Berkshire Theatre Group presents proceeds from ‘Rock the Pantry’ to Pittsfield’s South Community Food Pantry
Pittsfield— On Wednesday, November 12th, Berkshire Theatre Group’s Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire presented a check to Pittsfield’s South Community Food Pantry on Wednesday, representing the proceeds from the Rock the Pantry benefit concert held earlier this season at The Colonial Theatre.
The event brought together local musicians and community members for an evening of live music and generosity, with all proceeds supporting the South Community Food Pantry’s mission to provide food and essential items to Berkshire County residents in need. Operating from the United Church of Christ in Pittsfield at 110 South Street, the South Community Food Pantry is a lifeline for more than 1,000 households every week, providing essential food and supplies to individuals and families across Berkshire County.
“We are so grateful to Kate Maguire and BTG for giving us this opportunity, and for the people at the Colonial and the musicians that made it happen,” said Joan Morgan, co-chair of Rock the Pantry. “The event was so successful – it was gratifying to see our friends, neighbors and area businesses rise to the occasion to support this effort. The extra influx of funds will allow the pantry to continue in its mission to address food insecurity in our area, particularly by providing fresh produce and dairy products for an increasing demand.”
In addition to the concert proceeds, BTG is continuing its support of the South Community Food Pantry by collecting non-perishable food donations in the lobby of The Colonial Theatre throughout the season.
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Considine Leary & Arnold LLP welcomes law partners Haley Schopp and Adrienne Arnold
Lee— Considine Leary & Arnold LLP has welcomed Haley Schopp and Adrienne Arnold as law partners.
Haley Schopp specializes in real estate and land use, estate planning, and business law. Licensed to practice in both Connecticut and Massachusetts, Schopp attended The George Washington University Law School, where she graduated as a Thurgood Marshall Scholar in 2023.
Adrienne Arnold, who joined the firm as a partner last year, specializes in real estate, probate, and estate planning. Arnold graduated in 2017 from the University of Houston Law Center, where she was a member of the Houston Law Review.
Both Schopp and Arnold are fluent in Spanish, have worked in legal positions in the Berkshires for many years, and are active as volunteers serving the Berkshire community.
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Co-op Bank welcomes Victoria LePrevost as Chief Accounting Officer
Pittsfield— Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-op Bank) is proud to announce that Victoria LePrevost has joined the Bank’s senior leadership team as Chief Accounting Officer.
LePrevost will oversee all accounting functions of the Bank, supporting its continued commitment to sound financial management and community-focused banking. She brings more than eight years’ experience in public accounting to her new role, most recently serving as a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Audit and Assurance Practice. Throughout her career, she has worked with a wide range of clients, offering expertise in banking, securities, and capital markets.
LePrevost earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an additional Liberal Studies Major in Ethics and Social Responsibility from Bentley University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants.
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Berkshire Regional Planning Commission appoints Anna Youngmann as North County Community Coordinator to Lead HEAL Coalition
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) announces the appointment of Anna Youngmann as its new North County Community Coordinator, working with the county-wide Berkshire Overdose and Prevention Collaborative. Youngmann will spearhead the North County HEAL Coalition, a multi-disciplinary collaborative dedicated to addressing substance use disorder in the region.
As Community Coordinator, Youngmann’s duties will include providing direct outreach services, implementing evidence-based programs, and developing strategic partnerships critical to the Coalition’s mission of fostering a healthier community. Youngmann’s background includes significant work with highly vulnerable populations, specifically survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking with co-occurring substance use issues. This experience has established her as an expert in understanding the critical intersection of trauma histories and substance use.
This vital position and the Coalition’s work are made possible through a shared intermunicipal commitment to reducing overdose and supporting those affected by opioids. Funding is provided by municipal opioid settlement funds from Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, and Williamstown, together with Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) funds from the reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital.
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Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, elects Tim Burke as new trustee
Adams— Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, announced the election of Tim Burke as a Trustee to the company and a Board of Director, to its wholly-owned subsidiary Adams Community Bank, effective immediately.
Tim Burke is the CEO and Managing Director at Mill Town Capital, a private community investment group based in Pittsfield, which he’s been a part of since its inception in 2016. He is responsible for the overall strategy and management of the firm, investment portfolio, and team. He sources and leads business and real estate investments and partners with entrepreneurs on concept exploration and company formation.
Burke has nearly 20 years of experience in business, financial management, and investment management. He spent seven years in the biotech industry in Cambridge in various finance, planning, and operational roles. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance and Accounting from Bentley University and an MBA from Bentley’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tim to our board,” stated Julie Fallon Hughes, President and CEO of Adams Community Bank. “Building on his deep roots in the community and leadership at Mill Town Capital, he brings a forward-thinking perspective that will help support and drive our mission of fostering local growth and opportunity. His insight and experience will help us build on our momentum as we continue to evolve and deepen our connection with the communities we serve.
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Flying Cloud Institute appoints Christian Drake as New Education Coordinator
Great Barrington— Flying Cloud Institute has hired Christian Drake as Education Coordinator. In this role, he will work in the summer programs, vacation camps, classroom residencies, community events.
Drake brings multifaceted educational experiences to the organization as it continues to partner with local school districts to bring meaningful learning to students. He recently led the 2025 STEAM Challenge Night and a physics residency at Stearns Elementary School, while also offering after school S•M•Art Labs in Pittsfield and Great Barrington.
Drake’s past experience includes teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) at LEAF Charter and Francis W. Parker Schools, as well as leading interactive and experiential science lessons at Nature’s Classroom. He has also served as a park interpreter for the Mohawk Trail State Forest, where he overhauled and re-invigorated programming to engage and educate visitors about the park’s unique forest ecosystems, geology and history, earning a 2023 MassDCR Excellence in Interpretation Award. He holds Massachusetts licensure to teach Middle School math and science for grades five to eight, and earned his Masters degree in education from Westfield State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampshire College.
“I am an artist at heart, and I find my talents are specifically suited to interpreting science with other people. I’m really excited about hands-on, courage-building, experiential education. In Flying Cloud, I have found an organization that shares my values, in the critical habitat of ‘where science meets art,’” said Drake.
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Berkshire Natural Resources Council welcomes Cosmo LaViola as Land Conservation Projects Manager
Lenox— Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) announces that Cosmo LaViola has joined the organization as Land Conservation Projects Manager.
In this role, Cosmo will support all aspects of BNRC’s conservation work, with a primary focus on land acquisition. His efforts will help advance BNRC’s mission to protect important farmland and forest habitats across the Berkshires for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Working closely with local, state, and regional partners, Cosmo will play a key role in identifying and preserving lands that sustain the ecological, agricultural, and recreational vitality of the region.
LaViola brings both a deep connection to the region and a wealth of professional experience in conservation. His background spans roles with the Trustees of Reservations, Mass Audubon, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation, where he worked to protect and manage some of Massachusetts’ most treasured natural areas. An active member of his local conservation commission and the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts, he has long been engaged in community-driven conservation. His academic grounding in biology and master’s degrees in forest resources and arboriculture, and STEM education from UMass Amherst complements his hands-on understanding of the land, rooting his work in both science and stewardship.
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Cain Hibbard announces merger with Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas
Berkshire— Cain Hibbard & Myers and Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas has announced a merger, effective December 1st, creating a strategic alignment of two preeminent law firms in western Massachusetts.
Cain Hibbard, a firm with a long and venerable history in Berkshire County, has offices in Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Bulkley Richardson, a firm with a similarly impressive lineage, has offices in Springfield and Hadley. The merged firm will be the largest full-service law firm in the region with 45 lawyers, maintaining all four offices. The merged firm will operate under the Bulkley Richardson name.
“With this merger, Cain Hibbard will step into a new chapter of its rich 60-year history,” says Lucy Prashker, Cain Hibbard’s Managing Partner and President. “We are thrilled to be joining the extraordinarily talented lawyers at Bulkley Richardson who share our commitment to providing clients with the very highest quality of legal services with integrity and professionalism. Our practices are highly complementary, as is our firm culture, including a tradition of giving back to our communities,” added Prashker.
“This is an ideal union for Bulkley Richardson,” said Dan Finnegan, Managing Partner at Bulkley Richardson. “With Cain Hibbard’s history spanning more than six decades and Bulkley Richardson on the heels of its centennial anniversary, this merger brings together two firms built on tradition, integrity and excellence. Combined, we are even stronger, sharing an unwavering commitment to client service, and a collaborative spirit that brought us together,” added Finnegan.
