BCIN to offer presentation to investors
Great Barrington — The Berkshire-Columbia Investment Network will hold its next presentation to investors on Tuesday, March 28, at 5 p.m. at the South Berkshire Friends Meeting House. At the meeting, BCIN will hear presentations from local businesses seeking investment in their enterprises, including an entrepreneur seeking to expand his yoga studios; an entrepreneur seeking a loan for renovation and program development for his inn, retreat center and small-scale farm with integrative permaculture ideals; and a manufacturer of an innovative soft drink that just recently entered the market;
BCIN began in 2013 in order to create an alternative to conventional financial markets by brokering a conversation between local businesses in need of funds for expansion and individuals who seek to provide loan money to support locally sustainable businesses. For more information or to RSVP to the meeting, contact bcin@outlook.com.
–E.E.
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Fairview Hospital celebrates nurses’ accomplishments
Great Barrington — Fairview Hospital honored four of its nurses at a recent clinical ladder ceremony that recognized the professional development, education and leadership milestones each achieved to improve their practice. The clinical ladder program was developed to provide staff with career advancement while allowing them to continue providing direct patient care. Doreen Hutchinson, Fairview’s vice president for patient care, welcomed Fairview staff to the annual event, which took place shortly after Fairview’s joint commission survey.
The recognized nurses are:
- Holly LePrevost for being the first nurse to present at the Multidisciplinary Improvement Team and the co-chair of Heart Night;
- Colleen Fernbecher for her work in exploring the role of nurse navigators to improve quality of care for patients following a hospital stay and helping to organize Multidisciplinary Improvement presentations;
- Helen Moon for her leadership in Heart Night; and
- Lee-Ann Fleming-Hand for her work developing care to better meet the needs for patients at risk of suicide and for co-chairing Fairview’s Practice Council.
–E.E.
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Patients give near-perfect marks to CHP providers
Great Barrington — Two primary care providers at Community Health Programs have earned near-perfect patient satisfaction scores.
Dr. Lara Setti, a family medicine physician at CHP’s Great Barrington Health Center at 444 Stockbridge Rd., and Candice Smith, family nurse practitioner at CHP Adams Internists at 19 Depot St. in Adams, earned scores of 4.85 and 4.83 respectively on a five-point scale of patient satisfaction. The results are based on post-visit surveys sent to all patients, which are then compiled by the data company MedStatix. Based on reviews of 25,000 physicians nationwide in 2016, MedStatix has recognized Setti and Smith with Star Performer Ratings. Setti received 77 patient reviews, and Smith earned a rating of 4.83 with 83 reviews.
–E.E.
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United Cerebral Palsy awarded Assistive Technology Regional Center contract
Pittsfield — United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County has been awarded the Assistive Technology Regional Center contract through 2027. The anticipated annual amount for the contract is $100,000 per year. Funding for this program is part of the MassMATCH federal program, which is administered by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and allows UCP to lend assistive technology equipment and offer demonstrations throughout western Massachusetts.
The funds will be used by UCP to purchase assistive equipment and to educate the community about the benefits and uses of assistive technology through workshops and device demonstrations. Loans of assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment are free of charge so people can learn about and examine the latest equipment.
–E.E.
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BTCF announces second round of 2017 grant deadlines
Sheffield — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced the second round of deadlines for competitive grants in 2017.
For nonprofits
The Fund for Williamstown’s DeMayo Bright Futures Innovation Award recognizes nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals who are passionate about solving community challenges with innovative practices in Williamstown. The award recipient will receive $1,000. Nominations are due Saturday, April 15.
The Wassermann-Streit Y’diyah Memorial Fund supports educational projects about Judaism that aim to dispel religious prejudice, bias and intolerance. Grants of $500 will be awarded. Applications are due Saturday, April 1.
For students
Berkshire Taconic administers 31 individual scholarship funds for students in Berkshire County who plan to attend an accredited college, university, trade school or graduate program. Scholarships generally range from $1,000–$10,000 and support a variety of academic interests. Some offer annual grants to students throughout the course of their undergraduate careers. All scholarship applications are due Saturday, April 1, unless otherwise noted.
For school communities
Three education enrichment funds will award grants this spring to benefit individual schools and school districts in Berkshire County. Grants of up to $5,000 will support extracurricular projects to inspire and engage students:
- Saturday, April 1 – Eagle Fund and Janet’s Fund for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District
- Wednesday, April 12 – Farmington River Initiative for Regional Excellence for the Farmington River School District
- Thursday, June 1 – Gateway Fund and Pauline Young Music Fund for North Adams Public Schools
For individuals
The William J. & Margery S. Barrett Public Service Award for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy celebrates individuals who make significant contributions to the well being of those towns through paid or volunteer work. Nominations are due Monday, May 1. The selected nominee will designate a nonprofit organization to receive a cash award of $1,000 in his or her name.
Online application processes are available for all grants and scholarships. For more information, contact BTCF at (413) 229-0370 or info@berkshiretaconic.org.
–E.E.
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Bianca Martin to manage Salisbury Bank’s Millerton branch
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Bank has announced that Bianca Martin has accepted the assistant vice president, branch manager position at its Millerton, New York, branch.
Martin joined with Salisbury Bank as a teller in September 2013, and moved into the assistant branch manager role in 2015. She spends her free time helping to head the volunteer aspect of some of the events at the North East Community Center in Millerton. She lives in Dover Plains and will begin her new role this month.
–E.E.
