W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project awarded $50,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development for completion of a statue of W.E.B. Du Bois in Great Barrington
Great Barrington— The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project has been awarded $50,000 from the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development for completion of a statue of W.E.B. Du Bois to be sited in front of the Mason Public Library in Great Barrington.
The funding was requested by State Senator Paul Mark, Chair of the State’s Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. “Few people know that Du Bois—a civil rights giant and founder of the NAACP—was born and raised in Great Barrington,” said Senator Mark. “These funds will help complete the monument and promote Black history and tourism in the Berkshires.”
The non-profit Sculpture Project has partnered with Great Barrington and the Mason Public Library to redesign the library front as a community meeting place. A life-size statue of Du Bois will welcome visitors while, inside the library, a collection of Du Bois’s books and private correspondence will be on display. QR codes that direct visitors to the Du Bois homestead and other Black historic sites in the Berkshires will also be developed.
The Sculpture Project has raised $290,000 for the statue from foundations and private donors. Sculptor Richard Blake is now at work on the monument, which will be dedicated in 2025.
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Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum announces the appointment of four new members to its board of directors
Lenox — Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum announces the appointment of four new members to its board of directors, James P. Galli, Kim Jakobowicz, Louis D, Schroeter III, and Jeremy Winchester.
James P. Galli, also known as JP, is a seasoned professional in the hospitality field with over 25 years of experience. From working with large branded properties to his current position as General Manager at Hotel on North, JP has consistently demonstrated his expertise and dedication to the industry. JP serves on the boards of the YMCA of the Berkshires and Downtown Pittsfield Inc.
Kim Jakobowicz retired from NYS employment in 2014 after 35 years as a COBOL programmer and project leader. Most of her state career was spent at the Division of Criminal Justice designing computer systems for local police agencies, and later at the Office of Cyber Security as a project manager overseeing firewall log monitoring for 64 NYS agencies. She began volunteering as a docent at Ventfort Hall in 2021 and for the last three years has helped out with the flower urns and pots around the property.
Louis D. Schroeter III, now semi-retired from the metals industry, started metal fabricating in the carriage house of Sunnyridge in Lenox and named the business Atlantis Iron and Design. He also opened a welding shop in West Stockbridge the same year. The business moved to Richmond in 1973 and incorporated as Atlantis Equipment Corp. In 1986 a plant was built in Stephentown, N.Y. In 1994, the company expanded into Adams and occupied 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space in New York and Massachusetts. His semiretirement now allows him to spend time engaging in philanthropy, focused on education for future generations and preserving the icons of the past.
Jeremy Winchester is an educator, executive, and multi-modal artist in the performing arts. He is a Professor of Theatre at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where he also serves as the Director of MOSAIC, the college’s public program for open arts and intersectional culture. Prior to joining the faculty at MCLA in 2016, he was the Executive Artistic Director of the nationally renowned Flint Youth Theatre. He is an affiliated artist with Cape Cod-based Pacific Performance Project/east, maintains an active freelance career with a focus on theatre for equity and social justice, and served for six years on the Board of Directors of Theatre for Young Audiences USA.
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Bennington College’s appoints David Buckwald as Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing
Bennington, Vt. — David Buckwald has been named Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing at Bennington College. As part of the College’s leadership team, Buckwald will take responsibility for enrollment, financial aid, and marketing and communications. He will report to President Laura Walker.
Buckwald has more than 20 years of experience as an enrollment leader at highly selective institutions, including Columbia University, Bates College, and Fordham University. Most recently he has served as the Vice President of Enrollment Management and College Counseling at Avenues: The World School, which has campuses in New York, São Paulo, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley, and online. In this role, he oversaw a team of more than forty global admissions and enrollment professionals and nearly twenty college counseling professionals on five campuses around the world.
Buckwald has written articles, served as faculty, and contributed as a keynote speaker or panelist on such topics as college counseling, tour guides, yield, recruitment of special populations, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the College Board, the Enrollment Management Association, College Admissions Collaborative Highlighting Engineering and Technology, and many others. He received his bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Fordham University and his master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College of Columbia University.
“Like many higher education enthusiasts, I’ve long been captivated by Bennington College,” said Buckwald. “To me, no other institution so fully challenges and nourishes a talented student, providing a transformative launchpad for their respective journeys and contributions to society. Bennington’s distinctive milieu, remarkable dedication to learning and making, and its leading experiential learning program all combine to offer an unmatched liberal arts college community.”
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Berkshire Bank promotes Kenneth Seeber to managing director of relationship banking
Berkshire — Berkshire Bank is pleased to announce Kenneth Seeber has been promoted to managing director, Relationship Banking.
In this role, Seeber leads the bank’s Relationship Banking group, which encompasses its Small Business Banking and MyBanker teams. Berkshire’s MyBanker service provides free financial counseling to help consumer, business and non-profit customers navigate the next stage in their financial life.
Seeber has been with Berkshire Bank for more than 10 years, most recently as senior vice president and director of Small Business and Relationship Banking. Prior to that, he held roles as senior vice president and first vice president helping to lead Berkshire’s MyBanker team.
“Ken has played a critical role in developing and overseeing the growth of Berkshire’s Relationship Banking programs,” said Sean Gray, Berkshire Banks’s president and chief operating officer. “Through Ken’s leadership, Berkshire continues to differentiate the client experience while driving strong relationship deposit growth.”
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Berkshire Money Management hosts ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper: What Baby Boomers Need to Know about Wills, Heirs, and Estates,’ a special event to help retirees face their estate planning fears
Great Barrington — Berkshire Money Management will host an interactive financial planning event titled “Don’t Fear the Reaper: What Baby Boomers Need to Know about Wills, Heirs, and Estates” at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington on Wednesday, October 23rd at 6 p.m. This engaging and informative dinner event seeks to make end-of-life planning easy for retirees, those nearing retirement, and their adult children or heirs.
To help participants take control of their futures, minimize tax liability, communicate with heirs, and ensure their wishes are honored, Berkshire Money Management offers this spirited evening with expert presentations, engaging discussions, and a delicious seasonal meal. Attendees will leave with clear next steps, an estate binder, and a date for a free consultation with a financial advisor to address estate planning questions and concerns one-on-one.
Attendees will get the knowledge and advice they need to:
- Protect their assets from taxes and probate
- Discuss difficult topics surrounding death and inheritance
- Organize their estate and financial documents
- Define end-of-life wishes and ensure legal protection
Participants are encouraged to reserve seats for their partners and adult children or heirs to face their fears together and create a shared foundation for the work ahead.
This spooky Halloween event begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23rd. Tickets are $25 per person and include a frightfully delicious three-course meal featuring salad, a seasonally inspired buffet, with chocolate stout cake and freshly baked pies for dessert. Reservations are required by Sunday, October 13th and can be made online.
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Yiddish Book Center launches a 50th Anniversary Campaign to safeguard Yiddish language and culture for future generations
Amherst — The Yiddish Book Center, one of the most vibrant Jewish cultural institutions in the country, announces the launch of Tsukunft, its 50th Anniversary Campaign. Tsukunft, meaning “the future,” is an ambitious initiative aimed at securing the center’s legacy by increasing its endowment from $65 million to $100 million by 2030. This will ensure that the Center’s work continues for generations to come.
Since its founding in 1980 by Aaron Lansky, the Yiddish Book Center has rescued 1.5 million Yiddish books, made them available online with nearly five million downloads, and trained translators to bring Yiddish literature to a broader audience through its own publishing imprint. In addition, the Center has released a transformative two-volume Yiddish textbook and recorded over 1,300 oral histories to preserve Jewish stories. Its innovative educational programs have brought Yiddish language, literature, and culture to students of all ages. Popular offerings include a summer residential intensive for college and graduate students and a series of online and residential programs for high school students, teachers, rabbis, and artists. In 2023, the Center transformed its visitors center with the groundbreaking permanent exhibition, “Yiddish: A Global Culture, which is the first comprehensive survey of modern Yiddish culture.”
The Tsukunft campaign features a remarkable $10 million challenge issued by board member Larry Kaplen, whose generosity includes the leadership gift for the Kaplen Family Building, which doubled the size of the Center’s Amherst headquarters. Kaplen has generously committed $10 million in operating funds, which will be matched by $20 million in new gifts and pledges in support of the endowment, and as a tribute to this generosity, the Yiddish Book Center’s campus will be named in honor of Lansky, whose vision and leadership have been instrumental in the Center’s success. Lansky has announced he will be retiring from his role as president in June 2025. He will be succeeded by long-time executive director, Susan Bronson.
The Yiddish Book Center invites all supporters to join this historic effort. For more information on how to contribute to Tsukunft, please contact Zvi Jankelowitz, director of institutional advancement, at zjankelowitz@yiddishbookcenter.org or 413-409-5117.
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Carr Hardware announces remodel of Pittsfield store
Pittsfield — Carr Hardware is excited to announce a remodel of its Pittsfield store.
The Pittsfield location will undergo a $400,000 remodel this fall. The project underscores Carr Hardware’s commitment to the community and its confidence in the future of Downtown Pittsfield. The remodel will be completed with all local contractors, highlighting the dedication and appreciation Carr Hardware has for its supporting local businesses and contributing to the local economy.
The store will remain open through the remodel, ensuring customers will continue receiving the service and products they count on. Shoppers will still find their favorite brands like Benjamin Moore, Scotts, Weber, Husqvarna. and more. With plans to expand and diversify products, customers will have a wider range of shopping opportunities. The newly remodeled store will enhance the shopping experience for customers while preserving the welcoming and friendly atmosphere Carr Hardware is known for.
Carr Hardware is excited to continue serving the community and looks forward to many more years in Downtown Pittsfield. More information about Carr Hardware can be found online.
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Berkshire Innovation Center announces ‘Stage 2 Accelerator’ 2024-2025 companies
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), is proud to announce the second cohort of startup firms that have been accepted into the BIC’s Stage 2 Accelerator program.
This 35-week hands-on and results-oriented program is designed to serve early-stage tech startups. The awardees will receive membership and a dedicated workspace at the BIC and will have full access to BIC labs, advanced equipment, digital media studio, educational programming, and internal team of subject matter experts, as well as broad and curated support from the BIC’s committed member community. Entrepreneurs in the cohort will also have access to the BIC Manufacturing Academy (BMA), a program built in partnership with MIT and local industry partners with funding support from the US Department of Commerce and MassTech Collaborative, that is gaining national and international attention.
Firms accepted into Cohort 2 of the BIC Stage 2 Accelerator are:
Revvit builds low-cost and simple electric vehicle charging at commercial, multi-family, fleet parking and public properties. The company’s mission is to provide all communities with hyper-convenient EV charging to propel adoption of electric transportation in currently underserved locations.
Ethos Admissions focuses on college and career readiness, helping to prepare the next generation of climate-tech workers. Their program makes a deep connection and commitment to equity with a focus on postsecondary readiness and youth workforce development for marginalized and underserved students in rural and gateway communities.
Solid State Marine manufactures solid state lithium batteries for electric watercraft. Their composition eliminates the use of highly unstable liquids, greatly reducing thermal runaway conditions that cause typical lithium batteries to ignite. They are 30% smaller than the leading lithium-ion batteries, enabling big boat electronics in all vessels.
Clear Waterways Group, LLC has developed a self-contained device that clarifies large bodies of water. The device was developed to mitigate and remediate adverse effects of toxic algae blooms caused by nutrient pollution, and remove and prevent invasive species such as zebra mussels, from spreading in lakes, ponds, and rivers.
SuryaTech integrates battery storage with solar power, and enables faster and more consistent EV charging by storing solar energy for on-demand usage. This stored power can also be fed back into the grid during peak demand, enhancing grid stability and efficiency. This system leverages renewable energy to facilitate rapid charging while reducing reliance on non-renewable power sources.
Magnetworks is a community-driven job referral platform and modern job feed that leverages technology and word-of-mouth to transform regional hiring. With automated referral tools and local rewards for successful hires, Magnetworks turns the job search into a collaborative, community-focused effort.
Recover Hospitality is making travel more enjoyable and accessible for individuals who prioritize mental health and well-being. As healthier lifestyles and mindful choices gain momentum, hospitality environments that cater to the non-drinking and sober-curious population can make a significant impact.
For more information, please visit https://berkshireinnovationcenter.com
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1Berkshire’s Berkshire campaign continues at New York City’s Grand Central Station
Berkshire— 1Berkshire is happy to announce that it was able to bring the Berkshires to New York City’s Grand Central Station again for the month of September. It ran a similar campaign in the spring to keep the Berkshires top of mind during the shoulder season, and reached over 13 million people in the NYC area. 1Berkshire wanted to do this again heading out of summer into fall, to continue to keep the region top of mind. Similar to the spring campaign, this one will also have a digital retargeting wrap-around campaign, which will allow us to continue to reach visitors well into November.
The theme again of this campaign is “Soar, Restore, and Explore” in the Berkshires. The idea of running this thematic campaign in the fall is to make New Yorkers aware that the Berkshires is not just a summer destination so as to entice visitation in the shoulder seasons.
“Last time we did this campaign we had a great response from visitors and locals alike. This visually impactful marketing tool positions the Berkshires in front of millions of NYC commuters Thereby instilling in the viewers a Berkshire wanderlust, which we hope will entice them to make plans to actually visit us in the Berkshires,” said Lindsey Schmid, SVP of Tourism and Marketing for 1Berkshire.
