Editorial

Editorial: What do we want?

We are continuously told by the media — broadcasting, publishing, and Internet — that the media is giving the public what it wants. Is it? In 2024, what do we the public want? Sensation? Titillation? A soothing word smoothing the facts, interpretation of the facts, or just the plain facts? 

For 100 issues in almost 5 years, Stockbridge Updates has had some fun. It’s great to break news and be followed by the other, bigger, news sources. It is satisfying to provide space for our readers’ opinions whether we agree with them or not. However, all along, SU has had one goal: to tell you what’s going on in our village government; to bring you facts in a timely fashion. What you don’t know can hurt you. Moreover, democracy relies on an informed electorate.

What do we the public want: to hear about it when the plan is a fait accompli; to have the decision-making process closed to us, or to be part of it? We have experienced it both ways. 

GE polluted our land and water without our knowledge. They wished to do so with impunity. Caught, they wished to “cleanup” cheaply. An agreement signed, the process over; only then did GE and the EPA share. During one of the first public meetings, EPA made clear the plan was approved; they were merely sharing the details of the implementation. How’s that going for us? 

Now we have a new mega project. A letter in Reader-to-Reader objects to the Stockbridge Updates News Alert about the proposed new school. Kudos and full marks to the Berkshire Hills Regional Hill School District for having open, hybrid meetings on the proposals for the new school.

Thank you for writing SU. The letter says, “We are writing in response to your coverage of Monday night’s informational meeting about the Monument renovation project.” It says wait: “the vote is more than a year away.” It says, “Alternate ideas could rob us of this opportunity.” It says, “trust the process.” 

Do you want to trust the process or be part of it? Either way, we are going to pay for it. What is the point of a school so expensive, a concomitant tax bill so high, that young families with children cannot afford to live here? What is the sense of having a fabulous, beautiful school and a declining school population? 

We must decide what we want. If we want to be part of the process, it is never too early to report to you. If they want to spoon feed us their final vision, it is always too early.

If we want the hyper-local news, we need to fight for it and support it. On your behalf, SU will do the rest.

by Carole Owens , Executive Editor

News

News Alert! 

Berkshire Regional Planning (BRPC) is asking to erase recordings of all prior Zoom meetings. Apparently, that would include the Rest of River (ROR) meetings. Please write to Melissa Provencher (mprovencher@berkshireplanning.org) and Tom Matszko (tmatuszko@berkshireplanning.org) to urge BRPC NOT to erase their past Zoom meeting recordings to include any Housatonic ROR committee meetings. Now and in the future the decision-making process should be open to the public.

News

SU FYI

1. Watch Solo Creative on CTSB, a chat about the founding of Stockbridge Updates, its goals and its growth. (On You Tube at ctsbtv.org after June 28, 2024 or at TV Channel 1301 after July 1 2024) Watch Episode 2: July 2 at 11am

2. Our best wishes for Gary Johnston’s speedy recovery and continued good health.

3. The Commonwealth has received $147 million to prioritize bringing affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to every home in Massachusetts in a program called “The BEAD Challenge Process.” BEAD is an acronym for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment.

Since The BEAD program prioritizes unserved broadband serviceable locations (below a 25/3 Mbps threshold) and underserved (below a 100/20 Mbps threshold), followed by community anchor institutions and organizations like libraries and schools, that are facilitating internet use, it is essential to learn what the internet speed is where you live and work, thereby providing a precise picture of broadband needs in Stockbridge by: 

Between June 20th and July 20th, 2024, residents and businesses are asked to test their internet speeds to ensure they have the high-speed internet connection needed for today’s world.

Doing it is as easy as 1,2,3: 

a. VISIT HowsYourInternet.org and click on the Broadband Map to search for your home address.

b. SELECT Take a Speed Test under the Service Challenges window in the bottom left corner of the screen to complete the speed test.

c. COMPLETE the speed test and enter your personal information, if prompted. Check your inbox for reminders to take two additional required speed tests*.

For assistance with this important process, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission at 413.442.1521, or email digital@berkshireplanning.org. We’re happy to help!

4. Farmers Seeking Transfer Planning Assistance

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources creates a Farm-Pass program. 

The year-long Farm-Pass program is no-cost and seeks to match existing farmers and their successors with a planner, to help them plan for retirement, create next steps for asset transfer and management, and set goals for the future farm business.

5. Stockbridge Farmers Market Update: In addition to the variety of fresh organic produce that will be available at the market, there will also be high-quality baked goods from the Berkshire Mountain Bakery. And we will have a vendor providing organic herbal tea blends, herbal salves and oils, and flower bundles. There’s been some confusion about the exact location of the market. It will be at 50 Main St., on the grounds of the Town Offices, not at Old Town Hall.

News

Notes from the Planning Board, June 18, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. Reviewed minutes of last PB meeting May 7, 2024.

2. 3 Lakeview Drive. Request for special permit presented by Foresight Land Services. Property within Lake and Pond Overlay District (LPOD). Permission for proposed house replacement and related site work. For permit must meet requirements of LOPD — setbacks and maximum lot coverage. Request presented by Edward Lichtenberg & Betsy Aubrey, owners.

Lot size 1.2 acres — max coverage allowed 10%. Proposed coverage — increase from 4.4% to 6.2%. Setbacks — no change minimum met. Building height 35 ft. and 100 ft. from the water. Required coverage of vegetation 85% proposed meets the requirement.

3. 17 Cherry Hill, special permit, James Obanhein, owner. Foresight Land presenting request. Special permit required to increase length of driveway to over 500 ft. Spec permit for proposed gravel driveway with utilities. Approved conditionally on approval of curb cut and approval of Fire and Police Departments. 

4. 1 Larrywaug Crossroad, Form A, John & Judy Peyron, owners. Taconic Land Consultants presenting. Form A (also referred to as an ANR Plan) is the division of a tract of land into two or more lots, whereby every lot within the tract so divided (a) has frontage on an acceptable way as specified in MGL C 9sitation incomplete). Chair referred the matter to the Building Inspector and/or the Select Board.

5. Reconstitute the Planning Board officers, and committees members effective July 1st — all remained the same: Chair Kate Fletcher, VC Gary Pitney, Rep to BRPC Nancy Sosha and Rep to CPC and AHT Lis Wheeler

News

Tri-Town Board of Health (BOH), June 20, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. BOH opposition to the General Electric (GE) proposal for dredging and transportation of PCBs 

Letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to GE cited as strongly recommending hydraulic dredging and train transport

3. Tri-Town has rising costs of 21% for staff salaries, benefits, and other costs FY25. Therefore, a rise in fees (mostly commercial fees) of 10-20% was suggested. The board approved continuing the discussion with an open meeting in fall 2024. 

3. Proposed that Tri-Town move to Stockbridge Town Offices. Stockbridge Town Administrator said there was space available. Timing would have to be determined as well as cost and time needed for alterations to accommodate the Tri-Town offices. Director Jim Wilusz requested that any move be a permanent move 

4. Report on Avian Flu — although some concern was expressed to members of the Tri Town Board of Health by citizens, statistically cases are down from 165 in 2020 to 30 in 2023.

Question about whether Tri Town has a position on Green Burials — seemed the conclusion was it should be left to the cemeteries (not all of which allow green burials)

Motion to adjourn

News

Select Board, June 20, 2024, Hybrid Meeting

1. Appoint Council on Aging Director Katie Szwyd.

2. Letter from Lee MA Select Board, addressed to the 4 other Select Boards involved in the Rest of River (ROR) Committee, requested that all 4 join Lee in urging the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) NOT to destroy records and recordings from ROR. Stockbridge SB voted in favor. 

3. Reclassification of Town Clerk Position from elected to appointed

4. Patrick White asked if Jamie Minacci would like to take the position on Cemetery Commission designated for a SB member. Minacci declined; White will continue in the seat.

5. White announced that the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation approved establishing a joint committee with Town representatives. Ray Bradbury and Patrick White offered to represent Stockbridge

6. Report on Farmers Market — update and presentation — It will begin in July on the grounds of Town Offices at 50 Main (see announcement in “Events” above)

7. One-day alcohol license for Leah Nguyen for Wedding on August 10th from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. One-day alcohol and entertainment license for the Pan-Mass Challenge held at Camp Mah-Kee-Nac on September 27th and 28th from 2pm to 10pm.

News

Reader to Reader

Dear Updates: 

Regarding the article on GE removing its toxic waste from the Housatonic in your last issue, I would like to add the concern over the amount of diesel particulate matter (DPM), as well as particulates from tire, brake, and road abrasion, that such a large number of heavy duty trucks carrying PCBs over so many years will add to the atmosphere. Imagine dozens of these trucks idling every day at the intersection of 102 and 183, waiting to turn for Main Street. Right next to the usually quiet Botanical Gardens. I presume these trucks return via the same route to the work site for each trip. 

DPMs contain multiple known carcinogens and there is no safe level at which they may be inhaled. PM2.5s are fine particles that are particularly hazardous for children and the elderly. There are already increasing numbers of trucks using Rt 183 — car carriers come to mind — along with the usual local traffic. And of course, hundreds of heavy combination trucks daily on the Mass Pike. Trains also emit particulate matter.

There are significant wildlife corridors where GE trucks will pass. We are not the only ones affected. There will be no place in the region where the hazard will be avoided. DPM particles readily disperse via even mild wind currents over a wide area. Nowhere to hide…

This will go on for YEARS. I live on Rt 183. I am doing my best to create a protective screen near the road via plantings and researching fence barriers. Depending on what I find, I will consider asking the town for mitigation assistance based on its responsibility for accepting the GE deal and money. 

Thermal desorption should be used here instead of dredging and a dump. Ask the folks on the Hudson how well GE dredging and capping has worked. This is the overriding issue. GE is not getting the results required on the Hudson. Why would it work here? Billions of dollars in economic damage has been done to Hudson communities. Fish and sediment remain contaminated. 

GE’s mission statement says it will “usher in the next industrial era and to build, move, power, and cure the world.” Really. And in case you think $1.6 million from GE to Stockbridge is a good deal, GE’s profit last year was more than 64 billion dollars

Bruce Blair

Dear Carole

This is in response to your recent post

We are writing in response to your coverage of Monday night’s informational meeting about the Monument renovation project. Some important points we think people need to keep in mind:

The cost is not yet known.

Until we know the precise cost of the project and the amount of state reimbursement, we can’t calculate the cost to taxpayers yet.

Trust the process that is underway.

An experienced team of architects and designers who specialize in building Massachusetts public schools has been working closely with our district and the state to develop a clear path forward. We are in the final stretch of that multi-year process and seek community input to determine the specific plan to pursue.

Alternate ideas could rob us of this opportunity. 

Well intentioned people can create false hope by suggesting solutions that are outside of those being explored at this stage. The vote 11 years ago failed in part because people put a lot of faith in ideas that weren’t fully developed or even feasible. As a result, we forfeited tens of millions of dollars and now face an even costlier project. Let’s not make the same mistake again.

The vote is more than a year away.

A lot more information, including exact cost, will be determined between now and then.

The bottom line is that while it’s unfortunate that building costs have increased significantly in recent years, our community remains in dire need of a functioning and suitable high school building. To suggest that Monument be shuttered is an unreasonable idea that is ill-conceived and cynical at its core. Our goal remains clear: to provide all students with exceptional learning opportunities in Berkshire Hills.

We appreciate everyone who attended the meeting and ask for their continued engagement and patience as more information is finalized in the coming months.

Peter Dillon, Superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District and Jason St. Peter, Chair of the Monument Mountain Regional High School Building Committee

Dear Peter Dillon and Jason St. Peter,

First of all, thank you for the ways that Berkshire Hill Regional School District and its building committee offered for including the public and encouraging public involvement — attending hybrid information meetings and checking this web site, www.monumentbuildingproject.org

We hope they allow for interaction. During the course of this planning period you will encounter both support as well as push back. SU believes the best result will come from being open to both and incorporating the best ideas into a workable solution. Thank you for all you do

Carole

Editor’s note: Following are three screenshots of exhibits shown during the meeting. Those interested can watch the entire meeting on CTSBTV.org/ click on “Education” and then click on Monument Mountain Regional High School (MMRHS) Virtual Community Information Session, presented by the MMRHS Building Committee and the Monument Mountain Building Project.

o Stockbridge Updates:

“The option of sunsetting Monument High school must be considered.”

This breaks my heart. My sister was in one of the first classes to graduate. My brother followed in 1973, and I brought up the rear as a proud graduate of the class of ’76. My teachers were excellent. I learned incredible things and did well on the ACT, AP, and Achievement Exams. I even aced the math portion of the GRE because of what I learned at MMRHS. At my first two colleges, the University of Maine at Farmington and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, I was told by my professors that the required classes they offered were beneath what I already knew. I walked into two different professors’ offices and walked out with an A. (No hanky panky was involved.) I read books at MMRHS that my friends who grew up elsewhere never heard of. I read many novels twice: one time in a Literature class and the other time in French class. 

And now there’s talk of sunsetting. It’s sad. 

Wendy 

Dear Wendy,

Oh, I am so sorry about your sadness and sense of loss. It is based on good memories though. Also, please do not forget, this was a suggestion voiced among attendees. It is not a final plan. In fact, we do not know what the final plan will be. Let’s hope if we all, Stockbridge Updates and its readers continue to monitor the planning process, the Building Committee will come to the best possible solution. If not, the voters of the three towns have the opportunity to vote for or against their final plan at a Town Meeting in the fall.

Get involved. Attend the next meeting. Read up and voice your opinion.

Best wishes, Carole

Dear SU:

I am writing to voice my dismay and extreme opposition to the new sign at the corner of 183 and Hawthorne Road. Among its many offensive qualities is that it is too big. 

Prior to erecting this excrescence on the landscape, shouldn’t the Conservation Commission, whose responsibility it is to oversee Gould Meadows, have been consulted? This location is completely inappropriate for this pristine and pastoral scene.

Sally Underwood-Miller

Dear Carole:

The large, newly installed “Town of Stockbridge” sign at the corner of Rt.183 and Hawthorne Street, which lists points of interest in Stockbridge, is situated in a totally unsuitable spot. The driver or passenger in a car cannot read the information on the sign because the lettering is not large enough and there is no safe place near the sign to stop and read it. The sign belongs in a pedestrian friendly area where it can be read at close range, not along a busy roadway. I hope that whoever was responsible for creating and placing the sign will move it to a safer and more appropriate location. The sign also mars the view overlooking Gould Meadows — one of the loveliest views in our town. Let’s remove this safety hazard and preserve the natural beauty of that special place.

Lenore Sundberg

Calander

Events

1. Children’s Chimes Children and Family Day

Saturday July 6, 11am at the Children’s Chime Tower in front the Old Town Hall. The Town of Stockbridge will allow children to come up and play the chimes in the tower (in front of the old town hall) beginning at 11am on Saturday, July 6. Any child who wants to come up and play must be accompanied by an adult. Signups begin at 10:45am and will continue until all have had a chance to play. At the end of the session (approximately 10:45) there will be a brief NAME THAT TUNE CONTEST for adults and children with 10 tunes to identify. Top prize winners will be eligible for prizes from Nejaimes’ Wine Sellers, Williams & Sons Country Store, and Stockbridge Coffee & Tea.

2. Fairview Hospital Gala

Fairview Hospital Gala To Honor Her Excellency Maura Healey, July 17, 5:30pm to Botanical Gardens’s:30pm at Gedney Farm, New Marlborough. Funds raised will support equipment at Fairview Hospital fund. For reservations or more information, call 413- 854 9609 

3. Berkshire Botanical Garden Gala

Berkshire Botanical Garden Gala, July 27, 2024, 6pm to 11pm. It is the Botanical Garden’s 90th birthday. As the sun sets over a summer garden in bloom, we will welcome you and your guests to cocktails around the Center House veranda and fire fountain, followed by a delicious meal under a festive tent, and capped by a glorious night of dancing under the stars to the strains of The Beantown Swing Orchestra. This joyous event will honor our founders and visionaries dating back nine decades and will be a toast to the Garden’s exciting plans for the future. We recommend festive attire; dress to party for dinner and dancing. A highlight of the night will be a performance by Galina Detkina and Roman Malkhaysan, U.S. National and World Champion American Smooth Style Ballroom Dancers! 

For information contact rdurgin@berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-944-8504.

4. Norman Rockwell Museum

Norman Rockwell Museum (NRM) presents its 6th Annual Art of Brewing, August 10, 2024, 1pm — 4pm.

Returning for its 6th year, the annual Art of Brewing Festival offers guests a chance to sample the best craft brews in the region. Spend an afternoon with friends and families all while sampling local and regional beer, wine, cider, distilled drinks, and even coffee! Enjoy delicious food from local eateries, start a friendly competition with some lawn games, and relax on a perfect Berkshire summer day. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to see the incredible art that you find on all your favorite beverages and talk to some of the artists! Receive a free commemorative beer glass while supplies last. This event is rain or shine. 21 + for Tasting — All ages Welcome for games, food and art appreciation!

Tickets: $30 for members, $40 for not-yet-members

Each ticket buyer receives 10 drink tickets to redeem for sample pours.

NRM in collaboration with Tanglewood Learning Institute. This program takes place at Tanglewood in Studio E, Linde Center for Music and Learning, Lenox/Stockbridge, MA on August 4, 2024. 10am

Join Hip Hop and theater artist Baba Israel, Illustrator Louis Henry Mitchell, Jazz and electronic artist Sean Nowell, bassist Mary Ann McSweeney, Boston Symphony Orchestra percussionist Will Hudgins, and host Rebecca Sheir for an adventure through visual art, storytelling and music. In this interactive program, participants will help shape the creative direction of a series of musical improvisations that create the score for Mitchell’s original illustrations and storytelling performance. The music will combine live instruments, wind and mallet synths, live looping and beatbox. Baba Israel will take audience input, words, and ideas to help shape

Mitchell’s improvised drawings of a character whose unique features and storyline will evolve in real time guided by the audience’s feedback. Audience members will be invited to learn to beatbox, play with vocal fx, trigger samples and synths and contribute their voices and sounds to the loops and music created. No musical experience needed just a sense of curiosity and a celebration of our collective imagination.

Price: $15 for Adults, Kids are free. For more information go to 

https://www.nrm.org/venue/linde-center-for-music-and-learning

Perspective

From the Desk of Senator Paul Mark

I am glad to once again have the opportunity to give a review of business at the State House for Stockbridge Updates. The legislative session has been in full swing these past couple of months as committees have reported out bills, the Senate and House have passed many items into law, and the budget season kicked into high gear.

The Massachusetts fiscal year begins on July 1st and each year a long and deliberative process to get a budget in place starts more than six months earlier. Revenue figures to build the budget against are decided the previous December, and in Massachusetts our budget must be balanced, so those revenue numbers are extremely important. The Governor files an initial budget proposal in late January which is sent to the legislature and the 160 Representatives, and 40 Senators get to work listening to constituents, holding public hearings all over the state, and analyzing the hundreds of line items to see where our limited resources are best spent and prioritized. 

The Senate Ways and Means Committee offers a Senate proposal in early May, which can be completely different from what the House debated in April, each Senator can offer amendments, and the full Senate meets to debate the budget over the course of May. The Senate budget came in at just under $58 billion and would leave $9 billion in stabilization reserves for the state, the highest amount in our history. Some highlights include $125 million in supplemental funding for roads and bridges, including $62.5 million dedicated specifically to rural communities like Stockbridge. Rural school aid was increased to $17.5 million and Chapter 70 school aid was increased to $6.9 billion. $170 million for universal school meals and $475 million for early education and childcare grant programs was also included. Over $1 billion in housing support and investments were offered as a preface to a multi-billion-dollar Housing Bill that is currently being debated in the legislature. Additionally, millions of dollars were secured for local and regional projects of importance to the Berkshires and our region. The full $58 billion budget and all the line items can be found online at www.malegislature.org if you want to learn more. 

Please be in touch with questions on any state government issue. Our full contact information is at www.senatorpaulmark.com.

As always, thank you for the opportunity to be your voice in the Senate, Paul.

Editor’s Note: Be aware that many of the initiatives — Housing, Renewable Energy, and road repair — while laudable efforts — also remove control from local government and place it with the state. Decisions about where to build solar fields, permits to build ADUs, and specs for repairing rural dirt roads will be, entirely or at least in part, beyond local control.

Perspective

From the Stockbridge Bowl Association 

A Zebra Mussel INVASION 

Zebra mussels are the Genghis Khan of aquatic species. They are brutal invaders that quickly overwhelm lakes and ponds by killing off native species. It will take all of us together to prevent them from contaminating Stockbridge Bowl. Zebra mussels have been found in our neighborhood: Laurel Lake in Lee and the Housatonic River. New York state is heavily contaminated with them, including the Hudson River and Lake George. Lake Champlain (Vermont), and Twin Lakes (Connecticut) are also infested. Stockbridge Bowl could be next. Zebra mussels get from one body of water to another by traveling on our boats, kayaks, canoes, blowup boats, trailers and the like. They attach anywhere, inside or out, and stay there until we put our watercraft in elsewhere. Once zebra mussels are established in a body of water, there is little we can do to remove them. Our best strategy is to prevent the zebra mussel from getting into Stockbridge Bowl in the first place. There are four ways you can help. 

1. Do not put your boat into a body of water that is known or suspected to be infected with zebra mussels. 

2. If your watercraft has been in infected waters in the past week, bring it to the Washing Station for inspection and cleaning and then put your watercraft in at the boat ramp. (Inspection or not, you can always come to the Washing Station to get your boat clean. It’s a deal! Inspection and Washing Station1 is located at the Bat Ramp on Rte 183 (just south of Kripalu) Open from May 24 — October 14, Daily from 7am — 5pm. 

3. Tell your family, friends, visitors, tenants, and neighbors about the zebra mussel and how to keep it out of our precious lake. 

4. If you see someone coming to the lake with a watercraft on a trailer or roof rack, remind them to go first to the Washing Station. 

If you have any questions or suggestions about prevention, contact our Harbor Master, Gary Kleinerman: GaryK1SXA@gmail.com; 413-441-6244.

Announcements

Children’s Chimes Children and Family Day

After 140 years, the tower had to close in 2017 due to structural upgrading and now has been fully restored. Until then the town upheld the wishes of its original sponsor, David Dudley Field, to have the chimes played every day at 5:30 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Field himself played them for 45 years, starting in 1878. After that, volunteers upheld the tradition until 2017. 

The town sponsors the traditional playing of the newly restored Children’s Chimes Bell tower every day this year from May 25 to Labor Day Sept. 2 at 5:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Located in front of the Old Town Hall and First Congregational Church in Stockbridge, this tall carillon (bell tower), was gifted to the town by Field in memory of his grandchildren. His one condition was the chimes were to be rung every day at 5:30 p.m. between, “apple blossom time and the first frost on the pumpkin”. His intention was that “it will be a memorial of those who are enshrined in my heart, while the ringing of the chimes at sunset I trust will give pleasure to all whose good fortune is to live in this peaceful valley.”

Editor’s note: Overseeing the project is Berkshire County conductor and music educator, Andrea Goodman. She is the director of the Cantilena Chamber Choir with a five-concert series annually at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox. She currently teaches pre-k-Grade 8 at the Saint Agnes Academy in Dalton and has taught at the Montessori School of the Berkshires in Lenox for 10 years. For further information contact Andrea at satbchoir@yahoo.com.

by Andrea Goodman