Page 10 - BusinessWest October 27, 2021

Community Spotlight
Stockbridge Looks Forward, Honors Its Heritage
OBy Mark Morris
ne of Norman Rockwell’s most famous paintings depicts a snow-covered Main Street in Stockbridge. The painting
“Home for Christmas” was intended to cel- ebrate small towns all over America, but these days, it’s nearly impossible for modern-day photographers to recreate the artist’s vision without including a constant stream of traffic.
“There’s more tourism than I expected to see in Stockbridge. It’s rare to go into town and not see it full of people.”
While that might frustrate photographers, Margaret Kerswill is encouraged by all the activity she has seen this summer and into the fall.
“There’s more tourism than I expected to see in Stockbridge,” the board president of the Stock- bridge Chamber of Commerce told BusinessWest. “It’s rare to go into town and not see it full of people.”
Kerswill said the pandemic encouraged busi- ness owners to find creative ways to keep people
safe while maintaining their operations — and revenues. Despite the many challenges last year, they’ve largely come back strong.
“As rules and mandates kept changing, our business owners rolled with it,” she said. “It was wonderful to see everyone rise to the top of their game.”
Tri Town Health acts as a regional health department for the towns of Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge. When the Delta variant of COVID-19 began spreading, Tri Town Health imposed mask mandates for indoor common spaces.
Stockbridge Town Administrator Michael Canales appreciates the agency’s work to keep the community as safe as possible. As of Oct. 15, 68% of Berkshire residents are fully vaccinated, while 78% have received at least one dose.
On the job for just over a year, Canales has not yet had the chance to lead the community in the absence of a pandemic. “It will be a little difficult for me to compare what normally happens in town because I have yet to see what normal looks like,” he noted.
For now, he believes longtime residents who tell him Stockbridge is starting to look normal again. Canales himself has certainly noticed the busy summer and fall seasons, and credits that in part to the return of Tanglewood, which offered a limited schedule for audiences half the size of a
America's Choice in Home Care®
Visiting Angels provides essential senior homecare, allowing your loved one to remain where they are the most comfortable...in their own home.
• Shopping
• Light Housekeeping
• Meal Preparation
• Friendly Companionship • Flexible Hourly Care
• Respite Care for Families
VisitingAngels.com/WestSpringfield
Each Visiting Angels agency is independently owned and operated.
®2021 Visiting Angels is a registered trademark of Living Assistance Services, Inc.
• Bathing Assistance
• Dressing Assistance
• Grooming
• Assistance with Walking • Medication Reminders
• Errands
413.733.6900
10 OCTOBER 27, 2021
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Stockbridge at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1739
POPULATION: 1,947
AREA: 23.7 square miles
COUNTY: Berkshire
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $9.78
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $9.78
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $48,571
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $59,556
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Town Administrator; Open Town Meeting
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Austen Riggs Center; Tanglewood; Red Lion Inn
* Latest information available
BusinessWest