Main Street Hospitality to run Hancock Shaker Village cafe
Pittsfield — Main Street Catering and Events, the culinary arm of Main Street Hospitality Group, will assume management of the Hancock Shaker Village café beginning with the seasonal opening of HSV on Saturday, April 15.
Spearheading the effort will be Brian Alberg, executive chef and vice president of culinary development for Main Street Catering. The partnership coincides with the arrival of HSV’s new leadership headed by Jennifer Trainer Thompson, who, in addition to having worked in the museum world for almost three decades as one of the champions of MASS MoCA, is also the author of a dozen award-winning cookbooks.
In addition to operating the café and catering business, Alberg is collaborating with HSV on culinary programming and workshops for the 2017 season that highlight the spirit and nature of the authentic living heritage site.
–E.E.
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BFMC to offer film production workshop
Great Barrington — The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative will present the noncredit workshop Beginning Film Production I at Berkshire Community College South County Center, beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1. The introduction to film and video production will provide a foundation in the principles, techniques and equipment involved in production. Students will write, produce, direct and edit individual projects. On completing this course, students will understand the basics of scripting, camera operation, direction, lighting, sound and nonlinear editing; demonstrate proficiency in camera operation including framing, exposure, focus and movement; and be able to demonstrate competency in nonlinear editing software. The course will be taught by Iredale Mineral Cosmetics video producer and editor Erica Spizz.
The cost of the course is $320. Students must be at least 16 years of age to register. For more information, contact BFMC at (413) 528-4223 or info@berkshirefilm.org.
–E.E.
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Salisbury Bank agrees to buy New Paltz, N.Y. branch of Empire State Bank
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Bank and Trust Company has announced that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire the New Paltz, New York, branch of Empire State Bank and assume approximately $31 million in deposits and purchase approximately $6.8 million in branch related loans.
The transaction is subject to approval by regulatory authorities and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2017.
FIG Partners LLC served as financial advisers and Cranmore, FitzGerald & Meaney served as legal counsel to Salisbury Bank and Trust Company. FinPro Capital Advisors Inc. served as financial advisers and Luse Gorman PC served as legal counsel to Empire State Bank.
–E.E.
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Kerry L. Bartini of Berkshire Design receives architectural license
Great Barrington — Berkshire Design Inc. has announced that Kerry L. Bartini, AIA, earned her architectural license in December and is now a registered architect in Massachusetts.
Bartini has more than 14 years of experience in the architectural profession and has been a member of the Berkshire Design team for over five years. In December, Bartini was honored as one of only 12 recently licensed architects from across the country selected to participate in the 2016 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards think tank. Bartini graduated from Roger Williams University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and lives in Lee with her husband, Bob, and son, Dante.
–E.E.
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BTCF awards $1.5 million in winter grants cycle
Sheffield — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its final round of grantmaking for 2016. BTCF distributed over $708,000 in grants to individuals, schools and nonprofits in the four-county region it serves, and grants totaling nearly $800,000 from donors with charitable funds at the foundation.
Education and Enrichment: Grants to regional schools, school districts and organizations with educational programs in Berkshire County totaled $42,000 and include $5,000 to the Savoy Parent Teacher Group for a new playground at Savoy Elementary School; $4,000 to the Dalton Cooperative Nursery School for its early childhood program; and $1,750 to C.T. Plunkett Elementary School for an online assessment that measures students’ learning against Common Core standards.
Arts and Culture: Grants to local artists, arts organizations and arts programs totaled nearly $165,000 and include $9,000 to Berkshire Theatre Group for its “BTG PLAYS!” residency program at Cheshire, Plunkett and Kittredge elementary schools; $3,000 to Wahconah Regional High School and Nessacus Regional Middle School for a celebration of student diversity; and $5,000 to novelist Virginia Watkins of Sheffield.
Health and Human Services: Grants to nonprofits providing social and human services totaled $106,000 and include $28,000 to Youth Center Inc. for its after-school programs for students ages 9 to 18; $8,000 to the Elizabeth Freeman Center for its violence prevention program; and $6,000 to Porchlight VNA/Home Care for its “Move in Time” program for senior citizens.
Environment: Grants to environmental organizations and projects totaled $42,000 and include $5,000 to Adams Agricultural Fair to build a stage and platform for entertainment acts; $1,900 to Mass Audubon for biodiversity and classification education for sixth-graders at Monument Valley Regional Middle School; and $2,500 to Hoosic River Revival to partner with artist David Buckley Borden on an awareness-building installation along the river.
An online list of the winter grants is available.
–E.E.
