‘Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership’ welcomed Ramiro Davaro-Comas to paint “Let the Autumn Shine”, an original mural across from City Hall
Pittsfield— The “Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership” welcomed Argentine-American artist, Ramiro Davaro-Comas, to paint an original mural entitled “Let the Autumn Shine”, on the back of the Dunham Mall, facing City Hall. The mural was completed on September 28th as a part of a series of new murals in Pittsfield. It is bold, colorful, and meant to bring a vibrant touch of nature to Pittsfield’s urban landscape.
Ramiro Davaro-Comas has a background in public art and artist residency management. His passions for painting, storytelling, and community work have pushed him to travel throughout his career, collaborating with artists around the world. In 2012 Ramiro was invited to participate in a collection of international and U.S. artist residency programs, bringing him to Berlin, Amsterdam, and Barcelona for six months, then back to the states for another six months in New York and Rhode Island.
After moving to Brooklyn in 2013, he had two sold-out solo exhibitions at the Cotton Candy Machine Gallery, which set the groundwork for his career as an artist straddling the line between fine-art and illustration. Throughout the past decade, Ramiro’s work as an illustrator has centered on a passion that precedes his love of art, collaborating primarily with independent skateboard companies for board and merchandise graphics. His work as a muralist has brought him to small towns and giant cities, aways with a desire to tell whimsical character-based stories that invite multiple interpretations.
In 2016, he launched Dripped on the Road, the only traveling artist residency program for muralists in the US. From 2016-2022, the program worked with over 30 artists, painting over 150 murals throughout the East Coast of the United States. Ramiro’s goal is to paint plants with surrealistic colors on locations and walls that might otherwise not see flora, with some large postcard-like words that reflect positive community projects, quotes, or ideas. Ramiro’s hope is that these murals add to the pride of the community and activate forgotten or underutilized spaces, while at the same time bringing the importance of plants and nature into the subconscious of the viewer.
A guided tour of all Pittsfield’s murals can be found online.
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Close Encounters With Music hires Director of Marketing & Development to launch exciting ’23-’24 season
Great Barrington— Close Encounters With Music (CEWM) has hired Berkshire-based arts executive, consultant, and creative strategist McCaela Donovan as their Director of Marketing & Development for their 2023-2024 season.
Donovan comes to CEWM after most recently serving as the Managing Director of White Heron Theatre Company on Nantucket where she led marketing and development efforts as well as a team of professional staff, while successfully launching the Pre-Professional Company’s Intensive program, a program for early career artists looking to demystify the process of transitioning into the industry. Before that, she served for eight years as Assistant Director of the BU School of Theatre, where she was head of Admissions and Recruitment for performance, and taught in the areas of musical theatre and career opportunities. Donovan has also taught or worked administratively at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, Dean College, Emmanuel College, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and Framingham State University. She began her career as an Elliot Norton and IRNE award-winning actor. She has performed Off-Broadway and in various regional theaters, and was a founding member of Bridge Repertory Theater of Boston.
“I am delighted to collaborate with Close Encounters With Music. I look forward to supporting and further sharing the story of their world class musicianship and knowledge,” says Donovan. “In a moment in time where the arts and culture are being threatened and underfunded, I’m excited to engage the local community, and beyond, in the thoughtfully diverse season they have created, the passionate gifts they are sharing and why organizations like CEWM are crucial to the thriving atmosphere of the Berkshires.”
Led by Artistic Director and renowned cellist Yehuda Hanani, Close Encounters With Music is an innovative and celebrated presenting and commissioning organization which hosts internationally renowned chamber music artists in performance and conversation. Their ’23-’24 season will open with their first concert ‘Virtue and Virtuosity’ on November 5th at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. More information about the season can be found online.
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Berkshire Community College announces new staff, promotions, title changes
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of five full-time faculty/staff members, two promotions, and two title changes.
Dylan Carman joins BCC as a full-time Life Sciences faculty member. Carman, a BCC alum, previously served for several years as a BCC adjunct instructor and STEM life sciences coach, as well as the chemistry lab assistant. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Neuroscience from Western New England University in Springfield where he completed a research-intensive program investigating the relationship of the dopamine system and stress-induced cocaine relapse.
Mary Dickman joins BCC as an Assistant Professor of Communications. Previously, they taught communications courses at Bunker Hill Community College and at UMass Amherst, where they also worked as a writing coach in the Commonwealth Honors College. They are currently completing their PhD in Communications at UMass with a dissertation in “The Discursive Struggle to Define Sex in the Law.” Dickman holds a master of arts degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of South Florida; a bachelor of science degree in Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy, also from the University of South Florida; and an associate degree from Pasco-Hernandez Community College.
Julia Gallagher joins BCC as full-time faculty in the Nursing Program. She has been an adjunct faculty member at BCC since 2020, working for both the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nurse programs. She has also served as the Facilitator of Nursing Tutoring services for the past three years. Gallagher graduated from BCC’s nursing program and earned her bachelor’s degree from Elms College, where she is currently enrolled in the master’s program with a specialty in nursing education. She works at Fairview Hospital in the Emergency Department, Critical Care Unit, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Medical/Surgical floors. She also works at Berkshire Meadows, a residential school and program for people of all ages who are severely developmentally delayed.
Margaret Goss joins BCC as full-time faculty in the Respiratory Therapy Program as the Chair of the Program. She has served as the Clinical Coordinator for BCC’s Respiratory Program as an adjunct since 2009. Goss graduated from the BCC Respiratory Program in 1998. She holds a bachelor of science degree from MCLA and a master of science in Respiratory Care Leadership from Northeastern University. As supervisor for Cardio-Respiratory Services at Albany Medical Center, Goss has experience in research and has taught many allied health and science courses for BCC over the years.
Lori Wynters joins BCC as an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Previously, she was a long-time faculty member at the Goddard Graduate Institute at Goddard College as well as at SUNY New Paltz, and has also taught at Vassar College, Marist College and Greenfield Community College. She holds a PhD in Social/Counseling Psychology from Union Institute and University; a master of fine arts degree in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College; a master of education degree in Counseling Psychology from Temple University; and a bachelor degree in Philosophy/Ethics and Religion from Binghamton University.
Jennifer Filippi has been promoted to Accountant V – Grants Accountant. Previously, she was Accountant III, a position she has held since May 2022. Karrie Trautman has been promoted to permanent Director of Financial Services. She was Interim Director in this role since May 2023 and was previously the Coordinator of One Stop Operations. She has been employed with BCC since June 2013. George Ambriz is now Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention. His previous title was Assistant Dean of Student Affairs/Director of SUCCESS. He has been employed with BCC since June 2018. Lyndsay Isham-Morton is now Director of Academic Advising and Coaching. Her previous title was Director of Academic & Career Advising. She has been employed with BCC since January 2016.
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Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum announces new executive director
Adams— The board of directors for the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum recently announced its new executive director, James Capuzzi, after a three year-long search.
Capuzzi is the former Director of Marketing and Communications at the Abigail Adams Institute (AAI) in Cambridge, a nonprofit dedicated to providing supplementary education for the Harvard University community and other area university students and professionals. While at AAI he grew its community of students and professionals; led an annual guided Boston women’s suffrage history sites tour; and secured a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant.
Capuzzi has an M.A. degree in Sustainable Cultural Heritage Management from the American University of Rome and a B.A. degree in Classical Studies & Italian Language from Tulane University in New Orleans.
Capuzzi will oversee daily operations at the Birthplace Museum, raise funds, and promote the museum’s mission locally and nationally. He will also serve as liaison between the museum and its stakeholder, staff, board members, and the public, in communicating goals and new initiatives.
“The Adams museum highlights one of the most influential and admirable women in our country’s history. I look forward to inspiring our youth to be feminists as Susan B. Anthony was through encountering her as a child [Anthony lived in the Adams home until she was five years old] and educating women in every state about how her legacy has advanced their rights,” Capuzzi said.
The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum, located on 67 East Road in Adams, Mass., is open Fridays through Mondays this fall/winter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. For more information, call the Museum at 413-743-7121 or visit http://www.susanbanthonybirthplace.com.
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Annual Bard Fiction Prize is awarded to Zain Khalid
Annandale-On-Hudson— Author Zain Khalid has received the Bard Fiction Prize for his first novel, Brother Alive (Grove Press 2022). Khalid’s residency at Bard College is for the fall 2024 semester, during which time he will continue his writing and meet informally with students. Khalid will give a public reading at Bard during his residency.
The Bard Fiction Prize committee writes, “Zain Khalid’s novel “Brother Alive” is itself alive, made of language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree, with at least three valances of narrative draped one on top of another. First is a deeply personal novel about three adopted brothers of mysterious origins growing up in a Staten Island mosque under the care of its eccentric Imam, inhabiting an ordinary world precisely observed and rendered extraordinary with kaleidoscopic language, training its lens on a ride on the back of a motorcycle or a pickup basketball game and turning and turning, changing the patterns of image and sensation, radiating universes of detail. Another is a wild, satirical work of science fiction involving a sinister experimental gas central to the three brothers’ mysteries, which brings them from Staten Island to the Middle East as the book’s politics globalize into ruminations on Islam’s clashes and compacts with the West. And the third is the narrator Youssef’s invisible other “brother” who gives the text its title, the symbiotic shadow-consciousness that lives in his mind and feeds on literature, frequently pointing the reader directly to the author’s influences, as “Brother Alive” is a novel that knows all literature is about literature, and isn’t afraid to embrace it.”
“I’m honored and grateful to be the recipient of the 2024 Bard Fiction Prize. I’ve long admired the prize’s previous winners, luminaries, really, and am stunned to be joining their ranks,” said Khalid. “To work on my novel alongside Bard’s brilliant literary community is a truly awesome endowment.”
Zain Khalid is an American writer and novelist, originally from New York. His debut novel, Brother Alive, won the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award and the CLMP Firecracker Award in Fiction, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize for best first book in any genre, and was shortlisted for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction.
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The Pass launches ‘Trailblazers’, a sustainable produced, personal sized pre-roll pack to benefit Berkshire Natural Resources Council
Sheffield— The Pass (Berkshire Welco) has launched TrailBlazers, a new cannabis product made with sustainably produced hemp-based rolling papers, filters, and tips packaged in a crush-resistant, reusable tin. Portable and perfectly sized for single sessions, TrailBlazers are packed with .35g of purely ground, strain-specific Pass-grown local flower, sold in sets of five.
As an agricultural business based in the Berkshires, The Pass continues its commitment to protect the abundant natural resources of the region by donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of TrailBlazers to Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC), an accredited non-profit land conservation and environmental organization.
“We are pleased to partner with The Pass and admire their commitment to making a positive impact on our region,” said President of BNRC Jenny Hansell. “Support from the business community is vital to the work BNRC does to conserve and care for more than 25,000 acres of field and forest in the Berkshires. There are many places and ways to enjoy the scenic views and vistas of the Berkshire landscape and we are looking forward to TrailBlazers playing a part in helping make the Berkshire outdoors accessible to all.”
The Pass will host an educational pop-up on Friday, October 6 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their retail store in Sheffield for anyone who would like to learn more about BNRC. A representative from BNRC will be available to answer questions and offer free trail maps, stickers, and decals to all visitors. In addition, fun outdoor-themed giveaway items will be available for Pass customers throughout the event, courtesy of BNRC.
“The beauty of the Berkshires makes it a destination for nature-lovers and hiking fans everywhere and we’re always excited to see Appalachian Trail through-hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts visit our shop,” said Bill Packer, COO of The Pass. “TrailBlazers is one small way The Pass can help ensure these special places are preserved for future generations to come.” Another way The Pass is honoring their commitment to the region is by providing employees with the opportunity to participate in twice-monthly trail clean-up efforts this season.
TrailBlazers is now available for sale in The Pass flagship store in Sheffield. It will soon be distributed throughout the state to dozens of cannabis dispensaries who carry Pass-produced products. For more information about TrailBlazers, visit The Pass blog.
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MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services hosts 40-year employee appreciation picnic and celebrates co-founder Gail Molari’s 80th birthday
Pittsfield— On September 8th, MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services hosted a heartwarming and memorable event at the Onota Lake Pavilion to celebrate 40 years of dedicated service by its employees, both current and former. The occasion was made even more special as it coincided with the 80th birthday of co-founder Gail Molari.
The 40-Year Employee Appreciation Picnic was a gathering that brought together generations of MOLARI employees. MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services took this opportunity to honor several employees who reached significant milestones in their careers.
Gail Molari, who co-founded the agency four decades ago, celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by her staff, current and former employees, family members, and friends. Her passion for service, unwavering dedication, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping MOLARI’s mission and values.
“We are immensely proud of the 40-year legacy of MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services, and we are profoundly grateful for the hard work and commitment of our employees, past and present,” said Gail Molari. “This event was a testament to our shared values of service and community. We look forward to the future with the same passion and commitment that have been the hallmarks of our agency for four decades.”
MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services remains committed to providing exceptional employment staffing and home healthcare solutions to Berkshire County.
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Egremont Select Board announces $81,500 ‘Bring Climate Action Home’ climate resilience grant
Egremont— Egremont Select Board is pleased to announce it has received a $81,500 climate resilience grant to “Bring Climate Action Home” from the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, which is administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). These competitive grants support communities in identifying climate hazards, developing strategies to improve resilience, and implementing priority actions to adapt to climate change. Egremont is one of 79 projects to have received Action grant funding in the latest round of applications.
Egremont MVP Committee Co-Chair Juliette Haas stated, “We’re excited to start implementing our climate resiliency priority actions….This funding will enable us to conduct baseline engineering studies on Karner Brook to protect our water supply, strengthen our Town Bylaws and Policies and teach residents Best Practices they can adopt at home – to save energy, combat invasives or protect wetlands or ponds in their neighborhood.”
The Action funding builds on the Egremont MVP climate resilience planning process completed in 2022, which identified the top climate change impacts being felt locally, that require further study or mitigation.
Community members interested in getting involved in “Bringing Climate Action Home” Workshop planning should contact the Town Hall.
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Berkshire Agricultural Ventures draws crowd and catalyzes change at inaugural climate smart agriculture event
Great Barrington— Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is delighted to announce the resounding success of its inaugural climate smart agriculture event, “Harvesting Hope: Building Climate Resilient Farms in the Berkshire-Taconic Region.” The event took place this past Thursday, September 21st at Berkshire Botanical Garden’s historic Center House. A panel of local farmers, climate experts, BAV’s knowledgeable staff, and concerned community members, gathered and engaged in a crucial dialogue about climate change and its profound impact on local agriculture.
“Harvesting Hope” was scheduled during Climate Week NYC, which coincided with the United Nations’ Climate Ambition Summit. Though BAV’s event took place over a hundred miles outside of Manhattan, it underscored the importance of collective action, and highlighted the necessity of taking action locally, right here in our own communities. BAV’s climate event was one of many in the region.
Farmers shared their firsthand experiences and challenges, providing crucial insights into the real-world consequences of climate change on their farms and communities. The presentation by Ben Crockett highlighted the impacts of climate change in our region; unpredictable precipitation, yield loss due to heat stress, less predictable frost dates, as well as new waves of pests and invasive species, all of which pose serious threats to local farms.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming response,” said Rebecca Busansky, BAV’s Executive Director. “Harvesting Hope demonstrated that our community recognizes the urgency of helping our farmers on the front lines of climate change. Whether it was the late freezes or this summer’s relentless rain and flooding, I think everyone in our community increasingly knows we have to do something to help our farmers. The collaboration and commitment on display at the Berkshire Botanical Garden were truly inspiring.”
BAV remains steadfast in its mission to support local farmers in their transition to climate smart agriculture, and “Harvesting Hope” represents a significant milestone in this endeavor. As Berkshire Agricultural Ventures anticipates future events and the growing need to keep the conversation on climate smart agriculture going, they warmly invite all those who share their passion for fostering climate resilience in the community to join them.
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National Grid launches $500,000 Small Business Impact Initiative to empower diverse businesses across Massachusetts
Massachusetts— National Grid announced the launch of a three-year, $500,000 Small Business Impact Initiative in partnership with Amplify LatinX, The Asian Business Empowerment Council, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Through this new initiative, National Grid will partner with these leading organizations to provide a total of 50 $10,000 capacity building grants over the next three years to help minority-owned small businesses across the Commonwealth grow, thrive, and contribute to the economic opportunity and vibrancy of our communities. In its first year, the initiative aims to support 16 small businesses selected by the partner organizations.
This partnership furthers National Grid’s commitment under our newly launched “Grid for Good” program to enable economic opportunity, especially for historically underrepresented communities. The company recognizes the immense value minority-owned businesses bring to our local communities as well as the challenges these businesses often face in accessing capital needed to expand, create jobs, and generate growth. Through this partnership, grantees will not only receive funding but also resources and support from the partnering business organizations to realize their goals.
To apply, interested businesses must be affiliated with at least one of the partner organizations. The grants must be used to support the growth of operational capacity such as purchasing equipment, leasing office space, or improving efficiencies among others. Each partner organization will select four grantees to receive funding.
This impact initiative is part of National Grid’s newly launched “Grid for Good” program, a larger company-wide corporate responsibility and impact initiative that supports the communities we serve. Through “Grid for Good”, National Grid will contribute at least $4 million in funding to organizations that align with its three responsibility and impact pillars — (1) workforce development and STEM education, (2) economic opportunity and social justice, and (3) environmental stewardship and sustainability — and have a focus on historically underrepresented and overburdened communities.
The application deadline is October 31st. The 16 grantees will be celebrated at an event on November 14th. For more information about the grant application and eligibility criteria can be found online.
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Fairview Golf Classic nets $35,000 for surgical technology
Great Barrington— In most sporting events, there are winners and losers. At the close of Fairview Hospital’s 2023 Golf Classic, held on September 7th at the Stockbridge Golf Club, everyone who came out for Fairview’s annual golf benefit agreed that the community was the real winner.
After a day of 18 holes of play in hot, humid conditions, Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Health Systems’ 25-bed critical access hospital in Great Barrington, golfers raised approximately $35,000 for investment in surgical technology.
At a post-play reception, tournament co-chairs Kate McCormick and Aidan Gilligan introduced Dr. George Veinoglou, who thanked the community for past tournament support. He introduced his new partner, Dr. Mark Taylor, a young surgeon who recently moved his family across the country to join Dr. Veinoglou, shared with the guests that he and his family are happy to be here and that he has “seen the overwhelming support this community has for Fairview Hospital. It is very clear.”
Prizes were awarded to the top five gross and net teams.
Gross prizes were awarded to the five teams with the lowest scores.
- First place: Defending champs; Team Berkshire Bank: Ed Harvey, Sandy Turner, Roman Montano and Doug Roberts.
- Second place: Pam Sandler Team
- Third place: Proper Connections Team
- Fourth place: Party of Fore
- Fifth place: Hill-Engineers, Architects, Planners, Inc.
Additional prizes were also awarded to the longest drive and closest to the pin.
- Men’s closest to the pin: Doug Roberts 5’7”
- Women’s closest to the pin: Kim Obanhein 10’4”
- Men’s longest drive: Andrew Consolati
- Women’s longest drive: Heidi Nejaime
