Fairview Hospital announces employee awards
Sophia Veinoglou, FNP
Great Barrington — Fairview Hospital has announced the recipients of its annual awards, presented at the 2017 National Hospital Week employee dinner on May 12 at the Egremont Country Club. More than 50 individuals were nominated by their peers for consideration for one of the five recognition awards. The nominees and winners of each category were announced by Fairview vice president of operations and patient care Doreen Hutchinson and executive vice president Tony Rinaldi.
Ashley Gangell
Sophia Veinoglou, FNP, cardiac stress testing, was given the Coach of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual who has fostered, nurtured, developed and encouraged a fellow employee in a meaningful way with a direct role in their success. The Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes an individual whose sense of compassion is exemplified in an extraordinary event with a patient or patient’s family, went to Tim Reynolds, RT (R) (MR), radiology. The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes a new member of the Fairview team who has demonstrated an extraordinary degree of enthusiasm, flexibility willingness and commitment for the job, and went to Ashley Gangell, administration. Gina Crocker of MACONY Pediatrics received the Teammate of the Year Award, in recognition of an individual who exemplifies the spirit of team with a positive, upbeat, can-do attitude. The Diamond Team Award recognizes a group of employees who have set an example of what strong communication, team support, problem solving and customer focus can do and was given to the case management and Fairview night staff teams.
–E.E.
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Jacob’s Pillow, Greenagers partner to revive trail
Becket — Jacob’s Pillow is partnering with Greenagers Inc. to restore and revive the 800-foot Wetlands Trail located on the eastern side of its 225-acre property. Through Thursday, July 13, six to 12 youth and one experienced trail worker will begin the process of creating an accessible and updated walking trail. The project, spearheaded by Jacob’s Pillow’s community engagement department, is representative of the Pillow’s relationship with its natural surroundings and dedication to community partnerships.
The Wetlands Trail was originally designed by Open Space Management to provide a “universally accessible pathway accessing a diverse wetland on the eastern side of the property” and was completed before the summer 2000 festival season. Since then, the trail has been rendered impassable by brambles, hemlocks, thorns, thickets, fallen trees and a rotting bog bridge section.
The revival process will take place in two phases, the first of which will happen this year and focus on moving aside fallen trees, pruning the overgrown thicket and making other repairs to the trail. In the fall, the Pillow will determine the financial feasibility of Phase Two, which will require the replacement of the bog bridge with a structure in compliance with Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Baby Box receives statewide excellence award
Hinda and Bill Bodinger with Berkshire Baby Box’s award from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.
South Egremont — Berkshire Baby Box received the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s 2017 Excellence Award in the Small Nonprofit category at the statewide celebration of Nonprofit Awareness Day on June 5 at the Massachusetts State House.
Berkshire Baby Box president and founder Hinda Bodinger, who began Berkshire Baby Box in response to the anti-immigrant rhetoric in the 2016 presidential campaign, accepted the award amid hundreds of nonprofit and business leaders and elected officials who gathered to celebrate the essential work of the nonprofit sector throughout the state.
The annual awards were presented to eight nonprofit organizations that exemplify the most innovative, creative and effective work being done throughout the commonwealth. Berkshire Baby Box received the award out of a pool of 125 nominees just one year after giving out its inaugural box in June 2016. Since then, 800 baby boxes have been distributed to new families throughout Berkshire County and Bodinger anticipates giving out another 1,000 in 2017.
–E.E.
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Lee Bank announces student loan debt relief for employees
Lee — Lee Bank has announced its partnership with Gradifi to offer student loan debt relief as part of its employee benefits package.
Lee Bank joins more than 130 workplaces in the U.S. now providing Gradifi’s Student Loan Paydown Plan, which was recently endorsed by the American Bankers Association, to attract and retain top talent.
“Student loan relief is a relatively new and highly coveted benefit in today’s marketplace and we are thrilled to offer it to our employees,” said Lee Bank president and CEO Chuck Leach. “We hope this added benefit will improve the quality of life for our employees and in turn benefit our community, as ultimately it may enable our employees to put roots down and invest in our local backyards sooner and with a greater impact.”
–E.E.
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Berkshire Theatre Group receives grant
Pittsfield — Berkshire Theatre Group has announced its receipt of a $12,000 grant from Berkshire United Way to support its BTG PLAYS! after-school program.
Said BTG artistic director Kate Maguire, “Both organizations have a long-standing relationship with Berkshire County, and in particular, with its families and children. … BTG PLAYS! After School Program in the Pittsfield Public Schools, along with the 21stCentury Program, create a physically and emotionally safe place for our children. Due to cuts in After School Programs, as well as in Arts Education, our work with Berkshire County families is in jeopardy. We must face this truth. And it is because of this truth that I am inspired and motivated by Berkshire United Way’s recent grant award and partnership.”
–E.E.
