1Berkshire’s final pitch competition
Dalton — 1Berkshire held the last of its three pitch competitions Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory as part of its “Berkshire Starts” initiative. The focus of this third competition was on food- and agriculture-related business ideas. 1Berkshire received more 10 applications and accepted four participants to compete.
The entrepreneurs presented their business plans before a panel of judges made up of local business leaders, with three of the participants being awarded prize money and mentors. First place and $1000 was awarded to Lisa Dachinger of Pittsfield, owner of Hill Spring Dairy and producer of cultured goat milk that is a drinkable yogurt with added probiotics. Second place and $300 was awarded to Claire Richards of Great Barrington whose business, Jameela Imports, offers a premium olive oil produced in and imported from Jordan. Third place and $100 was awarded to Amelia Wistuk and her student team from Southern Vermont College.
–E.E.
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Hotel on North and its architect receive Preservation Awards
Pittsfield — Hotel on North and its architect, Karen T. Hunt, AIA, are being recognized by statewide organizations for the project’s preservation efforts.
Hotel on North is the recipient of a 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award in the category of Adaptive Reuse for the rehabilitation and restoration of the Burns Block and New Burns Block as Hotel on North. The Hotel will be honored at an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 19, at the Massachusetts Archives Building in Boston.
Karen T. Hunt, AIA, the Pittsfield-based architect of Hotel on North, is a recipient of a Preservation Massachusetts 2016 Paul and Niki Tsongas Award. The theme of the 2016 Award is “Women in Preservation,” and Hunt is being recognized for her contributions to preservation efforts in Massachusetts which include the rehabilitation of two historic buildings on North Street into Hotel on North. Hunt and the other award recipients were honored on May 4 at the annual Preservation Awards Dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.
–E.E.
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Carr Hardware and Brightwood Hardware to join forces
Pittsfield — Carr Hardware & Supply Co. has announced a partnership with Brightwood Hardware, 794 Williams St., in Longmeadow, Mass. Both businesses are members of the True Value hardware co-op.
The partnership will take the form of Carr Hardware at Brightwood Center, to be located on Route 5 in Enfield, Conn. The transition will start with a liquidation sale at Brightwood Hardware beginning Friday, May 6. The new store will have twice the space of Brightwood Hardware, and a larger selection of goods that will include more key brands.
In addition, Carr Hardware will expand its successful maintenance, repair, and operations business into the Pioneer Valley and northern Connecticut.
–E.E.
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Wedding guest concierge services launched
Otis — Tara Consolati Events recently launched a guest concierge service designed to create stress-free, one-of-a-kind experiences for the guests of couples planning Berkshire weddings. The service assists with practical needs as well as those of visitors looking for relaxation, a cultural experience, or an adventure. Tara Consolati Events can also provide suggestions from a long list of options including spa treatments, shopping, wine tastings, distillery tours, farm-to-table dining, golf outings, hikes, and canopy tours. Guests can access the service via a dedicated email address and a private extension at a toll-free number, and each inquiry receives a response within 24 hours.
–E.E.
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HospiceCare in the Berkshires earns national recognition
Pittsfield — HospiceCare in the Berkshires has been recognized as a Hospice Honors recipient, one of only five in Massachusetts. The designation is based on survey results from April 2015 through September 2015. The Deyta Family Evaluation of Hospice Care survey evaluates a hospice’s performance on 24 satisfaction indicator measures. To earn the “Honors” designation, an organization must be above the national average in at least 20 of the evaluated questions.
Deyta surveys patients and families of approximately 1,700 hospice services across the nation and this year recognized 293 with the Hospice Honors designation, putting HospiceCare in the Berkshires in the top fifth of agencies surveyed.
–E.E.
