Lenox Public Schools names Brooke Kamienski as next Principal of Lenox Memorial Middle & High School
Lenox– Superintendent Dr. William Collins has appointed Brooke Kamienski as the next Principal of Lenox Memorial Middle & High School (LMMHS), effective July 1st, pending successful contract negotiations. Selected following a comprehensive and competitive search process that included input from school and community stakeholders, she will succeed Principal Dr. Jeremiah Ames, who was recently promoted to serve as the District’s Director of Finance and Operations.
Kamienski brings more than 20 years of experience in K-12 education and a strong background in instructional leadership and school administration. She has served in a range of leadership roles, including assistant principal, interim assistant principal, dean of students, and department chair. Her work has focused on curriculum development, staff supervision and evaluation, student support systems, and building safe, inclusive school environments.
Currently a science teacher and 10th Grade Team Leader at LMMHS, Kamienski also serves on the Building Threat Assessment Team. She previously served as Interim Assistant Principal at LMMHS from July to September 2022, overseeing daily operations, coordinating emergency response planning, supporting professional development, and working closely with staff and families on student services, including 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs. Earlier in her career, she served as Assistant Principal at Hoosac Valley Middle & High School in Cheshire and as Dean of Students at Egremont Elementary School in Pittsfield Public Schools.
Holding a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration from American International College and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Kamienski is licensed as a K-12 Principal in Massachusetts. Her professional recognitions include being named a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) 2027 Teacher of the Year nominee, receiving the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs Award in Environmental Science in 2019, and being named a Berkshire Taconic Kapteyn Prize finalist in 2024.
“Ms. Kamienski is a respected educator and leader who understands the Lenox school community and is deeply committed to student success,” said Dr. Collins. “Her experience, leadership skills, commitment to equity and focus on continuous improvement make her well-suited to guide Lenox Memorial Middle & High School forward.”
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MountainOne Insurance Agency opens Great Barrington office, expands presence in Southern Berkshire County
Great Barrington– MountainOne Insurance Agency, Inc. has announced the opening of a Great Barrington office, located at 4 Castle Street, Suite 201, in Great Barrington, marking a meaningful expansion of its presence in Southern Berkshire County.
The appointment-only office will be staffed by Account Executive Dan Blaisdell, providing a local point of connection for clients throughout the southern Berkshires. Blaisdell specializes in business insurance and brings deep knowledge of the region, along with longstanding relationships built through years of working closely with local organizations and entrepreneurs.
The opening of a Great Barrington office aims to bring MountainOne Insurance closer to the clients it serves across Southern Berkshire County, offering personalized insurance guidance from a trusted local advisor who understands the community and its needs.
“Southern Berkshire County is an important part of the communities we serve, and opening a Great Barrington office allows us to be more present and more accessible,” said Jonathan Denmark, Executive Vice President of MountainOne Bank and President and Chief Operating Officer of MountainOne Insurance. “Dan’s long standing relationships and understanding of the region make this a natural step forward.”
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Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and Board updates
Stockbridge– The Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce elected new officers and honored members during the annual meeting held at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on Wednesday, February 18th at Berkshire Botanical Garden.
Barbara Zanetti, executive director of the chamber, announced that officers elected for the 2026-2027 term” President: Amanda Barcenas, Prado de Lana Sheep Farm; Vice President: Avie Maloney, Once Upon a Table; Assistant Vice President: Amy Oberfield, Stockbridge Coffee & Tea; Treasurer: Philip Celentano, Trustco Banks; and Secretary: Kelly Palmer, Marian Service Corp.
Seven others will be joining the board as members-at-large, who will sit on the board as advisory members: Michael Beck, Berkshire Botanical Garden; Wendy Pearson, Stockbridge Library Association; Douglas Goudey, Wheeler & Taylor; Stacey Gravanis, The Red Lion Inn; Margit Hotchkiss, Norman Rockwell Museum; Amy Aldrich, Tanglewood; and Michelle Teillon, Chesterwood.
Special recognition during the evening was given to spotlight Business Member Lee Bank, as well as resigning president Pamela Boudreau, and long-term treasurer, Douglas Goudey. Boudreau has been an exceptionally active member of the Chamber. She has served on the chamber board of directors for the past four years as President, following a one-year term as Vice President, and a brief initial term as a member-at-large.Goudey has been an integral part of the chamber for over 30 years. He has served in various capacities on the Executive board but primarily as Treasurer and is now transitioning into an advisory role.
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Berkshire Natural Resources Council Board updates
Lenox– Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) announces the appointment of Grace Enchill, Chuck Leach, and Victoria Mills to its Board of Directors. In addition, BNRC welcomes back past member Timothy T. Crane.
An attorney with Heller & Robbins PC in Lenox, Enchill focuses her practice on real estate, land use, and zoning. Her professional path in law and land conservation began twelve years ago when she first moved to the Berkshires, working for longtime board member and lawyer, F. Sydney Smithers. “My practice has given me a unique appreciation of how closely our community is connected to the land, its history, and its resources,” Enchill said. “I am thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to support BNRC’s work to conserve the landscapes that define and sustain this region.”
As President and CEO of Lee Bank, Leach oversaw the formation of the Lee Bank Foundation and launched the bank’s financial wellness and wealth management platforms. “My family and I have long enjoyed the incredible trail network and natural spaces that BNRC helps protect and steward. Having free and open access to such a high-quality network of trails is an invaluable resource for people across our community, and it’s something that makes this area truly special,” said Leach. “I’m honored to join the board and support an organization that plays such a critical role in preserving and expanding these opportunities for everyone.”
Having spent 26 years at the Environmental Defense Fund and continuing her public service today as a member of the Canaan, N.Y. Town Council and co-chair of the Climate Smart Task Force, Mills, an avid hiker, advocates for making the outdoors accessible to everyone. “BNRC has done extraordinary work to conserve critical landscapes in the Berkshires,” she said. “I’m excited to join the board and help carry that legacy forward – protecting lands that sustain biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and keep the natural beauty of this area accessible to all.”
Previously served on the Board for 22 years, including 10 as Chair. Crane is now retired after a career at Crane & Co. He and his wife, poet Patty Crane, live in Windsor and have linked conservation easements on their property into the vast state-owned wildlife management properties on the Berkshire plateau. He first joined the Board of Directors in 2000. “It is great to be back on the BNRC board after my one-year mandatory hiatus,” said Crane. “Now, having attended my first board meeting of 2026, I am reminded of the commitment to BNRC’s mission, displayed by staff, board, volunteers, and donors.”
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Berkshire Nursing Families annual trivia fundraiser raises record funds
Williamstown– After seeing a 60 percent increase in requested services in the past year, Executive Director of Berkshire Nursing Families (BNF) Julia Keosian asked attendees at BNF’s Annual Trivia Fundraiser held on March 7th for support to keep BNF services free. Attendees delivered, raising over $50,000 to support BNF’s mission to provide essential feeding and parenting support for families in Berkshire County.
The sold out event featured an online auction, live trivia, a raffle, dinner, and dancing. “Our trivia night has become one of my favorite traditions of the year. Every March, we fill a room with the people who make BNF possible — partner organizations, former clients, current families — and for a few hours, we’re not just fundraising, we’re living out exactly what BNF is about: building community and showing up for one another,” said Keosian. “This year was no exception, and I’m so grateful to everyone who came out to support the families we serve.”
Since its founding in 1998, BNF has been committed to empowering families in Berkshire County with the education, tools, and resources to make the best nutrition choices for the babies in their care. The nonprofit offers a wide range of free services, including in-home lactation consultations, a 24/7 support line, peer support groups, playgroups, developmental education, childbirth and breastfeeding classes, and more. For more information about Berkshire Nursing Families visit www.berkshirenursingfamilies.org.
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Lenox Garden Club members raise over $3000 for local food pantry
Lenox– The Lenox Garden Club once again showed their generosity through a food drive to benefit a local food pantry, an annual effort enthusiastically supported by its members each year.
This year, club members contributed over $3000 to the Lee Food Pantry continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting neighbors in need. Funds raised during the drive help the pantry purchase food and essential supplies for individuals and families in the area.
The Lenox Garden Club extends its thanks to all members who contributed and helped make this year’s food drive a success.
