Great Barrington Dispensary now open on Main Street
GREAT BARRINGTON — Great Barrington Dispensary, Berkshire County’s newest recreational adult-use marijuana dispensary, is now open at 454 Main Street, the landmark Gothic Revival mansion that most recently housed McTeigue & McClelland Jewelers. Once known locally as “Indiola Place” and now nicknamed “The Cannabis Castle,” the dispensary offers customized, “client-first” cannabis services from local experts in a welcoming community space.
“Great Barrington and its surrounding towns have a rich history of innovation, a connection to the natural world, and an engaged community,” said the dispensary’s co-owner Pepe Breton. “As one of the newest cannabis dispensaries in Berkshire County, we are proud to be part of a progressive movement and to continue these traditions.”
Grown outdoors in Wareham, Massachusetts, the dispensary’s No. 9 Collection is committed to using environmentally-conscious cultivation methods, including the use of on-site artesian well water, custom soils with natural amendments, and traditional organic farming practices. The Dispensary team has decades of experience in the licensed cannabis industry, both in Massachusetts and nationally, and is drawing from their expertise to bring the best cannabis selections and premier customer service to the Berkshires.
“Our mission at Great Barrington Dispensary is to create a customer-first retail space where the community can connect with an expert for a personalized cannabis experience” Breton added. “We want every customer to feel comfortable and be treated like royalty.”
The dispensary features curated selections from local family farmers who are committed to sustainability and natural cultivation methods.
The store is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m.–9:45 p.m.
—A.K.
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The Marketplace opens new Great Barrington location serving its specialty foods
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Marketplace, known for its menu of high quality, specialty foods, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location at 265 Stockbridge Road, called The Marketplace Specialty Food Shop, April 1 through 3.
Led by Chefs David Renner, Kevin Schmitz, Douglas Luf and Christopher Brooks, The Marketplace offers a variety of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which includes a large section of prepared foods such as entrees, sides, soups and chili. With a fully staffed pastry department, The Marketplace offers cookies, brownies, pies, custards and cake, as well as special-day custom cakes. The Specialty Shop also features artisan cheese. The full menu, specialty food offerings, catering options, and cafes can be found online.
“We are excited to offer familiar and beloved savory and sweet items, as well as prepared foods that will be new to those familiar with our offerings,” said Renner. “We’re looking forward to greeting our regular customers and meeting new ones in our newly remodeled location.”
“Food is our passion,” added Luf. “The best food starts from scratch, which is what our 20 talented chefs prepare every day for our customers using many local ingredients. Our goal is to be the community’s everyday source for take-out food and your first thought when you need catering for your special event. We love being a part of the community and are thrilled to continue our traditions in our new location.”
The 265 Stockbridge Road location is open Monday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
—M.L.S.
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Berkshire Food Co-op announces Jessica Bosworth as new general manager
GREAT BARRINGTON — The Berkshire Food Co-op announces Jessica Bosworth as its new general manager. She brings over 20 years of grocery, leadership, and management skills to the table. Previously serving as the center store manager, she’s overseen steady growth in her departments and is ready to bring that same attention to detail to her new role.
Bosworth will be the first woman to lead the Co-op as GM. She is an expert at materializing Berkshire Food Co-op’s mission to bring good food to everyone in the Berkshire community. Her relationships with local vendors span decades, and her leadership comes at a time when the Co-op is redefining initiatives to feature more local farms, producers, and makers in less conventional ways.
“We [the board of Directors] came together as one voice wishing to hire talent from within, recognizing that Jessica knows our culture, our ownership and greater Berkshire community,” said Board President Phyllis Webb in her announcement. “She is eager to empower her team, help us to grow responsibly, and make sure we are achieving our organizational ends.”
—A.K.
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WAM Theatre announces four new board members
LENOX — Producing Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven, Managing Director Molly Merrihew, and the WAM Board announce the appointment of four new members to the WAM Board of Directors. Donna Haghighat, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, Kim Stauffer, and Nicole M. Young-Martin will be joining Board President Wendy Healey and members Erica Barreto, Toni Buckley, Carolyn Butler, and Margaret Fluhr.
Donna Haghighat currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. Under her leadership, the Women’s Fund has successfully launched The Young Women’s Initiative for girls and young women of color in Springfield, focused on gender and racial equity, and moved from direct programming to partnerships and community investing.
Megan Sandberg-Zakian is a theater director, author, and facilitator with a passion for the development of vital new American plays for the stage and the ear. She has directed several productions for WAM, including the 2016 Fall Mainstage production of “Holy Laughter,” and the upcoming Fresh Takes Play Reading of “The New Galileos” by Amy Berryman. She recently directed shows at the New York Theatre Workshop, the Huntington Theatre, and the California Shakespeare Theatre.
Kim Stauffer performed the role of Emilie in “Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight” in WAM Theatre’s 2013 production and 2017 remount. Her Berkshire credits include Barrington Stage Company and Chester Theatre Company, and her regional work as an actor has taken her to New York Classical Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, and beyond. As a director, she has worked with Berkshire Playwright’s Lab, UAlbany Theatre, and Union College Theatre. She serves as Head of Acting in the UAlbany Theatre Program.
Nicole M. Young-Martin is a writer, performer, producer, musician, nonprofit manager, and educator who has spent more than 25 years as a practicing artist and more than 10 years working in higher education and the nonprofit sector. Young-Martin serves as the producer and host of the web series Black Writers Read; teaches literature, developmental writing, and theater for Bard Microcollege Holyoke; and works as the Community Investments Manager for the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.
The new trustees join WAM’s stalwart Board Members Erica Barreto (multicultural educator, arts administrator, and creative placemaker currently working at MCLA), Toni Buckley (higher education administrator and storyteller working as the Director of Alumni Relations at Berkshire Community College), Carolyn Butler (not-for-profit fundraiser of 20 years with a focus on arts, culture, and social services), and Margaret Fluhr (clinical social worker for 37 years).
WAM is grateful for the recent service of Arwen Lowbridge (Financial Planner and Advisor at Baystate Financial), Diane Scott (Director of Artist Services at the Mid-America Arts Alliance), and Ellen Ring (retail specialist of 30 years) who recently completed their terms on the Board.
—A.K.
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Delta S Performance announces opening of Functional Neurology clinic
LENOX — Delta S Performance has announced the opening of a Functional Neurology/Concussion Clinic in Lenox, to add to its expanding footprint in the care of autoimmune, neurological, and concussion patients, as well as children dealing with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADD/ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, and other learning challenges. The Lenox clinic has recently acquired the Senaptec Sensory Station, a premier piece of equipment used to aid in the recovery and enhancement of brain function.
Lenox Clinic Director Dr. Greig Andrews is a graduate of Life West Chiropractic College, holds three additional master’s degrees, and has completed three post-doctoral programs in Clinical Neuroscience, NeuroDevelopmental Disorders, and Traumatic Brain Injury/Concussion.
Dr. Andrews has had success in treating MS, concussions, spinal cord injuries, Lyme disease, migraines, vertigo, epileptic seizures, ADHD, autism, depression, and addiction. He has also enhanced the performance edge of professional dancers, personal trainers, athletes, stage actors, opera singers, and classical musicians. “Functional Neurology, in my humble opinion, is the future of non-surgical, non-pharmacological, evidence-based, leading-edge scientific brain-based healthcare,” said Dr. Andrews. “Delta S Performance is the team that is here to deliver it, now.”
The Clinic is now open at 12–A Church Street in Lenox, and accepting new patients. Please call 413-217-0711 or email berkshires@deltasperformance.com to make an appointment.
—A.K.
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Downtown Pittsfield welcomes new managing director
PITTSFIELD — Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) has officially named their new Managing Director. Rebecca Brien has taken over the role vacated by Cheryl Mirer in February 2022. Brien will work with DPI’s Board of Directors to tackle strategic areas including public safety, quality of life, increasing foot traffic and decreasing vacant storefronts, and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.
Most recently the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsfield, Brien brings a combined professional background in business, sales, and hospitality, along with a passion for fundraising and volunteerism, to her new role. Her career in the hospitality field included key positions at Cranwell Resort and Canyon Ranch. In the business sector, Brien worked for Country Curtains and KB Toys, managing inventory, analyzing sales, and maximizing revenue.
A native of Richmond, Massachusetts, she attended local schools and studied Hotel Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts at Berkshire Community College. She sits on the boards of the Pediatric Development Center and the Pittsfield Parade Committee and is a member of the Berkshire Business & Professional Women’s group and a graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program (‘19).
—A.K.
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BCC announces new faculty, staff
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of seven new full-time staff members, as well as an employment status change for one staff member.
Dominic Castagna joins BCC as Testing Center Clerk. Castagna has worked in a variety of BCC offices as both a student worker and a temporary part-time employee over the past five years. He previously worked at Hillcrest Educational Centers in Youth Development. Castagna earned a certificate in music production at BCC and plans to continue his education to earn an associate degree in music.
Debora Ellsworth joins BCC as an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Facilities in the Administration and Finance division. She has a background in banking, office management, and project management. An avid painter, Ellsworth teaches at paint parties and is a face painter for events in the Berkshires and beyond.
Peter Farkas joins BCC as Associate Director of Workforce Development and Community Education. He has more than 15 years of workforce and community development experience, having developed, implemented, and supervised grants at a MassHire Career Center and two MassHire Workforce Development Boards in Greater Boston. Prior to joining BCC, Farkas was Executive Director of the MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board. He holds an MBA from Suffolk University and a BA from UMass Amherst.
Justine Fitzgerald joins BCC as Coordinator of Learning Services. She has worked in higher education for 23 years, most recently as Associate Professor of English at Helene Fuld College of Nursing (HFCN) in Manhattan. She also taught writing and literature courses for many years at The City College of New York (CCNY). Fitzgerald holds a BA in psychology and an MA in Creative Writing/English from CCNY. This May, she will receive her EdD in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Administration from Fordham University.
Cheryl Mirer joins BCC as Enrollment Counselor. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst in Studio Art and Art History and a master’s degree from Boston University in Arts Administration. Most recently, Mirer was Executive Director of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. She has also worked at Clarkson University as Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and at Bard College at Simon’s Rock as Alumni Affairs/Advancement Associate, among other positions.
Debra Sarlin joins BCC as Executive Director – Workforce Development. Working collaboratively with educators for almost two decades, she has strong experience developing both formal programming and informal community-based educational offerings on several college campuses. Most recently, she was Education Director at The Foundry – Net Positive Inc., a makerspace and hub for entrepreneurship located in Buffalo, New York. Sarlin holds a BA from Hampshire College, an MFA from Columbia University, and a PhD in Education from The State University of New York at Albany.
Judith Weiner joins BCC as Administrative Assistant for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) program. She was previously the administrator and leader of community education at a local synagogue. Weiner holds a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in America, with a specialty in informal education. She also holds a Certificate in Virtual Experiential Education and Facilitation from the Institute for Experiential Jewish Education.
Matthew Martin, previously Coordinator of Learning Experience Design with shared time between BCC and Greenfield Community College, now holds the same position full-time at BCC.
—A.K.
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Salisbury Bank and Trust announces employee awards
LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Salisbury Bank announces its 2021 employee award recipients. The virtual award ceremony was held March 15, 2022.
The Employee of the Year award recognizes and celebrates an “outstanding employee” whose customer service, leadership, professionalism, enthusiasm, knowledge, and strong work ethic really stood out during the year. Gary Cope was selected by bank employees to receive this award. Cope joined the Bank in 2012 as an Information Technology Specialist and has consistently shared his knowledge with other team members to ensure they are well prepared to assist others in the future. This is the second time that Cope has been recognized as Employee of the Year, the first being in 2015.
The President’s Award was presented to Betsy Summerville, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail and Loan Operations Officer. Summerville has been an integral part of the Bank’s success for the past 18 years. She has been an outstanding team leader, offering inspiration, guidance, support, and leadership to those around her, both in the departments she manages and bank-wide.
Rookie of the Year went to Brian Leger, who was hired in November of 2020 as Vice President, Loan Servicing Manager. His considerable experience allowed him to take everything in stride as he seamlessly joined committees and took on projects while providing valuable support to Loan Servicing and to the Bank as a whole. Leger is currently a member of the Bank’s Leadership Development Program.
The Volunteer of the Year award, which recognizes an employee who consistently volunteers on behalf of the Bank, was awarded to Natalie Allyn. She joined the Bank in September of 2019 as a Risk Management Specialist, and during the past year, she graciously volunteered for five bank-sponsored events.
—A.K.
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