The Lion’s Den reopens
STOCKBRIDGE — The Lion’s Den, a pub in the lower level of the historic Red Lion Inn, reopened on Friday, June 17. After being closed for two years, the newly refurbished restaurant opened with a new menu from executive chef Jon Sterrett. The Lion’s Den will offer small artisan meals and a variety of unique cocktails and beers.
The restaurant will be open from 5-11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and live musicians will play from 7-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. No cover will be charged unless the event is ticketed.
—A.J.
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Kripalu celebrates 50 years
STOCKBRIDGE — The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is celebrating its 50 year anniversary. Kripalu, an educational non-profit specializing in yoga and mindfulness-based education, offers both online programs and in-person programs on their campus in Stockbridge.
In a statement on the Kripalu website, CEO Robert Mulhall looked ahead to the next 50 years of the organization: “The next 50 years of our work will focus on igniting individual and collective transformation. The needs are great and will ask more of us, but the teachings of love and wisdom are greater still. We will meet the individual and collective needs of our world with love, compassion, and resilience.”
On September 17, a live streamed panel discussion will be held to celebrate the anniversary. The discussion will be hosted by Mulhall, and will feature leaders in yoga and mindfulness. More information about the panel will be announced in the future.
—A.J.
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Leslie Glenn Chesloff named among best real estate professionals
GREAT BARRINGTON — Leslie Glenn Chesloff, a Real Estate Salesperson with the Great Barrington brokerage of the William Pitt – Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty firm was ranked as one of “America’s Best” real estate professionals. REAL Trends, one of the most trusted sources of news, analysis and information in residential real estate, partnered with real estate training company Tom Ferry International to release this year’s ranking of top performing agents in each state.
Chesloff was honored for her volume of sales; according to REAL trends, agents named to the list represent the top 1.49 percent of all real estate professionals in the nation.
Company-wide, the firm saw a record 65 agents and eight teams ranked throughout its territories in Connecticut, Westchester County, N.Y. and Massachusetts.
The full list of “America’s Best” agents can be viewed online here.
—A.J.
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40 acre property purchased by LGBTQ+ organization in Southern Vermont
JACKSONVILLE, Vt. – The Venture Out Project, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in Western Massachusetts, has announced the purchase of Basecamp at Beaver Falls in Jacksonville, Vermont. The Venture Out Project leads backpacking and wilderness trips for the Queer and Transgender community as well as providing educational trainings on Transgender inclusion. The purchased property will serve as a basecamp for wilderness trips and will provide space for front country events.
Examples of front country events include a 3-day woodworking workshop, ax skills and archery, forest bathing, and a nature photography course. All of the events held at basecamp will have LGBTQ+ instructors and will be for the queer community. Allies are welcome to join events as space permits.
In addition to hosting front country events, the space can be rented for private events and retreats for the queer community and allies. SJ Lupert, Director of Basecamp at Beaver Falls and a Director at the Venture Out Project, said, “we are thrilled to offer our property to anyone interested in renting it. We have beautiful indoor and outdoor accommodations, an outdoor hot tub, a wood fired sauna and river access. There is also a swimmable pond on the property as well as a party barn to hang out in and 40 acres of land including trails.” Basecamp at Beaver Falls is currently fielding requests for rentals for 2023.
Basecamp at Beaver Falls is located on the traditional lands and waterways of the Elnu Abenaki and Wabanaki Peoples, past and present. The Venture Out Project is working to foster connection and build restorative, consent-informed relationships with the Elnu Abenkai people of Vermont to better understand how we can exist in reciprocity with the land and better support the original Stewards.
For further information on the Basecamp at Beaver Falls, please contact SJ Lupert at sj@ventureoutproject.com.
—A.J.
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Berkshire Community College names new director of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
PITTSFIELD — Carol Allman-Morton has been named director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire
Community College. Allman-Morton was most recently Director of Alumni Engagement at Amherst College, where she had been employed for more than 10 years. Previously, she was Assistant Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. She is also an ordained minister at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire in Housatonic, Massachusetts.
OLLI is a membership organization in the Berkshires that offers more than 90 programs per year for people ages 50 and over. These programs include courses in a range of subjects; an annual OLLI Art Show; shared interest groups; an annual Distinguished Speaker Series; and day trips to local and regional cultural organizations.
Allman-Morton has extensive experience in program development and event management; lifelong learning curriculum development; program recruitment and admissions; team and volunteer management; data-driven decision making; budget management and development; and anti-bias training in hiring and management. At Amherst, she worked closely with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and oversaw an operating budget of nearly $1 million. Allman-Morton received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Brandeis University and a master of divinity from Andover Newton Theological School.
—A.J.
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Berkshire Workforce Board honors area businesses
PITTFIELD— The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board held its annual meeting on June 9, 2022 virtually via zoom. The Berkshire Workforce Board is a high performing workforce board that creates and sustains powerful connections between businesses, education providers and jobseekers. The Board addresses critical labor market issues and serves the oversight and policy-making body for federally funded employment and training services in the region. As a state certified High Performing Workforce Board, the BWB highlighted several accomplishments including career readiness programming; training in manufacturing, healthcare & hospitality; employer assistance, rapid reengagement activities, and more collaborative efforts in meeting the demand for more highly skilled workers.
Workforce Impact Awards were presented in 3 categories. 2022 Workforce Ambassador was given to John Lipa, a retiree of Linden Consulting & General Dynamics. 2022 Youth Ambassador was given to Teagan Far, an intern at Berkshire Workforce Board from Lenox High School, and 2022 Employer of the Year was given to Susan St. John from Berkshire Health Systems and Lenco Armored Vehicles.
The Board voted on the Workforce Business Plan for FY2023 which can be found on its website www.MassHireBerkshire.com. FY2023 officers were also elected at the annual meeting.
—A.J.
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The Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates launches new site
BOSTON– The Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates (COFAR) has launched a new website and branding. They hope this change will make it easier for families to find services and the help they need for their developmentally disabled family members.
COFAR is a statewide nonprofit organization that was established in 1983. Their mission is to advocate on behalf of persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, such as autism, and on behalf of their families and guardians.
COFAR provides members and the public with scrutiny of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) system of care in Massachusetts. COFAR has negotiated with DDS to maintain adequate staffing levels at both state and community-based facilities and has advocated for greater choice for consumers in care. COFAR is working to preserve state-operated group homes and developmental centers as choices for developmentally disabled persons who are seeking DDS services.
In addition, COFAR has advocated for higher standards and greater oversight of care in the corporate, provider-run system, and for more resources and authority for the Disabled Persons Protection Commission.
COFAR volunteers provide help and advice to families of clients of the DDS system, and have testified on Beacon Hill for the past two decades on issues of concern to the developmentally disabled and their families.
—A.J.
