Letter: I Do Not Apologize For Being Out of Order

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To the Editor:

I do not apologize for being "out of order" at a recent Dalton Select Board meeting, as it is a right and a responsibility for citizens to criticize their government when it makes a bad decision. In this case, I and several other town residents objected to the lack of transparency by our Selectmen regarding the sale of a parcel of town land, deciding to accept a bid $20,000 lower than the highest bid. The public still deserves a satisfactory explanation.

At a subsequent Select Board meeting, Chairman Bishop added to the mistake by threatening to shut down any meeting in which the public is "out of order" and that police would be used for enforcement. Is that what our Police Department is for? Censoring questions? Preventing dissent? Does anyone else think that inappropriate use of police is part of a disturbing national trend?

This action raises some additional serious questions. Who does the board think they are serving? Why is transparency so threatening to them? How many other bad decisions have they made of which we may be unaware? Are they being good stewards of our town resources while our tax rate is among the highest in the Berkshires?

Henry Rose, MD
Dalton, Mass. 

 

 

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Thistle 'N Thorn Floral Announces Closing

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Another North Street business has announced their sudden closure.

Thistle 'N Thorn Floral announced on Instagram that its doors will close. 

"What many people don't see behind a creative business is how much it grows, shifts, and eventually asks more of you than one person can realistically carry. Between the rising costs of flowers, increasing rent, and the sheer volume of work, the business has become almost too successful for one person to sustain alone."

Owner Ashley Davidson opened the shop at 393 North St. a couple years ago and was selling flowers long before that according to her social media history.

Thistle 'N Thorn sold floral arrangements for events like weddings, funerals, and more. She also sold gifts, bouquets and wreaths according to Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Davidson also hosted events and workshops for those to create their own arrangements. 

"While this chapter is closing, I want to be very clear about something. This is not the end for me," Davidson wrote on Instagram.

"I'm incredibly proud of what I built. It took vision, grit, creativity, and a lot of courage. Those things don’t disappear just because a business chapter ends. If anything, they’re the reason I’m confident stepping into whatever comes next."

She also said she will be honoring the weddings and events she has already scheduled and plans to offer more workshops.

 
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