Editorial

Filling the Void

2025: Amid the uncomfortable summer days, there were some beautiful ones. On one perfect evening, I strolled along Elm and Main Streets. I ran into good friends and nodding acquaintances, and I learned a few things.

One after another, they told me they felt uneasy as if something were wrong in Stockbridge. It seemed as if too many people were quitting. It seemed as if too many felt shushed and closed out. It seemed as if the citizenry were considered an obstruction to governing. This is a New England village, not an urban capital, our representatives live next door or across the street, and yet it seemed difficult to communicate with them.

Are we suffering from a string of unforced errors or are we mirroring national politics? A former Police Chief warned, “everything that’s out there comes here, it just takes longer.” Has it now arrived? Maybe, but in Stockbridge we usually can work things out, talk them over, test a theory, pick a plan.

Walking and talking, Stockbridge folk seemed the same – for every complaint verbalized, they had a possible solution. For every bit of finger pointing, they were willing to step up themselves. There is some consensus that we have usually weak boards. Put in a charitable light, perhaps some who care have stepped in to fill the void. Unfortunately, it also tilted the organization a bit. If you hang a heavier ornament on a mobile with a lot of lighter ones – it tilts.

As we considered the problem, folks did have ideas about solutions. They suggested we write job descriptions for both elected and employed folks to show what they do, what somebody else is supposed to do,” and how they dovetail.

How about performance evaluations,” one womea asked, “not to judge harshly but to work together to draw boundaries and make expectations clear.”:

How about public comment – new ideas in the mix from citizens – could be a good thing.

What about a declaration that we are all working together so nobody is uneasy about publicly declaring when a mistake is made.

As for SU, we have said it all before, nothing new here. Remember the Golden Rule. Remember in discussion, every person deserves a dignified response. Never close off discussion – it just makes folks mad and that’s not the most propitious starting point.

Oh, and listen, on one of those perfect Stockbridge summer evenings – get out and walk around Elm and Main Streets, you will meet the best people.

Carole Owens
Executive Editor

by Carole Owens Executive Editor

News

SU FYI

August 6 and August 26 are Important dates.

August 6, there is a debate between our two candidates sponsored by the League of Women Voters at Town Offices, doors open at 5:30pm.

August 26, there is a Special Town election – vote!

Stockbridge Updates continues its series on Local Government: How it works. View on You Tube, at CTSBTV.org and in this issue.

Debate is a wonderful tradition during election season, and in addition, SU is trying to arrange A Conversation Between the Candidates on subjects they introduce. We will keep you posted.

News

Events

The Literacy Network Free Storytelling Event. LitNet will hold its second-annual live storytelling event on Sunday, August 3rd in the Stable at The Mount. Five of LitNet’s immigrant English language learners and one volunteer tutor will perform true stories, which they have been practicing through an eight-week course with LitNet. The stories are inspired by the theme WHAT THIS PLACE MAKES ME and are an extension of The Mount’s Community Voices Series. The event will begin at 5:30 PM and last approximately one hour, with a reception to follow.

LitNet’s storytelling class was led by local storytelling coach, Sheela Clary, a Moth Story Slam winner and Grand Slam participant, who says: “It’s hard to get up in front of strangers to tell the truth about your life. These brave storytellers have been working for months on stories told in their second, third, even fourth language. The lucky audience on August 3 will reap the fruits of their hard work!” The event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended by accessing The Mount’s event calendar at edithwharton.org, or by going directly to bit.ly/litnet-stories.

Stockbridge Library presents the Berkshire Community Dog Show, August 2, 2025, 10:30am to 1pm.

We invite you and your favorite pup to participate in several pawsome activities throughout the day. The events will include a dog-themed storytime from 11:00a.m. to 11:20 a.m., a children’s craft table, free ice cream, and goodies sold by local dog-loving businesses! Dogs must be leashed at all times. Only service dogs are allowed inside the library and cleaning up after your pup is required!

Want to show off your dog and have the chance to win a prize basket? Enter a category:

Eyes That Make Your Heart Melt: 11:30 am to 11:45 am

Most Likely To Make A Stranger Stop And Pet: 11:45 am to 12:00 pm

Dog With The Best Trick: 12:00 pm to 12:15 pm

Happiest Dog With The Biggest Tail Wag: 12:15 pm to 12:30 pm

Watch Now!

SU TV

The Tutorial – How Local Government Works

An interview with Jeremia Pollard and Bob Jones

Perspective

Our Candidates

Jorja Marsden

Dear Stockbridge Neighbors,

I am running for the seat on the Stockbridge Select Board vacated by Patrick White. The election is August 26, and I am hoping you will vote for me. I will work hard, be prepared, and be beholden to no one except the citizens of Stockbridge. I welcome your thoughts and comments. I am a “borner” to Stockbridge. My parents bought a “fixer-upper” old farmhouse on the corner of Prospect Hill and Rattlesnake Mtn. Rd. in 1948 along with 53 acres of land. I attended the Plain School through 6th grade, Berkshire Country Day for 7-8, Miss Hall’s School for High School and then Connecticut College. I have additional post-grad credits.

I met my husband of 53 years working summer stock at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. We were married in 1972, living and working in and around Boston for 7 years. We moved back to the Berkshires in 1976.

I first became involved with what was happening to my beloved Town by being appointed to serve on the Ad Hoc Growth Study Committee in the early 80s. Many of the issues identified by that committee are still unresolved – housing, open space, affordability.

As a logical progression, I became a founding member of the Stockbridge Land Trust, working on what I believe to this day Is still our biggest challenge – balancing growth with land preservation.

I continue to serve on the Kampoosa Bog Stewardship Committee. My family put most of our land into a conservation restriction when Kampoosa was declared an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

I joined the Conservation Commission – my passion – in the mid-90s. I have served since then as a member, chair and now member/secretary.

I was instrumental in the adoption of the Community Preservation Act in 2002, and have served as chair for nearly 20 years, supporting the preservation of open space, historic treasures and in assisting with affordable housing. CPC has successfully contributed with citizen approval more than 6 million dollars to the betterment of our community.

I also served on the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Committee, as a member and former trustee of the Laurel Hill Association, and on the Stockbridge Bowl Association.

The challenges facing our small town are daunting. How do we keep Stockbridge and still allow for growth? This gem of a town draws visitors from all over the world who recognize how very special it is, yet we are in danger of losing the thing that makes it so special if we aren’t very careful. Too much growth without an affordable component for young families and working people will, I fear, tip the scales and we will lose the unique qualities that we love.

Sally Underwood-Miller

I don’t want to protect the environment. I want to live in a world where the environment doesn’t need protecting

My name is Jorja Marsden, and I am running for Select Board. I am deeply rooted in Stockbridge and its history, having been born and raised here, attended local schools, and worked for the town for more than 31 years. Stockbridge is a special place, where I raised my family and where my son and daughter-in-law are now raising their three children. I want Stockbridge to continue to be a welcoming place for families to live, share, and enhance that experience.

I love Stockbridge and am prepared to continue my legacy of devoting time and energy to the place I love. Our community is very important to me. I am a civic-minded person with only the best interest in our whole community. Today as ever, we face significant issues we need to address locally and regionally such as affordability, shared services to enhance our Fire Department and EMS services, protecting the Stockbridge Bowl, appropriate conservation of our open space and natural resources, ensuring safe drinking water for EVERY neighborhood, and investing in the needs of our public schools to ensure a bright future for the community. By working together, we can accomplish many things. My background and local experience have prepared me to thoughtfully navigate the opportunities that lay ahead as a member of the Stockbridge Select Board.

My working career started at a young age, working at a camp in town and ushering at the Berkshire Theatre. In 1969, not far out of high school and after a short go at college, I was among the first employees of Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick after their resurrection of the Red Lion Inn – working the front desk and later serving as Head of Room Reservations and Accounts Receivables.

In 1976, a new career began at Lenox Machine, as the Cost Accounting Supervisor. I left there in 1980 to care for my newborn son. Then in 1985, I was elected Town Clerk, subsequently working as Assistant Tax Collector and Assistant Treasurer, secretary to the Planning Board and also filled in for the accountant’s office. In 1996, I was asked by the Selectboard to fill in as Secretary to their office on an interim basis, a position that eventually evolved into a full-time appointment. As the result of a Town Meeting vote in 1999, I was made “Executive Secretary,” and in 2006, the Town formally elected to change my position to Town Administrator, the first one in Town history. I proudly held this position until my retirement from full-time municipal employment in 2016. I continue to be actively engaged in town affairs, currently holding positions on the Historic Preservation Commission, Historic Committee, and the Finance Committee.

In addition to my municipal work in the community, I have also served as a Cub Scout leader and on the boards of the former Lee Visiting Nurse Association, the Williams High School Alumni Association (current treasurer), the Kiwanis Club of Lee (secretary), Riverbrook, the Norman Rockwell Museum (1985-1991 and 2014-present), and the Stockbridge Library. I also volunteer through AARP as a Tax-Aide helping seniors prepare tax documents for filing. As a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Church, I have served on the Vestry, Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer and currently serve as Sr. Warden of the Church.

My experience working in and for our town provides me with strong institutional knowledge of the community and Town government that would be crucial to my effectiveness as a member of the Select Board. The people of Stockbridge are the Town’s greatest asset and should be treated with respect and fairness whether you are a full-time resident, a second homeowner, or a visitor. We are a community with challenges, but with challenges come opportunity, and we must work together to foster those opportunities into positive outcomes. I humbly ask for your support in the special town election on August 26.

Perspective

From the Desk of Town Administrator, Michael Canales

Hi Carole,

Here is my response –

Mike

Thanks Michael and folks –

Larry Ackerman asked SU to track down an answer about Curtisville Bridge — it’s our pleasure — ask SU to ask our officials any question you have.

Carole

Curtisville Bridge

Hi Larry—thanks for the question. Curtisville Bridge wasn’t discussed in detail at the recent meeting because it is still in the evaluation stage and we don’t yet have a defined project path to present. We are actively reviewing options and expect to have more to share soon.

A few factors make this bridge more complex than others in our inventory:

A Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) preservation restriction remains in effect through the end of this year; any major action before it expires would require additional approvals.

Possible future reuse scenarios—such as a pedestrian or limited use crossing—must meet applicable AASHTO pedestrian bridge and safety standards (and related accessibility/code requirements).

Any structural work or change of use will be subject to MassDOT Chapter 85 bridge review, adding engineering and regulatory steps. We’re using this window to look “outside the box” at what is feasible—rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, or other approaches—so that when the restriction lapses we can move forward in an informed, coordinated way. I’ll provide a public update once we have clearer direction from engineers and regulators.

Perspective

Notes from the Statehouse

By Christine Rasmussen

Climate

Yes, it’s hot; temperatures have been rising worldwide, making this the hottest year humans have ever recorded on Earth. This has led to national disasters and increased costs for heating or cooling.

If you have been procrastinating about exploring federal incentives that reduce your energy bills or purchasing an electric vehicle, now is the time to take action.

The new administration’s priorities have changed. Funding for initiatives that increase energy efficiency and reduce costs is being slashed; however, there is still a short time to take advantage of federal incentives outlined by NPR at:

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/16/nx-s1-5462190/trump-tax-credit-solar-ev-heat-pump

Housing

As part of the Affordable Homes Act passed in August 2024, Stockbridge has qualified for a new designation as a Seasonal Community because over 40 percent of its housing units are seasonal, but voters will have the final say on accepting the designation.

If accepted, it provides for:

Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners’ primary residence by shifting costs to seasonal dwellings.

Ability to acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions.

Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers.

Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents

Create year-round housing for artists.

Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment.

Allow tiny homes to be used as year-round housing

According to the statute, Seasonal Communities must:

Allow undersized lots for creating attainable, year-round housing.

Allow tiny homes to be used as year-round housing, including those on wheels.

This summer, Stockbridge residents joined hundreds of others in expressing their thoughts to the Advisory Council, which is developing regulations expected to be released shortly. Many comments focused on expanding the program to include all of Berkshire County, increasing the number of workers who qualify for housing, the fairness of shifting tax burdens onto second homeowners, general concerns about tiny homes, and the value of tiny houses on wheels versus those with foundations.

by Christine Rasmussen

Perspective

Transparency in Government Is Necessary for an Informed Electorate

By Anita Schwerner

On July 15 I emailed the select board requesting that Public Comment be an item on the July 24 meeting agenda, but it was not placed on the agenda. I will try again for the August 7 agenda. If you want to be able to ask questions or voice concerns at a select board meeting, email the select board with your request that Public Comment be included on the August 7 select board meeting agenda.

All town meetings are hybrid and the recording of the meeting is supposed to be posted on ctsbtv.org Recently I wanted to watch a meeting that I missed and discovered that the June 30 meeting and most of the July meetings have not yet been posted. Only the July 10 Select Board meeting and the July 21 Board of Assessors meeting are there. To have an informed electorate it is important that all meetings be available in a timely manner.

Restoring “Public Comment” as a standing Select Board agenda item in Stockbridge should be a town priority. Although it is not a requirement under the Open Meeting Laws, many towns include it as good practice to allow residents to be heard. Stockbridge has definitely fallen behind. Sending an email after a meeting is not the same as going to the microphone to speak about issues of concern or importance.

Our select board members are elected to represent the voters. They both ran for office promising to listen to their constituents. Select board members don’t need to have immediate answers to questions raised. They can table the answer to the next meeting. If there are privacy issues that they cannot discuss they can say that and refer the speaker to resources for answers.

In 2023 the MA Supreme Judicial Court in Barron v. Kolenda ruled that “boards may not restrict the speech of participants based solely on the viewpoint or message of a speaker or the board’s desire to avoid criticism.” Ultimately the court ruled, “although civility can and should be encouraged in political discourse, it cannot be required.”

Including Public comment would show an openness to feedback from the community. Setting reasonable expectations for public comments such as time limit and the need to be recognized by the chair can help maintain decorum. Our neighboring towns including Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, West Stockbridge, Egremont and Sheffield and Pittsfield all have some form of Public Comment on their Select Board agenda. Examples include:

Great Barrington – “Citizen Speak Time is an opportunity for the Selectboard to listen to town residents, property owners and business owners. Topics of particular concern or importance may be placed on a future agenda for discussion. This time is reserved for town residents, property owners and business owners only unless otherwise permitted by the chair and speakers are limited to 3 minutes each.”

Lenox’s agenda has “Citizen’s Open Forum (Lenox residents are welcome to address the board for up to two minutes)”.

The standing agenda item “Public Comments” has disappeared from Stockbridge Select Board agendas and it is extremely important to bring it back in order to further transparency, an informed electorate, the feeling of being heard and for the overall good of the town.

by Anita Schwerner

Analysis

Reader to Reader

Hi Carole,

I appreciated, really appreciate, your concern for keeping the Berkshires as they are and for preserving our green open spaces. Yet I wonder why in that lovely essay of yours, you did not mention the BNRC, which has been doing such a spectacular job in just that way. It’s not clear to me whether the organization that you hope will get founded would be a competitor or not. I myself worry that competition in such a thing might divert attention rather than create it.

Peter L. Strauss

Dear Peter,

Thank you for your kind words and support for the initiative that means so much to me. I agree with your concern about competitiveness. Berkshire Preservation Inc (BPI) holds a policy of cooperation. For example, I met with the owner of a beautiful 40-acre parcel, was given a tour, and told it was available. I invited a group of donors to discuss the merits of purchase at a Sunday afternoon meeting. The owner called that morning and shared that Patrick White intervened on behalf of another nonprofit interested in the purchase. I cancelled the meeting and left the field open to the nonprofit Patrick mentioned. If they buy it, I will be very pleased. If that nonprofit passes on the purchase, BPI will step back in.

You also mentioned Berkshire Natural Resources Commission (BNRC). Let me add Stockbridge Land Trust (SLT), Laurel Hill Association (LHA), the Conservation Commission, and the Community Preservation Committee. During the possible purchase of the vacant land on Interlaken Cross Road, SLT and LHA expressed more interest in managing land and overseeing the Conservation Restrictions (CR), than in purchasing land. BNRC also manages land and can hold a CR as can the two government committees mentioned. BPI cannot hold a CR nor is it organized to manage land so there is a natural and complimentary fit.

Again, thank you, Carole

Carole,

Thank you so, so, much [for the] beautiful writing. I’m very grateful…thank you so much for your time and for your insight. U r a wonderful writer. I wish I had seen them earlier – they would’ve given me a boost of confidence which I am receiving from you now.

PS I’m voice texting while driving, but I wanted to respond as soon as I had a chance! Xoxx Alison Larkin

Dear Alison,

With great joy and gratitude for your talent and willingness to go where few have gone before, I advise, everyone, go see Grief: A Comedy. It is a jewel.

Carole

To Jamie and Chuck,

Please add my name to the people who would like to have the Public Comment be included on the select board meeting agenda.

Actually, I am amazed it was taken out of meetings in the first place. Three minutes sounds like a reasonable time to allow someone to speak.

At the last meeting there was plenty of time to bring up some questions that were on people’s minds.

Aside from our Highway Supt problem, the Tennis courts on Pine…courts [can be done] at nowhere near the numbers [cost] you are talking about.

Thank you

Editor’s note: Stockbridge Updates has a policy against posting anonymous letters but here we are. This anonymous letter is included because it is typical of other letters received wherein the author asked not to be identified. It is most important, more important than any SU policy, that no one in Stockbridge be afraid to voice their opinions openly and that all opinions are heard – they all help us reach the best conclusion.