Berkshire Immigrant Center director Greene steps down
Pittsfield — The Berkshire Immigrant Center’s advisory board has announced that Hilary Greene has stepped down from her position as director to pursue time off and new opportunities. Greene will remain at BIC as a caseworker through a transitional period until BIC can hire additional staff.
Greene has worked with BIC since 1999. Prior to that, she spent several years working in public relations in St. Petersburg, Russia, followed by a position as the program manager of the National Young Composers Competition at Williams College in Willimastown. She has been an award-winning head cross-country ski coach and a running coach at Mount Greylock Regional School in Williamstown since 1998.
The director position at BIC has been filled by Brooke Mead, who has been at BIC for 15 years and has worked closely with Greene to ensure successful programming. To support the transition, BIC welcomes caseworker Ben Fish.
–E.E.
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BerkShares announces BerkShares Ambassadors program
Great Barrington — BerkShares Inc. has received a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund of Newmarket, New Hampshire, to launch a new initiative called BerkShares Ambassadors. The 10-month-long program will engage young people from around Berkshire County in a local economy-learning experience that will generate both personal and community benefits.
The program will include a mix of economics, history, organizing skills and professional development. Participants will play active roles in each workshop, helping to provide local context, inform content and initiate activities. BerkShares Ambassadors will grow into “community economists” who can expand awareness and usage of BerkShares and are empowered to build relationships with their peers, community leaders, community banks and more than 400 businesses that participate in BerkShares.
The ideal BerkShares Ambassadors candidate is between 16 and 30 years old, open to collaboration, enthusiastic about engaging with their community and interested in learning more about the local economy. BerkShares is accepting applications through Friday, Aug. 11. Monthly workshops will begin in September. BerkShares encourages community members to nominate outstanding young people who could benefit from this program. Young people may also apply directly. Candidates must have access to a vehicle.
BerkShares will host information sessions regarding the program from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, at Mason Library in Great Barrington; Wednesday, July 26, at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield; and Thursday, Aug. 3, at North Adams Public Library. For more information or to attend one of the sessions, contact BerkShares at (413) 528-1737 or info@berkshares.org.
–E.E.
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Stockbridge Library elects new trustees
Stockbridge — The Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives has announced the election of Chuck Gillett and John Gillespie to its board of directors. Their three-year terms began July 1.
Gillett moved to the Berkshires with his wife, Michelle, in 1973 and has lived in Stockbridge since 1978. For 35 years, he owned the Studley Press in Dalton which printed books and catalogues for museums and art galleries throughout the United States. He was a selectman in Stockbridge from 2012 to 2016 and continues to serve on several town committees. He has served on nonprofit boards including those of Laurel Hill Association and the First Congregational Church. Presently Gillett is a realtor with Wheeler & Taylor in Stockbridge. He has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Gillespie recently retired as vice president of finance at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. As founder and president of Beyond the Bottom Line, he has used his expertise to guide multi-billion-dollar revenue companies in strategic growth and bottom-line improvement. With an MBA in finance, a master’s degree in information systems from Boston College and decades of relevant employment and board work, Gillespie is a sought-after speaker on a range of financial and economic issues facing nonprofits. He lives in Stockbridge with his wife, Linda, and their dog, Maggie. In his spare time, he enjoys baking and poetry.
–E.E.
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Berkshire County Arc awards scholarships
Pittsfield — Berkshire County Arc and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group have awarded scholarships ranging upwards from $1,000 to the following five high school seniors who demonstrated outstanding prior involvement with individuals with disabilities and the potential to contribute to the field of human services: Jessie Downer, Aubrey Milligan and Meghan Warner of Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton; Anthony Melski of Pittsfield High School; and Crystal Wojcik of Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire.
The winners were selected by independent panel of community members consisting of Daniel Dillon, relationship development officer of Greylock Federal Credit Union; Shirley Edgerton, retiree from the Department of Developmental Services; June Hailer, chair of the Pittsfield Commission on Disabilities; and Lee Ann Pettus, secretary of the BCArc Down Syndrome Family Group. Funds for the scholarships were raised through BCArc’s annual golf classic and the BCArc Down Syndrome Family Group.
–E.E.
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Salisbury Bank to hold Shred Day
Canaan, Conn. — Salisbury Bank and Trust Company will hold a free Community Shred Day on Saturday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon at its Canaan location. Each participant may bring up to four boxes of paper (paper only; no binders) for shredding.
Salisbury Bank offers Shred Day to help in the fight against identity theft. All shredded paper will be recycled. For more information, call Salisbury Bank at (860) 824-5423.
–E.E.
