Meet our riders…
The South County Connector is helping people get around in South Berkshire county — making a real difference in their lives.
Louisa Ng
Louisa has lived in Berkshire County for eighteen years. She grew up in China and currently lives in Stockbridge. Louisa is on a waitlist for housing in Great Barrington, which would allow her to move closer to her job at Big Y. She does not drive and relies on public transportation. Before the TriTown Connector service began in May 2023, Louisa would catch the bus on a busy stretch of Route 102 to get to work. She frequently would need to leave an hour and half before her shift started. Now Louisa uses the
South County Connector service to get to work and it usually takes twenty minutes, door to door. She also uses the service for personal shopping and errands on her days off. The
South County Connector service makes getting around a lot more convenient for Louisa, and she enjoys talking to the drivers. Louisa is such a good listener and conversationalist that the
South County Connector
drivers often find out new things about each other when they give Louisa a ride!
Ed Chastain
Before Ed Chastain retired, he worked as a clinical social worker. Approximately ten years ago he broke his hip and underwent multiple surgeries to regain mobility. Ed also has arthritis in his lower back. As a result, he experienced a lot of pain, became very weak and led a pretty sedentary lifestyle, especially during the pandemic. When the South County Connector service opened in May 2023 it provided Ed with a wonderful opportunity to get out more and do more walking. He can’t walk long distances, but he can take a van to the grocery store and walk inside while he does his shopping or downtown to visit shops and meet with friends. He has also used the service to get to physical therapy appointments, which are helping him regain his strength. Ed is a big advocate for the South County Connector because it has really helped him to get out and about and not stay inside so much. Ed enjoys talking with the drivers too, it is like a social event!
Judy Oates
“Part of good health, part of happiness, is getting to where you want to go.”
Judy has lived in south county for more than 35 years. She no longer drives a car because she recognizes that her reflexes are not as fast as they used to be and she worries about her ability to respond to aggressive drivers and poor weather conditions. She is also blind in one eye. Judy feels assured that the
South County Connector
drivers are well trained and therefore capable and cautious drivers. She appreciates the respect and courtesy the
South County Connector drivers show her on each and every ride, noting that sometimes she enjoys chatting and other times she feels perfectly comfortable just being quiet. Judy uses the service to go to doctor appointments and shopping on a regular basis. Seasonally she and her daughter use the service to take her grandchildren hiking, shopping, out to Chinese food, or over to Lake Mansfield. Judy is also keenly aware of other members in the community who depend on the
South County Connector to get to work and stay socially connected. She has nothing but praise for the program, even calling it “valiant”.
Kenny Stanley
“Without the ride service I would be in a pickle.”
Kenny was born and raised in Great Barrington and currently lives with his girlfriend, Kayleana, near the Great Barrington and South Egremont border. Both depend on the
South County Connector to get to their jobs. Kenny works in Great Barrington at the Berkshire Food Co-op, several miles from his home. He doesn’t have family in the area, so having reliable access to affordable and dependable public transportation is a lifesaver. Before the
South County Connector service began in May 2023, Kenny biked from Egremont to Price Chopper, pushed carts all day, and then biked home. It was exhausting. Now Kenny gets picked up at his home and dropped off at his job and he can also work weekend and evening shifts when needed. Without the
South County Connector
service Kenny would not be able to do what he does.
Nancy Coleman
Nancy Coleman, a California native, moved to Great Barrington several years ago to be closer to her family. She recently decided to give up driving and sometimes uses the South County Connector to attend her favorite exercise class at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center. Nancy also used the South County Connector service last May to attend the annual town meeting at Monument Mountain Regional High School. Otherwise, she said, “I probably wouldn’t have bothered to ask someone to bring me.” Nancy feels the convenience of the service is absolutely essential to keep older people like her active, independent and connected to the community. She also appreciates the relaxed good nature of the drivers and other passengers — it’s especially nice for someone not used to public transit.
Jan Hutchinson
Jan Hutchinson has been a South Egremont resident for almost fifty years. She worked at Simon’s Rock in various capacities for thirty years before retiring in 2021. Worsening vision and a recent health scare led Jan to sell her car and give up driving (after maintaining a perfect driving record for 64 years!). Though friends and family members have been generous in driving her places, she uses the South County Connector to attend yoga classes 3 x week at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center in Great Barrington. She loves not needing to always depend on others to get out and do things she wants to do. She also appreciates being able to look out the window when she’s in a car, instead of having to watch the road so closely. And, Jan especially likes not having to pay car insurance and maintenance or having to put gas in her car. The South County Connector has given Jan back her sense of independence by enabling her to get around on her own terms without the added stress and expense of driving or inconveniencing others.
“I can ride the South County Connector many times for what I sold my car for.”
