Sustainability pioneer EILEEN FISHER to open a new store in Great Barrington on July 3rd
Great Barrington— Sustainability pioneer EILEEN FISHER will be opening a new store in Great Barrington on July 3rd.
The new location marks the brand’s 4th store in Massachusetts and its 56th nationwide as resale and sustainability continue to grow in relevance and importance. In choosing this new location, EILEEN FISHER determined that Great Barrington, which blends small-town charm with a vibrant downtown atmosphere and is known as a popular destination for vacationers and those seeking a more relaxed and cultured lifestyle, would serve as the perfect backdrop for the brand’s thoughtful approach to elevated design, sustainability, and slow fashion.
The Great Barrington location will offer a distinct experience from the brand’s other retail spaces. In addition to carrying the current EILEEN FISHER collection, it will operate as a designated “LAB” store, showcasing sample styles and functioning as a hub for experimenting with new ideas and merchandise. Thanks to its larger space, the store will also offer curated pieces from EILEEN FISHER’s resale program, RENEW.
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Berkshire Medical Center resident programs celebrate graduation
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems has announced that the Berkshire Medical Center Residency Programs have graduated 27 providers across its three residencies. BMC has residency programs in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, and Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.
In the Internal Medicine Residency led by Program Director Steven Lamontagne, MD, 13 physicians completed three years of training at BMC, while five others completed their first year of training and are moving on to advanced specialty training. Of the overall group, three residents – Drs. Avantika Bhargava, Aashar Raza and Razhan Madhar – will remain in the Berkshires and will serve in the BMC Hospitalist Medicine Department. Two others, Drs. Sheetal Manerkar and Rohan Saranu will stay on for the 2025/2026 academic year as Chief Residents and Hospitalists.
The Surgery Residency, led by Program Director Michael Disiena, DO, has graduated two providers who completed five years of training. In Psychiatry, led by Program Director Brenda Butler, MD, four providers completed four years of training, and three others graduated early to pursue fellowships in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Erik Adler will stay at BMC working in the Behavioral Health Unit.
“As we mark the graduation of our residents, we reflect with pride and gratitude on their invaluable contributions to our hospital and our community,” said Liana Fraenkel, MD, Director of Medical Education at BMC. “Throughout their training, they have not only provided high-quality, compassionate care to our patients, but have also brought fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation to our clinical teams. We thank our graduating residents for their dedication, and we celebrate their achievements as they embark on the next chapter of their careers.” For more information on the BMC residency programs, visit www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/medical-education-residency-programs/
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Berkshire Art Center welcomes two new board members
Stockbridge— Berkshire Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of two dynamic members to its Board of Directors: Emmy Award-winning editor Gideon Brown and creative strategist Angela Hall.
Gideon Brown, a longtime media professional, brings over 25 years of experience in television editing, having worked with major networks including CBS, HBO, Showtime, and NBC. A graduate of Fiorello LaGuardia High School, Stony Brook University, and City College of New York (MFA, Film and Media Arts), Brown now lives in Great Barrington with his family. His deep creative roots—his grandfather was a Berkshire artist—align with the Center’s mission of connecting art with community.
Angela Hall joins the board with a wealth of experience in creative marketing, branding, and innovation. As the founder of All Things Creative, she advises nonprofits and entrepreneurs in the arts, wellness, and lifestyle sectors. Hall also teaches branding at Marist College, drawing on her diverse background in design, organizational development, and storytelling to empower emerging creatives.
Brown and Halls’s diverse talents and deep commitment to the transformative power of the arts make them invaluable additions to the organization at this pivotal time. As Berkshire Art Center embarks on a new chapter—developing innovative initiatives and a three-year strategic plan—Brown and Hall join a dedicated team working to meet the urgency of this moment. In a time marked by social tension and disconnection, the role of the arts in fostering community, self-expression, and well-being has never been more essential.
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MountainOne wins two ‘Bronze Telly Awards’ for Mo’s storybook video campaign
North Adams— MountainOne has earned two Bronze Telly Awards for its creative video campaign promoting the debut of its original children’s book, “How to Climb a Mountain”, featuring Mo MountainOne the Spokesgoat. It was recognized in two Telly Award categories: “General Sizzler & Promo Reel” and “Mascot Video.”
The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. This year’s competition drew more than 13,000 entries from across all 50 states and six continents, with winners selected by a panel of industry leaders from major media platforms, networks, and production companies.
“Our Storybook Program was designed to create meaningful, lighthearted connections with families in our community,” said Jill Amato, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Community Banking Officer at MountainOne. “To have this video recognized at the national level is a proud moment for our entire team, which extends to our creative partner, HATCH the Agency. It’s a celebration of the fun and creativity that Mo and the Storybook Program brings to our brand.”
These two Telly Awards add to a growing list of recent honors for MountainOne’s creative work. Other accolades this year include a Silver Bell Ringer Award from the PR Club, three gold NEFIE Awards from the New England Financial Marketing Association (NEFMA), and four Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA), all tied to campaigns centered around Mo the Spokesgoat and MountainOne’s commitment to engaging with the community in unique and meaningful ways.
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Images Cinema receives $200,000 from Massachusetts’s Cultural Facilities Fund
Williamstown— Images Cinema is proud to announce they are the recipients of a $200,000 FY25 Cultural Facilities Fund award, the maximum amount possible. This program is jointly administered by Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment. This competitive award shows continued state investment in Images’ Look Forward project, following a FY25 Destination Development grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism in the amount of $40,000.
In addition to the $200,000 award from MCC’s Cultural Facilities Fund, Images Cinema also received a $50,000 award from The Feigenbaum Foundation as well as $33,000 from the Town of Williamstown’s Community Preservation Committee.
First announced to the public in February 2025, Look Forward is a multi-year, multi-phase construction and capital campaign that will propel the nonprofit organization and its facility toward a sustainable future. Since the announcement, Images brought in over $500,000 for this two-screen modernization project, and has now raised over $1.85 million. This major facility renovation project, the first in 17 years, will dramatically enhance the availability and quality of cinematic experiences in the region by upgrading amenities and adding a second screen.
To finalize the drive, Images Cinema is offering many recognition opportunities for donors, funders, businesses, and organizations, including naming rights for theaters and other spaces in the building. This includes a seat naming campaign, which is now over two thirds of the way toward selling out. More information on the seat campaign can be found at: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/images-cinema/seat-naming-campaign-2025
The community will have additional opportunities to support this campaign later in the summer. More information about these events can be found at https://www.imagescinema.org/film-events/. For more information about the ‘Look Forward’ renovation and capital campaign, visit www.imagescinema.org/look-forward or contact Dan Hudson, Executive Director, at dan@imagescinema.org.
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Berkshire Community Radio Alliance receives $20,000 from The Feigenbaum Foundation
Great Barrington— Berkshire Community Radio Alliance (BCRA), broadcasting at 97.7FM as WBCR-lp and celebrating 20 years on the air, has received a $20,000 grant from The Feigenbaum Foundation to support the renovation of their studio at 320 Main Street in Great Barrington.
The grant kicks off a 5-year project to enhance and upgrade the studio’s broadcast, recording, and training studio, which is currently being renovated as part of the extensive Mahaiwe Block renovation. The station is temporarily broadcasting from the 2nd floor of the Mahaiwe Building until construction is complete. The projected cost for the five-year project is estimated at $73,910. The station is currently accepting grants and gifts to support the project.
“We are most grateful for the generosity of The Feigenbaum Foundation,” said John Prusinski, BCRA Board President. “This gift has sparked our fundraising campaign and energized our volunteers. We are so grateful the Foundation is partnering with us to continue to fulfill our mission of bringing high quality community radio to southern Berkshire County. There is no way we could embark on this extensive studio upgrade without their leadership gift.”
The on-air signal can be heard 24/7 across a 10-mile radius at 97.7FM and via internet streaming at www.berkshireradio.org.
