Red Lion Inn names new executive chef
Stockbridge — Max Kiperman has joined the Red Lion Inn culinary team as executive chef of the Red Lion Inn’s main dining room, Widow Bingham’s Tavern and the Lion’s Den. As executive chef, Kiperman will work closely with vice president of culinary development Brian Alberg and sous chef Jim Corcoran on all future food- and beverage-related development in addition to day-to-day kitchen management.
With more than 25 years in the culinary industry, Kiperman comes to the Red Lion Inn from Lucca in Boston’s Back Bay where he worked as sous shef, and as culinary consultant to the Viceroy Hotel and Resort in Zihuantanejo, Mexico. Kiperman began his culinary career at Rosalie’s restaurant in Marblehead before training under three Michelin chefs including Sylvain Portay and Alain Ducasse. Kiperman has also worked in hotels and resorts such as several Ritz-Carlton properties and the Four Seasons Hotel and Resort Nevis in the West Indies; On Lot 10 restaurant in Hong Kong; Mix restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada; and as a private chef in New York and Connecticut.
–E.E.
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1Berkshire announces ‘Get Mentored’ program
Pittsfield — 1Berkshire has announced its “Get Mentored” program, which exposes early-stage entrepreneurs to mentors who can help guide the entrepreneurs’ initial efforts to build viable businesses.
Last fall, 1Berkshire piloted a similar program over a five-month time frame with a cohort of entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds. Due to the success of the program, 1Berkshire will be hosting two “Get Mentored” cohorts in 2018. Beginning in March and September, entrepreneurs and mentors will gather once a month over a five-month period. At the start of the sessions, each entrepreneur will pitch their venture, highlighting a current challenge they face. Once the presentations are complete, the entrepreneurs will break out to separate spaces and mentors will join them to offer guidance on solving the problems.
Applications are due by Friday, Feb. 16, for the March cohort. For more information, contact economic development specialist David Curtis at dcurtis@1berkshire.com.
–E.E.
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Nonprofit fundraising workshop
Great Barrington — Berkshire Community College and the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will collaborate on the workshop “Peer to Peer Fundraising” Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkshire Community College South County Center.
Participants will learn how to set up Facebook pages for on-site fundraising and delve into the best practices for creating peer-to-peer campaigns, including deciding on the most compelling stories to tell and which visual media to use. Tips will be offered on how to integrate a peer-to-peer campaign with Facebook Live, a nonprofit’s other online platforms and email.
The workshop will be taught by photographer and consultant Mary McGurn, who focuses on telling visual stories for social media and other digital applications. Her clients are small businesses, community-based nonprofits and individuals.
The cost of the workshop is $35. For more information, contact Liana Toscanini at (413) 441-9542.
–E.E.
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Institute for Mindful Agriculture to hold winter retreat for farmers, food lovers
Ghent, N.Y. — The Hawthorne Valley Association’s Institute for Mindful Agriculture will hold its annual biodynamic winter intensive, “Building Healthy Soil in a Healthy Foodshed: A Winter Retreat for Farmers and Other Food Lovers,” Sunday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 23, at Hawthorne Valley Farm.
The retreat will focus on the question “How can we scale a regenerative food system?” Participants will help build the image of an economically, ecologically and socially just foodshed concept that includes everyone from small and mid-sized farmers to the most currently marginalized consumers. The program will provide space for learning, personal reflection and collaborative problem solving through various awareness-based practices. The daily schedule will balance mealtimes, seminars, group awareness-based practices, participatory art, guided walks, solo journaling, dialogue walks and collaborative group work.
Guest speakers will include soil scientist and Woods End Laboratories founder Will Brinton and Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program wildlife biologist Conrad Vispo. Also presenting will be the Institute for Mindful Agriculture team of Steffen Schneider, Rachel Schneider and Jill Jakimetz from Hawthorne Valley and Ursula Versteegen from the Presencing Institute.
There is a sliding scale fee of $500–$750. Continental breakfast, a main meal at noon, suppers and snacks are included. Participants are responsible for their own lodging, with some floor space with sleeping bag options available at two locations for those who will need it. For more information, contact Rachel Schneider at rachel@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.
–E.E.
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BTCF announces first round of 2018 grant deadlines
Sheffield — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced the first round of deadlines for competitive grants in 2018. Regional nonprofits, students, individuals and schools are invited to apply for funding during the winter grants cycle from January through March.
For nonprofits: New grant opportunities
Harvard Business School’s Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations program is designed for senior nonprofit leaders who are committed to implementing effective performance measurement and management in their organizations. For the first time, BTCF is offering one scholarship for the four-day program, which runs from Tuesday, May 29, to Friday, June 1, on the Harvard Business School campus in Boston. The value of the program is $4,500. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 1.
The South Berkshire County Fund invites applications from nonprofit organizations and community groups that are pursuing projects with the goal of increasing educational attainment across the age continuum. Grants range from $1,500 to $3,000. Applications are due Thursday, March 15.
Additional grants for nonprofits
The Crane Family Fund supports Berkshire County environmental organizations that propose innovative projects. Grants range from $1,000 to $2,000. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 15.
The Green Pastures Fund supports nonprofit organizations or public entities that encourage or preserve small, community-based agricultural ventures. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are due Thursday, March 1.
The James and Robert Hardman Fund for North Adams provides grants for nonprofit groups, community organizations or public agencies that support the residents of North Adams and the neighboring communities of Florida and Clarksburg in Massachusetts as well as Stamford, Vermont. The fund prioritizes projects that support disadvantaged residents or enrich the cultural and natural environment. Grants range from $500 to $3,000. Applications are due Thursday, March 1.
The Fund for Williamstown supports projects and services that benefit the residents of Williamstown. Grants range from $500 to $2,500. Letters of intent describing projects and their purpose are due Thursday, March 15. Full grant applications are due Sunday, April 15.
For students: Scholarships
BTCF administers more than 35 individual scholarship funds for students in Berkshire County who plan to attend accredited colleges, universities, trade schools or graduate programs. Scholarships generally range from $1,000 to $10,000 and support a variety of academic interests. Some offer annual grants to students throughout the course of their undergraduate careers. Applications are due Thursday, March 15, unless otherwise noted.
For students and individuals
The Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund and Youth World Awareness Program provides grants to students ages 14 to 22 for international travel and service. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 for individual applicants; larger grants may be considered for groups. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 1.
The Moonlight Mile Scholarship Fund supports women who are seeking matching funds to support travel or equipment needs for study or athletic competition, professional training, or support for alternative healing. Applicants should be at least 18 years old and live in New York or Massachusetts. Grants range from $500 to $1,200. Applications are due Thursday, March 15.
The Simple Gifts Fund awards grants to young people ages 13 to 19 for participation in cultural or creative summer programs. Grants range from $200 to $800. Applications are due Thursday, March 15.
For schools
The James C. Kapteyn Endowment Fund honors excellence in teaching with a $10,000 prize for study or travel. Nominations from school principals or chief administrators are due Feb. 9. Nominees must complete their applications by Friday, March 30. To nominate an educator, contact grants@berkshiretaconic.org.
The Lenox Education Enrichment Foundation supports projects that inspire and engage students and teachers in the Lenox Public Schools. Grants range from $100 to $1,000. Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 15.
The Eagle Fund and Janet’s Fund support projects that sustain excellence in education in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. Grants range from $250 to $5,000. Applications are due Thursday, March 1.
The Richmond Educational Enrichment Fund supports projects that enhance and enrich the educational experience at the Richmond Consolidated School. Grants range from $100 to $1,000. Applications are due Thursday, March 1.
The application processes for all grants and scholarships are online.
–E.E.
