Donors matching gifts for Berkshire Grown Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market
Berkshire— In honor of “National Farmers Market Week,” two generous donors, who care deeply about local farms and access to fresh, local food for all Berkshire residents, are matching every gift to the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market up to $7,500.
The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market, a collaboration of six local nonprofit organizations, brings fresh, locally grown and produced food to six communities with limited access to fresh food, Adams, Becket, Monterey, North Adams, and two Pittsfield sites. Over the last six weeks, more than 800 shoppers have come out to benefit from this wonderful local resource.
Berkshire Grown’s Director of Development, Stephanie Bergman believes, “Everyone in our community deserves to enjoy the bounty of the Berkshires. Fresh, local food shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be accessible and available to every Berkshire resident. This fundraising campaign will help to make that possible.”
The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market is more than just a marketplace; it’s a lifeline for many in the community to access fresh, locally grown products. To support this project and help make farm-fresh, local food available to all Berkshire residents, visit www.berkshiregrown.org.
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Berkshire Community College staffing updates
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four staff members, two promotions, and a title change.
Lori DuBois joins BCC as EDP System Analyst III – LMS Administrator in the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation. DuBois earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Education from Colby College and a MS in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Most recently, she was a customer support specialist and trainer for the ed-tech company Springshare. Previously, she was a reference librarian and instruction coordinator at Williams College. At BCC, DuBois will be managing the learning management system and supporting faculty in their use of instructional technologies.
Michelle Mellace joins BCC as Administration and Finance Division Manager. Mellace brings over 20 years of experience in contract management and 18 years in public purchasing. Most recently, she served as the Money School Coordinator at the Elizabeth Freeman Center, where she coordinated their financial independence program and provided comprehensive support to participants. Previously, she was Program Manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems and Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Pittsfield. Mellace holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management and a bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Jessica (Jess) Pemble joins BCC as Administrative Assistant II for Workforce Development and Community Education. She was most recently Senior Administrative Assistant for Charter Communications’s Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York technical operations management teams. Pemble brings over 18 years of experience in office administration, management support, data analysis and events coordination.
Thomas Weeks joins BCC as Network/Systems Administrator. He brings extensive expertise in IT, encompassing servers, switches, applications and cybersecurity. Before joining BCC, Weeks was the IT Manager at Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing. Previously, he was the Associate Director of IT at a performing arts theater in New York City.
Kelsey Breault is now Director of Payroll & Budget Management. She was previously Payroll Manager, a position she held since joining BCC in April 2024. Tom Warner is now the Senior Network & Data Warehouse Administrator. He was previously Network & Systems Administrator. Warner has been with BCC since July 2012. Abby Powers is now Interim Student Engagement and Communications Specialist. She was previously Administrative Assistant – Student Engagement, a position she held since April 2021.
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Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. grand opening, ribbon cutting, and open house
Pittsfield— Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) has officially relocated its office location to 431 North Street, former home of Jan Perry Realty. DPI invites their members and the public to a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 12th at 10 a.m. to enjoy light refreshments and meet DPI staff and Board Members. The ribbon cutting will be immediately followed by an open house until 5 p.m.
DPI Board President Chuck Leach, members of the DPI Board, and DPI staff including Rebecca Brien, Managing Director; Kimberly Gritman, Marketing Coordinator; and Arri Better, Administrative Assistant, will be present to meet attendees, answer questions, and offer tours.
“Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is excited to be on North Street! We believe this opportunity will allow for our organization to grow,” says DPI’s Managing Director, Rebecca Brien. “The new location provides space for classes, seminars, informational sessions, and gatherings to strengthen the membership of DPI.”
For more information on Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., visit downtownpittsfield.com, email info@ downtownpittsfield.com, or call 413-443-6501. Follow along with @downtownpittsfield on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.
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MountainOne recognized as one of the ‘Top 40 Best Places to Work’
Berkshire— MountainOne is pleased to announce that it has been named a Best Place to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing, LLC.
All nominations were evaluated based on criteria in team culture, hiring, training, community service, and company communication. MountainOne specifically excelled in creating a strong company culture, active community involvement, and effective communication.
MountainOne values its employees, known as Mountaineers, and empowers every employee, regardless of their unique background, to set and achieve their professional goals. The company shows its appreciation for their hard work in many ways. Examples include its Mountaineer Gear apparel program, wellness initiatives, individual milestone celebrations, training opportunities for career advancement, and, most notably, MountainOne’s annual All-Mountaineer event that brings together staff for mountains of fun.
MountainOne’s commitment to community service is a key part of its culture, and a source of pride for its employees. This is evident in its charitable contributions, sponsorships, volunteering, and financial education efforts.
“We are thrilled for MountainOne to be named a Best Place to Work,” said Beth Petropulos, Senior Vice President, Senior Human Resources Officer at MountainOne. “This recognition reflects not only the efforts of our leadership to create a positive workplace, but also a nod to our employees who treat their colleagues and customers with respect and care. Fostering a positive company culture is a top priority at MountainOne.”
Interested in becoming a Mountaineer? Visit our Careers page to explore opportunities and learn more about what makes MountainOne a great workplace.
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Community effort to renovate the playground in Hillsdale’s Hamlet Park
Hillsdale, N.Y.— Members of Hillsdale’s Hamlet and Infrastructure committees joined Town Supervisor Mike Dvorchak on Saturday August 3rd to spread fresh wood chips beneath playground equipment at the town’s Hamlet Park.
The materials were supplied by the Hillsdale Highway Department. “The work is part of a continuing effort to rejuvenate the park, a valuable but underused Hillsdale amenity,” Dvorchak said.
