Community Health Programs receives mental health treatment grant
Great Barrington — Community Health Programs has received a $285,000 federal grant toward expanded treatment of mental health disorders that can place patients at risk of substance abuse.
The grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration is part of a $396 million federal allocation, $12 million of which will be shared by 38 Massachusetts-based community health centers. CHP will strengthen its integrated behavioral health strategy by adding two full-time licensed clinical social workers to its primary care practices at Lee Family Practice and Great Barrington Health Center.
“This award helps us to double-down on the underlying mental health issues that can lead to substance use,” said Lia Spiliotes, CEO of Community Health Programs. “Now, CHP patients who might be at risk with mental health issues can more quickly connect with a mental health professional who is based right inside one of our primary care practice locations.”
–E.E.
* * *
Esko to manage Berkshire Co-op Market expansion project full-time

Great Barrington — The Berkshire Co-op Market’s board of directors and general manager Dan Esko have mutually agreed that Esko will begin devoting his full time and attention to managing the Co-op’s expansion project, assuming the full-time role of project manager.
Luke Schell from Minneapolis, Minnesota, will start Monday, Oct. 15, in an interim capacity as general manager, allowing Esko to focus on the expansion project so it can be successfully completed in early 2019. Schell’s work experience includes management positions at Whole Foods Market, general manager at Linden Hills Co-op in Minneapolis, and as a consultant for CDS Consulting Co-op. At Linden Hills, he helped lead the organization through a successful store expansion as well as a historic merger with food co-op the Wedge to form the Twin Cities Co-op Partners. More recently, Schell served as the interim general manager at the People’s Food Co-op in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The board and Esko recognized that the demands of running the day-to-day operations of the Co-op combined with the extensive work necessary to manage the expansion project as it enters the next phase required more time and attention than a single person could give. This led to the joint decision to have Esko focus his energies on the expansion. Having grown up in the Berkshires, Esko has spent 20 years working in the natural foods arena, the last 14 of which have been spent at the Berkshire Co-op Market, where he started his employment in April 2004 and has held numerous positions including buyer, grocery manager, operations manager and general manager.
–E.E.
* * *
Workshop for nonprofits to focus on winning storytelling strategies

North Adams — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will present the educational nonprofit workshop ”Three Winning Storytelling Strategies: Origins, Impacts, and Heroes” led by Jenni Haley Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the MCLA Design Lab.
In the age of digital communication, nonprofits need to continually generate new stories to keep engagement high on their social media feeds and make multichannel appeals to donors fresh and interesting. Workshop participants will be introduced to three templates for storytelling that can be used in appeal letters, social media campaigns, annual reports and other materials.
Haley is a development writer and communications consultant specializing in appeal letter writing, communications materials and grants. Haley lives in South Deerfield and serves clients across Massachusetts.
The cost of the workshop is $25 for NPC members and $35 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, contact Liana Toscanini at (413) 441-9542.
–E.E.
* * *
Albany Berkshire Ballet receives grant for ‘Rockwell in Our Time’
Pittsfield — Albany Berkshire Ballet has been awarded a project grant of $2,500 from the Mass Cultural Council’s Cultural Investment Portfolio for the continued development of the new work “Rockwell in Our Time” by choreographer Mary Giannone Talmi. Talmi is collaborating with playwright Kevin McGerigle and composer Christopher Culpo with additional choreography by Andres Ramirez and music by Ben Talmi. The ballet is a multidisciplinary work inspired by Norman Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” that moves forward and backward in time reflecting World War II America and the current national reality.
“Rockwell in Our Time” is an ambitious initiative that will require ABB to leverage funding from multiple sources including private donations, corporate sponsors and philanthropy. ABB has begun to raise funds from members and other supporters throughout the community. The funding will be used for the further development of this new work, its creation and premiere.
–E.E.
* * *
Taconic Music welcomes new board, staff members

Manchester, Vt. — Taconic Music artistic directors and co-founders Joana Genova and Ariel Rudiakov have announced that Lu French has joined its board of directors.
An active member of the Manchester community for the past 20 years as a business owner and investor, French has had a varied career as a clinical pharmacist, a graphic and interior designer, and a yoga teacher and massage therapist. She replaces founding board member and former vice president Jennifer Deck Samuelson Esq., who will move to an advisory role. Stepping into the vice president role will be founding board member and Manchester resident Sheila Mills.
–E.E.