Mill Town forms new advisory board
Pittsfield— Mill Town, a community revitalization and economic development platform, announced it has formed a new advisory board to support the company’s management team and contribute insights to further its mission and strategic planning. Formed in 2016, Mill Town’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the region as part of a broad economic and community development strategy.
“We are thrilled to convene this high-caliber group of professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This group will support the Mill Town team as we continue to pursue transformative economic development and community partnerships in the region,” said Tim Burke, Mill Town’s CEO.
The members of the Advisory Board are:
- John Bissell, President & CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union
- JD Chesloff, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable
- Jason Cuyler Executive Director, Second Street Second Chances
- Ben Downing, Vice President of Public Affairs at The Engine
- Ellen Kennedy, President of Berkshire Community College
- Caitlin Pemble, Head of The Living Balance Sheet at Guardian Life Insurance
For more information, visit https://milltowncapital.com/.
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Ancram Opera House becomes Ancram Center for the Arts
Ancram— Reflecting its growth as a regional creative hub serving the Hudson Valley, the Berkshires, and Litchfield County, Ancram Opera House is taking on the new name of Ancram Center for the Arts.
The announcement was made on November 25th by Ancram Opera House co-Directors Paul Ricciardi and Jeffrey Mousseau, and Board President Cathy Redlich at a Community Open House attended by area residents, supporters, and staff.
“The evolution of Ancram Opera House from when it reopened its doors eight years ago to today has been nothing short of astounding,” said Redlich in her remarks to the standing-room-only crowd. “Paul and Jeff’s vision was never just about producing theatre; it was about creating a space where storytelling in all its forms from plays to music to personal narratives could enrich and connect a community. As it has grown, Ancram Opera House’s offerings to the public have kept pace with free workshops, programs, and events. The new name, Ancram Center for the Arts, not only captures the breadth, depth, and creativity of its diverse programs but also serves as an umbrella for the Center’s future growth.”
Explaining the new name Mousseau said, “The change aligns our identity more closely with our vibrant array of performances and community events. Our new campus will be comprised of the existing Ancram Opera House building, with accessibility upgrades, and a recently acquired neighboring house, built in the 1780s, that we’re calling The Annex. Once rehabilitated, The Annex will provide much-needed space to house interns and guest artists, as well as space for the community programs that are core to our vision.”
Work has already begun to improve accessibility including office space off the theatre lobby that has been converted into an accessible restroom plus an expansion of the size of the lobby and an addition of much-needed storage space. Planned next is the construction of permanent ramping to the theater’s front porch and entrance. Other improvements will include parking upgrades and a covered porch between the two buildings.
For more information, visit www.ancramcenter.org.
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Berkshire Family YMCA welcomes new interim CEO and executive director, Christian Bianchi
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Family YMCA is proud to announce the appointment of Christian Bianchi as its new interim CEO and Executive Director.
Christian Bianchi brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community service. His expertise in organizational development and fundraising will be invaluable in guiding the Berkshire Family YMCA towards its future goals.
Christian’s commitment to community is evident in his active involvement in local sports and civic activities. He has been an influential figure in youth development, coaching basketball and flag football at the Berkshire Family YMCA, and extending his mentorship to the baseball fields of Pittsfield. His dedication to nurturing young talent reflects his belief in the power of sports to foster community, teamwork, discipline, and personal growth.
“We are thrilled to welcome Christian Bianchi as our new Interim CEO and Executive Director,” said Adam Kelpetar, Chair of the Berkshire Family YMCA Board. “His passion for community work and proven leadership expertise makes him the ideal person to lead our organization into its next chapter.”
Prior to his appointment, Christian served as the Development Director at The Brien Center, where he honed his skills in organizational growth and community engagement. His transition to the YMCA is a natural progression of his career, underscored by his family’s longstanding involvement with the organization. This connection was further strengthened when he joined the board of the Berkshire Family YMCA in the fall of 2022.
Beyond the YMCA, Christian is an active member of the Pittsfield Little League board and the Rotary Club of Pittsfield, roles that exemplify his commitment to service and community betterment. His leadership at the Berkshire Family YMCA is not just a position but a continuation of his life’s work – fostering a strong, family-oriented community in the heart of Berkshire County.
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Three Berkshire County organizations receive $10,000 gifts from NBT Bank
Great Barrington— NBT Bank has donated a total of $30,000 to The People’s Pantry of Great Barrington, Sheffield Food Assistance Program, and Construct Inc. in the Berkshires as part of the Bank’s commitment to maintain charitable support in the markets served by Salisbury Bank following the merger of Salisbury into NBT in August. Each of the three organizations received $10,000 from NBT.
“This incredibly generous donation from NBT will significantly impact our ability to address food insecurity in the community,” said Beth Moser, Board President for The People’s Pantry. “In just the past year, we fed more than 25,000 people including more than 5,000 children under age 16 and more than 6,000 seniors over age 65. We depend on friends and neighbors to support the work we do.”
Marcia Brolli from the Sheffield Food Assistance Program shared, “Our weekly program has been supplementing food budgets for residents in the Southern Berkshire School District for more than 35 years, and we can only do this with the generosity of community partners such as NBT Bank.”
“Construct is incredibly grateful for the recent gift and the long-term support we received from NBT and the former Salisbury Bank,” said Jane Ralph, Executive Director for Construct, Inc. “As the only southern Berkshire housing organization that serves our neighbors from homelessness to home ownership, we know that folks at all income levels are struggling to get and sustain homes they can afford. This gift makes a huge difference in the lives of those we serve. Further, it creates a bridge to a local bank branch that can help them thrive financially.”
“NBT is truly a community bank and our team is dedicated to supporting the important issues in each of the communities we serve,” said Andreas Kapetanopoulos, Connecticut Regional President at NBT Bank. “Both food insecurity and affordable housing remain critical issues in Berkshire County, and these are challenges that NBT can help local partner organizations to address.”
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MCLA receives $306,000 grant to fund mental health support
North Adams— Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is proud to announce it has received the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Suicide Prevention Grant for $306,000 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Over the next three years, this funding will launch the MCLA Cares Project, an initiative to build campus-wide infrastructure to support student mental health.
The MCLA Cares Project will utilize a multi-pronged approach to address mental health support deficits across campus. This project will engage a Health Promotion Coordinator, a new position designed to plan and implement the grant’s activities as well as produce additional mental health and wellness programming, contributing significantly to training the student-facing faculty and staff in suicide awareness and prevention.
The MCLA Cares Project was developed in accordance with MCLA’s mission to provide an accessible liberal arts education to students traditionally underrepresented in higher education, such as first-generation students, students of color, and LGBTQIA+ identifying students. The Health Promotion Coordinator will collaborate with these groups to identify their specific needs and challenges in order to create responsive programming.
“I am thrilled that MCLA received the GLS suicide prevention grant from SAMHSA,” said Ashleigh Hala, MCLA associate dean for counseling and holistic wellness. “This enables us to expand critical programs related to our students’ mental health and emotional well-being, including supporting students at high risk for suicide. Through this grant, we will change culture, creating a more caring, compassionate, and healthy community.”
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Berkshire Community College Foundation lends $16,000 funding supports mentorship for future teachers
Pittsfield— In January 2022, Berkshire Community College (BCC) partnered with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) to form the Associates to Bachelors Pathway to Licensure for Paraprofessionals, known as the P2T Cohort. The goal was to provide an efficient pathway to teacher licensure. Now, the P2T Cohort is getting additional support from the Berkshire Community College Foundation, which has pledged $16,000 in support of professional mentorship expenses related to the program.
“The Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC) Career Pathways Grant has been using a mentor model for several years and has had great success with it,” explained BCC Associate Professor of Education Barbara Kotelnicki. “The mentor can offer students tips, study strategies, assistance with academic questions, reminders of where to focus their energies, and encouragement to keep plugging along. That’s why we are particularly grateful to the Foundation for recognizing the need for a mentor in our growing P2T Cohort.”
The mentor for the program at BCC, Gabriela Sheehan, attends education classes with paraprofessional students, meets with them, and helps them to identify resources they might find useful for a project or paper and offers specific feedback on their work.
“It might be easier and less scary for some students to ask their mentor for help rather than their professor,” Kotelnicki said. “Gabriela is their biggest cheerleader and teaches them to advocate for themselves. Whether it is encouraging them to take the big leap toward earning an associate degree or preparing for a presentation, she is there to support them every step of the way. As a former public school educator, she has extensive knowledge and wisdom to share.”
Paraprofessionals support students under the supervision of a teacher. The P2T Cohort is specifically designed for paraprofessionals employed by Pre-K through 12th grade schools in Berkshire County. Through a combination of in-person and virtual classes, the cohort offers a thoughtful blend of classroom and field-based experiences that prepare students to make a meaningful impact in their school communities.
The innovative program also provides flexibility to meet the needs of participants with either some or no prior college experience, ultimately allowing paraprofessionals to earn an associate degree at BCC and then transfer to MCLA to earn a bachelor degree and a teaching license.
For more information, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/para.
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Berkshire Health Systems announces North Adams Regional Hospital leadership team
North Adams— Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has recently announced the newly appointed leadership team of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH).
Long-time BHS employee Laurie Lamarre, MHA, will lead the team in the role of Vice President of NARH. “I look forward to partnering with our NARH staff to serve the Northern Berkshire community as part of BHS’s integrated system of care,” said Laurie Lamarre, Vice President of NARH. “I know that together we will deliver welcoming, inclusive, and personalized care to every patient that walks through our doors.”
Lamarre will be joined by fellow members of the NARH leadership team including Senior Director of Clinical Operations Robert Boebert, MBA, BSN RN; Operational Manager of the Emergency Room and Medical/Surgical Inpatient Care Jennifer Dowling, BSN, RN; and Operational Manager for Perioperative Services Lynsey Wilk, DPN, RN.
“I’m thrilled that Laurie, Bob, Jennifer, and Lynsey have accepted these new roles, knowing they are equipped and prepared to lead our new critical access hospital into the future, with a focus on investments in not only the facility, but the health of all North Berkshire residents and visitors,” said Darlene Rodowicz, BHS President and CEO. “It was important to appoint a seasoned team of experienced leaders who will best navigate the unique challenges of opening a hospital.”
BHS is additionally hiring for a limited number of clinical and non-clinical positions at North Adams Regional Hospital, learn more via https://www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/careers/.
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BRTA releases 2023 customer survey
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) invites the public to participate in its 2023 Customer Survey online at www.bit.ly/brta-survey-2023. Printed survey copies will be available at BRTA’s Intermodal Center located at 1 Columbus Avenue in Pittsfield. The deadline for all responses is Wednesday, January 31st at 11:59 p.m.
Survey questions include topics such as current and future bus services, the transit vehicle fleet, express or regional connection services, demand response services, as well as general customer service expectations and experiences. Survey answers will help guide BRTA’s decision-making processes as our region continues to recover from the pandemic.
As a token of appreciation for completing the survey, BRTA will be raffling away $25 gift cards and 7-Day bus passes weekly through January 31st. A valid email address is required to enter into the raffle; winners will be notified by email and only one entry per email address is allowed. An email address is not required to otherwise complete the survey.
For more information, visit https://berkshirerta.com/about or call BRTA 1-800-292-2782.
