Gift Drive Results

I spearheaded a gift drive to purchase toys for Pine Woods families, to provide a few small gifts for each of the residents of Heaton Court, and to give the women who live at Riverbrook a small shopping spree at the Stockbridge Country Store.

Thanks to the following folks who donated to make this possible:

Jamie Chadwin/Camp Mah-Kee-Nac
Chris Greendale
Ed Lane
Phil McCaffrey
Peter Most
Steve Picheny
Lincoln Russell
Ed Silverstein
Peter Strauss
Eleanor Tillinghast
Ranne Warner
Kathy White
Patrick White
Terri Wise
Stuart Yurman

You all were responsible for buying nearly 150 gifts for these communities and brought a lot of smiles to folks this holiday season. Thank you.

Finally, I'd like to point out a few things regarding these communities. The 22 residents of Riverbrook, all affordable housing residents, are some of the nicest folks you will find in this community. I find it incredibly rewarding to spend time with these women and their dedicated staff. Pine Woods has just 32 units, yet represents over 20% of the school-age children in Stockbridge. Just during my time on the Select Board, two of our dedicated elected officials were residents of Pine Woods at the time of their elections. The 51 senior residents of Heaton Court are amazing folks, most of whom spent a lifetime working in the Berkshires, not some far-away community. A number of these residents serve as volunteers on local non-profit boards as well.

I would ask all of us, as we debate the challenges of housing, to get to know these wonderful folks and to avoid making these neighbors of ours feel anything less than welcome in this community. Words matter. Tone matters. To these residents I say this to you. I see you. I respect you. And as long as I serve in an elected position in this town, I will have your back.

Riverbrook Shopping Spree Photos

Holiday Party at Heaton Court

Gifts from local merchants

Leading the Christmas carols