District and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, has received a $125,000 Efficiency and Regionalization Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Compact program, one of 17 grants awarded throughout the state. Administered by the state’s Division of Local Services, the grant program provides financial support for municipalities and school districts that are exploring regionalization and other efficiency initiatives that allow for long-term sustainability.

The grant will enable the RSDPB to bring to fruition its work in studying the educational and financial feasibility of merging the two South County school districts. In April, the board approved its research team’s recommendation that the two districts merge to form a single K-12 regional school district among the eight towns, maintaining all existing elementary and middle schools, but creating a new merged 9-12 high school to be built on the campus of the current Monument Mountain High School. Since then, this model has been the subject of intensive further study and analysis.

“The challenges caused by our county’s declining population and enrollment trends in our schools require innovative, comprehensive solutions,” said State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli. “This grant will support RSDPB in its efforts to meet the challenges of the moment and develop plans that provide the best educational opportunities for our children while benefitting our communities. I look forward to our continued partnership as they continue this critical work.”

Over the last two plus years, multiple consultants engaged by the 8 Town RSDPB have developed and presented in-depth reports on topics such as indicators of educational quality, financial implications of a combined district, transportation, Career Vocational Technical Education opportunities, and enrollment trends. There has been extensive community outreach to community members, educators and students, which is ongoing. The grant will support crucial next steps, including the drafting of an 8 Town regional school district agreement and working with community members to create a shared educational vision for the two school districts. The funds will be also used for ongoing project management, additional financial analysis, and legal support,

“This grant will provide the resources needed to allow our volunteer board to finish the study we began close to three years ago — which is to determine whether the districts can do better together than they do apart,” said Lucy Prashker, Chair of the RSDPB. “It’s a question simple to ask, but complicated to answer. We are targeting February for a board vote on a proposed 8 town regional school district agreement. If approved by the board, the question will then be put to the voters of the 8 towns in the spring of 2023.”

by Lucy Prashker, RSDPB Chair, and Jake Eberwein, Project Manager

Perspective

The Algonkian Language: A Window into Indigenous Culture

The language we use reveals our values, and the words we hear help to shape our beliefs.

The Algonkian language co-evolved with the internal structure and cultural practices of a vibrant and sophisticated social system. Its many dialects reflect the diversity as well as the connectivity of the people of our region (and beyond).

The Algonkian language belongs to the Algic language group. The languages in this group can be mutually unintelligible because their vocabularies have evolved separately over thousands of years, but they all share the same structural elements, and account for 70% to 80% of all the Native languages in North America. Examples will be given in the Western Abenaki dialect (spoken in Vermont and surrounding areas). This dialect is similar to the Mahican dialect, spoken in the Berkshires and points west and south.

Rich vocabularies reveal the traditional importance of such things as kinship ties, beavers, and snowshoes.

We encounter values of cooperation and responsibility, in contrast with Colonial values of competition and ownership.

This Native American language reveals a dynamic view of the world not found in Indo-European languages

The word for “chair” literally means “a stiff thing you sit on” One word for “beaver” means “the cutter” English nouns are simply labels; in Algonkian, such words reflect dynamism and purpose.

I will be presenting a Berkshire OLLI course focused on the culture indigenous to this region.

by Michael Forbes Wilcox

Analysis

Reader to Reader

Dear Carole,

Background:

Denise Forbes and I created a petition to the Governor that started in February and sent to him June 1, containing 1,200 signatures.

• We gained the support of the Great Barrington Coop who allowed us to have a solicitation table to garner signatures in front of the store in May.
• Denise organized a demonstration in front of Town Hall on the Saturday before Labor Day.
• I wrote an email to our Town Manager and Select Board Chair which I will send separately on action items.

I am hoping the GBFD [Great Barrington Fire District Water Department] will rethink their role and moral responsibility to help the Town produce safe water for Housatonic.

Many people were concerned that their water rates would be raised if we took over HWW [Housatonic Water Works] and thus have repelled the idea that we should look the other way, but I hope not.

I have encouraged Housatonic to stand up for themselves otherwise, they will be pushed to the back of the bus.

Take a look at the demographics in Housatonic. How could we not help them?

Sharon Gregory

Dear Sharon,

I salute your efforts and wish Housatonic all the best in resolving the water problem. Also, 27 of the houses on HWW are in Stockbridge. Thank you for writing.

Carole

To the editor:

In response to a letter a wrote, I was accused of “lacking credibility” for using the words, Agent Orange.

My exact words were: “think agent orange” when referring to defoliant chemicals. The mention was to give readers an idea what “defoliants” are. Agent Orange is familiar to most.

In response, I enlisted a meticulous researcher and member of the Conservation Commission — Thomas Labelle. He presented an exhaustive list of what was dumped into the Bowl between 1960 and 1977 before townspeople becoming educated about these chemicals and compounds. Here, from Tom LaBelle, is the list of the herbicides used in the Bowl between 1960 and 1977. A total of 38,800 lbs. of granular pesticide and 21,753 gallons

of liquid pesticide were used during these years.

GRANULAR PESTICIDES

Breakdown of individual chemicals used:

2,4-D Granular — 20,300 lbs

Copper Sulphate — 5,000 lbs

Malachite — 2,500 lbs.

Citrine G — 7,000 lbs.

Aquazine — 4,000 lbs.

LIQUID PESTICIDES

Breakdown of individual chemicals used:

20,600 gallons of Sodium Arsenate

842 gallons of Silvex

185 gallons of Aquathol-K

126 gallons of Hydrothol-47

YEAR BY YEAR TREATMENT

Year Chemicals Used Amount Applied

1960 Sodium Arsenate 1100 gal

1961 Sodium Arsenate 5500 gal

1964 2,4-0 Granular 300 lbs

1965 2,4-0 Granular 20,000 lbs

1966 Copper Sulfate 2500 lbs

1967 Sodium Arsenate 3000 gal

1968 Sodium Arsenate 3000 gal

1969 Sodium Arsenate 8000 gal

1969 Copper Sulfate 2500 lbs

1970 Malachite 2500 lbs

1972 Silvex (Kuron) 389 gal

1972 Aquathol -K 33 gal

1972 Hydrothol- 47 126 gal

1974 Silvex (Kuron) 104 gal

1974 Aquathol- K 152 gal

1974 Citrine G 7000 lbs

1976 Silvex (Kuron) 149 gal

1976 Aquazine 4000 lbs

1977 Silv.ex (Kuron) 200 gal

(SOURCE “The Fugro Report” 1996)

AGENT ORANGE

There are two active ingredients in Agent Orange: 2,4-D which WAS used in Stockbridge Bowl, and 2,4,5-T which is the chemical that made Agent Orange so deadly to humans. This latter chemical, 2,4,5-T contains traces of 2,3,7,8-tetracholoorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a compound known to cause a broad range of cancers in humans. This chemical, however, WAS NOT used in Stockbridge Bowl.

The chemical compound, Agent Orange, was NOT used in the Bowl, although an active ingredient of Agent Orange WAS used in Stockbridge Bowl for two years.

John H. Hart — President & CEO Berkshire Brochure