Salisbury Bank to host free seminar on senior financial abuse, fraud
LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Salisbury Bank and Trust Company will offer a free seminar to spread awareness about elder financial abuse, on Wednesday, June 1 from 3–4:15 p.m., at the Douglas Library (108 Main St., North Canaan, Connecticut).
Widespread and easily overlooked, financial elder abuse is a growing problem in today’s society, and healthcare fraud drains billions of dollars out of our pockets every year. This seminar will assist in empowering you and your family members to protect confidential banking information and healthcare accounts, as well as teach you how to detect and report suspicious behavior. Presenters will answer the following questions:
- How can I protect myself or a loved one from financial exploitation?
- How is Medicare fraud, abuse, or an error defined?
- Why are individuals hesitant to report they’ve become a victim?
- What are the most common types of banking and Medicare scams?
- Who do I contact in case of suspected frauds and scams?
About the presenters: Audrey Cole is the Senior Medicare Patrol for Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging. Stacey Curtis is Vice President, Branch Administrator, Newburgh Branch Manager.
To register, click here. You may also call Genia at 860-453-3496, or email epavlova@salisburybank.com (please type “Fraud” in the subject line).
—A.K.
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1Berkshire announces $605,000 in Regional Economic Development Organization funds
PITTSFIELD — 1Berkshire announces it has been the recipient of over $605,000 in Regional Economic Development Organization grant funding as part of the recently announced $2.1 million in funding through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. As the Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) for the Berkshires, 1Berkshire spearheaded the applications for a variety of collaborative endeavors to help inject capital to support the regional economy. Along with the business resource translation project and the recently launched Best Foot Forward Facade Improvement micro-grant program, these funds will go towards projects including:
- The expansion and relaunch of the 1Berkshire jobs thing. This effort has allowed 1Berkshire to add new digital features to its job posting platform that focuses marketing investment into recruiting applicants from outside markets. The relaunched platform is now housed on Berkshires.org, providing increased organic interaction with visitors and those interested in moving to the region.
- Downtown commercial district signage in the Town of Adams. Partnering with the Town and proAdams, this effort will invest in signage to help promote pedestrian foot traffic around the commercial corridors, and connect the corridors with visitors to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and Greylock Glen.
- Great Barrington Art Box project. Working with the Town of Great Barrington, this effort will contribute to the region’s expanding creative placemaking portfolio by supporting the creation and installation of vinyl art coverings on a series of downtown electrical boxes.
- The Mohawk Theater facade and marquee improvement project. Partnering with the City of North Adams, this funding will support significant improvement and updates to this historic landmark and visual anchor in the City’s downtown. By updating the visuals and functionality of the marquee, this effort will not only improve the viability of redevelopment of the Mohawk in the future, but will also bring this visual beacon back to life as a means to help drive foot traffic throughout the commercial district.
- North Adams permitting guide and best practices. Working with the City of North Adams and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, this funding will allow for updates and improvements to the permitting processes and user navigation of permitting systems in the City to help make the pathway to opening a business more accessible.
- Pop Up North Berkshire. Partnering with the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and proAdams, along with the Town of Adams and the City of North Adams, this effort will bring four pop-up businesses across the two communities for seasonal operations going into the summer of 2022. This effort will help occupy vacant storefronts and contribute to the array of businesses and downtown destinations in both communities.
- Content generation for online outdoor recreation asset map and commerce connectivity. Working with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and regional outdoor recreation stakeholders, this effort will provide content for an upcoming online outdoor recreation website to help visitors navigate the 300+ outdoor recreation assets across the region, and assist them in finding their way into our downtowns to help drive commerce.
- Williamstown downtown banner project. Partnering with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, this effort will result in an installation of banners throughout the downtown corridors as a means to inform visitors of the opportunities at their fingertips, and to highlight the beauty of the area.
—A.K.
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Berkshire Community College announces new staff
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four new full-time staff members, as well as an employment status change for one staff member.
New staff
Nick Delmolino joins BCC as Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, where he will support the fundraising efforts of the Berkshire Community College Foundation. He will work to continue to strengthen relationships in the community to help achieve annual and long-term fundraising goals. Delmolino, a Berkshire County native, has returned to Pittsfield after spending the past 18 years living in Wyoming. While there, he was Director of Advancement at Teton Raptor Center and previously the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Teton Science Schools. Delmolino attended BCC and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Western New England University.
Bill Jennings joins BCC as Director of Information Technology. Jennings most recently worked for more than 14 years at Iredale Cosmetics in Great Barrington. He started his career there as the Systems Administrator, moving up to Infrastructure Manager and eventually IT Manager, a role he served in for the past seven years. He has more than 30 years of IT experience, including serving as Manager of IT Support and Customer Service at Workshoplive and as System Administrator at Starbase Technologies, both in Pittsfield. Jennings holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from the University of Bridgeport.
Tom Spiro joins BCC as Clerk IV for the Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) Program. Spiro is part of a team that provides assistance to students and potential students with logistical administrative information. Spiro comes to BCC from UMass Amherst’s Alumni Relations Office. Previously, he was Program Coordinator in the 2+2 Program at Elms College. He holds a master’s degree in natural resource management from Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, New Hampshire, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from SUNY Oneonta.
Sabrina Squires joins BCC as a Library Assistant III for Circulation. Squires graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester in 2018 with a bachelor of arts in peace and justice studies, and religious studies. She most recently worked as Circulation Coordinator for the Neil Hellman Library at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, where she served a diverse group of students, staff and faculty.
Updated employment status
Sean Reagan, formerly an Academic Counselor for BCC’s Academic Advising Team, is now as an Academic Counselor for Allied Health. Prior to joining BCC in November 2021, he taught English and Journalism at Holyoke Community College for 10 years. He is a graduate of Saint Michael’s College, Western New England University School of Law, and Goddard College.
—A.K.
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Lila Kanner joins Jacob’s Pillow as Chief Philanthropy Officer
BECKET — Jacob’s Pillow announces that Lila Kanner will join Jacob’s Pillow as its new Chief Philanthropy Officer. She will start in her new role on May 23.
Kanner brings to the Pillow more than 20 years of experience in the arts and a decade in fundraising leadership. Most recently, she served as the Acting Director of Development at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, where she managed a development team to deliver campaigns, major gifts, membership, operations, alumni relations, and events. Prior to her time at The Courtauld, she served as Director of Major Gifts and Strategic Initiatives at the Harvard Art Museums.
In her new role, Kanner will be working with the Executive and Artistic Director, the Board, and staff to advance the development goals of the Pillow. She will be key in strengthening the organization’s major giving and essential in the creation of a new development and stewardship plan for the future.
Among other international cultural organizations, Kanner has held positions at Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue; the Fabric Workshop and Museum; and Art21: Art in the 21st Century, a television series profiling contemporary artists on PBS. She grew up in Pittsfield, and graduated cum laude from Wellesley College. She holds a master’s degree in modern art history and curatorial studies from Columbia University.
—A.K.
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Betsy Summerville retires from Salisbury Bank
LAKEVILLE, Conn. — Salisbury Bank and Trust Company announces the retirement of Betsy Summerville, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail and Loan Operations Officer.
Summerville has served in various roles during her time with the Bank, including as Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Officer (2014–2019), Senior Vice President, Retail Banking (2007–2014), and Vice President, Special Projects (2003–2007).
“Betsy has been an integral part of Salisbury Bank’s success, and has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the Bank for the past 18 years” said the Bank’s President and CEO Rick Cantele. “She has offered inspiration, guidance, support, and leadership to those around her. Betsy’s teamwork, generosity, kindness, and integrity will be greatly missed.”
The entire Bank team and Board of Directors express their deepest thanks and appreciation for all of her hard work and wish her the best as she embarks on this new journey into retirement. Betsy’s last day will be June 3, 2022.
—A.K.
