The Mount wins top honors as a holiday tour destination
Lenox — The Mount has garnered a slot in USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice list for Best Holiday Historic Home Tour.
Historic homes from around the nation were selected for the honor by the USA Today expert panel, which includes a combination of editors from USA Today and 10Best.com, relevant expert contributors, and sources for these and other Gannett media properties. From there, readers were asked to vote for their top pick. The contest was open to the public for four weeks. In just its third year offering holiday decorations, the Mount nabbed ninth place thanks to a huge show of support from voters.
“We would like to thank the Lenox Garden Club, who donate the decorations and their time each holiday season,” said Anne Schuyler, director of visitor services for The Mount. “This designation is the result of their vision and hard work.”
–E.E.
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Community Health Programs names new director of operations
Great Barrington — Community Health Programs has named Christa Gariepy as its director of operations. In her new position, she reports to CHP’s chief operating officer, Jennifer Wilkinson.
Most recently the director of patient relations at Berkshire Medical Center, Gariepy has also worked as program director at Child Care of the Berkshires and at the Brien Center as a human rights representative and case manager.
A graduate of Boston University, Gariepy holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western New England College. A resident of Pittsfield, she also serves as vice-chair of the Berkshire Family YMCA in Pittsfield.
–E.E.
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Barrington Stage Company announces 2019 associate artists
Pittsfield — Barrington Stage Company has announced its 2019 associate artists: actor Alan H. Green, composer Joe Iconis, costume designer Sara Jean Tosetti and actress Peggy Pharr Wilson.
“I am tremendously excited to welcome these outstanding new associate artists,” said Barrington Stage artistic director Julianne Boyd. “Each one has made a significant contribution to the work we do at Barrington Stage. We could not have accomplished all that we have without their expertise and enthusiastic support. I am indebted to each of these artists for making Barrington Stage a more creative home for everyone who works here.”
Associate artists are integral members of the Barrington Stage theater family who have helped the theater accomplish its mission, both by collaborating on top-notch work at Barrington Stage and by fostering a close relationship with the community. Associate artists are part of the artistic team and help by suggesting plays and musicals to be produced by developing new work on both the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage and the St. Germain Stage; and by consulting with the artistic director on various projects, both artistic and educational.
–E.E.
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Flying Cloud, Born to Groove produce science, music programming for preschoolers
Great Barrington — Flying Cloud Institute and Born to Groove are bringing a year of dance, music, drumming and science programming to children at the Southern Berkshire Childcare program, the Falls Village Day Care Center, and the Canaan Child Care Center.
Founded by Charlie Keil, Born to Groove promotes the transformative power of music and movement for young children. Flying Cloud’s Rachel Gall, a science educator and musician, blends age-appropriate science concepts and terminology with her folk music expertise to design a unique program. Amy Taylor, community engagement officer for education at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, helped secure funding for the project from the Born to Groove Fund.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Community College hires new faculty, staff
Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College has announced the hiring of new faculty and staff.
Melody Fisher has been hired as the assistant professor of psychology. She taught at BCC as an adjunct for three years, and has taught in Boston. Recently, Fisher worked at Hillcrest Educational Centers as a clinician and for Williams College running an after-school enrichment program for elementary school children. She lives in Williamstown, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University, where she double-majored in English and psychology. She earned her doctoral degree at UMass Boston.
Sarah Giasullo has been hired as the assistant professor of physical education. Giasullo was previously an adjunct faculty member at Springfield College, and she is the founder of Think it Do it Consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in athletic training, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Master of Science in exercise science. She is finishing her doctoral degree in sport and exercise psychology.
Sarah Offenbach has been hired as the interim coordinator of career planning and placement. She previously worked as the assistant director and career coach within the University at Albany Office of Career and Professional Development. She holds a Master of Science in higher education and student affairs administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and English from the State University of New York at Fredonia.
BCC’s education department at welcomes Adam Hughes as its new early childhood education grant mentor. Hughes joins BCC from the Boston area, where he earned a Master in Education from Boston Teacher Residency at UMass Boston. He has taught in an early childhood classroom and coached early career educators. Hughes will mentor members of the ECE cohort both on campus and in the community.
Elena Nuciforo has been hired as the director of workforce development, health care. She previously taught public health and health communication as an adjunct professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and at UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Nuciforo also worked as a consultant for BCC in developing a community health worker certificate program stackable into the associate degree in health science with a community health option. She holds a doctoral degree in communication and a Master of Education from UMass Amherst, plus a higher education diploma in teaching English from Buryat State University in Russia. Originally from Ulan-Ude, Russia, Nuciforo now lives in Pittsfield with her husband and their two sons.
–E.E.
