PS21 Center for Contemporary Performance announces Vallejo Gantner as new Artistic & Executive Director
Chatham, N.Y.— PS21 Center for Contemporary Performance announces Vallejo Gantner as new Artistic & Executive Director.
Over the past twenty-five years, Gantner has led innovative arts organizations in the United States, Australia, and Ireland. He has curated and programmed live performances for many institutions and festivals during this time, including iterations of theater, performance art, contemporary dance, chamber opera, live music, circus, and cabaret. Always thinking about the performance arts in an interdisciplinary way, he has championed a diverse array of artists, experimental works, and cutting-edge ideas. A consistent emphasis in his curatorial practice has been the creation of new and unexpected experiences.
Gantner began programming live outdoor events for the Melbourne Festival in 1999 for a period of three years before joining the Dublin Fringe Festival as its Director. In 2005 Gantner became Artistic Director at Performance Space New York. Over his twelve-year tenure he led the effort to re-energize its organizational profile through new curatorial approaches alongside constant local, national, and international collaboration. During this time Performance Space New York created the COIL Festival, which became a crucible for exploring the vitality of live performance in New York City through contemporary artists working across diverse genres, cultures, and perspectives. Most recently, Gantner served as the Artistic Executive Director for the Onassis Foundation USA and then the Director, Creative Partnerships for the ONX Studio, a center for artists from many disciplines working with extended reality and interactive technology.
As the Artistic & Executive Director, Gantner will bring his decades of curatorial and leadership experience to oversee the continued growth of PS21’s interdisciplinary programming throughout the year and across its entire 100 acre campus. Gantner will also see that PS21 continues to support innovative and experimental forms of programming, from music and dance, to circus and theatre. Gantner will work closely on furthering PS21’s ties to other arts and cultural organizations in the Hudson Valley with the goal of seeing the region develop into an artistic hub unto itself.
“We are excited to welcome Vallejo Gantner into this new chapter at PS21,” said Alice Kocis and Louis Hedgecock, co-presidents of PS21’s Board of Directors. “Vallejo brings a vision that goes far beyond enriching our stage. His experience in contemporary performing arts, paired with his passion for strengthening relationships and pushing the boundaries of our institution’s role within greater Columbia County, promises a future where art and community grow together.”
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BHS appoints Chief Nursing Executive
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems has announced the appointment of Brenda Cadorette, MSN RN, NEA-BC, as Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), overseeing nursing across Berkshire Health.
Cadorette has served as Vice President of Acute Care and BMC Chief Nursing Officer for the past 11 years. She joined BHS in 1995 as a Nursing Assistant, and previously served as a Clinical Supervisor, Nursing Director, Administrative Director of Nursing Operations, Service Line Administrator of Nursing, and other leadership roles. In her new role, Cadorette will focus on creating shared governance for nursing and ensuring that nursing practice and staff development promote patient safety and patient-centered care. Working in tandem with Cadorette, each BHS hospital will also appoint an Associate Chief Nursing Officer to focus on the hospital’s operations and lead each hospital’s nursing team.
“Brenda has been an exceptional nurse leader at Berkshire Medical Center for decades,” said Darlene Rodowicz, Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO. “This new nursing leadership structure will support the alignment of best practice nursing standards and ensure that professional practice, growth, and development are consistent across the organization. We are excited to embark on this new chapter of leadership, as we align across the system and continue to serve as the region’s trusted healthcare provider.”
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Huttopia unveils new camping destination in The Berkshires
Hancock— Huttopia announces the grand opening of its newest location, Huttopia Berkshires, set to welcome guests beginning July.
A family-owned company founded in 1999 with the vision of making nature more accessible to travelers, Huttopia is a leading international ecotourism brand known for its ready-to-camp accommodations in nature. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Huttopia’s growth across North America as its first property in Massachusetts, and one of its only year-round properties in the region.
Furthering the brand’s mission to provide sustainable, accessible ready-to-camp experiences throughout the United States, Huttopia Berkshires is nestled in the scenic heart of western Massachusetts just minutes from the foot of Jiminy Peak. For the 2025 season, the property will feature 55 accommodations of Huttopia’s signature design that blends harmoniously with the natural environment, including 45 seasonal wood and canvas tents and 11 year-round cabins, with a goal of reaching more than 90 units in total for 2026. Site amenities include a Café Bistro, swimming pool with mountain views, communal fire pits, and access to numerous hiking and mountain biking trails right from the property.
“Huttopia Berkshires represents our commitment to creating immersive natural experiences without sacrificing comfort,” said Céline Bossanne, Founder of Huttopia. “We’ve designed this location to showcase the remarkable beauty of the Berkshires throughout all four seasons, providing guests with an outdoor experience that blends perfectly into the surrounding culture, whether you’re seeking adventure, respite from the city, or literary inspiration.”
Reservations for Huttopia Berkshires will open on April 2nd for stays beginning July 6th. Early booking is recommended due to anticipated high demand for this unique glamping experience.
For more information or to book your stay, visit https://canada-usa.huttopia.com/en/.
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Twin Wolves Healing Arts, an alternative health community space, opens in Old Chatham
Old Chatham, N.Y.— Twin Wolves Healing Arts, an alternative health community space, has opened.
Featuring a beautiful interior space as well as an outdoor garden and fire pit, Twin Wolves offers both a communal and private sauna with red light therapy panels, cold plunge, PEMF mat and halotherapy (salt therapy.) They also have rooms rented out to practitioners of the healing arts, a community hang out space, a conference room for rent, retail space for local artisanal goods, and outdoor space with herbal garden, goats, bees, and their resident pup, Pinto Bean.
The healing center was started by Cait Davis, a local resident who additionally runs a successful stop-motion animation studio called Springtime Jellyfish, also based in Old Chatham. In 2024, she decided to combine her success in business with her love of creativity and passion for health to create Twin Wolves Healing Arts. She envisions a warm, welcoming space that fosters real community and real health for all. Twin Wolves Healing Arts is handicap accessible with plenty of parking, easy online booking as well as in-person and telephone. Accepts credit cards, cash and Apple pay. All are welcome.
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Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity announces homebuyers
Pittsfield— Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) announces the First Opportunity to Purchase Homebuyer Selections for 266/268 Onota Street in Pittsfield were chosen on March 28th. The condos are both three-bedroom, two-bath homes with aging-in-place design featuring a bedroom and bath on the first floor.
The two families who qualified have been working hard on completing their Habitat Partnership Hours by volunteering at the Berkshire ReStore and Habitat events. One of the homebuyers enlisted not just her children, but several other family members and friends to help her complete her program hours. As the Habitat Construction team and subcontractors put the finishing touches on the interior of these two homes to prepare for final inspections, the ladies will prepare for the closings, scheduled for late May. Both women are local healthcare workers who have worked very hard to provide for their families and get them to the point where they could qualify for first-time homeownership. The two families have met while completing their volunteer hours and have been supporting each other through the application process.
Habitat provides affordable housing purchase opportunities to families who qualify for a mortgage and meet selection policies. Habitat does not give away free homes or “raffle off” homes. Each family must make monthly housing payments and maintain their homes. They must also contribute to the tax base of the communities in which they purchase. Completing all required paperwork accurately and on time is crucial to be included in the family selection process, as it verifies eligibility and ensures an equitable result.
For families who haven’t applied to the Habitat Homebuyer program yet, we have five additional homes that are planned for completion this year as well as ten of the twenty planned single family homes on North Plain Road in Housatonic called Prosperity Way. With this kind of growth, there’s never been a better time to join the program. This is the first step toward securing an affordable home and reaching the dream of homeownership.
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MountainOne to launch second children’s book “Something to Save,” featuring Mo the Spokesgoat
North Adams— MountainOne announces it has partnered once again with storybook author Doug Murphy and illustrator Laura Salafia for “Something to Save,” the follow-up to MountainOne’s debut book, “How to Climb a Mountain.” MountainOne’s second children’s book, “Something to Save,” featuring Mo, the MountainOne Spokesgoat, will be released at the MountainOne Annual Meeting on April 7th,
In this new adventure, Mo and his trusted friend Penny the Chipmunk set out on a journey to understand the value of saving and planning for the future. The book encourages children to understand that starting small—whether by gathering, planning, or setting aside resources—can lead to meaningful and positive outcomes in the future. The story celebrates financial education at an early age, all while remaining fun and relatable for young readers.
Robert Fraser, President and CEO of MountainOne, emphasized the book’s broader impact, adding, “‘Something to Save’ is more than just a story—it’s a tool to help families start conversations about smart financial habits. We hope it encourages families to think about saving and goal setting from an early age.”
MountainOne invites local elementary schools, after-school programs, libraries, and community partners to request free reading events featuring a storytelling experience with Mo the Spokesgoat. Children who attend receive a copy of the book and activity packets designed to reinforce key financial literacy concepts. To learn more, request an event, or explore Mo’s storybook adventures, visit mountainone.com/mo-storybook.
