To the editor:
When I first moved to West Stockbridge, I had the kind of shy self-awareness that made the idea of making new friends daunting. Thankfully, the universe made sure that my new neighbor was Kathleen Keresey, who immediately welcomed us into her home.
This generosity of spirit has made Kathleen an adept select(wo)man during her tenure. Our town is changing, and I have been impressed by her thoughtfulness in considering impacts of legislation on citizens old and new. This isn’t the case in most New England communities, where many believe that your point of view is only worthwhile if you have several generations in the local cemetery.
This instance is different because Kathleen is an open-minded individual who understands that change is inevitable. Whether it was setting up outdoor areas as part of the Shared Streets grant she secured, coordinating the implementation of a master plan alongside our planning board, or enduring attacks on her character in public forums with poise, she has ensured that whatever changes our town must address should be implemented in a manner that allows everyone to be heard and seen.
This does not seem to be the case for Jon Piasecki. Given his background in landscape architecture, I was surprised to hear his thoughts on change, since contemporary landscape theory espouses that a diverse and evolving ecosystem is the healthiest one. The world has shown us that static environments are sitting ducks for decay, and I believe the same ideas can be applied to our town.
It is with these principles in mind that I firmly endorse Kathleen for Select Board. With her continued guidance, our town can become an environment that is abundant, diverse, and healthy while taking our past into consideration, affirming our present, and guaranteeing our future.
Nick Spain
West Stockbridge
