Berkshire Business Journal
Pet care is at a premium
Shortage of veterinarians a frustrating challenge in the Berkshires
By AmAndA Burke
The Berkshire Eagle
NORTH ADAMS — At North County Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Lindsay Cermak cares for animals and, by extension, the humans who walk them through the front door.
Her practice, like that of her peers throughout the county, is busy.
Her office fields upwards of 10 calls every day from prospective new patients looking to establish care for their pets, but Cermak said her office manager must break the news that they’re not accepting new clients right now.
“It’s hard,” she said. “Sometimes it’s people with new animals, puppies and kittens, and they’re not finding a new vet, or sometimes it’s someone who, unfortunately,
didn’t have a vet and now has a pet who’s getting older, getting sick and needs help.”
Finding a veterinarian in the Berkshires, and beyond, has become a significant challenge in recent years for a number of reasons, including a rise in pet ownership during the COVID pandemic, more veterinarians retiring or otherwise leaving the field, and the difficulty — and expense — of attaining a veterinary degree.
“There’s been a shortage of veterinarians in specific areas of veterinary practice, particularly anything rural or semi-rural, for a number of years,” said Dr. Alastair Cribb, dean of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Cermak’s alma mater. “Then, as we went through the pandemic
and came out the other side, we essentially hit what really is almost a global shortage of veterinarians.”
In Berkshire County, that’s left some pet owners hitting frustrating walls at they try to receive care for their new pets. While not impossible — some local providers are taking new clients, though likely booking appointments months in advance — others are offering appointments only to existing pet patients.
“You can definitely see the shortage, because there’s a lot of practices that are not taking new clients,” Cermak said. “It’s a problem, because there’s a lot of people are getting pets and can’t find a vet.”
To understand the factors that combine to create a frustrating situation for pet owners and even vets themself, another local veterinar-
ian, Dr. Michelle Looney, points back to the changing attitudes surrounding pet ownership she’s observed throughout her career.
When she started out about 30 years ago, she said, the family cat and dog were just that; animals.
But the human-animal bond has evolved, and now many view their pet as a part of the family. As a result, more pet owners are willing to pay for a range of treatments.
“More people want to do more things and take better care of their of their animals,” said Looney, chief of staff at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital on West Housatonic Street. “Even if finances are tight, they’ll find a way to do it.”
Meantime, veterinary medicine has advanced to the point where
BEN GARVER
STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
Veterinary technician Crystal Montemoino, left, holds 13-year-old Jameson, a black lab and Jack Russell terrier mix, as Dr. Michelle Looney looks at his gums during an exam at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital.
Front pages
Sheffield plastics factory to shut down
90 Plaskolite workers facing layoffs, with an option to relocate
By H eat H er Bellow
SHEFFIELD
— A company that was churning out plastic shields early in the coronavirus pandemic will be laying off 90 employees in the next 18 months.
Plaskolite Massachusetts LLC will be making the cuts between spring 2025 and spring 2026 as it prepares to close its Berkshire County plant.
Inflation and rising expenses, an aging building and difficulty recruiting skilled mechanical factory workers are among the reasons the plant is closing, according to plant Manager Tim Ryan.
Ryan said the company’s 96 employees at the plant off Salisbury Road were told of the cuts in late October. All were given an opportunity to relocate to one of the company’s two plants in Ohio — either Columbus and Zanesville.
“It’s a very difficult decision,” said Ryan, a Great Barrington native and longtime employee. “There are a lot of folks who have been here for a long time.”
The mood at the factory, Ryan said, is “somber.”
Ohio-based Plaskolite LLC bought Sheffield Plastics in 2018 from Covestro, a spinoff of Bayer MaterialScience. It currently runs 18 factories worldwide, including the Sheffield plant. That’s an increase of eight new factories since 2020.
Sheffield Plastics began operating at the Salisbury Road location in 1949. In the 1950s, it found success making hula hoops, fly swatters and fluorescent lighting panels.
The Plaskolite factory turns plastic pellets into a slew of products. It operates around the clock making things like vending machine fronts and fighter jet canopies using thermoplastic sheets that can be molded to specification.
In a statement emailed to The Eagle, the company says it will begin winding down Sheffield operations by early 2026. It is also working with the state and county “to provide job assistance.”
“Relocating our production,” the statement says, “is a necessary step to ensure we con-
Plaskolite, (formerly Sheffield Plastics), is shown in 2020. The Ohio-based company announced it is laying
prepares to close the Sheffield factory due to a host of economic factors, including high electricity prices in
Tim Ryan, plant manager at Plaskolite in Sheffield in 2020 with a thin plastic sheet that the company manufactured for protective face shields during the pandemic. The manufacturer of polycarbonate sheeting is laying nearly all its 96 employees as it prepares to close the Salisbury Road factory in 2026. Ryan says a combination of economic and recruitment factors fueled the decision.
tinue to deliver upon our high standards for product quality and employee safety, meet the evolving needs of our customers and grow our polycarbonates business.”
Ryan said the building is aging and needs upgrades to ensure all of this — particularly safety improvements. Such an investment, he added, would be risky given the challenges the compa-
ny has had recruiting.
High electricity costs in Massachusetts are another factor driving the company out, Ryan said. Indeed, Massachusetts has some of the highest electricity costs in the U.S., according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data.
Speaking of the timeline for closing, Ryan said the plan is to start disbanding some of the equipment in the first quarter of next year. The layoffs will be phased, he said.
Last week the company notified the MassHire Department of Career Services’ Rapid Re-
sponse Team, as required by federal and state law. The law was created to ensure workers involved in mass layoffs or plants closing will have time to prepare for job transitions. It was one of two Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification reports filed with MassHire for the week ending Nov. 1.
The last WARN report to affect Berkshire County workers was that of the week ending Sept. 9, when Fresh American LLC (Annie Selke Companies) and corporate parent Rugs USA announced layoffs of 47 employees in Pittsfield and Lenox by Dec. 31. Rugs USA is closing both Berkshire county locations.
At Plaskolite, some will feel the impact more than others.
“It’s the folks on the [factory] floor,” Ryan said. “They’re the ones who are going to take the hardest hit.”
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
off most of its 96 employees as it
Massachusetts.
Pittsfield Plastics staffing up to expand
By H eat H er Bellow
PITTSFIELD — In the wake of the recent announcement that a South County plastics company is closing its Sheffield factory, another Berkshire County plastics plant wants people to know that it is hiring.
A representative from Pittsfield Plastics Engineering, LLC announced that the company is looking to recruit at least three or four employees for different factory shifts, as well as a supervisor. They also may want to hire people for other work even if the specific job isn’t posted, as long as it’s the right fit.
Pittsfield Plastics’ Human Resources Manager Christina Siemer said that while she “doesn’t want to be pushy,” her door is open to potential new hires. She’s also willing to travel to Sheffield to talk to prospective employees.
The company, she said, is growing.
“We’re bringing in some new business right now,” Siemer said, “ and we’re looking for good people to come in and join our team.”
Inflation, rising electricity bills, an aging building and trouble recruiting skilled workers all factored into the company’s decision to close.
The Ohio-based company is offering jobs to all the Sheffield workers at its two Ohio plants if they are willing to move. The plant manager in Sheffield told The Eagle that these layoffs are hitting the
skilled machinists hard.
Siemer said that Pittsfield Plastics, founded in 1968, is also struggling to recruit skilled machine operators.
The company currently employs 80, but has previously employed as many as 120.
Pittsfield Plastics uses injection molding machines to make spools for tape, solder, and the type of spools holding rope or chains at hardware stores, Siemer said. It also manufactures bobbins for thread, as well as a wide range of custom work that includes various plastic parts, hardhats and
parts for outdoor recreation — like kayak paddles and seats.
“We’re like an episode of the TV show, ‘How it’s Made,’” she said.
In 2023, the company’s best customers were Old Town Canoes and Johnson Outdoors.
One of Pittsfield Plastics Engineering’s core products is spools. The precision parts are made with about 30 kinds of resin. Each part has a separate mold, made and stored in-house.
The company, Siemer said, pays competitive wages and offers robust benefits and retirement plans. Siemer has worked there for 27 years and says it’s a good workplace.
“We have a nice new outdoor break area,” Siemer said, “and we do fun things like pizza parties.”
PHOTOS BY BEN GARVER
Jonathan LaBonte cleans a mold for spooling at Pittsfield Plastics Engineering. The company is just completing a multimillion-dollar expansion, which includes multiple investments in material handling, expanded warehousing, machinery, equipment and its state-of-the-art toolroom.
Hi-Tech Mold & Tool growing, hiring
By H eat H er Bellow
PITTSFIELD — Another growing plastics manufacturer in the area is looking to hire skilled workers.
Hi-Tech Mold & Tool, Inc. said it can hire 10 to 15 new workers immediately, and will soon be looking to add more than a dozen employees after that.
The company wants to ultimately hire roughly 35 new employees, but will ideally do it in two or three waves, said Hi-Tech Vice President and General Manager Dane Matthews.
Before the pandemic, the company had 100 employees, Matthews said. After a period since, of “rapidly growing” its contracts, Matthews said it is ready to start hiring.
Matthews said that the firm is looking for skilled labor, including Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists who are trained at programing a machine that cuts parts. Hi-Tech is also hiring “mechanically-inclined” workers who, if not necessarily qualified, the company will train.
“We’re more than willing to invest in employees that want to advance,” he said. The company will cover any training costs.
The move will result in waves of layoffs of nearly all 96 employees. The company, which specializes in thermoplastic sheets, is offering all its workers jobs at two of its Ohio plants. But not all will want to make a move.
Now, Hi-Tech is also hoping to hire from this experienced pool.
Hi-Tech, headquartered on Technology Drive, has been in business for 38 years making 2,500 different parts for customers that include those in the aerospace and
defense, automotive, medical, wastewater and outdoor recreation industries.
The company makes a wide range of thermoplastics to withstand a variety of temperatures. It makes, for instance, a part that keeps moisture out of F16 fighter jet cockpits for pilot visibility, Matthews said. It also makes air handling system part for all of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners.
Airbus is also a customer. So is bike rack company, Thule.
For financial stability, Hi-Tech has worked on expanding and “diversifying” the industries it sells to, Matthews said.
The company has waited to hire, he said, amid the “ebbs and flows of the economy,” to avoid having to hire people only to let them go.
“Hi-Tech is in a very good position,” he said, “where we can now actively bring on employees with no worries of an economic downfall.”
Many Hi-Tech employees have stayed with the company 15 to 25 years. Matthews himself has worked there for 23 years.
The company has a number of recruitment strategies. Hi-Tech has trained students during their junior and senior years at Taconic High School and McCann Technical School. Matthews said the cooperative education programs with these schools have resulted in 12 students who stayed on as full-time employees after graduation.
Matthews said interested applicants can reach out to him or Sara King in human resources.
“We’re willing to interview over the phone or via Zoom,” he said, “or whatever is easiest for these employees. We’d love to be able to help out employees that are in need, and we certainly have room and options for them available.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HI-TECH MOLD & TOOL
A Hi-Tech Mold & Tool employee at work. Hi-Tech Mold & Tool said it can hire 10 to 15 new workers immediately, and will soon be looking to add more than a dozen employees after that.
An employee of Hi-Tech Mold & Tool in Pittsfield examines parts.
Business updates
PITTSFIELD
East Elm Pediatrics
now a BHS practice
East Elm Pediatrics has joined the Berkshire Health Systems medical group, furthering the legacy of care provided by Dr. John C. Dallenbach and his team and providing continued access to important pediatric services for thousands of children and families.
Effective Oct. 29, East Elm Pediatrics became Berkshire Health Pediatrics at East Elm, retaining the majority of the office staff and clinical care team. Dallenbach will remain at the practice during the transition period. BHS is also in the process of actively recruiting new pediatric specialists to join the patient care team.
The office remains at 426 East St. For information, call 413-442-8267 or visit berkshirehealthsystems.org/ eastelm.
SCHENECTADY, N.Y.
Supermarket kicks off ‘Red Kettle’ campaign
Price Chopper/Market 32 is once again playing host to the Salvation Army’s “Red Kettle” holiday campaign at all 130 of its stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
This year’s campaign runs through Dec. 24. Based in Schenectady, N.Y., Price Chopper/Market 32 operates Berkshire markets in Great Barrington, Lenox and Pittsfield.
Last year’s campaign raised nearly $580,000 in donations directly benefitting those in need throughout the communities where the funds were collected.
The Salvation Army and Price Chopper/Market 32 have been collaborative partners in the communities they serve for more than 35 years.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Clarksburg, Lee earn MIIA wellness grants
The towns of Clarksburg and Lee have been awarded grants from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association Health Benefits Trust, the towns’ health insurance provider, to further a culture of health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Clarksburg received $4,900 in grant funds to enhance the employee break area at Town Hall, while Lee used a $10,000 grant to purchase items to encourage healthy eating and help employees reduce stress and anxiety.
Clarksburg created a break room and added a refrigerator, coffee station, and convection toaster oven, giving employees tools to prepare and enjoy healthy lunches and snacks. The town also enhanced the space with new furniture and lighting
In Lee, the grant funds allowed each of the town’s 180 employees to choose either a mini crock pot, lunch cooler, juicer, or sunlight lamp to use at home and on the job.
Jayne Schmitz, the association’s Wellness Project manager and grant administrator, said the organization’s wellness grant program aims to boost the health of employees and their families with programs that address areas that can be controlled, such as eating, moving, sleeping, and following safety and injury prevention guidelines.
Members of the MIIA Health Benefits Trust can apply annually for wellness grants to fund projects or equipment that promote a well workforce and healthy work culture, particularly those that target specific needs of municipal departments and schools.
As a nonprofit membership service of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MIIA offers insurance coverage, wellness programs and risk management services to more than 400 Massachusetts cities, towns and public
entities. Information: emiia.org and mma.org.
PITTSFIELD
BCArc poised to open new redemption center
Berkshire County Arc is opening a redemption center that will employ a number of individuals with disabilities to help operate the business and interact with the customers.
The Green Redeem also will provide recycle bins at businesses for donations of bottles and cans, and will empty the bins as often as each business needs. Donations of bottles and cans can also be dropped off at BCArc’s Recycling Center at 20 Taconic Park Drive. Donations are tax deductible.
For more information, contact JG Ivy, general manager, at jivy@bcarc. org or call 413-443-9071.
PITTSFIELD
Truffles by Tarah chocolatier opens pop-up on North Street
Truffles by Tarah has launched Truffles by Tarah Pop-Up; North, at 48 North St. in Pittsfield.
Pop Up; North is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday, and features weekly flavor specials, Advent calendars, special packaging, and Berkshires-centric flavors. On select dates, there will also be other local vendors popping up with wares to sell. Truffles by Tarah owner and chocolatier Tarah H. Warner is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with a degree in baking and pastry. Truffles by Tarah was founded on the idea of unique chocolate truffle flavors using locally sourced ingredients. For more information, visit trufflesbytarah.com or email Warner at info@ trufflesbytarah.com.
PITTSFIELD
Credit union gives grant to trans organization
Seeing Rainbows, a trans-led and operated organization, has received a targeted grant from Greylock Federal Credit Union in partial sponsorship of the organization’s Mutual Aid Fund.
Seeing Rainbows’ mission is to build sustainable and supportive trans community through producing and presenting liberating art and experiences by and for trans and other marginalized peoples.
The Mutual Aid Fund prioritizes direct aid to trans and nonbinary people, including support for gender affirming clothing, food and other basic needs. With this grant, Greylock also becomes the first local institution to provide financial support to this Berkshire-based trans organization.
The $500 grant is also the first institutional support for the organization’s mutual aid fund, which has thus far received individual donations.
Since the organization’s founding in May of this year, Seeing Rainbows has hosted a slew of events, including weekly hikes, a monthly art workshop and others, in addition to providing clothing assistance and mutual aid in the local trans community.
For information on all of Seeing Rainbows’ programming and partnerships, visit seeingrainbows.org. Email questions to info@seeingrainbows.com.
SPRINGFIELD
BusinessWest accepting nominations for awards
BusinessWest, the business journal of Western Massachusetts, is accepting nominations for its 17th annual Difference Makers awards.
In 2009, BusinessWest initiated the Difference Makers program as a celebration of individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positive-
ly impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region.
Nominees will be recognized for working within the community on one or many initiatives aimed at improving quality of life; through succeeding in business, public service, or education; through inspiring others to get involved; through making an imaginative effort to help solve societal issues; or a combination of the above.
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 16. They can be submitted at tinyurl. com/bdfmxkea.
For information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, marketing and events manager, at 413-781-8600, ext. 100, or email mercado@businesswest.com.
PITTSFIELD
BMC, orthopaedic practice, earns Own the Bone honors
Berkshire Medical Center has been recognized for the ninth straight year as an Own the Bone Star Performer, a designation granted by the American Orthopaedic Association reserved for institutions that perform the highest level of fragility fracture and bone health care.
BMC, in partnership with BHS’ affiliate provider clinic at Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, joins over 300 health care institutions nationwide that have participated in Own the Bone and its national web-based quality improvement registry, which provides BMC with the tools to support and treat fragility fracture patients. Through participation in Own the Bone and recognition as an Own the Bone Star Performer, BMC has demonstrated a commitment to helping patients understand their risk for future fractures and the steps they can take to prevent them.
Own the Bone Star Performers must achieve a 75 percent compliance rate with at least five of 10 prevention measures, including: educating patients on the importance of calcium and vitamin D, physical activity and fall prevention; limiting alcohol intake and smoking cessation; recommending and initiating bone mineral density testing; discussing pharmacotherapy and treatment (when applicable); and providing written communication to the patient and their physician regarding specific risk factors and treatment recommendations.
BMC, a community teaching hospital, met all 10 measures during the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and screened 177 patients.
PITTSFIELD
Healthy Families earns Children’s Trust award
Healthy Families of Berkshire County was presented the Public Relations Award by the Children’s Trust at its annual Celebration Day in Boston.
The Children’s Trust is dedicated to ending child abuse and neglect in Massachusetts.
The Public Relations Award is given annually to a program that assists the Children’s Trust in getting the message of family support out to the public and demonstrates creativity, collaboration and relationship-building to engage legislators through participant stories and program impact.
Berkshire County Healthy Families, a free pregnancy and parenting program, was recognized for its annual child abuse awareness event, Step Up for Kids, held in collaboration with local state legislators.
Fifty-six pairs of shoes were displayed on the front steps of Pittsfield City Hall to represent the average number of confirmed child abuse and neglect cases in Berkshire County every month. Speakers included a former program participant.
GREAT BARRINGTON
Golf event
nets $50K for Fairview Hospital
Over 120 golfers from the area convened at Stockbridge Golf Club on Sept. 5 for Fairview Hospital’s 28th annual Golf Classic, which raised $50,000 to support the hospital’s equipment needs. Golfers and volunteers enjoyed perfect fall weather for the mixed scramble format, which was followed by a post-play reception. The event provides valuable support for Fairview Hospital, Berkshire Health Systems’ 25-bed critical access hospital in Great Barrington. Prizes were awarded to the top five gross and net teams.
In the net division, 2023 Champion Berkshire Bank defended its title (Ed Harvey, Jeff Harvey, Wenny Moony, Bob Coons). Second place: Unitech Sound (Jack Henault, William Dougherty, Shaun Wheatley, Julie Wheatley). Third-place: Emmett Schuster, Jeff Cella, Michelle Cella, Matt Risley. Fourth place: Obanhein Electric (Jim Obanhein, Kim Obanhein, Bill Barry, Lynn Barry). Fifth place: Party of Fore (Donna Wichman, Luke McDonnell, Joseph Soudant, Ray Briggs). Gross division winner was Lee Bank (Chris Kinne, Jim Nejaime, Heidi Nejaime, Matt Freitag). Second place: Team Schoenfeld (Stephen Schoenfeld, Stu Berkowitz, Andy Consolati, Skipper Singer). Third place: Greylock Federal Credit Union (Sheila Labarbera, Bob Massetti, Tom Marchetto, Ken Lemme). Fourth place: Smith Watson (Bryon Sherman, Max Joiner, Jodi Hermanski, Jamie Esola). Fifth place: NBT Bank (Aidan Gilligan, Rich Cantele, Linda Cantele, Dr. Mark Taylor).
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Residential plan is just Act 1
BY C LARENCE FANTO
LENOX — Leaders of Shakespeare & Company are seeking a lifeline to help secure long-term fi nancial survival of the theater.
At a recent Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to decide the fate of the theater company’s proposed residential and condominium redevelopment plan for its 32.7-acre campus, the financial stakes tied to the project moving forward became clear.
The company still owes $1.7 million on a property mortgage, which must be paid off or refinanced by June 2026, according to Shakespeare & Company board member Ken Werner, who now chairs the company’s property committee.
However, the plan itself will not make the theater troupe solvent, said Werner, a former chairman and treasurer. “But it’s an important plan that we are developing,” he acknowledged at a recent ZBA meeting.
That would leave $1 million to be raised.
Werner cited commitments for $800,000 in donations, “so we’re getting really close. So this by itself will not make it solvent but it will be a good step in that direction.”
But even with the looming mortgage payment, the Zoning Board wasn’t ready to automatically greenlight the project. The board instead has put off a go- or no-go decision at this time. It was expected to tour the 70 Kemble St. site, and complete its review of the proposal sometime in December.
The theater troupe’s attorney Lori Robbins of Heller & Robbins, called the first-phase plan “a very modest proposal for this very large property.”
Under questioning by ZBA member Kimberly Duval about
Long-term stability of theater at stake
the company’s long-term financial future, Werner disclosed that a nearby residential property at 125 Old Stockbridge Road, formerly known as The Hamlet, was gifted to the company 18 months ago and is now up for sale with an asking price of $1,550,000.
“We’re not just looking to pay off the mortgage,” Werner emphasized. “We’re looking to stabilize the company over the long term.”
He also assured the ZBA members that the long-term goal is not to increase density, but “to better utilize the campus so it becomes financially feasible for Shakespeare & Company to stay there, because right now, it’s just too much space for us.”
But he cautioned that without partnerships with other non-profits or private individuals, it’s not going to be feasible for the theater troupe to stay there long term.
Robbins, the attorney, cited the 1995 special permit issued to the National Music Foundation — former owner of the property, which was then 63 acres — for an educational use in a residential zone, per the town’s bylaws.
The foundation had proposed a retirement community and educational center for American artists, but it never gained traction.
Shakespeare & Company, founded in 1978 as an educational non-profit for theater arts then based at The Mount, the Edith Wharton estate, bought the Kemble Street campus in
2000 for $4.1 million.
The special permit has been modified numerous times, notably in 1998 to allow outdoor performances. Shakespeare & Company sold off several parcels totaling nearly half its acreage, including the Spring Lawn mansion off Kemble Street, which remains vulnerable to vandals after the demise of a hotel redevelopment plan.
Robbins pointed out that “they’re doing the best they can to make ends meet and, as you can imagine, any educational or theater production company is struggling. They have looked for different ways to continue the mission to enhance their economic viability.”
Shakespeare & Company
proposes to partner with developer David Carver of CT Management Group and Scarafoni Associates to construct four residential dwellings off Old Stockbridge Road as part of a condominium scenario for the entire campus.
Artistic Director Allyn Burrows, describing Carver’s involvement, emphasized that the theater company would maintain control of the property.
“This was a really important point for us,” he said, recalling how the company lost control of its lease at The Mount in the late 1990s.
“That’s essentially why we moved up the road,” he said. “And so this was paramount to me that we not lose control.”
The condominium structure would provide revenue to the company, cover maintenance, allow beautification of the property and create more housing, Burrows said.
“It’s not an overly ambitious project,” he said, adding that stabilizing the property will be accomplished in stages so the theater company can survive.
The plan also would create a covered pavilion out of an unused swimming pool building.
All the remaining structures on the campus eventually would be replaced, restored or renovated as condos.
Any buildings that can’t be salvaged will be torn down — at least 10 structures already have been demolished.
But ZBA member Duval voiced “a big concern” that some buildings will continue to fail as the project is phased-in. She expressed “a broken heart” over the condition of the previously sold-off and now derelict Spring Lawn mansion.
PHOTOS BY DOUG MASON
St. Martin Hall, a vacant building in need of renovation on the Shakespeare & Company property, eventually could be developed into housing as part of a proposal to develop a condominium “village” on the 32-acre site in Lenox. The collaboration with developer David Carver is under zoning board review
The special permit for Shakespeare & Company has been modified numerous times, notably in 1998 to allow outdoor performances. This paved the way for the construction of the Spruces Theatre, seen here in 2021.
New owners aim to expand Lenox inn
By C larenCe Fanto
LENOX — A historic downtown inn has changed hands ahead of a proposed major expansion under review by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The 15-room Garden Gables Inn, a boutique bed-and-breakfast in one of the town’s oldest surviving houses, was sold by its longtime owners, Vittori Properties LLC, to 135 Main Street LLC for $2,475,000 on Nov. 1, according to documents on file at the Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds.
The town currently assesses the 135 Main St. property at $2.1 million, including the main building, attached cottage and a separate orchard cottage — 15 guest rooms in all.
The buyer is a subsidiary of Sullivan Capital LLC, a highend real estate investment and development company based in Salem.
Their plan, subject to zoning approval, is to add two new structures — a new, 10-guest room hotel building and a separate event hall.
At a preliminary zoning board review last month, attorney Grace Enchill of Heller & Robbins PC in Lenox offered a summary of the project’s special permit application. She represented Eric Sullivan, the managing partner of Sullivan Capital.
ZBA member Kimberly Duval cited objections from several neighbors and questioned the additional density in the proposal.
“This looks to me like something we should be scrutinizing through and through as a brand
The Garden Gables Inn, a high-end boutique hotel at 135 Main St. in downtown Lenox is set to change ownership if the town’s zoning board approves a special permit to add 10 rooms and an event hall to the current 15-room bed-and-breakfast. The inn has been listed for $2.6 million.
new project,” Duval said, pointing out that it’s in a residential zone but grandfathered before zoning laws were adopted. “It seems so extensive.”
The proposed extension of the inn use will be consistent and complementary with the character of the downtown, the application states.
According to the special permit application, the proposed new hotel building and 70 per-
son-capacity event hall would “address the business’s need for increased revenue and the guests’ need for an event space.”
The project would increase the tax base, according to the application, by increasing downtown tourism. The event space would host small weddings, birthday parties, baby showers and retirement parties. It projects six new jobs for the expanded inn, as well as in-
creased foot traffic and spending at nearby downtown businesses.
Eleven additional parking spaces to the existing 25 are needed, per town bylaws.
Review of the application was expected to resume at a ZBA meeting in December.
Built in 1780 as a private residence known as the Eliza Williams House, and later as the Butternut Cottage for the butternut trees on its scenic
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property, the inn and gift shop opened in 1951, according to lenoxhistory.org.
Acquired by the Vittori family for $1.9 million in 2006, the inn received the Top 25 Small Hotels-United States award on TripAdvisor in 2023, for the second time. The family also owns Furnace Brook Winery at Hilltop Orchards and Nordic Center on Route 295 (Canaan Road) in Richmond.
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CLARENCE FANTO
Med spa offers a ‘balanced approach’
By H eat H er Bellow
GREAT BARRINGTON — The traditional medical spa world of Botox injections and fillers is getting the Berkshires touch.
Calla Delsignore, a Lenox Dale native and owner of a new incarnation of medical spa, says catering to a “negative self view” is not what she’s delivering at her downtown Main Street spa, L’io Beauty & Wellness.
It’s a Berkshires version; the empowering way, “a much more balanced approach,” Delsignore said. “Where it’s more about, ‘What’s gonna make you feel good? There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re beautiful. We’re all beautiful.’”
The spa is on the sunlit sixth floor, where her contractor husband did some renovating. She wanted the spa to feel “warm” rather than “sterile.” Her equipment, of course, is sterile, she said. Delsignore, 41, is a former emergency room and primary care nurse. She is a nurse practitioner with a masters degree. She chose the location because she said she has always felt connected to the Great Barrington community. So she saw an opportunity to merge her own inspiration and skills. L’io is the third medical spa in the Berkshires and the first in South County.
L’io offers facials and chemical peels, “microneedling” and “dermaplaning” — where a scalpel is used to “gently” scrape away dead skin. There are also the more invasive procedures: “Injectables” like the wrinkle relaxant, Botox. There are fillers made of hyaluronic acid, “a naturally occurring substance in the skin that is pivotal for preserving hydration and elasticity,” L’io’s website says.
The spa is also offering “electrotherapy” using “microcurrents.” The low-level electrical currents, Delsignore says, stimulates facial muscles to improve skin tone and appearance. She’ll also soon do eyelash tinting and eyebrow grooming.
She also carries a host of mostly botanically based products from wom-
en-owned companies.
Delsignore also treats what she says are “inflammatory skin conditions” like acne and rosacea.
She insists on thorough consultations with clients to work with their needs, she said.
“It’s not about selling or pushing products or pushing syringes,” she added. Also working out of the L’io space on the sixth floor is board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Christina deRis. Her practice, Ayuda Wellness, offers services that are “complementary” to L’io’s, Delsignore said.
These include hormone balancing, weight management and vitamin injections. Ayuda emphasizes “balance and harmony through medical and non-medical services, nutrition, supplementation and complementary, alternative modali-
ties,” L’io’s website says.
Despite offering services, Delsignore says “lifestyle is everything” when it comes to healthy and good-looking skin. Does she have any tips for those of us who chicken out around needles and other sharp tools?
“Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen,” she said, adding that it should be “mineral based” to avoid the harmful chemicals.
Also: not eating too much sugar and not drinking too much alcohol. Taking and applying vitamins A and C are also helpful, since “the skin is the only organ that absorbs from the inside and outside.”
How did a nurse practitioner like Delsignore go from working in the emergency room at Berkshire Medical Center, and in primary care at Lenox Family Health, to medical esthetics?
It was, in large part, due to her 14 years
working in a medical world where speedy appointments reduce time with patients. She started with high hopes.
“I wanted to teach people about preventative medicine and I was going to be this amazing, functional medicine superstar,” she said. “Instead I was seeing as many patients as I could get in and then going home and charting all night. And I couldn’t keep it up.”
Delsignore spent two years working at a medical spa. At some point, she “realized that what I was really good at was connecting with people and making them feel seen and safe and heard.”
She asked herself, “What am I good at? What do I need to do? I need to make money, and what are my skills?”
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
Calla Delsignore, a former emergency room and primary care nurse, has opened L’io Beauty & Wellness, a new spa offering medical aesthetics and skin care treatments in Great Barrington.
Licensed aesthetician Lorna Burnham gives fellow employee Larisa Versace a facial using micro current wands during a training session with the technology at L’io Beauty & Wellness in Great Barrington.
L’io Beauty & Wellness, a new med-spa offering medical aesthetics and skin care treatments, is the first of its kind to open in Great Barrington.
Veterinarian Elizabeth Watson uses a microscope to check a dog’s skin sample for signs of bacteria or yeast at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital.
Veterinarian shortage
there are many more options for care than there was the decades ago, according to Cribb.
“People got more pets, but they also got much more attached to their pets,” he said. “We saw, particularly during the pandemic, that people wanted to go further with the care for their pets than they had before.”
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE
In the Berkshires, there have been local ripples that exacerbated industrywide trends. For one, certain communities in the county saw second-home owners spending more time here, and attracted new pet-owning residents from the New York City area, according to Looney.
In 2022, the well-established practice in Pittsfield, Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital, closed its doors. The Berkshire Humane Society, sensing a gap in services, opened a veterinary clinic in its place the following year.
The need for the clinic also arose from heightened demand at existing vet offices. For year, local veterinarians provided shelter animals with free or discounted care,
said John Perreault, the humane society’s executive director. As those vets grew busier, they struggled to serve shelter pets on top of regular clients.
The clinic’s second function is to provide limited services to the public three days a week by appointment, administering vaccinations, certain preventative treatments and care for some health issues that may arise.
“The client base we’re trying to reach are those that can’t get into their own veterinarian on time for something they may need,” he said.
There’s one gap still unfilled that the clinic can’t bridge — that of a full-service emergency veterinary hospital. There are no such facilities in Berkshire County; the closest are in Latham, N.Y., West Springfield and South Deerfield.
Looney is aware of complaints about the lack of 24-hour care in the county. Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital used to serve as the animal emergency room of the Berkshires, she said, with technicians staffing the building overnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and veterinarians on call.
Staff worked hard to keep the emergency services running, she said. It became unsustainable around about 15 years ago.
“For 10 years we worked on keeping it open. We really tried,”
she said, noting she herself helped staff the ER. “We finally closed it because we didn’t have enough clients or staff to keep it open.”
And Looney believes the care at animal emergency rooms in neighboring counties eclipses what the former ER was able to provide.
It often took about an hour for a vet to respond while on call, she said, about the time it takes to drive to one of the animal hospitals that are already set up and staffed to respond to emergencies.
“It’s no difference in time for the animal,” she said.
Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital does, however, keep about five appointments open every day for emergency visits. Veterinary technicians also handle appointments for blood draws, vaccinations and some small procedures, Looney said, offsetting some of the workload.
The story of the county’s only animal ER closing is representative of a shifting paradigm in veterinary medicine, Cermak said. Where pet veterinarians once were expected to be on call 24/7, Cermak said the model has shifted to one more closely resembling that of human primary care doctors and emergency departments, with dedicated urgent care facilities set up to handle emergencies outside of business hours.
The on-call model also led to
exhaustion on the part of veterinary medicine providers, Cermak said. Juggling family and professional obligations became an “impossible balance” to strike.
“The veterinary profession is now largely women, and if you are having a family you want that work-life balance,” she said. “That’s hard to find, and can lead to leaving professional or mental health struggles.”
In March, Berkshire Veterinary Hospital on Crane Avenue in Pittsfield, owned by Portland, Mainebased Rarebreed Veterinary Hospital, stopped providing on-call vet services on Sundays. According to a note posted on the company’s website, the practice has just two fulltime vets, which it said “limits our ability to keep up with demand.”
The company said it was “unable to increase our staffing due to a national shortage of DVM’s and veterinary technicians.” The decision to scale back Sunday availability was made to “ensure the health and wellbeing” of the providers it does have. Those providers, Cermak said, are prone to developing “compassion fatigue,” where people respond to the negative effects of absorbing the trauma of others with exhaustion and sometimes detachment. On top of the emotional distress associated with interacting
STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
Veterinarian shortage
PAGE 10
with sick and dying animals, Cermak said the financial aspect of industry also adds stress.
On the provider side, Cermak said many vets graduate saddled with debt. Despite salaries high above the median in the region, it isn’t always enough to avoid financial hardship.
Meantime, she said, costs of medical supplies and overhead goes up every year, only worsening since the pandemic. It can be tough to relay to pet owners the cost care, and even more difficult when they can’t afford to pay. Cermak said pet insurance isn’t very common, leaving the option of financing the cost of care using credit.
“Everything costs more than it used to, so just to balance that, to be able to pay our staff and supplies, we do have to raise prices,” she said. “Then it comes back on the on the veterinarian, when, unfortunately, sometimes people can’t afford the level of care they want. And that’s mentally taxing for us.”
Following the unexpected death of its founder, Dr. John Reynolds, Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital was purchased by Vetcor, a Norwell-based company that owns 896 practices in the US and Canada. The company also owns Greylock Animal Hospital in North Adams.
THE OUTLOOK
Cribb leads New England’s only veterinary school, located in North Grafton just outside of Worcester. The college in 2022 increased its annual class size from about 100 to 150 students in response to the growing the demand for vets, he said.
And because Tufts receives state funding, approximately 40 students in each class must be Massachusetts residents, some of whom presumably will remain in the state to practice.
Cribb said vet schools across the
country have also been increasing enrollment. Meantime, over a dozen new veterinary schools have been proposed across the U.S., and await accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association; though Cribb said none of the prospective new programs are in New England. The other regional
schools are Cornell University to the west of Berkshire County, the Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Cribb expects it will take up to seven years for the increased capacity at vet schools to raise the number of veterinarians practicing in the region. But even then,
he expects the picture may not improve as much in places like the Berkshires among them, compared to urban centers.
“It’ll be easier to get appointments, it’ll be easier to find a veterinarian,” he said. “But I’m going to guess there will still be shortages in rural and semi-rural areas.”
“Those are lifestyle choices,” he added.
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STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
Veterinarian Jennifer Ewald performs a spay on a 6-month-old puppy with the help of veterinary technician Brandy Kruszyna at Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital. Veterinary technicians also handle appointments for blood draws, vaccinations and some small procedures, offsetting some of the workload.
A Norman Rockwell vacation
Red Lion Inn’s firehouse suite a step back in time
By C larenCe Fanto
STOCKBRIDGE — A visit to the newly opened, nostalgia-filled Norman Rockwell Firehouse suite at the Red Lion Inn is like time traveling into mid-20th century Americana.
The inn, led by third-generation family owner and Main Street Hospitality CEO Sarah Eustis, has gone all-out, creating a shrine to the famous artist-illustrator whose name remains linked to the town where he lived from 1953 until his death in 1978.
The resulting special guest experience also reflects the history of the 1773 Red Lion Inn, the Fitzpatrick family that restored it and saved it from potential demolition in 1968, and the museum bearing Rockwell’s name. It was originally in the compact Old Corner House on Main Street before moving in 1993 to a spacious, pastoral property three miles west of town.
“The goal here isn’t simply to observe but to engage with history,” Eustis suggested in a statement. “We want our guests not only to see what made Rockwell’s works so impactful but also feel it — to live it if only for a night or two.”
Depending on availability, guests can book a night or more in the old firehouse, depicted in Rockwell’s illustration, “The New American LaFrance is Here,” published by the Saturday Evening Post in 1971.
The history of the firehouse is “an interesting, serendipitous timeline of events,” said Carla Child, director of project management at the Red Lion for 25 years. She serves as the “innkeeper” of the Norman Rockwell Firehouse suite and guided this reporter’s visit on Wednesday.
Built in 1898 with an imposing red door and bell tower, time had caught up with the firehouse by the time Rockwell released his illustration.
New, larger firetrucks no longer could fit, Child pointed out. The town sold the building on Elm Street to the Fitzpatricks in 1976 for the highest bid, $25,000 ($138,000 in today’s money), the year after the new central fire station at Main and Vine streets opened.
For five years the former firehouse housed the Gumdrop Square, a business owned by Ann Fitzpatrick Brown, daughter of Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick, that sold gingerbread house kits to high-end retailers. Then it became the mail-order site for the Norman Rockwell Museum.
In the mid-1990s, the Fitzpatricks spent $120,000 renovating
the firehouse as a two-story, one-bedroom suite for special stays, Child said. The first guest checked in on July 15, 1995. It continued as a getaway for visitors, a gathering place for meetings and a multipurpose destination for private functions.
This year, Eustis, partnering closely with the museum, determined the best way to “embrace Norman” included a studio-type experience and an entire Rockwell immersion, Child explained.
Signed Rockwells were gathered, and the museum helped developed interactive tools, such as a QR code beneath displayed prints allowing guests to download a guided audio tour for the images on their phones — a high-tech museum-style tour.
“Pretty much everywhere you go in this small but splen-
did suite, you will encounter Norman, things that related to him,” Child pointed out. The result: A time warp where the friendly “ghost” of Norman hovers throughout the suite, even in the kitchen with illustrated plates on display.
After the final touches were completed, the first overnight guests seeking a deep immersion into all things Rockwell arrived on Oct. 3.
“Comparing what it was to what it is now, it’s alive again,” Child observed. “There’s an energy here now that wasn’t, maybe it’s bringing all the art in and knowing that Norman had so much love for his craft and the townspeople here — how meaningful he has made Stockbridge, it infuses and really adds to the experience you can have here.”
In partnership with the mu-
seum, the first-floor living room is bedecked with reproductions of his paintings, signed prints, an audio guide to some of the artist’s iconic images, archival photographs, a curated book collection, a typewriter for period authenticity, and two easels with art supplies so guests can “channel their inner artist,” as Eustis put it, and try their hand at self-created mementos.
There’s a full kitchen and a lavishly appointed second-floor bedroom. The house is fully climate-controlled.
Guests booking an upgraded ”Firehouse Experience” can add a private Thanksgiving-style dinner served either in the suite or at the inn’s dining-room as well as tickets for two to explore the Norman Rockwell Museum.
Noting that the inn has been a downtown mainstay for travelers for 250 years, Eustis pointed out that the collaboration with the museum yielded “a unique guest experience where you can live inside a Norman Rockwell painting.”
She recalled that Rockwell was a frequent lunch companion, joining her grandparents, the late Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick.
“Their conversations and shared meals are part of the inn’s rich history,” Eustis commented in a promotional online video for the suite. “Today, you can still feel Rockwell’s presence throughout the town. The legacy of the firehouse building continues as part of the Red Lion Inn campus.”
The note left by the first visitors for the guest book: “Thank you for this amazing place.”
PHOTOS BY DOUG MASON
The grand room of the Red Lion Inn’s Norman Rockwell Firehouse Suite. “We want our guests not only to see what made Rockwell’s works so impactful but also feel it — to live it if only for a night or two,” said Sarah Eustis, CEO of Red Lion owner Main Street Hospitality.
The bathroom in the Norman Rockwell Firehouse suite features images of the artist, including the iconic self-portrait while shaving.
‘A
staple in the community’ East Side Cafe in new hands — from same family
By GreG Sukiennik
PITTSFIELD — One of the city’s oldest restaurants has changed ownership, but is remaining within the family that has run it for generations.
The East Side Cafe at 378 Newell St., a Lakewood neighborhood institution since it opened in the 1930s, has been purchased by Marco Allessio from his uncle, Paul Capitanio, his grandmother, Dolores Capitanio, and other family members.
The Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds recorded the transfer recently, with Marcos East Side Real Estate LLC purchasing the property. The business announced the change on its Facebook page.
“It’s a staple in the community. I would not want to see it die out,” said Allessio, 37, who returned from working at a restaurant in Texas with the eventual goal of becoming the East Side’s next generation of leadership. “I decided to come back and make sure it keeps going.”
Those who love the East Side’s trademark thin crust pizza will be happy to know that Allessio plans to change virtually nothing about the place. And he’ll have help from his mother, Lori Allessio, who, like her mother and her son, started working there as a kid.
“It’s all the same recipes, all the same everything,” he said.
But Allessio does plan to expand its restaurant hours, which were cut back to 12 per week — four hours each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday — during the pandemic. He’s extending pizza hours on Friday to 4 to 9 p.m..
He also plans to expand pizzas to
MATT MARTINEZ
The East Side Cafe, a Lakewood landmark, has been purchased by Marco Allessio, a member of the family that has owned the bar and coal-fired pizzeria for generations.
Thursday nights, and offer a specialty pasta of the week on Wednesdays. An experienced mixologist, he also has plans to offer signature cocktails at the bar.
The Pittsfield Licensing Board approved the license transfer on June 24, and the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission signed off on Oct. 2.
According to the Licensing Board application, Allessio paid $100,000 for the
building and $250,000 for the business.
‘IT’S A FAMILY THING’
The East Side traces its lineage to the late Gabriel and Sophia Virgilio, who founded the restaurant in the 1930s. Dolores Capitanio, who started working at the East Side when she was 12, purchased it from her uncle and aunt in 1980.
“I’ve been working there practically
THEBESTMACHINESFOR THEWORSTCONDITIONS
INVENTORYAVAILABLE VISITUSTODAY
“I didn’t want to let the community down and have it close its doors.”
Marco alleSio, new owner of East Side Cafe
my whole life. It’s a family thing,” Lori Allesio said. “It’s staying in the family. We’re not changing anything.”
“We’d hate to have it out of the family,” she added.
Her son takes the family legacy seriously. He, too, worked at the East Side as a kid, busing tables, and later as a young adult, tending bar.
He opened a restaurant of his own, Battista’s, on West Housatonic Street, in 2014, naming it for his great-grandfather, Battista Allessio, believed to be the first Italian immigrant to settle in Pittsfield. That eatery was open for about two years, after which Allessio moved to Texas to continue working in the restaurant business.
A 2005 graduate of Pittsfield High School, Allessio studied dining room management at Berkshire Community College.
“It’s an institution in the community. It’s been around for 91 years now,” he said. “I didn’t want to let the community down and have it close its doors.”
Lori Allessio said her son is taking over knowing full well how much work the restaurant business can be.
“It’s a tough job to own a bar and restaurant. … I kept asking ‘Are you sure you want this?’ ” she said. “It’s in his blood. He loves bartending, he loves cooking.”
Business updates
New owners, familiar faces at Route 8 pub
By Jane K aufman
BECKET — The Route 8 Pub has changed hands but with familiar faces at the helm in a family-run and locally owned enterprise.
When Mo Vandesteene learned that founder and owner Heather Anello intended to close the pub, he turned to daughter Trisha Magner with a question. Would she like him to buy it? The answer was yes.
Now, Vandesteene owns the restaurant in a lease from Anello, who still owns the building. Magner, who worked under Anello, is general manager. Vandesteene’s other daughter, Jennifer White, tends bar.
The chef isn’t a family member. Rodger Ginthwain came aboard after Magner advertised. As it happened, he and Magner worked together years ago at Baba Louie’s.
With Ginthwain in the kitchen and Magner pitching in there as well, the Route 8 Pub is known for its wings and burgers — served on buns branded with the pub’s logo.
It’s also a gathering place, with an acoustic jam and solo musicians or duos.
The pub seats 50. That doesn’t include the picnic tables out front that patrons are welcome to use if they want to sit down outside with their takeout orders.
Since Vandesteene bought the place, he’s redone the floors and painted the interior.
While he’s already halfway
through his three-year lease with Anello, he’s recently applied for a liquor license transfer with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, which the Becket Select Board unanimously endorsed.
Vandesteene said Magner is now putting in sweat equity to eventually own the pub.
Magner, who previously worked at Gateways Inn in Lenox and at Halpin’s Grub and Grog in Lenox, said she enjoys working with her father, although both acknowledged that working together has its moments.
“We’re pretty close,” she said. “We get along pretty well. There is a couple little bumps but very little.”
As general manager, she’s trying to strike a balance regarding pricing.
“That’s really tough,” she said. “Keeping your prices down without people thinking that you’re charging crazy amounts. I think that’s the hardest thing is the cost of everything going up and down all the time.”
Noting an irony, she said the rising price of groceries may be helping busines.
“I think the price isn’t so shocking because the prices at the grocery store are so shocking,” she said.
Vandesteene, 69, was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He grew up in the Worcester County town of Ashburnham and graduated
If you go
What: Route 8 Pub
Where: 3235 Main St., Becket
Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Menu: Snacks and starters, soups and salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pizzas, bowls and dessert. Full bar and craft beers on tap. Live sports on TV. Order ahead for takeout.
Information: 413-6235500 or route8pub.com
from Oakmont Regional High School. His first job was at the IGA Supermarket. He went to Berkshire Community College, graduating in 1974.
He moved to San Diego from 1975 to 1979, where he married and had his daughter, Trisha Magner. When he returned to Berkshire County in 1979, he lived at first in Washington and then bought a home in Becket in 1980.
Vandesteene worked as a laborer and then bartended at Bucksteep Manor in Washington for 15 years and was named manager for his last five years there. He also worked at Hill-
crest Educational Center and at Canterbury Farm building stone walls and patios. He spent 20 years operating campgrounds at Kampgrounds of America; one had 600 sites.
“I retired from Kampgrounds of America,” Vandesteene said. “I was working a little bit here and there. I have a 401(k) I was looking at. The stock market was not doing a lot at that point.”
Since reopening under Vandersteene’s ownership, he’s been putting in hours at the pub.
“It’s been going great,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of community support. The atmosphere is fantastic, I hear all the time here, and you can feel it.”
He praised Magner’s work.
“She’s working hard, doing a great job,” Vandesteene said. “And Rodger’s just phenomenal.”
Nathan Maynard and Greer Tison of Blandford stopped by to open the pub on a recent Friday afternoon.
“It’s only about 15 minutes from our house,” Maynard said. “We either have to go down to Westfield or keep it local here. And this place is fantastic. We’re kind of wing fanatics. And this place has some of the best wings, I would say, in Western Massachusetts.”
Tison said she appreciates the inclusion of nonalcoholic beer on the bar menu. But that’s not all.
“They made that delicious poached dill salmon,” Tison said. “That was fantastic.”
$2,575,000
$350,000
JANE KAUFMAN
Mo Vandesteene stands at the Route 8 Pub. He’s the owner and is running the place with his two daughters.
This stock strategy is hard to beat Berkshire voices
Imagine a systematic stock selection strategy that has resulted in an annualized return of about 14 percent per year over the last 15 years. And imagine you can get easy, low-cost access to this “strategy” without a high-priced financial adviser, fancy investment banker, or complicated hedge fund.
That’s probably a strategy that most people would be interested in learning more about. Here’s how the strategy works.
The strategy involves a meticulous process that consists of strict stock eligibility criteria, selection by a committee, and regular reviews and adjustments.
It starts by looking at the universe of U.S. stocks. To be considered for inclusion, the company must be legally incorporated in the US with a primary headquarters in the U.S.
The company must file regular financial statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and must be primarily listed on a U.S. exchange like the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.
The companies might be multinational companies, but primary business activities, management, and control must be based in the U.S. This creates a standard level of financial transparency and regulatory oversight.
Next, the companies must meet a size threshold. To be considered for inclusion in the strategy, the company must have a current mar-
ket capitalization of at least $14.6 billion (this figure is periodically adjusted to reflect market conditions). This means that any company in the portfolio is quite large, with a sizable economic impact (the all-stars of the American economy). Smaller publicly traded companies that may carry greater risk or uncertainty are excluded.
The selection criteria then require that companies have adequate liquidity, meaning that they are traded regularly. Specifically, the ratio of annual dollar values traded to float-adjusted market capitalization must be 1.0 or greater, which ensures the company’s stock can be bought and sold with minimal friction. Additionally, at least 50 percent of the company’s stock must be available to the public for trading, so the strategy does not include companies that are primarily privately held.
Companies must then pass an earnings test to be considered for inclusion. A company’s earnings over the last quarter as well as the sum of its previous four consecutive quarters must be positive. This ensures that only profitable companies are included.
The selection of qualifying companies then goes to a committee. The committee consists of economists and analysts who bring a depth of market knowledge to the selection process. The committee meets regularly to review the companies and consider potential additions or deletions.
The committee considers the company’s history, industry representation, and considers the impact of recent mergers and acquisitions. Decisions on inclusion are made by consensus, aiming to minimize turnover in membership. There is an annual review to assess whether existing companies still meet eligibility criteria. In exceptional cases, replacements can be made outside the regular review schedule.
Companies who pass these selection criteria and are vetted by the committee are then weighted according to their float-adjusted market capitalization. This means that each company’s weight in the portfolio is proportional to its size, excluding shares held by insiders and governments. The largest holdings in the basket will be the largest companies in the U.S. that meet the criteria.
The committee ensures that the stocks included are relatively balanced across 11 major sectors of the U.S. economy, including technology, health care, financials, energy, consumer discretionary, communication services, industrials, consumer staples, utilities, real estate and materials. This ensures a diverse basket of companies that is not overly concentrated in a single industry.
This strict stock selection process results in 500 large and profitable U.S. companies weighted by size. As mentioned, the track record of this strategy is impressive, with a 15-year annualized return of more
than 14 percent per year (through early November).
This selection strategy is also known as — big reveal — the S&P 500 Index. That’s right, the simple benchmark index that we all know so well is based on a rigorous methodology. Investors can get direct exposure to this index for next to nothing.
For example, the SPY ETF (SPDR S&P 500 ETF) comes with an expense ratio of 0.09 percent (there are other ETFs that are even less expensive, but the SPY is the most well known and liquid).
People usually think of the S&P 500 as a passive index, meaning that there is not a fund manager making active decisions and trying to predict future outcomes. This passive moniker is sometimes derided by market participants — surely a passive index can’t beat an active manager who knows how to pick stocks.
Yet time and again the data shows how difficult it is for active funds to beat the S&P 500. As of the mid-year 2024 SPIVA Study, about 90 percent of US large cap equity funds have underperformed the S&P 500 Index in the last 15 years.
Past performance is certainly not a guarantee of future results, but the history of the S&P 500 is impressive. Whether you call it a passive index or a “stock selection strategy,” the S&P 500 has been tough to beat.
Luke Delorme is director of financial planning at Tableaux Wealth in Stockbridge.
Luke Delorme Money Talk
BFF group lands over $4M in grants
By H anna H Van S ickle
It’s been two full years since Berkshire Regional Planning Commission joined forces with local partner agencies to establish Berkshire Funding Focus — an initiative that’s quickly become the goto BFF (read: best friend forever) of entities across Berkshire County seeking federal and state funds for pandemic-related recovery and rebuilding.
In 2021, a robust group of cross-sector organizations (including the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, 1Berkshire, BERK12, Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Bank, Health Resources in Action, and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation) commenced brainstorming how to get more dollars flowing into the region. At the time, their goal was simple: to help critical stakeholder groups — among them nonprofits, municipalities, school districts, and small businesses — recover from pandemic-related challenges, build resilience, and foster economic opportunities for residents longterm. In a boon to folks across the 413, recovery grant specialist Karen Pelto has a wealth of information to share. Literally.
“The complexities of the region continue to unfold,” says Pelto, who was hired to research grants, facilitate collaboration, help folks complete applications, and spread the word
via berkshirefundingfocus.
org. After two years on the job, her elevator pitch is razor sharp:
“I help folks in Berkshire County become aware of, and more competitive for, state and federal grant funding,” says Pelto, whose track record speaks for itself.
Since its inception in November 2022, Berkshire Funding Focus has turned an initial investment of $150,000 into a whopping $4,272,165 for Berkshire County. Of this total, 74 percent of funds were directed toward nonprofits; 19 percent toward small businesses; and 7 percent toward municipalities.
grant writing assistance — a service BFF does not routinely offer — to those folks without the in-house capacity to do so independently.
Amidst significant state and federal investments for all types of projects, a consistent emphasis on supporting disadvantaged communities has persisted — despite overlapping, and at times conflicting, definitions of what the term entails.
“We are here to help by providing advice and doing some limited hands-on work,” says Pelto in a nod to the four — and in some cases five — Cs that serve as the backbone of BFF’s approach. At present, the organization serves the region as a clearinghouse that:
• Curates state and federal funding announcements;
• Builds capacity by offering regular training programs for potential applicants;
• Convenes potential partners to explore collaborative and competitive proposals; and
• Consults with organizations seeking assistance to help answer questions and navigate applications.
In the presence of a significant equity component, BFF will step up to help compose by providing
“Some specifically define disadvantaged in terms of marginalized groups while others cast a more broad net to include [the Berkshires’ location, which is largely] rural,” Pelto explains, offering North Adams as a prime example: While the city might qualify for one grant, as it contains areas of persistent poverty and historically disadvantaged communities, the fact that its population exceeds 10,000 might exclude it from another.
A tremendous interest in advocacy — brought to Pelto’s attention early on by minority- and immigrant-led nonprofit organizations in particular — got her really thinking about the topic in the context of the grant space.
“We have worked to ensure our increasing network of contacts are aware of opportunities to weigh in [on the conversation],” says Pelto, underscoring
that Berkshire Black Economic Council and Volunteers in Medicine were added to the Steering Committee after the launch. At the state level, this translates to understanding the funding an agency is going to be able to provide — for example, the Affordable Housing and Economic Development Acts that recently passed — and participating, via public comment, on policies that will influence an agency’s future grant making. Further along in the process, not surprising (but indeed frustrating) is the dense and bureaucratic nature of grant applications.
“State and federal agencies are not awarding grants out of the goodness of their hearts,” says Pelto, in a nod to myriad mandates and regulations that must be met on their end. As such, her advice to folks seeking grant funding is simple:
ultimately have to report to someone,” says Pelto, of a paradigm shift, especially for folks familiar with private philanthropy.
To date, this once-in-a-generation opportunity to tap into millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funding is making good on its promise to improve the well-being of the community at large. In Pittsfield, Elegant Stitches sought support from BFF on two applications to help them expand their business: Massachusetts Center for Advanced Manufacturing’s Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program ($198,930) and the Massachusetts Community One Stop for Growth’s Underutilized Properties Program ($315,450).
To date, this oncein-a-generation opportunity to tap into millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funding is making good on its promise to improve the well-being of the community at large.
“When writing your proposal, it’s not just about convincing them that your idea is the best, rather that your idea is the best at making sure they can meet their goal—because [awarding agencies]
“It’s especially gratifying to help entrepreneurs secure grant funding,” says Pelto, underscoring that most of the dollars available to small businesses are loan-based as opposed to grant-based. Another Pittsfield-based entity, the nonprofit Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds, secured its first
BERKSHIRE FUNDING, Page 18
Big win for the innovation economy
Ultimately, persistence won the day for Team Massachusetts. In late November — three months after Massachusetts lawmakers ended their formal session without passing most of the major initiatives before them – legislators returned to the capital, reached an agreement, and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law House Bill No. 5100, An Act Relative to Strengthening Massachusetts’ Economic Leadership.
solidified its position as a global leader in the innovation economy, specifically key sectors such as life sciences, climate tech, robotics, applied AI, and advanced manufacturing.
Mass Leads, as the bill is known, is a nearly $4 billion investment in the commonwealth — an investment that Gov. Healey appropriately described as “essential” to keeping our economy “strong and adaptable in a rapidly changing world.” I’m proud to have supported this bill, grateful for the commitment and dedication of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our local delegation — Sen. Paul Mark and Representatives John Barrett, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and William “Smitty” Pignatelli — and eager to lock arms with our partners to make sure the impact of this investment reaches Berkshire County.
Anchored by world-class universities, vibrant startup ecosystems, and robust public-private partnerships, Massachusetts has long
In the life sciences, we have one of the most active and productive ecosystems in the world: 18 of the Top20 biopharma companies have offices here, we are No. 1 in talent with the highest percentage of residents who hold undergraduate degrees, and 25 percent of K-12 students in Massachusetts learn with equipment funded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
In Climate Tech, we are No. 1 for climate tech startups per capita, No. 2 in climate tech investment over the last five years, No. 3 in climate tech patent filings, and No. 2 in clean energy jobs per capita. Led by our prolific research institutions and companies such as Boston Dynamics and iRobot, we accounted for 12 percent of all robotics patents filed in the U.S. in 2023. As for AI-related patents, we ranked No. 2 nationally in the same year.
Despite this dominance, other states — New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas — are making big investments to compete and catch up. As I’ve heard Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne
Hao say numerous times, “this is no time to rest on our laurels.” Just because we’ve been a leader, there is no guarantee that we will continue to lead.
The Mass Leads Act is about maintaining our lead AND lengthening that lead. At the center of the bill is a new 10-year, $1 billion investment in our globally renowned life sciences sector. Led by the Massachusetts Life Science Center, the funding positions the state to support life science companies, hospitals, and research institutions as they tackle the toughest challenges in health care innovation. It also drives more collaboration across the state and more equitable health outcomes for our residents.
The bill also seeks to bring the same success Massachusetts has had in the life science sector to the climate tech sector. It includes $400 million in capital authorization and $300 million in tax incentives all aimed at ensuring Massachusetts is the global hub for climate-based innovation and technology. While not at the same scale, the bill also provides for critical capital authorizations to support other key emerging sectors — artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing. Again, investments in these areas are carefully crafted to help Massachusetts maintain and lengthen our lead relative to
other states that are now competing to grow these same sectors.
We know that the Boston-Cambridge area is the epicenter of the Massachusetts innovation economy. We also know, however, that the ripple from that epicenter is reaching places like Lowell, Worcester, Devens, Holyoke, Springfield, Pittsfield, Lee, North Adams and others. This administration is wholeheartedly committed to making sure the economic opportunity reaches all corners of the commonwealth and kudos to our local delegation for their relentless work in making sure that vision becomes reality.
At the BIC, we just completed a regional roadmap identifying the role that Western Massachusetts can play in what Gov. Healey has called the “climate tech corridor” that she envisions stretching “from the Berkshires to Barnstable.”
Our findings are similarly applicable to the other key sectors prioritized in the Mass Leads Act. Now that the bill is signed, it’s time to put our best plans forward as a community to make sure that the investment has a truly transformative impact on Berkshire County. If we go inbound with strong proposals and collective vision, I’m confident we will find eager partners in the Statehouse.
Ben Sosne is executive director of the Berkshire Innovation Center.
Ben Sosne News from the BIC
Karen Pelto
Helping seniors embrace, enjoy cannabis
As the holiday season approaches, we in the Berkshires’ cannabis industry find ourselves at a unique crossroads. This time of year brings families together, offering a prime opportunity to bridge generational gaps through shared experiences.
One such experience gaining traction is the introduction of cannabis to older family members, particularly seniors. I will always remember the time I witnessed a group of four generations of women from the same family shopping together in our store here in Lee. The evolving landscape of cannabis use among seniors presents both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses and families alike.
Meg Sanders Cannabis Corner
Studies in recent years have been highlighting a significant uptick in cannabis use among older adults.
A 2023 survey from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 21 percent of adults aged 50 and older reported using cannabis in the past year, with 12 percent using it at least once a month. This marks a notable increase from previous years, indicating a growing acceptance and curiosity about cannabis within this demographic.
It’s heartening to observe that many senior centers and assisted living facilities are recognizing the interest in cannabis among their residents. Seniors are experimenting with various cannabis products to enhance their quality of
life, whether for managing pain, improving sleep, or simply enjoying the experience, while living at senior facilities in the Berkshires and Western Massachusetts. The legalization of cannabis in our state has provided an additional plant-based option for wellness, particularly valuable during the winter years of life when quality of personal wellness is paramount. The reasons seniors are turning to cannabis are varied and compelling. The same University of Michigan poll revealed that among those who used cannabis, 81 percent did so to relax, 68 percent to aid sleep, 64 percent to enjoy the effects, 63 percent for pain relief, and 53 percent to help with mental health or mood.These statistics underscore a shift towards viewing cannabis as a viable option for enhancing quality of life during the later years for adults.
The University of Michigan poll also shed light on the types of cannabis products favored by older adults:
Edibles and beverages: 74 percent of senior cannabis users reported consuming edibles or beverages.These products offer a smoke-free alternative, appealing to those concerned about respiratory health.
Flower: 58 percent used traditional cannabis flower, indicating that many seniors are comfortable with conventional consumption methods.
Topicals: 34 percent utilized lotions or skincare products infused with cannabis, often for localized pain relief.
Vaporizers: 26 percent opted for vaping, which provides a smokefree inhalation method.
Concentrates: 19 percent used dabs, butane hash oil, or other concentrates, though these tend to be far less common among seniors.
These preferences highlight the importance of offering a diverse range of products to meet the varying needs and comfort levels of senior consumers, which can be as easy as asking your own customers directly. For fellow cannabis businesses in the Berkshires, the holiday season presents an opportunity to engage with customers seeking to introduce cannabis to their senior family members. Some strategies to consider:
Educate staff: Ensure that your team is knowledgeable about the benefits and considerations of cannabis use for seniors. This includes understanding appropriate dosages, potential interactions with medications, and the specific needs of older adults.
Curate senior-friendly products: Stock a variety of products that cater to senior preferences, such as low-dose edibles, tinctures, and topicals. Clearly label products with dosage information and effects to assist customers in making informed choices.
Host educational events: Organize workshops or informational sessions focused on cannabis use for seniors. These events can
Housing challenges, opportunities in Q3
The third quarter of 2024 brought both challenges and opportunities for the Berkshire County housing market. The region has been navigating shifts in inventory, pricing, and buyer preferences, all while responding to broader economic factors like interest rates and inflationary pressures. Here’s a closer look at the state of the market across residential, condominium, multifamily, and land sales.
RESIDENTIAL MARKET TRENDS
balanced market. Homes priced between $250,000 and $400,000 saw the most activity, highlighting strong demand in this mid-market segment.
CONDOMINIUM MARKET OVERVIEW
Residential home sales in Berkshire County experienced a 5 percent decline compared to the same period in 2023, with 777 homes sold versus 821 last year. This dip was accompanied by a 3 percent reduction in total dollar volume, now at $495 million. Despite these decreases, the average sale price climbed 3 percent to $475,598, reflecting heightened competition for limited inventory.
Regional trends varied significantly.
North Berkshire faced the steepest decline in sales (down 19 percent), with only 45 homes sold. However, the average sale price rose 2 percent, indicating steady demand despite fewer transactions.
Middle Berkshire, the county’s most active region, remained stable in terms of sales volume but saw a 2 percent increase in total dollar volume, suggesting incremental price growth.
South Berkshire showed a modest 2 percent rise in sales activity but recorded a 3 percent decrease in average sale price, signaling a market shift favoring more affordable properties.
Inventory levels remain a critical issue, with an absorption rate of just 3.44 months, still below the seven-month benchmark for a
The condominium sector reported mixed results, with total sales down 7 percent but dollar volume decreasing only 2 percent. This indicates a rising average price per unit, driven by sustained interest in condos as an alternative to single-family homes.
Middle Berkshire saw the strongest performance in this segment, benefiting from its central location and diverse inventory. However, limited availability remains a significant constraint across the county.
MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES: A GROWING SEGMENT
Multifamily sales grew by 8 percent, with a 10 percent increase in dollar volume. Middle and South Berkshire led this growth, while North Berkshire held steady. Rising interest in multifamily units may reflect a combination of investors seeking rental income and buyers pursuing shared living arrangements as an affordable alternative to single-family homes.
LAND SALES: A MIXED PICTURE
Land sales saw a notable decline in both volume (down 12 percent) and dollar value (down 20 percent) compared to 2023. Despite these setbacks, the segment still shows long-term recovery potential, with 94 parcels sold in the first three quarters — a marked improvement over the lows seen in the late 2000s. High building costs and limited new construction continue to cap
demystify cannabis and provide a platform for seniors to ask questions in a supportive environment. Create gift bundles: Develop holiday gift packages that include a selection of senior-friendly cannabis products. These bundles can serve as thoughtful gifts for family members looking to introduce cannabis to their loved ones. Foster a welcoming environment: Create a dispensary atmosphere that is inviting to seniors. This includes accessible facilities, comfortable seating areas, and staff trained to engage respectfully with older adults.
ENGAGING SENIORS DIRECTLY
As dispensaries strive to meet the needs of seniors interested in legal cannabis products, we invite seniors to share your thoughts with us on how we can better your journey.
Beyond offering high-quality flower and a range of non-smoking options like dosed beverages, chocolates, chews, gummies, drink mixes, and sugar-free tinctures, we want to know are there specific product types or formulations you would like to see? Do you prefer certain consumption methods over others? Do you want effects based products? How can we improve your in-store experience to make it more comfortable and informative? Your insights will guide us in curating products and services that align with your preferences and wellness goals.
Meg Sanders is CEO of Canna Provisions.
growth in this market.
KEY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Berkshire housing market remains in flux, influenced by broader economic pressures: Interest rates and affordability: Rising mortgage rates are dampening affordability, making it harder for buyers to qualify for loans and increasing competition for properties in lower price brackets.
Inventory constraints: Limited availability across all property types is pushing prices higher, with demand outpacing supply, especially in popular price ranges.
Regional disparities: While some areas are stabilizing or showing modest growth, others, like North Berkshire, are seeing steeper declines, pointing to uneven recovery trends.
THE PATH AHEAD
Looking forward, the Berkshire housing market is expected to stabilize as the broader economy adjusts. Predictions for 2025 include a 9 percent increase in home sales and mortgage rates leveling near 6 percent, which could provide much-needed relief for buyers and sellers alike. In the meantime, navigating the current market will require flexibility and strategic planning from all stakeholders, from real estate professionals to prospective buyers.
For a detailed breakdown of market statistics, refer to the full Q3 2024 Market Watch Report at BerkshireRealtors.org.
Sandra J. Carroll is the chief executive officer of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and the Berkshire County Multiple Listing Service.
Berkshire funding
FROM PAGE 17
operating grant, a $75,000 Massachusetts Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant, with the help of BFF. Both were featured during a walk-around to minority- and immigrant-owned small businesses in September when BFF hosted Deeqo Jibril, director of Small Business Development for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development, in the Berkshires.
“Our co-op business development program works alongside vulnerable groups to develop businesses that empower them as owners and moves them through the stages of assessment, governance, implementation and growth,” says board Director Nicole Fecteau, of a program that seeks to decrease barriers to access, especially when it comes to capital for start-up, through partner organizations and co-grant writing.
An ongoing challenge, not limited to but heighted in Berkshire County, remains grants that require matching funds. That said, there is good news on the horizon.
“More and more are making accommodations by either lowering the match requirements or removing them when it comes to the equity calculus they are looking at,” says Pelto, who takes great pride in her work.
Above all else, she enjoys having the freedom to respond.
“Anyone can call me with a question,” Pelto says, underscoring the above-and-beyond nature of what she does on a daily basis for the benefit of others. “If I don’t know the answer straight away, I will look into it.”
What else would you expect of your BFF?
Hannah Van Sickle is a freelance writer, academic tutor and writing coach.
Sanda J. Carroll Real estate
Real estate transactions
ADAMS
Jean Levesque sold property at 8 & 10 Leonard St., Adams, to Maple Grove Realty LLC, $295,000.
Mitchell J. Bresett, trustee of the Randall Street NT, sold property at 16 Randall St., Adams, to Judith A. Locke and David L. Chenail, $255,000.
Anne E. Kupiec sold property at Upper East Hoosac Street, Adams, to Mountain Stream LLC, $28,500.
Kevin P. and Lisa M. Butler sold property at 53 Melrose St., Adams, to Todd Powers, $239,900. Ellies Holdings LLC sold property at 472 East Hoosac St., Adams, to Amy E. Krutiak, $360,000.
R.M.R Enterprises Inc. sold property at 53 Park St., Adams, to Mark A. Lapier, $80,000.
Catherine A. Saunders, personal rep. of Holly M. Saunders, sold property at 11 School St., Adams, to Racheal Homack, $191,000.
Bryan P. and Heidi L. Comalli sold property at 69 Lime St., Adams, to Heidi Louise Strong, $230,000.
JP Parent Company LLC sold property at 2-4 Murray St., Adams, to Vista Verde Properties LLC, $190,000.
JP Parent Company LLC sold property at 22-30 Prospect St., Adams, to Vista Verde Properties LLC, $345,000.
Christopher and Dawn Shoestock sold property at 12 Woods Drive, Adams, to Rebecca J. Johnson, $230,000.
Nadine Kuhner sold property at 19-25 Upton St., Adams, to Great Expectations Rentals & Investments LLC, $320,000.
Jonathan H. Jones and Lisa A. Lister, trustees of the Jane E. Jones RVT, sold property at 51 East Road, Adams, to Geoffrey A. Coelho and Karen Amidon-Coelho, $329,900.
Brian T. and Carleen A. Kittler sold property at 62 Valley St., Adams, to Lloyd Peters and Kati Nalbandian, $250,000.
David A. J. Malloy and Kimberly A. Christian sold property at 202 Columbia St., Adams, to YHWH LLC, $42,500.
Austin M. and Elizabeth D. Hill sold property at 19 East Hoosac St., Adams, to Kevin N. and Sara R. Keagle, $299,000.
Julie M. Gregalis sold property at 14 Turners Ave., Adams, to Ronald A. Miller and Lynn Leary, $219,000.
ALFORD
Cloud Kingdom 2020 LLC sold property at 262 West Road, Alford, to Benjamin P. Alvord and Lisa McCaig, $800,000.
Elise Contarsy and Cynthia Lynch sold property at 0 East Road, Alford, to Matthew Drew, $460,000.
BECKET
Town of Becket sold property at 444 Gentian Hollow, Becket, to Mountain Stream LLC, $13,000. Town of Becket sold property at Squirrel Hill Road, Becket, to Anthony John and Lorri Ann Wright, trustees, the Anthony and Lorri Wright Trust, $12,000.
Town of Becket sold property at Woodmere Road, Becket, to Mountain Stream LLC, $15,000. Town of Becket sold property at Gentian Hollow Road, Becket, to Anthony John and Lorri Ann Wright, trustees, the Anthony and Lorri Wright Trust, $21,000.
Town of Becket sold property at 2821 Main St., Becket, to Elisabeth and Joshua Floriano, $5,000.
Shane Walters and Heidi Zuhl sold property at 3759 Jacobs Ladder Road, Becket, to Zon Weng Lai, $255,000.
Kathleen Haldeman-Fromme sold property at Brooker Hill Road, Becket, to Daniel Karpinski, $20,000.
Keith C. and Jessica F. O’Neil sold property at 585 Leonhardt Road, Becket, to Kostantine and Michelle Gianakouros, $390,000.
Melissa F. Snape sold property at 776 Bancroft Road, Becket, to Larry D. Miclette Jr., trustee, Larry D. Miclette Jr. Living Trust, $1,850,000. Gennady, Alexandra and Maria Kogan sold property at 73 Porcupine Court, Becket, to Kayla Lindquist and Charles Calabrese, $200,000.
Teresa D. Mejia sold property at 850 Chester Road, Becket, to Denise M. Henry, $59,000.
Lisa M. Garcia and Miriam C. Gelfer sold property at 36 Forest Lane, Becket, to Michael J. and Debra J. Coyle, $193,505.
Peggy A. Martinell sold property at 141 Nottingham Circle, Becket, to Sandra Hess, trustee, 141 Nottingham Circle Land Trust, $24,000.
Dorothy Ann Dachinger sold property at 348 Big Bass Lane, Becket, to Steven Ewer and Abigail Ochberg, $900,000.
Jeffrey L. Rines, trustee, 24 Tecumsch Drive Realty Trust, sold property at 11 Tecumseh Drive, Becket, to Lisa Burzdak and Kyle F. Eriks, $390,000.
Lukas Behrndt sold property at Big Bass Lane, Becket, to Jason C. and Juliette Yeboah Roomes, $27,000.
Charles Carlson and Monica Villa, trustees, Charles Carlson and Monica Villa Joint RVT, sold property at 130 Woodmere Road, Becket, to Lori Solon, $1,353,750.
CHESHIRE
Mary F. Courtney, conservator of Robert S. Cochrane, sold property at 894 West Mountain Road, Cheshire, to Kristi L. Briggs and Paul Mekdeci, $252,000.
Lynn Clairmont sold property at 54 Pleasant View Drive, Cheshire, to James P. Signorelli and Patricia Smith, $240,000.
James J. and Joanne Pasquini sold property at Off Furnace Hill Road, Cheshire, to Christopher J. Garner and Marcus Lyon, $750.
Andrew Crane sold property at 223 Windsor Road, Cheshire, to Aaron and Kelly R. Singer, $130,000.
Robert E. Shattuck and Elizabeth Macksey sold property at 77 Willow Lane, Cheshire, to Marcus Demedeiros, $408,000.
CLARKSBURG
Shayne M. and Rebecca J. Johnson sold property at 24 Carson Ave., Clarksburg, to Leanne T. Hamilton, $284,000.
Jolie E. Hickey, Jeffrey J. Hickey, John J. Hickey III, Carol M. Hickey, and Jennifer J. Wallace sold property at 58 Wheeler Ave., Clarksburg, to April Lamb, $161,000.
Mary Y. Stred sold property at 1435 River Road, Clarksburg, to Nicole B. and Thomas E. Rand Jr., $352,750.
DALTON
Stephen Jadatz, trustee, Ann C. Jadatz Irrevocable Trust, sold property at 121 Central Ave., Dalton, to Daniel J. and Sally Van Duzer Fulton, $315,000.
Katherine Lockridge sold property at 77 Frederick Drive, Dalton, to Kevin Patrick and Joanne M. Brennan and Michelle A. Robillard, $640,000.
Robert C. Wyand, personal rep. of the Estate of Nancy Coleman Wyand, sold property at 167 Curtis Ave., Dalton, to Zander Veto Poole and Ella Bree Wolf, $275,000.
Maureen E. Pisani sold property at 889 Main St., Dalton, to Brandon G. Dawson and Heidi P. LaPlante, $265,000.
Curtis L. and Beverly S. McNeece sold property at 41 Oak St., Dalton, to Christine M. Simeone, $241,000.
Neil M. Koreman, trustee, Neil M. Koreman RVT, and Dorothy G. Koreman, trustee, Dorothy G. Koreman RVT, sold property at 79 River Birch Lane, Dalton, to Robert Youdelman, trustee, Robert Youdelman Living Trust, $875,000.
Town of Dalton sold property at North Street, Dalton, to Thomas E. Balardini Jr. and Esther T. Balardini, $150,000.
EGREMONT
Richard V. Gray and Ellen L. Gray sold property at 52 Sheffield Road, Egremont, to Dennis A. Bazylinski, $499,000.
Henry E. Strozier and Mona W. Kanin sold property at 27B Oxbow Road, Egremont, to Jennifer Ash, $935,000.
Barbara Linn Bouton, trustee of Bouton Nominee Trust, sold property at 184 Hillsdale Road, Egremont, to 184 Hillsdale LLC, $800,000.
Clarke Olsen and Maria Olsen sold property at 67 Jug End Road, Egremont, to Andrew C. Gates, $375,000.
Black Bear Holdings I LLC sold property at 23 Whites Hill Road, Egremont & Alford, to Elyse Shuster, $1,293,000.
FLORIDA
Michael and Samantha Maloy sold property at 31 Moores Road, Florida, to Michael A. and Renee C. Tessier, $385,500.
GREAT BARRINGTON
Blake McDonald and Lauren Schulz sold property at 41 Castle St., Great Barrington, to Laurine L. McLaurin, $610,000.
David A. Dempsey sold property off Route 23, Great
Barrington, to Tank Acres LLC, $55,000.
GB Unit 5 Holdings LLC sold property at 80 Taconic Ave., Unit 5, Oakwood Inn Condominium, Great Barrington, to Estelle Miller, trustee of Estelle Miller Revocable Trust of 2007, $529,000.
Peter R. Habicht and Annette S. Habicht, trustees of Falcon Residences Nominee Trust, sold property at 188 East St., Great Barrington, to Marvin Cruz and Robin Berthet, $350,000.
Hannah L. Hull sold property at 203 High St., Great Barrington, to Mikayla Tess Morely, Christopher Gordon Wiltshire, Anna Masiero, and Jesse L. Carter, $451,000.
Jonathan Hankin, trustee of Jonathan Hankin 2023 Trust, sold property at 213 Highland St., Great Barrington, to Jessica Burlingame, $375,000.
Katharine S. Legg, trustee of Katharine S. Legg Revocable Trust, sold property at 80 Taconic Ave., Unit 15, Oakwood Inn Condominiums, Great Barrington, to Elaine R. Baum, $565,000.
Robert P. Salzman and Susan Salzman sold property at 306 Division St., Great Barrington, to Michael N. Latz and Vimala C. Latz, $479,000.
Benjamin J. Schonbeck and Mamiko Schonbeck sold property at 225 Long Pond Road, Great Barrington, to David J. Matthews and Angela C. Matthews, $1,000,000.
Gregg O. Wellenkamp and Eric H. Wellenkamp sold property at 21A Kalliste Hill Road, Great Barrington, to Marc S. Schulz and Joan A. Kaplan, $389,000.
Christine M. Jennings sold property at 2 Rose Court East Unit B-13, Blue Hills Commons Condominium, Great Barrington, to Samar Habl, $375,000.
Jo-Anne Wool sold property at 32 Hillside Ave., Great Barrington, to Paul A. Jurek and Gail A. Murray, $450,000.
Shyamji Inc. sold property at Crissey Road, Great Barrington, to Krunal Madhuwala and Kashmira Madhuwala, $25,000.
HANCOCK
Joyce A. and Daniel A. Lacosse II sold property at 2517 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Nolan M. Hickey, $370,000.
Margaret F. Fenander sold property at 3277 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Timothy D. and Margaret M. Goss, $297,500.
David P. Erikson, trustee of the John R. Erikson RVT, sold property at 37 Corey Road, Unit 420, Hancock, to Vincenzo Polsinelli and Francesca Bellu, trustees
of the Vincenzo Polsinelli and Francesca Bellu RVT, $126,500.
Moose Creek Holdings Inc. sold property at Brodie Mountain Road, Hancock, to Cricket Trails LLC, $110,000.
James M. and Christine R. Callahan sold property at 2467 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Dustin S Mayeux LTD, $386,100.
John D. and Charlene A. Leonard sold property at 162-164 Main St., Hancock, to Anne W. Schultz, $535,000.
Kevin P. and Brian R. McGovern, co-trustees of the Kathleen S. McGovern RVT, sold property at 37 Corey Road, Unit 116, Hancock, to Jared A. Phillips, $535,000.
HINSDALE
Richard A. Lombardi, trustee, Suzanne A. Lombardi-Rocca RVT, sold property at 1285 East Washington Road, Hinsdale, to Brian and Brittany Kickery, $464,000.
Gina L. Romeo, trustee, Lawrence E. Marchisio RVT, sold property at East Washington Road, Hinsdale, to Brian and Brittany Kickery, $37,500. Lazar and Mary K. Keitelman sold property at 140 Lenore Drive, Hinsdale, to Kendra V. Lassor, $639,500.
Abby Lynn Cange sold property at 47 Linden Lane, Hinsdale, to Ashmere Cottage 1 LLC, $309,900. Daniel Devita sold property at 190 Pine Cone Lane, Hinsdale, to Dane S. and Kimberly Armstrong Silcox, $560,000.
LANESBOROUGH
Marguerite Gigliotti and Alice Murray, personal reps. of James Francis Gigliotti, sold property at 16 Swamp Road, Lanesborough, to Jason P. Reilly, $295,000.
Jon A. Macht, trustee of the Jon A. Macht Trust, sold property at 670 North Main St., Lanesborough, to Trae E. Balardini, $268,000.
Bruce D. and Deborah W. Haskins sold property at 109 Bull Hill Road, Lanesborough, to Ty Clark, $500,000.
Zachary Zenk and Danielle Bochneak sold property at 735 & 745 North Main St., Lanesborough, to Audra Suzanne Ladd and Brooks Corey Daverman, $1,075,000.
LEE
Pauline M. Laudon sold property at 820 East St., Lee, to Matthew Tietgens, $262,500.
Deborah L. Beligni, trustee, Bonnie J. Simmons Trust of 2004, sold property at 55 Marble St., Lee, to Ronald P. Platt, $250,000.
Carolyn O’Brien Eaton sold property at 375 Marble St., Lee, to Andrew and Peter Naventi, $250,000.
Bryan Carlino and Richard I. Neales sold property at 455 Laurel St., Lee, to Bryan M. Carlino and Catherine Hopkins, $120,000.
Christopher M. and Annette Perilli sold property at415 Fairview St., Lee, to Samantha and Susan Ochs Kravitz, $330,000.
Jessica Marie Robertson sold property at 1600 Pleasant St., Lee, to Olivia Dawedeit, $315,000.
Sarah Oliver sold property at 170 High St., Lee, to Dunstan and Amy Rachel Prial, $547,500.
Andrew L. and Victoria B. Stathis, trustees, Andrew and Victoria Stathis RVT, sold property at 105 Franklin St., Lee, to Ian Edward Strickman and Audrey Frances Lew, $663,200.
Kevin J. Kelly Sr. and Melissa S. Kelly sold property at 25 David Ave., Lee, to Mary M. Dundas, $369,900.
David A. Duquette sold property at 85 Pease Terrace, Lee, to Mia E. Azcue and Edward D. Shaw, $480,000.
LENOX
Ann Katherine and Joel A. Segall, trustees of The Ann Katherine Segall RVT, sold property at 10 Highcrest Road, Lenox, to LMD Capital Investments LLC, $975,000.
Stephen D. and Myrna K. Greenberg sold property at 165 Kemble St., Lenox, to SPK Properties & Services LLC, $1,475,000.
Sonya B. Hamlin sold property at 770 Summer St., Lenox, to Ted Tannenbaum and Danise Lehrer, trustees, Lifephase Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan Trust Declaration, $620,000.
Jean Cheever sold property at 8 Tucker St., Lenox, to Kelley Brothers Holdings II LLC, $300,000.
Lenox Landings Barrington Brook Holdings LLC sold property at 6 Golf View Drive, Lenox, to Ugo Goetzl, trustee, Ugo Goetzl RVT, $1,550,000.
Timothy J. and Ann Flanagan sold property at 18 Holmeswood Terrace, Lenox, to Divyeshkumar and Bhavishaben Patel, $434,000.
Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield sold property at East Street, Lenox, to Detar LLC, $90,000.
Julie Franklin, trustee, Hinds Family Nominee Trust, sold property at 9 Blossom Hill, Lenox, to Blossomhill Property LLC, $1,675,000.
John E. Mullen III sold property at 17 Taconic Ave., Lenox, to Edward Baker and Ellen M. Daley, $780,000.
H. Ashley Jr. and Deborah D. Smith sold property at 730 East St., Lenox, to Andrew E. Crane and Kathryn C. Delaney, $1,425,000.
Edward J. Sigall sold property at 15 Holmeswood Terrace, Lenox, to Ian Fitzgibbon-Bizel, $256,000.
Joan Soloway, trustee, Louis Soloway RVT, sold property at 20 Wexford Court, Lenox, to Morada Ventures Inc., $599,999.
Daniel A. and Lori King sold property at 12 Evergreen Trail, Lenox, to Jerome L. Ackerman and Beth E. Goldbaum, $600,000.
Vittori Properties LLC sold property at 135 Main St., Lenox, to 135 Main St. Lenox LLC, $2,475,000.
MONTEREY
Barrett W. Nicol and Vera E. Nicol, trustees of Nicol 2023 Trust, sold property at 6 West Road, Monterey, to Kale David Browne, $415,000.
David J. Kabela sold property at 149 Pixley Road, Monterey, to Richard B. Atwood Jr. and Heather Atwood, $250,000.
Laure F. Kaminsky and Danielle Kinstlinger sold property at 91 Fairview Road, Monterey, to David Zomer and Shaked Landor, $412,000.
NEW MARLBOROUGH
Peter L. Wilson and Sabrina Wilson sold property at 15 Rood Lane, New Marlborough, to Peter L. Wilson, $50,000.
Debra B. Balken sold property at Route 57, New Marlborough, to James A. Wagstaff and Ellen R. Purtill, $260,000.
Gay A. Pinto sold property at 1193 Hartsville Mill River Road, New Marlborough, to Herbert Scher, $638,000.
Collin M. Smith and Stacie A. McCormick sold property at 172 Mill River Great Barrington Road, New Marlborough, to Mateusz Ball and Christin Howard, $406,000.
Robert Ornstein and James Esseks sold property at 1289 Canaan Southfield Road, New Marlborough, to Christopher R. Thomas, $850,000.
James G. Koneazny, trustee of Koneazny Family Trust, sold property at 398-400 Campbell Falls Road, New Marlborough, to John W. Koneazny, $360,000.
NORTH ADAMS
Gregory S. LeBeau sold property at 23 A St., North Adams, to Kimberly A. Peters, $175,000.
John C. and Nancy C. Hotchkiss sold property at 243 Union St., Unit 309, North Adams, to Elise Urrutia Schlesinger, $330,000.
Robert P. Cramer Jr. and Fredreka D. Schouten sold property at 186 & 190 Bradley St. Extension, North Adams, to Suzanne Adamczak and Arielle Kristan, $352,500.
John J. Savage sold property at 77 Yale St., North Adams, to Leto Commercial Group LLC, $270,000.
Barry E. Glidden sold property at 3 Rickards St., North Adams, to Shawn M. and Leah Field, $180,000.
Kayla Hollins sold property at 96 Veazie St., North Adams, to Sean E. Comer and Jennifer L. Beer, $280,000.
Four Dog Farm LLC sold property off Pattison Road, North Adams, to Nicholas B. Chenail, $25,350.
Michael R. Bodnarik sold property at 21 West End Terrace, North Adams, to Laura Aberle, $265,000.
Clifford T. Harris sold property at 17-17½ Jackson St., North Adams, to Edgar L. Martinez Argueta, $195,000.
Brandon S. McNeice and Amanda A. Atwell sold property at 943 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams, to Warren S. Bailey II and Catherine L. Williams, $194,500.
West Oil Company Inc. sold property at 593 Ashland St., North Adams, to Santa Fuel MA LLC, $900,000.
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, as trustee, sold property at 24 Spring St., North Adams, to 20 Gregory Farm LLC, $80,000.
Ashley Hakkinen, trustee of the Katherine J. Quirk Irrevocable Trust, sold property at 1001 State Road, North Adams, to Aaron I. Christopher, $250,000.
Border Mountain Farm LLC sold property at 49 Maple St., North Adams, to Hayden N. Bird, $275,000.
Scott D. McNeil, personal rep. of Barbara Jean Allen, sold property at 243 Church St., North Adams, to Timothy Stys and Annelise Strom-Henriksen, $320,000.
Federal National Mortgage Association sold property at 438 River St., North Adams, to April V. and Christopher D. Sawyer, $225,000.
Timothy M. and Yennifer C. Maffei sold property at 60 Meade Ave., North Adams, to Rachel Cristofolini and Jarod James Bailey, $235,000.
Miguel David Rodriguez sold property at 293 East Main St., North Adams, to Michael Ayres, $225,000.
Mary A. and William N. Reardon sold property at 10 Fairgrounds Ave., North Adams, to Michael R. Shea, $85,000.
Nicholas P. and Erin M. Lenski sold property at 17 Church St., Unit 5, North Adams, to Nicholas and Keith Abuisi, $97,500.
OTIS
Janet C. West sold property at 652 Norton Road, Otis, to Harley J. Dulude Jr. and Valerie K. Dulude, trustees, Harley and Valerie Dulude Realty Trust, $70,000.
J. Scott Hansen sold property at West Center Road, Otis, to Jason Tissera and John Waldron, $18,888.
Jason E. and Josephine P. Morton sold property at Route 8, Otis, to Dennis S. Jurgens, $95,000.
Harvey Casher and Rita Bigel-Casher sold property at 133 Towhee Trail, Otis, to David Impastato and Anna Komorowski, $850,000.
Geoffrey A. and Karen E. Amidon-Coelho sold property at 105 Reservoir Road, Otis, to Maxine Nogard, $275,000.
Michael J. And Melanie A. Hannaford sold property at Route 8, Otis, to Richard and Paula Rogalski, $101,500.
Gregory R. and Eileen J. Doot sold property at Lee Westfield Road, Otis, to Robert and Karen M. McTaggart, $45,000.
Lee C. and Cathy Rimsky sold property at 1855 West Center Road and West Center Road, Otis, to Steven M. Haber, trustee, Steven M. Haber RVT, $830,000.
Sharon Burdick, personal rep. of the Estate of Mary Lou Dettmer, sold property at West Center Road, Otis, to Christopher and Candy Chaffee, $10,000.
Christine A. Jones, trustee, Numrych Family Trust, sold property at 35 North St., Otis, to Spoonwood MSMLA LLC, $66,000.
Faye Ann Krainson, Amy Sue Morin and Marc Alan Ratnowsky sold property at Old Blandford Road, Otis, to Larry Southard, $80,000.
PERU
Crystal Cantarella and Emily Taylor Lancaster sold property at David Drive, Peru, to Robert and Kelley Baer, $32,500.
CE & APA Inc. sold property at Hickingbotham Road, Peru, to David and Jenna Camell, $80,000.
Holly E. Clifford, personal rep. of the Estate of Ronald F. Brightman III, sold property at 7 Garnet Mountain Lane, Peru, to David Ryan Hall and Teirza Barber, $236,500.
Kevin O’Connell sold property at Stephanie Lane, Peru, to Marissa R. Zelazo, $69,000.
Mark and Dawn Hall sold property at Matteau Road, Peru, to Jeremy H. and Tanya S. Shepardson, $40,000.
PITTSFIELD
Scott D. and Craig R. Face, personal reps. of the Estate of Lee W. Meisenheimer, sold property at 18 Beaumont Drive, Pittsfield, to Centura Bay LLC, $60,000.
Ann E. Deneault and Frances J. Smith, trustees, Smith-Deneault NT, sold property at 320-324 North St., Pittsfield, to RIDHYSIDHY LLC, $270,000.
Gregory E. Race sold property at 218220 Linden St., Pittsfield, to William Smith Bazile, $223,500.
Berkshire Neighborhood Development Partners Inc. sold property at Onota Street, Pittsfield, to Adam E. Anderson, $35,000.
Albert J. Molendijk, trustee, Arie Molendijk Irrevocable Trust of 2011, and Albert J. Molendijk, trustee of the Henriette Molendijk Irrevocable Trust of 2011, sold property at 2 Walden Lane, Pittsfield, to William Murray, $439,900.
Lisa K. Milberg sold property at 1136 Barker Road, Pittsfield, to Lee C. and Cathy Rimsky, $719,000.
Gregory E. Race sold property at King Street, Pittsfield, to Adam E. Anderson, $5,000.
Mary Ellen Pariseau sold property at 47 Alden Ave., Pittsfield, to Christopher M. Ferrarin and Alicia M. Emerson, $90,000.
WDM Properties LLC sold property at 33 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, to Kristin Gregory, $175,000.
Michael T. and Ashleigh G. Doyle sold property at 19 Harding St., Pittsfield, to Jack A. Elliot, $310,000.
Gary and Kimberly A. Baker sold property at 19 Skyview Drive, Pittsfield, to Yuri and Leigh Tutka, $280,000.
Barbara Mandell, personal rep. of the Estate of Dorothy Faye Margolin, sold property at 35 Strong Ave., Pittsfield, to Joshua Kelly and Ashley McLaughlin, $290,000.
Geraldine A., John D. and Susan M. Dahrouge sold property at 1 Kathy Way, Pittsfield, to Michael A. Pergiovanni, $595,000.
Joan E. and Andrew M. Wrinn sold property at 1087 Williams St., Pittsfield, to Troy and Bryanna Laureyns, $330,000.
John R. Bourque sold property at 34 Sampson Parkway, Pittsfield, to Kai Naor, $285,000.
Noppawan Morano sold property at 101 Joseph Drive, Pittsfield, to Brian Scott and Tammy Lynn Areseneau, $332,000.
249 Wahconah Place LLC sold property at 249 Wahconah St., Pittsfield, to Buckelew Services LLC, $120,000.
Douglas D. and David M. Kushi sold property at 20 Willard Place, Pittsfield, to Kacey Burgess, $260,000.
Daniel A. and Jennifer L. Norton sold property at 97 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield, to Elisia Silayo, $320,000.
Denise I. White sold property at 81 Dartmouth St., Pittsfield, to David Ryan DiNicola, $234,900.
Linda L. Dillon, trustee, Linda L. Dillon 2022 Trust, sold property at 66 Ridgeway Ave., Pittsfield, to Carolyn Eley, $225,000.
Eugene E. and Victoria J. Hayford sold property at 1282 North St., Pittsfield, to Zachary and Devyn Friederick, $340,000.
Jeffrey E. Coe and Andrea L. Terry sold property at 122 Cadwell Road, Pittsfield, to Steven and Rachel Stine, $368,000.
Dirck B. L. and John Rilla, personal reps. of the Estate of Richard A. Rilla, sold property at 41 Hampshire St., Pittsfield, to Christopher Colletta, $296,000.
TMR Realty LLC sold property at 397 Elm St., Pittsfield, to Eric Voelker, $318,000.
Thomas E. and Cynthia J. Jamula sold property at 124 Leona Drive, Pittsfield, to Carlton A. and Krystle A. Blake, $580,000.
Robin Eveland sold property at 74 East Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Dorcas S. Archer, $235,000.
Theresa A. Flynn sold property at 72 Gamwell Ave., Pittsfield, to James Singletery Jr., $350,000.
North IL Realty LLC sold property at 6 Winn Ave., Pittsfield, to Gordon W. Hebler, $40,000.
Patricia A. Simonetta sold property at 200 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Amy P. Dunn, $190,000.
Vicente Nivelo sold property at 121 Plunkett St., Pittsfield, to Heather March, $260,000.
Ross A. and Patricia Ann Shuart sold property at 92 Brookside Drive, Pittsfield, to Brandon S. and Jennafer Bailey, $680,000.
Daniel Oliver sold property at 64 Broadway St., Pittsfield, to Donald and Scottie Kelly Curtis, $270,000.
Janet M. Macht, trustee, Janet M. Macht Trust, sold property at 31 Bossidy Drive, Pittsfield, to Erika T. Casas, $269,900.
Jessica Sovronsky sold property at 9-13 Broad St., Pittsfield, to Gustavo A. Cruz Zarate and Yuridiana Zaragoza Agustin, $385,000.
Patricia L. Trotti sold property at 48 Blythewood Drive, Pittsfield, to Stuart A. Rodkin and Myrna J. Rodkin, $660,000. 160-189 North St. Pittsfield MA LLC sold property at 139 Robbins Ave., Pittsfield, to CBM Group LLC, $110,000.
Nancy-Jean Rizzo Lee sold property at 65 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, to Norah Elizabeth Barber, $219,000.
Carol A. Wells sold property at 44 Farnsworth Terrace, Pittsfield, to Arthur
L. and Anne Shurtleff, $328,500.
Clifford A. and Carol A. Lescarbeau sold property at 8 Marian Ave., Pittsfield, to Todd and Brandy Lee Jankowski, $300,000.
Heather Lane sold property at 69 Shore Drive and Thomas Road, Pittsfield, to Matthew Herrick and Cassie Jeanne Moore, $401,000.
Norman O. and Eleanor M. Sevigny sold property at 76 Hollister St., Pittsfield, to Brianna Tooley, $210,000.
Scott J. Dezieck sold property at 346 Lenox Ave., Pittsfield, to Johanna M. Pache, $349,000.
Eric G. Mcintosh sold property at 28 Anita Drive, Pittsfield, to Kevin O’Neill, $332,000.
Mahican LLC sold property at 20-26 Wallace Place, Pittsfield, to Megamind Ventures LLC, $470,000.
Jairo Vera Lozano sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, to Shaundra Race, $190,000.
Ronald E. Robitaille, personal rep. of the Estate of Albert Joseph Robitaille Jr., sold property at 48 Arch St., Pittsfield, to Jeffrey Michael Koenig, $155,845. Fairview Associates Limited Partnership sold property at 551 Fenn St., Pittsfield, to Independent Connections LLC, $267,000.
Michael J. and Debra M. Coyle sold property at 35 Morgan St., Pittsfield, to William Mallory, $270,000.
Joe L. Holloway sold property at 30 Pleasure Ave., Pittsfield, to Gary W. Antle, $130,000.
Pittsfield Forests LLC sold property at Kirkwood Drive, Pittsfield, to John M. and Sara H. Barrett, $7,000.
Thais J. Howland, trustee, Howland RVT Agreement, sold property at 1136 Barker Road, Pittsfield, to Amy M. Dalsimer and Joshua Zuckerberg, $723,000.
Wylie Goodman sold property at 132 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield, to Tracy Boehme, $359,000.
Timothy A. Bartini sold property at 153 Melbourne Road, Pittsfield, to Dean J. Bartini, $198,000.
Thomas and Tracy L. Bishop sold property at 145 East New Lenox Road, Pittsfield, to Christopher Glynn and Ava Lucivero, $485,000.
Pasquale Morabito, personal rep. of the Estate of Pasquale Perry, sold property at 228 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, to PAH Properties, LLC, $120,000.
Deborah Ann Thebeau, trustee, Cecelia A. Roberts FT, sold property at 37 Elmview Terrace, Pittsfield, to James C. Barker, $311,000.
Frej Nils Krook III and Tina S. Krook sold property at 8 Broadway St., Pittsfield, to Brendan A. Sullivan, $205,000.
Michelle M. Coogan sold property at 14 Cove St., Pittsfield, to Michael W. Jordan Sr., $110,000.
J.A. Realty Corp. sold property at 1 Rostone Place, Pittsfield, to 1 Rostone Place LLC, $220,000.
Kevin J. and Margaret E. Avanzato sold property at 50 Ridge Ave., Pittsfield, to M. Virginia Roach, $372,500.
Jennafer E. Bailey sold property at 55 Marlboro Drive, Pittsfield, to Daphne Adobea Otoo, $369,900.
Gene S. and Charles R. Johnston sold property at 61 Caroline St., Pittsfield, to Geovany Saz Sactic and Mariana Quispe, $230,000.
Shirley A. Bruno sold property at 75 Pomeroy Ave., Pittsfield, to Neil Davis, $363,000.
Sergio E. and Brooke J. Bencivenga sold property at 97-99 Dickinson Ave., Pittsfield, to Kenneth Y. Chen, $251,000. Andrew J. Smith Jr. and Sheri I. Smith sold property at 97 Bay State Road, Pittsfield, to John J. and Candace F. Mountain, $244,500.
John J. Giardina sold property at 140 Wahconah St. and 3 Briggs Ave., Pittsfield, to Dario Xavier Robalino, $62,000. Benjamin Pigott sold property at 8 Daralyn Court, Pittsfield, to Prashant Kumar and Divya Chaturvedi, $540,000.
Roy M. Andersen Jr. and Judith A.
TRANSACTIONS,
Andersen sold property at 22 Revere Parkway, Pittsfield, to Bruce D. and Deborah W. Haskins, $400,000.
Carmine A. Danese sold property at 9-11 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, to Dev Kant Khansali and Ravi Shanker Dangi, $342,000.
Tracy Boehme sold property at 144 Harryel St., Pittsfield, to Maryellen Tanner-Vincent, $442,500.
Jerome Martin Congress sold property at 1136 Barker Road, Pittsfield, to Michael P. and Carol A. Daly, $635,000.
TMR Realty LLC sold property at 23 Elberon Ave., Pittsfield, to Matthew James Strassler, $329,000.
Westley Cineus and Michelle Monestime sold property at 136-138 Union St., Pittsfield, to Julia Liliana and Sergio Guillermo Salvatierra De Leon, $219,000.
Roberta A. Baumann sold property at 30 Springside Ave., Pittsfield, to Lindsey M. Lehtinen, $264,000.
Ten Dewey Avenue LLC sold property at 148-150 Mill St., Pittsfield, to Melendez Realty LLC, $290,000.
Karolyn J. Turner sold property at 22 Hampshire St., Pittsfield, to Mansel C. Marangoni, $200,000.
Ann, Paul and Thomas Capitanio, Lori Allessio and Gina Salzarulo sold property at 378 Newell St., Pittsfield, to Marcos East Side Real Estate LLC, $100,000.
Brenda L. Danforth sold property at 100102 Elizabeth St., Pittsfield, to Santiago Diaz-Charry, $268,500.
Steven Wall sold property at 773 Peck’s Road, Pittsfield, to Adam Lewis and Charlotte McGaughy, $285,000.
Richard A. Wood, personal rep. of the Estate of Therese M. Wood, sold property at 145 Robbins Ave., Pittsfield, to Rare LLC, $105,000.
Tarkan Topcuoglu sold property at 24 Maple St., Pittsfield, to Miguel Portillo, $153,000.
Matthew and Abigail Miller sold property at 51 Strong Ave., Pittsfield, to Matthew Miller, $12,000.
Mary M. Barry sold property at 1099 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, to Rebecca and Dianne Seguin, $235,000.
Joseph Tugaw, trustee, Joseph Tugaw FT, sold property at 777 West St., Pittsfield, to Kenneth D. Bombace, $1,162,000.
Mary E. Malacarne, personal rep. of the Estate of Bridget T. Howe, sold property at 10 Montgomery Ave., Pittsfield, to Anthony P. Doyle, trustee, Six Seven Four Housatonic NT, $180,000.
Witman Properties Inc. sold property at 41-43 Burbank St., Pittsfield, to Andrea Lim-Melendez, $296,475.
James D. Keith, personal rep. of the Estate of David E. Keith, sold property at 81 Dartmouth St., Pittsfield, to Kortney Boos, $175,000.
William Bravo and Lia Saldana sold property at 21-23 Hillside St., Pittsfield, to Saul A. Orozco, $230,000.
RICHMOND
Vicki J. Smith sold property at 100 Chestnut Road, Richmond, to Rene Szyllr and Mabel Blache, $250,000.
Marion H. Rutledge sold property at 897 East Road, Richmond, to Sally McCracken, Joanna and Lindsay Allen-Price, $450,000.
SANDISFIELD
Steven Vanwilliams and Lisa A. Vanwilliams sold property at 115 Town Hill Road, Sandisfield, to Brian D. Fahey, $89,000.
John D. Robitaille Jr. and Brittany M. Robitaille sold property at 29 Norfolk Road, Sandisfield, to Dylan Kader and Melissa Hope Dean, $110,000.
Richard J. Mathisen and Lisa Marie Beane sold property at 212 Sandisfield Road, Sandisfield, to John W. Field, $450,000.
Kathleen Lawrence sold property at 311 Lakeshore Drive, Sandisfield, to Matthew Sherman and Lauren Sherman,
$539,000.
Bruce A. Plank sold property at 7 Roosterville Road, Sandisfield, to Kyle Flahardy, $53,836.29.
Jennifer Pilbin sold property at 12 West Hubbard Road, Sandisfield, to John R. Magnoli, $275,000.
Joseph N. Paykin sold property at 320 Highland Way, Sandisfield, to Ellen Israel, trustee of 320 Highland Way Realty Trust, $398,500.
SHEFFIELD
Rachel S. Barwick Eidex sold property at 445 Alum Hill Road, Sheffield, to Sarah Gottlieb Cross, $343,000.
Claudia L. Martin sold property at 642 Polikoff Road, Sheffield, to Gary Warstler, $240,000.
Michael N. Pisick, trustee of Bears Den Realty Trust, sold property at 105 Bears Den Road, Sheffield, to Jay Schwartzapfel and Laura Schwartzapfel, $1,225,000.
Trevor A. Curtis sold property at 381 Clayton Road, Sheffield, to Mary Kate McTeigue, $335,000.
Carl L. Bierce and Donna L. Bierce sold property at 213 East Stahl Road, Sheffield, to Christopher Bierce and Brenda Bierce, $133,378.
Berkhill 73 Sheffield LLC sold property at 590 South Main St., Sheffield, to Bruce Birkel, $225,000.
Joan V. Laskoff sold property at 102 Ford Hill Road, Sheffield, to David Angel and Jocelyn Bauduy, $200,000.
John Connor Nagy and Victoria L. Nagy sold property at 205 East Stahl Road, Sheffield, to Quinton Dargie and Thomas A. Doyle, $232,000.
STOCKBRIDGE
Michael A. and Barbara R. Kornfield sold property at 8 Arthur Fiedler Lane, Stockbridge, to Steven L. Goldfarb and Deborah A. Silodor, trustees, Steven L. Goldfarb RVT, and Steven L. Goldfarb and Deborah A. Silodor, trustees, Deborah A. Silodor RVT, $650,000.
Maria Bolstad Barrett sold property at 11A Interlaken Cross Road, Stockbridge, to Margaret A. Rosenburg and Jonathan E. Wolfe, $1,429,000.
Richard M. and Caren Lobo sold property at 1 Laurel Lane, Stockbridge, to William and Lea Richardson, $1,221,000.
CFAI Special Assets LLC sold property at 38A Glendale Road, Stockbridge, to Robert Gagnon, $500,000.
Martha D. Rosen sold property at 19 Hawthorne Road, Stockbridge, to Adele Fleet Bacow, trustee, Adele Fleet Bacow 2012 Irrevocable Trust, $810,000.
Andrew L. M. Shalit sold property at 3 North Church St., Stockbridge, to Glenna Blackwell, $427,000.
Stephen and Adam Galowitz and Stephen and Adam Galowitz, trustees, Credit Shelter Trust, sold property at 200 Old Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, to Jill Galowitz, $200,000.
Stockbeech LLC sold property at 1 Lakeview Drive, Stockbridge, to Amy Jamrog and Kimberly J. Cook, $1,900,000.
WASHINGTON
Margaret I. Rorrio sold property at 1153 Washington Mountain Road, Washington, to Gleb V. and Ann V. Jerebtsov, $90,000.
WEST STOCKBRIDGE
David E. Levin and Kara K. Levin sold property at 5 Water St., West Stockbridge, to Hannah Phillips, trustee of 5 Water Street Nominee Realty Trust, $1,350,000.
John W. Whitehead III and Elizabeth Ann Whitehead sold property at 4 Swamp Road, West Stockbridge, to Elizabeth Shimberg and Louis Tilchin, $525,000.
Adam Benjamin Zax and Melissa Gayle Nathan sold property at 6 West Alford Road, West Stockbridge, to Thomas J. Martin, trustee of It’s Our Time Revocable Trust, $620,000.
William A. Korte and Lisa J. Korte sold property at 34 Swamp Road, West
Stockbridge, to Tranquil Escape LLC, $485,000.
WILLIAMSTOWN
Four Dog Farm LLC sold property at Luce Road & Pattison Road, Williamstown & North Adams, to Nicholas B. Chenail, $39,650.
Pamela D. Turton sold property at 353 Stratton Road, Williamstown, to Shambie Singer and Elizabeth Zechella, $1,300,000.
Mark R. and Peter D. Wildermuth, co-trustees of the Richard A. Wildermuth Family Credit Shelter Trust, sold property at 215 Stratton Road, Unit D, Williamstown, to Amanda K. and Willard D. Dickerson Jr., trustees of the Willard D. Dickerson Jr. 2018 Trust and Amanda K. Dickerson 2018 Trust, $449,000.
Edward A. and Lisa A. Matson sold property at 160 Water St., Unit 310, Williamstown, to Steven Brooks, $615,000. 160 Water LLC sold property at 160 Water St., Unit 201, Williamstown, to Edward A. and Lisa A. Matson, $925,000.
Nicole Martha Armbrust sold property at 1155 North Hoosac Road, Williamstown, to Robin Page Dufour, $221,000.
WINDSOR
David R. Missildine sold property at 877 Route 9, Windsor, to Christopher J. and Samantha K. Cahill, $439,900.
Elizabeth H. Sibolski sold property at 143 Windsor Bush Road, Windsor, to Anna C. Kohler and Juergen Schoenstein, $290,000.
RVT — Revocable Trust
The real estate transactions are provided by the Middle Berkshire, North Berkshire and South Berkshire Registry of Deeds offices.
People in the Berkshires
Berkshire Health Systems has named Tejas Gandhi chief operating officer of Berkshire Medical Center beginning Nov. 18.
“As the region’s community teaching hospital and center for higher level clinical care, Berkshire Medical Center is a key contributor to the health and wellbeing of our community.” said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of BHS. “Tejas was the ideal candidate for this role, as he brings with him not only a depth of healthcare leadership experience and a forward-thinking approach, but also the deep commitment to building relationships — which is crucial in this role of leading our valued and entrusted community hospital.”
For the past three years, Gandhi has served as CEO of Ocus Health, and previously was chief operating officer for Baystate Medical Center from 2016-21. He has also previously served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer for Navicent Health in Georgia; assistant vice president, health delivery integration with Virtua Health, and other key roles.
He earned his bachelor of science in engineering from the University of Mumbai, a master of science in industrial engineering from Binghamton University and a doctorate in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.
“I am thrilled to join Berkshire Medical Center in a few short weeks,” Gandhi said. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead such a dedicated team such as the one at BMC. I look forward to collaborating with BMC’s teams to ultimately advance health and wellness for everyone in our Berkshire community and continue to serve as the trusted healthcare providers that our neighbors turn to in their times of need.”
Berkshire Natural Resources Council has named Emily Daunis as its new director of advancement.
With a background spanning over 15 years in strategic fundraising, major donor development, and building inclusive philanthropic programs, Daunis will lead BNRC’s fundraising and engagement initiatives to support its mission of land conservation and access to nature in the Berkshires.
In her most recent role as director of development at Berkshire United Way, Daunis played a key part in advancing the organization’s revenue goals by conducting new sponsorship initiatives and engagement strategies. Her extensive background also includes fundraising roles at prominent regional institutions such as the Clark Art Institute, Mass MoCA and University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Daunis, an active member of the local community, holds leadership roles in North Adams, including serving as an elected member of the North Adams Public School Committee. In her new role at BNRC, she will continue her commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy that is inclusive and rooted in the local community.
Berkshire Community College has announced the addition of four faculty/ staff members, three promotions and two title changes.
Jacqueline Bianco joins BCC as assistant professor in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Originally from Trumbull, Conn., she holds a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology/athletic training from the University of New Hampshire and a doctorate in
physical therapy from Sacred Heart University.
Bianco was a competitive gymnast in her youth, which led her to a career as a physical therapist. With 13 years of clinical experience, she was previously a physical therapist and personal trainer for Timeless Training and Gymfest Gymnastics. She has lived in the Berkshires since 2011.
Caleb Kendig joins BCC as maintainer I. A resident of Dalton, he is a graduate of McCann Technical School, where he studied information technology. He completed about two years of core classes and criminal justice classes at BCC before enrolling at Westfield State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in history.
Sarah Ryndak, of Great Barrington, joins BCC as employee engagement and talent development specialist. With 16 years of experience in higher education administration at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the human resources department. Most recently, she served as the administrative director of the Collaborative Arts & Open Arts Program, where her responsibilities included oversight for human resources and compliance.
At BCC, Ryndak will focus on employee engagement and training while contributing to all areas of HR. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree in higher education from New York University’s Steinhardt School.
Rebecca Wehry joins BCC as executive director of development. She brings extensive experience from her role as director of development at Buxton School in Williamstown, where she managed responsibilities similar to those she will take on at BCC.
Previously, she served as associate director of development at Bard College at Simon’s Rock for almost four years, including eight months as interim director. Wehry’s career began at Mass MoCA, where she spent 10 years in various roles, including manager of special events, partnerships and external affairs. She later joined Hancock Shaker Village. A Berkshire County native and MCLA graduate, Wehry also completed an undergraduate internship with Pittsfield’s Colonial Theatre.
Jason Dion is now interim director of facilities. Previously, he was plumber and steamfitter II. He has been with BCC since May 2024.
Kaila Mullaney is now academic affairs division manager. She joined BCC in September 2021 as administrative assistant for the vice president and Office of Academic Affairs.
Erin Seagrave is now executive director of academic operations, planning and assessment. She was previously director of academic operations. She has been with BCC since July 2022.
Julia Curletti is now division manager, student affairs and enrollment management. Previously, she was interim division manager, student affairs and enrollment management. She has been with BCC since January 2017.
Craig Ptak is now recreation facilities supervisor III. Previously, he was recreation facilities supervisor II. He joined BCC in March 2014.
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures has announced the hiring of two staff members: Kallie Robertson as finance
manager, and Audrey Hackett as communications and development associate.
The new hires expand the organization’s staff team to nine, adding capacity to the nonprofit’s service to local farmers and food producers in the Berkshire-Taconic region of Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut.
Robertson brings a diverse background in farming, nonprofit financial management and design experience. For over a decade, Robertson and her husband have owned and managed Sawkill Farm, a diverse pasture-based livestock farm in the Hudson Valley. They currently raise sheep and make yarn from the fiber.
Most recently, Robertson worked as the finance and administrative director of Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, managing the budget and financial health of the organization, whose mission is to promote organic agriculture and food access in Massachusetts.
Hackett has over two decades of diverse experience in writing, editing, nonprofit communications, and community journalism. Most recently, she worked for a regenerative agriculture nonprofit in Ohio as editor and writer.
Hackett is relocating back to the Berkshires, where she previously was editor of The Women’s Times and worked on staff and as an independent consultant for Norman Rockwell Museum, The Mount and other organizations. Prior to accepting this position, Hackett served Berkshire Agricultural Ventures as a communications consultant beginning in early 2024.
A community nonprofit, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures was founded in 2017 to grow the local food system by supporting farmers and food producers with low-interest loans, microgrants and one-to-one business assistance.
Paula McLean Realtors has announced that Laura Arseneau has joined the company as a Realtor associate, effective Nov. 1. Arseneau brings a mix of experience, dedication and passion to the firm. She has built a reputation for her personalized approach to real estate, combining extensive market knowledge with a keen understanding of client needs. Her commitment to excellence and ability to navigate complex transactions have positioned her as a trusted adviser to both buyers and sellers.
Arseneau’s addition comes at a time of growth and renewed focus on innovative real estate solutions at Paula McLean Realtors. As the Berkshire market continues to evolve, the company remains committed to adapting and meeting the needs of clients through exceptional service, strategic insight, and professional integrity.
For information about Arseneau or to schedule an appointment, call 413-4417067, email paula@mclean-realtors.com or visit mclean-realtors.com.
overall clinical excellence and advanced prosthodontics. Before coming back to New England, Feith went on several mission trips abroad including Honduras, Dominican Republic and Jamaica to provide dental care to those in need. While serving, she gained extensive experience in dental surgery, 3D printing and cosmetic cases. Feith’s dental interests are implant dentistry and cosmetic cases.
Dr. Connor Lemieux earned his doctorate degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and went on to complete a post-doctorate residency program through NYU Langone, where he advanced his skillset in implantology, aesthetic dentistry, as well as other aspects of general dentistry.
He has earned fellowship status in the International Congress of Oral Implantologist and is committed to understanding and incorporating the latest advances in digital technology into his work flow and treatment planning to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
The office is at 1111 South State St. New patients can call 413-664-6545.
Dr. Lina Bermudez has been named associate director of dental medicine at CHP Berkshires. She joined CHP Great Barrington Family Dental in 2013, and in her new role will work with CHP leadership to support CHP’s dental practices and staff in North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield and Great Barrington. Her appointment follows completion of a countywide expansion of CHP’s dental services, intended to expand oral healthcare access to thousands of Berkshire residents, especially those who rely on MassHealth for their insurance coverage. The Great Barrington Family Dental Center has recently reopened after a two-year development project.
“Dr. Bermudez has been a role model in both caring for dental patients at CHP, and in her commitment to expanding access to dental care throughout the Berkshires,” said Dr. Andrew Beckwith, chief medical officer at CHP Berkshires. “We look forward to Dr. Bermudez’s new role in bringing broader leadership of our CHP dental team.”
A native of Colombia, Bermudez is a general dentistry graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Prior to her work at CHP, she worked as a dentist for Hillcrest Educational Centers.
In addition to her new leadership responsibilities, Bermudez will continue to see patients at Great Barrington Family Dental.
Community Health Programs (CHP Berkshires) is a Berkshire-based health care network serving approximately 30,000 residents with whole-person, comprehensive medical and dental services at multiple practice locations.
Messenger Digital Dentistry has added of two dental associates and is accepting new patients.
Dr. Sara Feith, a general dentist from Dover, N.H., holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Florida Gulf Coast University and a D.M.D. from University of Florida. Graduating at the top of her class, cum laude, she received awards in
Molari Employment and HealthCare Services has hired Cathy Moses, RN, as a staff nurse. Moses will make supervisory visits to senior clients who receive services through Molari’s Home & HealthCare Division. She will ensure that caregivers are adhering to proper procedures and providing the highest quality of care to clients who depend on Molari’s services to remain comfortably at home.
“We are thrilled to have Cathy on board. Her passion for patient care and her commitment to ensuring our clients receive the best care possible aligns perfectly with our mission at Molari,” said Lee Rudin, RN, director of HealthCare Services at Molari.
Founded in 1983, Molari Inc. specializes in staffing services, connecting job seekers with employment opportunities across various industries. Molari provides private and contract in-home health care services ensuring compassionate and reliable care in the comfort of their homes, as well as offering health care staffing for area facilities.
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Berkshire County Arc has promoted ZaK Gratton to quality assurance supervisor.
Gratton has worked for BCArc for 13 years and has held many different positions in the agency, including a developmental specialist at the Center for Development, site manager at both brain injury and DDS homes, community advocate, and most recently, quality assurance specialist.
In this new role of quality assurance supervisor, Gratton will be responsible for the training of new quality assurance staff, and will have increased oversight in the planning and implementation of BCArc’s quality standards.
Berkshire County Arc supports more than 1,000 people with disabilities through numerous programs, including residential services, employment services, day habilitation programs, and family support.
Berkshire Bank has announced that David DeBonis has joined its consumer lending team as senior mortgage loan officer.
In this role, DeBonis will be responsible for originating mortgage loans across Berkshire’s markets, with a priority on New England, to help consumers realize the dream of homeownership, whether it’s a first home or a dream home. He is based out of Berkshire Bank’s offices in Burlington. DeBonis has over 24 years of experi-
ence in the financial services industry, with a special emphasis on first-time homebuyers, veterans and investment properties. Before joining Berkshire Bank, DeBonis was senior loan officer at Amerant Mortgage. Prior to that role, he served as senior loan officer at Draper & Kramer Mortgage.
A resident of Middleton, DeBonis earned a bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University. He is active in his community, serving as vice chair for the Middleton Elementary School Committee and Policy Board and acting president of the Middleton Youth Softball League. Fluent in Italian, DeBonis is also an active member of the Italian Americans of the North Shore Society.
Berkshire Art Center’s board of directors has named art educator and visual artist Laura Dickstein Thompson as the organization’s new executive director.
Thompson began in her new role at Berkshire Art Center on Oct. 21. She succeeds former Executive Director Lucie Castaldo, who stepped down in August after 15 years of service to the organization.
Thompson is an artist, meditation and Kundalini yoga teacher, museum curator, art educator and professor. With three decades of experience in the arts and education fields, Thompson is dedicated to helping individuals and communities build confidence in their innate wisdom and utilize creativity as a restorative practice that fosters resilience, balance and self-awareness.
Her vision for Berkshire Art Center is to expand accessible programming and develop classes and spaces that invite everyone to explore their creative and expressive potential.
From 2002 to 2023, Thompson served as the founding director of education and Kidspace gallery curator at Mass MoCA, where she designed award-winning public programs, artist residencies and curated 30 exhibitions featuring notable artists. She holds a doctorate in education from Columbia University Teachers College and has earned a 200-hour certificate in Meditation Teaching from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, where she is a faculty member. Additionally, she holds a 200-hour certificate in Kundalini Yoga teaching from Yoga Farm Ithaca and teaches at Berkshire Yoga, Dance and Fitness.
As a professor, Thompson teaches innovative ways to integrate mindfulness into art education for graduate students at UMass Dartmouth and arts management students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She is also an independent curator; last fall, she installed an exhibition of Federico Uribe’s work at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Thompson maintains an art studio at NU Arts in Pittsfield, where she also leads online art and meditation classes.
Thompson joins the team as Berkshire Art Center prepares to announce its Winter Session 1 classes starting in January 2025. Visit berkshireartcenter.org to sign up for the mailing list.
Berkshire Bank has promoted Shane Rauh to senior vice president, business banking team leader. In this role, Rauh will lead the sales team for business banking in Berkshire County, New York and southern Vermont.
Rauh has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a special emphasis in business banking and commercial lending.
“Shane has a successful track record of partnering with commercial clients to deliver the financial services they need to grow and prosper,” said Rob Nichols, managing director, business banking. “As sales team leader, he’ll also work to deepen our already robust focus on relationship-building and communities across his three-state region.”
Before joining Berkshire in March 2024, Rauh was vice president, commercial relationship manager at Pioneer Bank. He previously served as director of business banking at Broadview Federal Credit Union.
A resident of Colonie, N.Y., Rauh is active in his community, serving on the board of trustees as secretary for Crossroads Center for Children. He also serves on the Gala Committee for Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York.
Jonathan Meehan, a licensed independent clinical social worker, has joined the behavioral health team at CHP North Adams Family Medical, where he will care for patients of all ages with remote and in-person care.
Meehan holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas with a concentration in mental health and chemical dependency. He earned a bachelor of science degree in management from Ithaca College.
Most recently a psychotherapist caring for students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Meehan has also worked in several mental health care settings at Berkshire Medical Center, Child and Family Services of Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and other locations.
He resides in Northern Berkshire.
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