Stockbridge.Life

10/31/2024

In celebration of Halloween, check out "The Bone Finder, Tracking the Dead" a short film on a mostly lost October Mountain cemetery by my friend Leo Mahoney. It includes the story of finding the grave of Anna Pease, a ten year old who it is said haunts the cemetery and announces her presence with the sound of drumbeats in the woods.

On mysterious October Mountain in Massachusetts lies a forgotten cemetery. Over the past 100 years many of the graves stones disappeared and the occupant's h...

10/26/2024

When a postcard makes your day.

10/24/2024

Today I had the pleasure of representing the Town of Stockbridge at the Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens at the Norman Rockwell Museum. I go to a lot of events but I must say, this one was riveting from start to finish. 28 people from 20 countries chose to leave theirs and do the hard work of becoming a US citizen. It was amazing how much the event focused on supporting their journey. This right here is what makes us great. The event made me proud to be a citizen, proud to be a selectman and proud to be an American.

09/28/2024

9/28 and still see Monarch caterpillars.

09/26/2024

https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/stockbridge-munsee-tribal-housatonic-crossing-signs/article_f110caca-7c32-11ef-b1ec-cff709ba08b2.html

The sign is marked Wa’thatinik, the Mohican word for “The Land Beyond the Mountains.”

09/14/2024

Wednesday night about two dozens Mohicans visited Stockbridge, many for the first time. We had a wonderful dinner at the Mission House, where the Town formally presented the Tribe with the 18th century documents found at Old Town Hall. It took an Act of the Legislature to return them. We got that done! The Tribe presented me with a wonderful Stockbridge Munsee blanket as a personal gift for the work I've done on behalf of the Town. Just writing this humbles me.

I won't be keeping it, for two reasons. First, it is against the law to accept gifts worth more than $50 and is, as far as I am concerned, priceless. Equally important, this is work done by many of us, certainly not just me. It is a gift to Oliver Partridge, who in 1809 agreed to steward the Indian Burial Ground on Main Street on the Tribe's behalf as they left Stockbridge in sadness and anger so many years ago. It's a gift to Rich Bradway and Rick Wilcox and Michael Wilcox and so many others who have done great work to heal a relationship that fractured two centuries ago. It is a testament to a friendship between the peoples of this Town and this Tribe who recognize that it is never too late to make amends and in doing so, plant the seeds of a hope for a better tomorrow.

I talked after the dinner with our Town Administrator, and we have a wall in Town Offices where we can display it as a testament to our friendship. This right here is a symbol that speaks to the fact that, whether in our personal lives or the lives of our governments, no schism is so deep, no disagreement is so intractable, no dispute is so old that we cannot attempt to make amends. Take my word for it: just the effort will bring you joy.

09/03/2024

My Closing Thoughts
Patrick White

A vote is an expression of trust, and I have always felt voters have the right to know where a candidate stands. That's why I started writing these notes: to define the issues and how I will address them. I have written 24 of these notes; this is the 25th. We face complex challenges.

Six months ago, Smitty retired. I announced I would run to fill the seat.

I am of the firm belief that voters make the best decisions when informed. I trust the voters. I trust you understand the complexities we face. I avoid sound bites. I am skeptical of special interests. The only special interests for me are my constituents' needs.

Here's a quick review of our most pressing challenges.

We need better paying jobs that support raising a family. We have to revive our local middle class.

We need to address ambulance and emergency medical services. As we get older, the need gets greater and the volunteer pool gets smaller.

We need to pay more attention to cancer and its causes in the Berkshires. This is especially relevant to the proposed "clean-up" of the Housatonic River. We have the data but we don't need it: we all know someone.

We need investment in infrastructure and a plan to pay for it. Keep the bridges open, the roads paved, and the calls from dropping.

We need to focus on affordability. Every dollar of a household budget comes from the same checkbook — I want to save you every dollar I can.

We care about our community. We have that in common, so let's work together. The Berkshires are darn close to perfect, but there is always more to do. Let's keep it up as we always have — roll up our sleeves, get to work, and solve each problem as we encounter it.

Thanks for your consideration. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, September 3rd if you haven't already.

Patrick White
Candidate for Berkshire 3rd

PS: I've written extensively on these topics. Visit www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com. I focus on solutions that make government work for you, not just more talk.

09/01/2024

Josh Landes, WAMC, interviewed Patrick White. Click to listen or read the article.

With just days until Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Stockbridge, Massachusetts select board member Patrick White is fighting to succeed outgoing State Representative Smitty Pignatelli.

09/01/2024

Thank you to Stockbridge resident Joan Gallos for her kind words and support in her letter to the Berkshire Edge and Eagle. I appreciate your recognition of my commitment to transparency and service. Joan, you know me well—especially about holding the ladder and ensuring it gets put away when the job's done! This sense of community and helping each other out is at the heart of representing the 3rd District.

Let Your Voice Be Heard, Vote on September 3!

09/01/2024

Great interview on wamc.

With just days until Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Stockbridge, Massachusetts select board member Patrick White is fighting to succeed outgoing State Representative Smitty Pignatelli.

08/30/2024

Taking care of union and non-union employees

Here's the situation I faced head-on in Stockbridge. The combined inflation rate for the past three years was 16.7%, and Stockbridge's union and non-union staff averaged just 2% in an annual pay increase. Our police and highway unions and non-union town hall staff have seen a decrease in purchasing power of over 10% over the same three years. That was bad for our employees and bad for the town.

I set out to fix it.

Upon assuming the Chair of the Stockbridge Select Board, my very first agenda item was a proposal to use ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds to give bonuses to town employees outside the normal budget cycle. Under my leadership, we provided 20% of our total ARPA funds to our essential workers. This initiative helped our town staff regain some ground they had lost due to inflation.

Over the past year, I have successfully advocated for our local staff. Now, our union contracts contain a minimum increase based on a critical measure of inflation: the Consumer Price Index.

Pay equity has been a long-standing issue, highlighted by the discrepancy in compensation between male-dominated union roles and predominantly female non-union positions.

Through persistent and successful advocacy in Stockbridge, I've addressed this inequality, ensuring equal pay for equivalent responsibilities across the board.

Additionally, I established parity in bonuses and incentives for continued education and professional development, recognizing the value of all our employees' contributions to our community.

Never again will our employees lose so much over such a short period. Candidates from other towns haven’t bothered to put in place these protections.