Berkshire Agricultural Ventures awarded almost $1M from USDA for regional food system
GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) was recently awarded two grants totaling nearly $1 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). BAV is the only 2021 recipient nationwide of funding from both the USDA’s Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).
Over the course of three years, these grants will allow BAV to address longstanding food system issues in the region’s livestock supply chain, improve access to local food for Berkshire-Taconic Region residents, and grow sales for local food producers.
Grants from the USDA’s Regional Food System Partnership (RFSP) support partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. The program focuses on strengthening the viability and resilience of regional food economies through collaboration and coordination.
Over the project period, BAV will leverage the $480,948 RFSP grant to enhance existing relationships with livestock supply chain enterprises, economic development, planning agencies, and agricultural service providers to build capacity for the grant activities. These activities include further developing BAV’s Local Meat Processing Support Program, coordinating a livestock working group in partnership with Berkshire Grown (a sub-award of BAV’s RFSP grant) to improve value chain coordination, and identify next steps for infrastructure improvements and regional marketing opportunities. The outcomes for the project are improved meat processing, new supply chain infrastructure, and enhanced marketing opportunities for meat processors and livestock producers within the Berkshire-Taconic Region.
“Our nation’s consolidated meat processing industry is unhealthy for farmers, for consumers, and for the environment,” said Dan Carr, BAV outreach & technical assistance coordinator. “While the Berkshire-Taconic/Litchfield Hills region is an ideal landscape for regenerative livestock farmers, current demand for local meat far outstrips what our region’s farmers can produce, due to bottlenecks in meat processing capacity. Supporting the growth of local small-scale meat processors can help secure our region’s meat supply, and also support local livestock producers.”
Besides helping processors in the region grow their “throughput” by 25 percent over the next three years, BAV is studying how to assist processors, farmers, and restaurants with much-needed low-cost storage of product.
In addition to federal funding, BAV has received funding from local foundations and individuals to help improve the availability of regional meat processing and storage. “Without the support of area funders, we wouldn’t have been able to successfully apply to the USDA to continue this work,” said Carr.
The second grant, the USDA’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer-to-consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
To fulfill this $498,068 grant, BAV is partnering with Berkshire Organics — an online food marketplace and home delivery service — to grow sales for local food producers and improve access to local foods for customers. With this support, Berkshire Organics will better meet the needs of local producers by providing year-round sales opportunities through the online marketplace, along with home delivery service, while also addressing accessibility barriers for customers, such as transportation, schedule conflicts, and local food availability.
As a key grant activity, BAV plans to help significantly increase Berkshire Organics’ purchases of local foods, while increasing its home delivery distribution.
—A.K.
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Lee Bank names Charles Bashara new CFO
LEE — Lee Bank has named Charles Bashara of Pittsfield to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Bashara succeeds Trad Campbell, who joined Lee Bank in 1994.
A Berkshire County native, Bashara was most recently vice president of profitability at Berkshire Bank, where he also held positions as a senior financial analyst and treasury specialist. His prior work included financial management positions at Crane Currency in Dalton and General Dynamics in Pittsfield. He has also held the professional designation of a Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA, since 2017.
Bashara, a graduate of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, fulfilled a lifelong dream as he went from a college baseball walk-on to signing a professional minor league contract in 2010. He played at three levels within the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a relief/starting pitcher, highlighted by a 2010 Arizona Summer League Championship and All-Star selection.
A graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, Bashara earned his B.S. in business administration, which included a co-op internship with MFS Investment Management. As a volunteer in the community, Bashara has coached youth baseball, served as a mentor for local business owners through the EforAll entrepreneurship program, and has participated in many employer-driven volunteer days. Bashara is also the treasurer of Terpsichore Dance Center, Inc. of Pittsfield.
—A.K.
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Literacy Network of South Berkshire announces new board members
LEE — Literacy Network of South Berkshire (LitNet) recently welcomed eight new members to its board of directors. This expansion is largely a response to the increasing needs of South County’s growing immigrant population and LitNet’s need to strengthen and diversify the composition of its board to better serve its constituents.
George Ambriz (preferred gender pronouns: he/him/his/el) currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of SUCCESS Initiatives at Berkshire Community College. Ambriz is Spanish-English bilingual and brings 17 years of supervisory experience in higher education, with particular interest in student success in balancing life, family, and education.
Lynn Campana spent eight years (2002–2010) on the Board of Trustees at Berkshire Country Day School (BCD), including five years on the Executive Committee. Campana was responsible for raising over $250,000 for the Kevin Hirt Library and Learning Commons at BCD.
Matthew Freitag, Certified Financial Planner, is Vice President of Financial Wellness at Lee Bank and a financial advisor with October Mountain Financial Advisors.
Leslie Kozupsky most recently served as a Development Officer for the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. Kozupsky earned a master’s degree in social work from Yeshiva University and brings her extensive business experience to the board.
Donna Morelli brings a decade of experience as a staff attorney at Community Legal Aid/Central West Justice Center, where she serves in both the Immigration Law Unit and Family Law Unit. Morelli is English-Spanish bilingual.
John Reynolds, now retired, brings four decades of experience as a designer, goldsmith, studio artist, and business manager. He most recently served as the General Manager at McTeigue & McClelland in Great Barrington.
John Toole is the President and CEO of the L.V. Toole Insurance Agency and has served on a number non-profit boards in Berkshire County.
Susan Weintraub serves as a LitNet tutor and holds a degree in Speech and Language Pathology. She returns to the board after a mandatory one-year absence following 10 years as a board member.
—A.K.
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BCC announces new faculty, staff, promotion
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of three new members of the nursing faculty, several new full-time staff members, and a promotion.
New faculty members
Kimberly VanDeusen joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Nursing. Prior to joining BCC full-time, she served as an adjunct instructor in the nursing program, as well as a simulation lab technician and professional nursing tutor. She previously worked as a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at Berkshire Medical Center. VanDeusen earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Western Governor’s University and an associate degree in nursing from BCC. She is currently completing her master’s degree in nursing at Western Governor’s University.
Crystal Kruszyna joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Nursing. Prior to joining BCC full-time, she served as an adjunct instructor in the nursing program. She has worked as a registered nurse at Baystate Medical Center, staying on as per diem, and taught as an adjunct in the nursing program at Elms College. She volunteers at the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department, where she coordinates and assists with teaching a first responder class. Kruszyna’s nursing degrees include a master’s degree from Western Governor’s University, a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst, and an associate degree from BCC.
Sophie Jannen joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Nursing. Previously, she was a registered nurse at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and at Berkshire Medical Center’s Emergency Department. Jannen holds a master’s degree in nursing from Simmons University, a bachelor’s degree in psychology from MCLA, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northeastern University and an associate degree from BCC.
New staff members
Dr. Sarah Blizzard joins BCC as Coordinator for the MADE (Multicultural Affairs, Diversity, and Engagement) Center. Dr. Blizzard brings more than a decade of higher education experience, beginning with teaching public speaking and interpersonal communication at two-year and four-year institutions and expanding her roles into academic advising, admissions, residence life, conduct and Title IX. Dr. Blizzard holds an EdD in higher education from the University of Denver; bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication studies from University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and a certificate in technical communication from Duke University.
Alexa Icenia joins BCC as Academic Counselor for the MADE (Multicultural Affairs, Diversity, and Engagement) Center. A first-generation, Spanish-speaking educator born to Afro-Caribbean Dominican immigrants, Icenia most recently worked to advance the community of Chelsea, Massachusetts, through programs centered around workforce and college preparation. Her prior experience includes serving as a juvenile court liaison and guardian ad litem for the Miami Juvenile Justice Department. Icenia earned a master’s degree in urban education and leadership from Florida International University and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth.
Amanda Pittenger joins the Registrar’s Office at BCC as Enrollment Services Coordinator. Pittenger was most recently Assistant Registrar and Veteran Certifying Official at the College of Saint Rose and brings significant experience in the veteran certification process and compliance. In addition to focusing on VA compliance, she will manage the department’s communications and publications. Pittenger received her bachelor of science in psychology from UMass Amherst.
Gary Russett joins BCC as Comptroller. Russett, who has more than 25 years of financial experience, arrives from Elms College, where he spent 10 years as Controller and an adjunct professor in the MBA program. His previous experience includes positions at Berkshire Hills Music Academy, Bard College, and Berkshire Health Systems. Russett earned a master’s of business administration from Elms College, a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from MCLA, and an associate degree in computer science from BCC.
Promotion
Karen Hines, formerly Associate Professor of Business/Department Chair, has been promoted to Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. She came to BCC in 2019 from Holyoke Community College, where she taught and led the campus-wide OER (Open Educational Resources) initiative for eight years. Prior to teaching, she served as a marketing director and new product development lead for several small- to medium-sized companies throughout the northeast.
Academic Success Coaches
In addition, BCC’s Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences Division recently hired two part-time academic success coaches, Jordan DeGaetano and Jennifer Jennings, to support students in English course work. Funding for the positions was made possible by grants from the Massachusetts Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) program.
“Research has shown that academic coaching has a positive effect on course completion, GPA, and student retention,” said Dr. Laurie Gordy, dean of Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences.
Recognizing that writing and reading are critical foundational skills for all academic programs and careers, BCC has identified the need to focus student support on English coursework, Dr. Gordy explained. The two new positions provide all students enrolled in English Composition and College Writing Practices the support they need to help understand, plan, and manage coursework.
“Success in English courses shapes students’ abilities to progress through their academic program and through general education,” Dr. Gordy said, adding that faculty members can intentionally integrate the success coaches into their coursework. “These grant-funded positions allow BCC to pilot and assess ideas that we hope will enhance student success.”
Jordan DeGaetano earned her bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) as a dual major in English/composition and performing arts. At MCLA, she was a member of the honors program and served as the Writing Studio Manager & Associate. She currently works part-time as a Disability Resource Success Coach at MCLA and is a music producer and composer.
Jennifer Jennings earned her bachelor’s degree in human resources management and her master’s degree in education from Arizona State University. She taught high school English and business in both Arizona and California. In addition, Jennings was an adjunct faculty member in the English Department at BCC from 2013-2015. She currently works with the Pittsfield Public School System as an Alternative Education Specialist.
—A.K.
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Greylock ends 2021 with $125,000 in bonus donations to local nonprofits
PITTSFIELD — In the final days of 2021, Greylock Federal Credit Union surprised 13 area non-profit organizations with unsolicited gifts totaling $125,000. These gifts were in addition to Greylock’s formal grant program that provides hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the year in response to applications submitted through its website.
Berkshire-based organizations receiving the unexpected donations were: The Brien Center, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, NAACP Berkshires, Volunteers in Medicine, Community Health Programs, BRIDGE, 18 Degrees, Berkshire County Head Start, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, and Rites of Passage and Empowerment. Three organizations in Columbia County, New York also received support.
“These donations align with Greylock’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility,” said Greylock Senior VP and Chief Administrative Officer JamieEllen Moncecchi. “Supporting our partners is a critical part of Greylock’s promise to help our community thrive.”
The grants will fund emergency student and family aid, scholarships, support for foster children, medical appointments for the uninsured, child care, early education, youth mentorships, building repairs, and other critical unmet needs in the community.
—A.K.
