Greylock Announces the hiring of Mohammad Khan as vice president, market manager
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union announces the hiring of Mohammad Khan to fill the role of vice president, market manager overseeing the Kellogg Street and Allendale branches in Pittsfield as well as the Lanesborough branch.
“Mohammad has served in retail banking for over 18 years,” said Senior Vice President, Retail Services Robert Sims. “His values strongly align with Greylock and he brings a track record of high performance and strong leadership. We are excited to have him on the team.”
Khan started his career in banking in 2005 and comes to Greylock from Capital Bank/Chemung Canal Trust in the Capital Region of N.Y. where he oversaw multiple branches.
Khan and his wife Hina Khan have been married for 18 years. They reside in Mechanicville, where they are raising their three sons, Ibraheem, Mustafa, and Issa Khan. He is active in the Capital Region Muslim community and enjoys a lively cricket match in his yard with his boys.
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Miss Hall’s School announces that it has named Kristen Milano as the School’s inaugural Dean of Wellness and Sarah Virden as its new Dean of Students
Pittsfield— Miss Hall’s School announces that it has named Kristen Milano as the School’s inaugural Dean of Wellness and Sarah Virden as its new Dean of Students.
A Berkshires native, Ms. Milano joined Miss Hall’s in 2021 as Director of Health and Wellness. In her new role, she will oversee all aspects of student health and work closely with the Deans and other professionals to design and deliver social-emotional learning programs and reimagine the School’s Advising program. Ms. Milano holds an Ed.M. in Prevention Science & Practice and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Hers is a new leadership role at the School.
A longtime MHS resident and administrator, Ms. Virden joined Miss Hall’s in 1994 and has held many roles, including Director of Student Activities, Director of Residential Life, Assistant Dean of Students, and Director of College Counseling. Most recently, she was Director of Academic Counseling, overseeing schedules, calendars, and academic counseling, while continuing to advise students on their post-MHS plans. In her new role, Ms. Virden will oversee all student life programs and collaborate with the Deans and other professionals to expand and strengthen the MHS Student Life program. A graduate of St. Lawrence University, Ms. Virden earned a Master’s Degree in Leadership & Negotiation from Bay Path University.
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Berkshire Bank welcomes David Coughlin, senior vice president, private banking
Berkshire— Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, is proud to announce that David J. Coughlin, a seasoned private and commercial banking professional, has joined Berkshire’s growing Private Banking team as a senior vice president (SVP), Private Banking, serving the Boston market.
At Berkshire, Mr. Coughlin will be responsible for new business development in the Boston market and supporting private banking clients with a full suite of financial solutions tailored to help them reach their individual goals.
Mr. Coughlin brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry within the Boston area. He has worked with professional service firms, privately held middle market businesses, and high net worth individuals and businesses. Most recently, he spent 20 years with Boston Private Bank and later Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, where he was managing director of SVB Private. Prior to joining Boston Private, Mr. Coughlin also held commercial banking roles with Citizens and State Street Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston College, serves on the Advisory Board of the Laboure Center Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston and resides in Milton with his spouse.
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Dewey Hall looks to the next 150 years with $35,000 Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund matching grant
Sheffield— Dewey Memorial Hall announced receipt of a $35,000 matching grant for feasibility and planning from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund. The grant will allow the hall to contract with an architectural firm for an Historic Structures Report (HSR) including a conditions assessment and Master Plan.
According to Dewey Hall President Beth Carlson, “The development of an Historic Structure Report, assessment, and Master Plan are essential next steps in our stewardship and preservation of the hall as an historic building and community resource for the next 150 years. The Master Plan will sketch plans for preservation of the building as well as accessibility and functional improvements. The Dewey Hall board will be seeking matches for this grant in the coming months.”
Home to over 100 public events per year (5,000 attendees), the Hall has been a vibrant and vital part of the Sheffield arts and cultural community for decades. During the pandemic the hall provided regular outdoor programming which offered much needed solace for the community with attendees reporting that it helped them “make it through” the pandemic.
Carlson states, “Dewey Memorial Hall is 135 years old and has undergone minimal alterations in its life span. Age and increased use are highlighting areas of concern. Our board feels that in order to live up to our mission as stewards, we need professional guidance to prioritize and plan preservation projects in a manner that respects and highlights the history, architecture, and historic materials of the building. In addition, we would like to take a proactive approach to stewardship so that we can plan fundraising campaigns and grant applications in a timely and well-paced manner. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity the grant has provided us.”
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Neal Announces $3,000,000 for the Historic Wahconah Park grandstand improvement project
Pittsfield— Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal joined Pittsfield Mayor Linda M. Tyer and city officials to announce a $3,000,000 earmark to renovate the grandstand at Wahconah Park.
The allocation was made possible through Congressionally Direct Spending (CDS) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Congressman Neal included funding for this project in the Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on December 29, 2022.
“Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Wahconah Park is a true gem in the City of Pittsfield, one where countless memories have been made over the course of generations. Maintaining this historic park and the sense of tradition that comes with it is of great importance to the Berkshires, which is why I am proud to have procured three million dollars to make this project a reality,” said Congressman Neal. “Congress has the fundamental responsibility to oversee the expenditure of the public purse, and this investment is one that I believe will be of great service to the Berkshire community and regional economy.”
A recent structural evaluation of the ballpark’s grandstand revealed significant concerns with the structural steel system under the grandstand, making it unusable in its current condition. The improvement project will rebuild the grandstand and bring it into compliance with modern building codes, enhance the fan and operator experience, and preserve the character-defining elements that have made this historic park a beloved sports and entertainment venue for generations.
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Berkshire Community College massage therapy students volunteer at community events
Pittsfield— Massage therapy students at Berkshire Community College (BCC) were busy providing free massage therapy sessions at various locations in the Berkshires and beyond during the spring semester, in addition to their full schedule of classes. Massage therapy is a popular activity at community events, providing students a real-life opportunity to hone their skills.
In April, BCC massage therapy students and faculty traveled to the Boston, joining a team of massage therapists to provide post-event massages to the Dana Farber Boston Marathon Team. Runners reported that knowing there would be a massage at the end of the race helped keep them motivated.
Also in April, at BCC’s Wellness Day, massage therapy students joined physical therapist assistant, respiratory, and nursing program students and the BCC community, along with a variety of Berkshire County businesses, for a day of wellness awareness, including a 5K run and a walk. Massage therapy students provided chair massages and raised more than $300 for the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.
In May, at the Kimball Farms Wellness Fair, massage therapy students provided seated massage for independent living residents. The well-attended program kept students and faculty busy for the entire event.
To learn more about the Massage Therapy Certificate Program at BCC, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/massage-therapy or contact Judy Gawron, Massage Therapy Program Advisor, at (413) 236-4604 or jgawron@berkshirecc.edu.
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Field & Fork Network, Senator Michelle Hinchey, and Hawthorne Valley Association announce two million dollar state appropriation to expand ‘Double Up Food Bucks N.Y.’
Ghent— Field & Fork Network, a food and farming nonprofit is pleased to announce bipartisan support for a two million dollar State appropriation that will help expand its ‘Double Up Food Bucks N.Y.’ program. Double Up is a vital program that increases food access by connecting New York farmers, grocers, and residents who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program helps people using SNAP, purchase more local fresh fruits and vegetables through a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $20 a day.
Field & Fork Network worked closely with Senator Michelle Hinchey to secure the appropriation.
“We are grateful to Senator Michelle Hinchey for championing this issue and recognizing the critical role ‘Double Up Food Bucks N.Y.’ plays in combatting food insecurity,” said Lisa French, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Field & Fork Network.
This year the program has greatly expanded its reach in Columbia County; adding four new grocery locations including, Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, Chatham Real Food Market, Philmont Co-op, and Random Harvest, to existing location, Rolling Grocer.
“Columbia County is an agriculture community, and with a homegrown food supply as incredible as ours, farm-fresh food should be accessible to everyone, which is why I’m proud to help champion the ‘Double Up’ program to expand food access while also investing money back into our local farms,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey.
“’The Double Up Food Bucks’ Program is a win-win for New York State, feeding our families healthy food while supporting local farms and independent grocery stores. Small and mid-sized farms are the backbones of our communities in the Hudson Valley, and expanding this program has helped connect more families with fresh, nutritious produce from local producers like Hawthorne Valley Farm,” said assembly member Didi Barrett.
Customers interested in enrolling in the program should speak to a cashier at the register. For more information about ‘Double Up Food Bucks N.Y.’ including a list of participating locations, visit www.doubleupnys.com.
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Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation awards scholarships to Mount Greylock Students
Berkshire— The Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation (BWPCC), which owns and operates the Berkshire Wind Power Project, a 12 turbine, 19.6-megawatt wind farm located on Brodie Mountain in Hancock and Lanesborough, has selected two students from the Mount Greylock Regional High School class of 2023 to receive $1,000 scholarships.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Grace Lillie of Hancock and Brodi Rosier of Lanesborough. Lillie will attend Berkshire Community College and major in business, and Rosier plans to attend Westfield State University.
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Stockbridge resident earns academic award at Northfield Mount Hermon
Stockbridge— Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) is a coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12 and a postgraduate year. Bridget Stephen of Stockbridge has achieved academic high honors and academic honors, has been named to the Head of School’s List, and has been named to the Dean’s List for work completed during the 2022-2023 academic year at NMH.
Founded in 1879, NMH engages the intellect, compassion, and talents of its students, empowering them to act with humanity and purpose. NMH currently enrolls 655 students from 32 states and 58 countries.
