Berkshire Pride honors Greylock Federal Credit Union as ‘Community Partner of the Year’
Pittsfield— Berkshire Pride is proud to recognize Greylock Federal Credit Union as their 2025
Community Partner of the Year for their unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, which has been nothing short of inspiring.
The Community Partner of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding commitment and impactful contributions of a local business or organization to the Berkshire Pride community. From co-developing the Trans Work Readiness Program to offering monthly financial coaching sessions in both English and Spanish, their initiatives have made a tangible difference in the lives of many. Greylock’s leadership in the Safe Spaces training and their generous sponsorship of the Berkshire Pride and Next Gen Youth Pride festivals further exemplify their dedication to fostering inclusivity and empowerment in our community.
Greylock’s efforts have helped make the Berkshires a more welcoming and affirming place for all. They were officially honored during the flag raising and proclamation ceremony at Pittsfield City Hall held on May 31st.
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Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons appoint Sophie Wang as new Associate Concertmaster
Boston— The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and Music Director Andris Nelsons are pleased to announce the promotion of violinist Sophie Wang to associate concertmaster (Robert L. Beal, Enid L., and Bruce A. Beal chair, endowed in perpetuity,) effective at the start of the Tanglewood season.
A BSO member since 2022, Wang will also become associate concertmaster of the Boston Pops (Edward and Bertha C. Rose chair, endowed in perpetuity.) She fills the vacancy left by Alexander Velinzon when he was promoted to first associate concertmaster last summer. As the third highest-ranking member of the first violin section, the associate concertmaster is seated in the outer seat of the second stand, behind the concertmaster and first associate concertmaster, and fills in for those positions as needed.
Wang has been featured as soloist with the New England Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, and Schwob School of Music Philharmonic, and will appear with the Boston Civic Symphony in November 2025. Prior to joining the BSO, she was senior assistant concertmaster of the South Carolina Philharmonic and assistant principal second violin of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. She was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center and has also participated in festivals such as the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Taos School of Music, and Sarasota Music Festival. Wang holds a graduate diploma and master’s degree from New England Conservatory, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, where she was a recipient of the Woodruff Award. Her principal teachers have included Malcolm Lowe, Donald Weilerstein, Sergiu Schwartz, and William Terwilliger.
Andris Nelsons, BSO Music Director and Head of Conducting at Tanglewood, said “It gives the Boston Symphony Orchestra and me great pleasure to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sophie Wang on her promotion to the position of associate concertmaster. Sophie is a highly talented musician and an integral part of our string section since joining the BSO in 2022. Her new role commences this summer at Tanglewood, where Sophie previously studied as a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center under our former longtime concertmaster Malcolm Lowe. The BSO and I wish Sophie joy and success as she embraces this wonderful advancement!”
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Madison Quinn named Grand Marshal of the 2025 Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade
Pittsfield— Pittsfield native, Westfield resident, and Baystate Medical Center employee Madison Quinn has become the latest and youngest Grand Marshal of the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade. A unanimous selection by the parade committee, Quinn is being honored as the Founder and Executive Director of Strong Little Souls (SLS), a non-profit organization she founded at just 13 years old and has led for over a decade.
Quinn’s leadership of SLS has earned her recognition from the New England Patriots and Berkshire Community College’s “40 Under 40” program, which highlights exceptional individuals under the age of 40. What started as a passion project when she was a teenager has now grown into a significant organization that provides critical support to children fighting cancer. Quinn is a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
As the founder and driving force behind SLS, Quinn leads the organization in providing care packages, meals, toys, and reading materials to young patients, while also advocating for pediatric cancer research. Her work is deeply rooted in personal experience, and she continues to connect with families, offering support and hope to those navigating the challenges of childhood cancer.
According to Parade Committee President Rebecca Brien, Quinn is a perfect fit for this year’s parade, noting, “This year’s theme, ‘Young at Heart,’ aligns beautifully with the resilience, hope, and joy Quinn inspires through her work with Strong Little Souls. Her dedication to the organization has made a lasting impact on our community.”
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High-level promotions at Elm Street Martial Arts
Pittsfield— Twelve black-belt promotions were awarded recently at Elm Street Martial Arts, including three promotions to Hanshi Kudan (ninth-degree black belt, fourth degree Master.)
Receiving the rank of Hanshi Kudan were Joseph Gilbert, Michael Harrigan, and Lisken Van Pelt Dus. Their promotions were awarded and attested to by ninth-degree black belts from three different Uechi-ryu organizations: the Okinawan Karate-do Association (Okikukai), the International Uechi-ryu Karate Federation (IUKF), and the Shingitai Karate-do Association (Shinkukai).
The promotional test, held on May 18th, was also the occasion for the formal announcement of the expansion of the Shingitai Karate-do Association (Shinkukai): Gilbert, Harrigan, Dus, and her husband Robert Dus are now the four co-equal Directors of the organization, making it among those with the highest level of leadership in the world.
The complete list of students promoted to black belt and/or master levels is as follows:
- 9 Dan (4th Master) – Joseph Gilbert, Michael Harrigan, Lisken Van Pelt Dus
- 7 Dan (2nd Master) – Fred X. Brownstein, William Oram, MaryTheresa Valleri
- 6 Dan (1st Master) – Evan Dumas
- 3 Dan – Michael Delusky
- 1 Dan – Heather Cherniack. PD Pin
- Jun Shodan – Melanie Aubert, Connor Laughrey
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Berkshire Health Systems honors nine employees with CARE awards and ‘Providers of the Year’ recognition
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems recognized seven employees with annual CARE Awards and two Providers of the Year honors. CARE Awards celebrate the health system’s core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.
Providers of the Year:
- Maribeth Pomerantz, Certified Nurse Midwife at Berkshire OBGYN of BMC
- Adam Gicewicz, MD, pediatrician at Berkshire Health Pediatric
Ellen Beckwith, Frank Bentz, Richard “Ricky” Cyrulik, Noel Henebury, Yvette Losaw, Gwen McCarroll, and Randy Wallingford. Courtesy Berkshire Health Systems.
CARE Award Winners:
- Ellen Beckwith, RN,Charge Nurse at Fairview Hospital
- Frank Bentz, Environmental Services Supervisor at the Hillcrest Campus of BMC
- Richard “Ricky” Cyrulik, Environmental Services Specialist, North Adams Regional Hospital
- Noel Henebury, Recruiter, BHS Human Resources
- Yvette Losaw, RN, 5 West Surgical/Ortho, Berkshire Medical Center
- Gwen McCarroll, Information Technology Engineer, BHS Information Technology
- Randy Wallingford, RN, Behavioral Health, Berkshire Medical Center
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Lee Chamber of Commerce awards three students with scholarships
Lee— The Lee Chamber of Commerce has awarded scholarships to three graduating seniors to support them as they take the next step in their educational journey. The Chamber grants these awards each year to high school graduates from Lee who plan to pursue college or other post-secondary education and training opportunities.
Now in its 16th year, the Chamber’s scholarship program recognizes academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community service. Funding for the awards is made possible through proceeds from the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament, which will be held this year on Wednesday, June 25th at Greenock Country Club.
- The 2025 Marie K. Toole Academic Scholar Award, in the amount of $1,500, has been presented to Kelly Molino, valedictorian of the Lee High School Class of 2025.
- The Joe Sorrentino Scholar-Athlete Award ($1,000) has been awarded to Annette Boyko, a graduate of Monument Mountain Regional High School.
- The Bob Nason Community Service Award ($1,000), sponsored by Jeffrey Cohen of Eagle Mill Redevelopment in memory of Lee’s longtime Town Administrator, has been awarded to Valerie Molino.
Kelly and Valerie Molino both graduated from Lee High School and will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Annette Boyko, a graduate of Monument Mountain Regional High School, will attend Roger Williams University in the fall. All three recipients are residents of Lee.
Scholarship recipients and their families will be invited to attend the awards dinner following the Lee Chamber Golf Open, where they will be formally recognized for their achievements. The 2025 Lee Chamber Golf Open will include a full day of golf, hole-in-one and other contests, raffle prizes, and an evening awards dinner and presentation of the scholarships. To learn more or donate cash or raffle prizes, please contact the Chamber at director@leechamber.org.
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Spencertown Academy Arts Center announces young writers’ contest winners
Spencertown, N.Y.— Spencertown Academy Arts Center announces the winners of its 10th annual Young Writers’ Contest. The goal of the contest is to encourage creative writing among students in grades nine through 12 living in Columbia County, N.Y., and Berkshire County.
Works were judged in an anonymous process by published authors and publishing professionals, who volunteered their services for this contest. This year’s judges included David Cudaback (a retired magazine writer and editor,) Elaine Khosrova (author of “Butter, A Rich History” who has also worked for various national magazines,) Emily A. McCully (author of an O’ Henry Prize story, two adult novels, and many children’s books,) and Kathy Zdeb (a retired newspaper and public health science writer.)
Nonfiction/Personal Essay or Memoir Winners:
- First Place: Halimah Hotbani, Hudson Senior High School senior, “Naseeb”
- Second Place: Ummuy Chowdhury, Hudson Senior High School senior, “Her Hands, My Shelter: A Mother’s Quiet Rebellion (A Broken Promise)”
- Third Place: Phalyn Renderer, Wahconah Regional High School senior, “Rocks”
Fiction/Short Story Winners:
- First Place: Hazel Moody, Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School sophomore, “In the Last Chapter, I Start the Story Again”
- Second Place Tie: Jiongnan Wu, Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School junior, “Cycle” and Nazmun Bhuiyan, Hudson High School junior, “Clair de Lune”
- Third Place: Keira Noonan, Ichabod Crane High School junior, “Corporate Nightmare”
The top three winners in each category received cash prizes and all the winning pieces are now published online.
