Berkshire Business Journal November 2022

Building on a

Tavern

Berkshire Business Journal

technology skills NEWapproach

BIC’s Manufacturing Academy aims

BY JOHN TOWNES

PITTSFIELD — One of the Berkshire Innovation Center’s missions is to help local residents obtain the job skills that will allow them to succeed in the 21st century economy.

A new initiative at the BIC that officially launched in September aims to do just that.

It’s called the BIC Manufacturing Academy. One of the academy’s primary goals is to provide training and education to build a workforce skilled in new manufacturing technologies and provide job opportunities here. This includes a mix of one-day “boot camps” and apprenticeships.

The academy’s overall mission is to help individual companies identify and implement specific technology products, systems, and equipment that they might utilize to improve their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. They include software applications and equipment such as robotics, plasma cutters, and photonics devices used in design, process management, production and other operations of manufacturing businesses.

“Our goal is to align the BIC Manufacturing Academy with other training dollars and programs over time, and establish partnerships with employers, so that it becomes a permanent resource,” said Ben Sosne, the BIC’s executive director.

ABOVE: BEN GARVER | TOP: FILE PHOTO

Above: Shaun O’Neil, left, technology fellow at the Berkshire Innovation Center, and operations manager Tim Butterworth, will be hosting the BIC’s new Manufacturing Academy. The pair are shown with an industrial laser cutter. Top: The Berkshire Innovation Center received almost $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish its new Manufacturing Academy.

HILL TAVERN FARM

Building on sustainable foundation

Lever Inc. funding to help create wood processing center in Charlemont

By Emma Ryan

CHARLEMONT — With assistance from a Berkshire-based small business develop ment agency, the state’s oldest privately owned tree farm will soon have a wood processing center.

Hall Tavern Farm, which has been in operation since the early 1900s, will estab lish this space with a $60,000 investment from small business accelerator, Lever Inc., of North Adams. The funding comes from a grant that Lever received from the state Executive Office of Energy and En vironmental Affairs to help develop sus tainable forestry, natural-resource based tourism and conservationism in the Mo hawk Trail region.

Lever was one of several local organiza tions and municipalities that in Septem ber received a combined $253,200 in the latest round of funding for the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachu setts, which was formerly known as the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership. The partnership, which includes most of northwestern Massachusetts, was origi nally established in 2019 to support forest stewardship and conservation and na ture-based tourism to aid in economic de velopment along Massachusetts’ borders with Vermont and New York. The grants are administered by the EEA.

Hill Tavern Farm’s Route 2 property spans 440 total acres — 350 of which are wooded farmland. Eighty percent of the property’s total acreage are conserved through an agricultural preservation re striction, a state program that preserves agricultural land from being developed for non-agricultural purposes that could harm the environment. According to Le ver, the woodlands at Hill Tavern Farm have been actively sustainably managed since 1949.

The current steward of this property, which includes a wood kiln, sawmill and a century-old dairy barn, is Jay Healy, a former state representative. Healy, 75, believes the establishment of a wood pro cessing center at Hill Tavern Farm will benefit regional craftspeople well into the future.

“We have some really beautiful land and that beautiful [barn],” Healy said.

“The vision basically is, with the help of Lever, to have a workspace there that continues to build on what we have now,” he said.

Innovation and sustainability run in Healy’s family. His father, Winston Healy, “developed a model for timber conserva tion and development which was adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” according to his 1980 obituary.

Jay Healy’s collaborator on this proj ect is his niece, Cristie Ellis, an English professor and co-director of the environ mental studies program at the University of Mississippi. Ellis shares her uncle’s vi sion for the project.

“The vision is that we have a space where we can showcase the woodcraft this region has been known for, and the forest industry that has been central to its economy,” Ellis said. “We would have local woodcrafters either in their work shops or retail space where people can come see the kind of woodcraft that is go ing on in the region.”

Ellis also believes the center contains the potential for educational opportuni ties.

“We are also hoping to have a

Enhancing the Mohawk Trail Region

Other entities who belong to the Woodlands Partnership of North west Massachusetts who received state funding in September for proj ects in the Mohawk Trail region.

Adams: $20,000 to complete ex hibits within the new Greylock Glen Outdoor Center.

Clarksburg: $20,000 for a land sur vey and forest plan for town forest property.

Heath: $15,000 for winter sports grooming equipment, including a cross country ski groomer.

Mass. Forest Trust: $18,200 for chain saw training and demonstra tions of forest products.

New Ashford: $20,000 to expand hiking trail access from the town to Mount Greylock state reserva tion where access currently is very limited.

Peru: $20,000 to restore Pierce Scenic Way.

Rowe: $20,000 for education and restoration of a town forest trail.

Rowe/Heath: $40,000 for the design of a new regional trail from downtown Shelburne Falls to Mo hawk State Forest.

Shelburne: $20,000 for a cli mate-oriented open space plan and baseball field renovations.

classroom space where we could offer classes to local high school students, vo cational students and potentially tour ists coming through the region, [taught by] some of our really talented regional woodcrafters,” she said.

According to Lever, the wood process ing center will eventually include:

• Wholesale and retail wood product commerce.

• Log processing, including milling, kiln drying, grading and storage.

• Wood product manufacturing, includ ing furniture, cabinetry, and wooden con sumer goods.

• A cooperative retail space for wood product manufacturers throughout the

Mohawk Trail region to display and sell products.

• An instruction facility to accommo date educational programming for sus tainable forestry, K-12 learners, vocation al education, and visitors to the Mohawk Trail region.

• A space for woodcraft-related events, including exhibits, competitions, and pop-up vendors.

Ellis is using her experience as an edu cator to develop these programs and write grant applications. She has applied for a $30,000 grant that will go toward drafting the renovations that the 16,000-squarefoot barn would need in order to become a communal workshop.

Healy and Ellis’ idea is achievable be cause of Lever and the Woodlands Part nership of Northwest Massachusetts. The partnership, “acts like an interlocu tor that makes it known to the public that these grant programs are available and encourages people to apply,” according to board Chair Hank Art.

Lever has helped develop the economic ecosystem in the Berkshires by holding what it refers to as entrepreneurial chal lenges — contests that provide startup businesses with advice and training from Lever to help them formulate their ideas. The winners of these challenges are se lected by a panel of judges, and receive seed money from Lever that they can use for future development.

Jay Healy, shown inside the second floor of the barn of Hall Tavern Farm, said establishing a wood processing center at the Charlemont facility will benefit regional craftspeople well into the future.

GILLIAN JONES

But win or lose, the experience helps every business that participates in the challenges. The startups that don’t re ceive funding benefit by crafting a pro posal that they present to the judges in a “pitch contest,” the challenge’s final event.

“We work with entrepreneurs for about three months and help them prepare a pitch and a business plan,” said Jeffrey Thomas, Lever’s founder and executive director. “Then a panel of judges decides which is the best, and we give some fund ing to that company.”

Hill Tavern Farm finished second in Lever’s Mohawk Trail Entrepreneur Challenge, which took place earlier this year. Thomas saw the potential in Healy and Ellis’ plan.

“We felt that this was a great next step building from the challenges,” he said.

“To us, this is a logical extension. But it’s bigger, more specific, and very focused on a single location. It’s a good evolution for our work in this region.”

Thomas also has faith in the vision for Hall Tavern Farm in the future.

“We think it’s a good project that’s im portant for the region. It’s going to create jobs. It’s going to bring new economic de velopment for the region.

“It’s going to leverage regional assets,” he said. “That’s right in line with Lever’s mission.”

Creating a culinary space for community

Top Chef Amateurs winner opens a ‘hospitality business with a social mission’

By Tony DoBrowolski

NEW ASHFORD — A winner of the Top Chef Amateurs cooking show and her husband are transforming the former Mill on the Floss restaurant into a community culi nary space.

Farah Momen and her husband, Mat thew Trisic, have created ”Bondhu” and will host supper clubs, private dinner parties, cooking classes, corporate events and weddings at the former restaurant at 342 Route 7. They held their first event in September and were planning to host a multi-course murder mystery show in late October.

A supper club is a restaurant that also functions as a social gathering. The menu is limited and often includes homemade items. Momen described a supper club event as an “elevated dinner party” the public can attend by purchasing a ticket.

The first event was a seven-course meal that told a story about her family’s his tory, with ingredients that reflected her heritage in Bangladesh. The word bondhu means “friend” in Bengali, the main lan guage spoken in Bangladesh.

On her LinkedIn page, Momen describes Bondhu as “a hospitality business with a social mission to nurture reflection, dia logue, and connectivity through food on individual and community levels.”

“This is a space that I hope to share with the community in the Berkshires,” said Momen. She is co-founder of the Now Ex change, which facilitates access to health information, discussions and resources for women and girls in Bangladesh.

Originally from the New York City area, Momen attended college in Montreal and worked in tech in both Toronto and Bos ton before arriving in the Berkshires this spring.

“I was an entrepreneurship adviser,” she said. “Entrepreneurship had always been a passion of mine. As I was work ing with them to help them achieve their dreams, like any entrepreneur will tell you, I got the nagging feeling that I wanted to do it myself.”

The couple purchased the former Mill on the Floss from Jane Champagne, who had owned the fine dining establishment since 1973. They paid $520,000 for the prop erty n April.

Jane and her husband, Maurice, a clas sically trained French chef, had worked for the Mill and the Floss for 21 years be fore purchasing the property, after having helped establish it as a fine dining desti nation in the early 1960s. The Mill on the Floss closed due to the COVID-19 pandem ic in 2020.

The Mill on the Floss opened in 1938 as a seasonal tavern in a 19th-century Colonial farmhouse. Momen is aware of the restau rant’s tradition.

“I took a space that was cherished by the community,” she said. “A lot of people told me what it meant to them.”

Momen appeared last year on the first season of Top Chef Amateurs, a spinoff of the Top Chef reality cooking show, shortly after earning a master of arts degree in law and diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Her occupation is list ed as “recent grad student” on the show’s website. The show, broadcast on Bravo, was filmed in Portland, Ore., in the fall of 2020 and aired in July 2021. She beat six competitors to win the title.

“I was graduating right when COVID was hitting and I was looking into apply ing for jobs online when I came across the casting call,” she said. “It was an awesome experience.

“I think for me that whole experience represented validation for what it took to cook at that level,” she said. “I didn’t go to culinary school.

“It was on the plane ride back from film ing that I decided to do this,” she said of

opening a place like Bondhu.

Momen believes a community culinary space will be a better fit in a rural area than in a city.

“A lot of cities are saturated with food businesses,” she sad. “I haven’t spent a lot of time here, but in a lot of ways it feels like where I grew up.”

Momen and Trisic live on the site’s sec ond floor, and are operating their commu nity culinary space on the ground floor, where the restaurant used to be. The cou ple list their living quarters on Airbnb as a “lush, boho, foodie Berkshire paradise.”

They’ve spent about $20,000 on renova tions so far and have made the dining area “a little more modern,” she said.

“It’s ongoing,” Momen said of the reno vations. “We’re keeping things minimal.”

PHOTOS BY BEN GARVER

Farah Momen, above, speaks during opening night at Bondhu in the former Old Mill on the Floss in New Ashford. The company specializes in creating food experiences, and refers to the new eatery as a “culinary community space.”

“Like any entrepreneur will tell you, I got the nagging feeling that I wanted to do it myself.”

Farrah MoMen

Bondhu, which means friend in Bangladesh, held its first supper club event in September.

Just what the doctor ordered

By Tony DoBrowolski

PITTSFIELD — Tatiana Fuster believes peo ple want the type of personal service at pharmacies that the ones operated by the big national chains can’t provide.

With that in mind, Fuster has turned both her personal belief, and knowledge of the industry, into a business venture.

Formerly employed by CVS Pharmacy for eight years, Fuster opened Pittsfield Pharmacy at 294 First St. last spring. It’s the first independently owned pharmacy to open in the Berkshires in several years.

It joins Flynn’s Pharmacy and Home Medical Equipment in Pittsfield and Le nox Integrative Pharmacy in Lenox as the only independently owned pharma cies still operating in the county.

The last independently owned pharma cy in North Adams closed in 2019.

The rise of national pharmacy chains, and online and mail-order prescription services combined with declines in the amounts that the owners of these es tablishments receive in Medicare Part D reimbursements, have shuttered a lot of independent pharmacies, especial ly locally. There were 38 independently owned pharmacies operating in the Berk shires in 1984.

Fuster, of course, knows all this. But she believes she can fill a niche in the marketplace with what she has to offer.

“I opened my pharmacy because it’s an opportunity right now to have an inde pendent pharmacy, not just in Berkshire County, but all over the country,” Fuster said.

According to the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2021 report, there were 19,397 independent pharma cies still operating in the United States, significantly more than any one of the major pharmacy chains currently oper ate.

“People need customer service. They need more instead of less,” she said. “The whole world with globalization, it’s not the world of the pharmacy. They cannot expect that one huge one will do as good as five little ones.

“It’s an opportunity to bring personal attention to the community to give more of what people need. I truly believe that everything goes in waves, or circles or spirals. It’s coming back.

Independent pharmacies are more ad ept at handing issues like vaccinations and managing medications than national chains are, she said.

“That gives an opportunity for pharma cies to survive,” said Fuster, whose phar macy contains a separate vaccination room. “I hope my pharmacy will bring so much quality of these services that peo ple will come to me and that it eventually will give me an opportunity to survive in

that business.”

Fuster, who is a licensed pharmacist and a former pharmacy manager, left CVS at the end of February after having worked locally for the chain’s pharma cies in Great Barrington and Pittsfield.

“I absolutely loved it,” she said. “I have a great relationship with CVS.”

A native of Kazakhstan, a former So viet Republic that became an indepen dent country in 1991, Fuster came to the United States in 1998. Fuster also holds a medical degree which she obtained in Ka zakhstan before coming to America, she said.

She opened Pittsfield Pharmacy in April and has been certified as a provid er with both Medicare and Medicaid. Her pharmacy currently has provider agree ments with most major insurers except one, which Fuster will apply to by the end of the month. Due to industry regula tions, some insurers won’t work with new pharmacies until they have been open for six months, she said.

“My game plan, first and foremost, is patience,” she said, “and slowly and sure ly do everything properly, how it should be. I can’t rush the process.”

Pittsfield Pharmacy has six employees, including one other pharmacist, who for merly worked for a national chain’s local outlet. The labor shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic hit the pharmacy in dustry hard in 2021.

More than 80 percent of community pharmacists nationally reported prob lems filling positions last year, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2021 report. National phar

macy chains also struggled with this issue in the Berkshires last year, when labor shortages resulted in service cut backs, which angered many customers.

But Fuster said those persistent labor shortages haven’t affected her business since it opened.

“I’ve had no problem at all,” she said.

Flynn’s and Lenox Integrative Phar macy also offer products that chain phar macies don’t have to supplement their incomes. Flynn’s sells home medical equipment while Lenox Integrative Phar macy offers numerous brands of high quality supplements.

Pittsfield Pharmacy offers supple ments, but doesn’t have all of the items

By the numbers

• 47 percent of independent phar macies serve populations with a significant minority population.

• 75 percent operate in locations with less than 75,000 people.

• Almost 40 percent serve popula tions of less than 10,000.

• 57 percent serve communities that rank high or very high on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index.

• Over 50 percent of dispensed medications are to Medicaid or Part D populations.

• As of December 2021, nearly 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were distributed at independent pharmacies, according to the CDC.

• 87 percent of community pharma cies administer flu vaccines.

• 93 percent of independent com munity pharmacy’s sales come from prescription drugs.

Source: National Community Phar macists Association’s 2021 report.

the two other independently owned phar macies in the Berkshires currently have yet.

Fuster said she plans to offer them in the future, but right now she’s focused on customer service.

“The satisfaction of my customers and what I can be as an independent pharma cy is important,” she said. “The whole world is going from big to small.”

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

The team at Pittsfield Pharmacy includes, from left, pharmacy technician Josh Lescarbeau, pharmacy and store manager Tatiana Fuster, pharmacy technician Missy LaPointe, and pharmacist Wendy Gwozdz.

Pittsfield Pharmacy, an independently owned pharmacy, has opened on First Street.

‘Ambitious’ restoration at Blantyre

By C larenCe Fanto

LENOX — The mystery of what’s in store for the 120-year-old Blantyre estate, its hotel shuttered under new ownership for nearly a year, has been solved.

Historic preservation specialist and co-owner Clark Lyda revealed the game plan in a recent interview: A second-year shutdown of the resort until late 2023 while a top-to-bottom, inside and outside restoration of the 1902 Tudor-style man sion is completed.

The estimated cost, he said, is “very sig nificant, well in excess of $10 million” to cover exterior and interior work, cosmet ic improvements and landscaping. “It’s a big, ambitious project,” Lyda said.

Off the table: Previous owner Linda Law’s ambitious $90 million plan, ap proved by the Lenox zoning board, to construct a second hotel building with 45 rooms added to the 24 existing suites at the mansion, as well as construction of 20 residential townhouses and development of 14 estate building lots on the 110-acre site.

Lyda said that the mansion was in far worse shape than expected. A high-flying architectural design team is completing plans for the extensive renovation.

Lyda teamed up with his partner Ken Fulk, also a preservation specialist, to purchase Blantyre last November from Law’s Blantyre Hotel Ventures LLC for $15 million.

“We didn’t have a full appreciation” of how much work is needed, Lyda acknowl edged. “Most of these great estates have lost their grounds or have been modified, but Blantyre is in remarkably original

DOBROWOLSKI,

CHERYL GAJEWSKI,

condition and it’s likely we can create something that’s entirely unique in this country.”

A self-described lifelong history buff drawn to Gilded Age-era mansions, Lyda has emphasized finding new uses for old buildings while maintaining a sustain able economic purpose.

He has cited among his favorite projects the renovation of the 1860s Stagecoach Inn in Salado, Texas, and another hotel, the Commodore Perry Estate in Austin. Lyda divides his time between homes in Austin and in Manhattan.

Linda Law had purchased Blantyre in June 2017 from Fitzpatrick Family Holdings following the death of long time owner Jo Ann Fitzpatrick Brown in November 2016. Her parents, the late Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick of Red Lion Inn and Country Curtains Fame, had purchased the property for her in 1980.

Law paid $4.6 million for the real estate, but the value of the business, furnishings and equipment brought the total cost to nearly $7 million.

Excerpts from the recent conversation with Lyda follow:

QCan you sum up the plans for res toration and preservation of the Blantyre estate now that you and Ken Fulk have had nearly a year to assess the strategy?

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A We have been in a pretty inten sive planning and design process since then. The reality is that the work necessary at the house to po sition it for another 100 years is far more extensive than we originally contemplated. It involves replace ment of most of the mechanical, elec trical and plumbing systems includ ing HVAC, putting in fire sprinklers throughout the house, extensive work on the envelope of the building to wa terproof it, replacement of the doors and windows that are all failing. The house had been covered by a woody vine that was systematically pulling the masonry apart, we’ve removed that and are about to start repairs to the tune of $4 million to $5 million just on the outside of the house.

QWhat’s the timeline for complet ing the work so the hotel and restaurant can reopen to the public?

AIt will take longer than we intended, but I think it will be worth the wait. We just got a permit for the exterior, so we’ll be working over the winter on ev erything from masonry repair to re building a couple of unstable chim neys, and replacing much of the flashing and all of the gutters and downspouts that have been damaged, and replac ing the drainage around the house. It’s 120 years old and it shows it, so it will be good for another 100 years when we’re done. We’re hopeful to have it ready for the fourth quarter of next year, but that will be a squeeze because there’s a whole lot of work to do. We’re not sitting around doing nothing. And we’re totally redesigning the kitchen and restau rant, so Daniel Boulud will be involved in that. [Boulud, a well-known New York French chef, had operated Cafe Boulud at Blantyre during the previous owner ship.]

QWhat about previous owner Linda Law’s plan to add a 45room hotel wing and 20 townhouses to the site?

AWe’re not planning expansion at this point, we’re not adding any build ings or keys (rooms). We’ll likely be do ing additional stuff, but it won’t be the original plan that she prepared. It will

be a pretty modest thing, we’re taking our time with it, over a period of years. Ours will be lower scale and more com patible with the feel of the estate. We’re determined to preserve the culture of the original property, so adding big buildings around it is not something we’d ever do. Our focus is on getting the lodging and restaurant back in opera tion at the level we want, and once we’re happy with that, we’ll think about the next step. This is an opportunity to find one of the very best places in the coun try and bring it back to maybe better than they ever were, and let people en joy it.

QWho’s on your team for upgrad ing the property?

AWe have a local engineer, Steve Mack [of Foresight Land Services in Pitts field] and the Pittsfield project architect, EDM Architecture, Engineering & Man agement. Michael G. Imber, is the won derful design architect [based in San Antonio] and we have a British land scape architect, Dan Pearson, who has been awarded an (OBE) Order of the British Empire last year for his work. The general contractor is Bulley & An drews based in Chicago, historic resto ration and preservation work is one of their specialties.

Renovations at historic resort more extensive than previously thought, co-owner says

FILE PHOTO

A major restoration and expensive renovation are in store for the Blantyre estate in Lenox. The estimated cost is well in excess of $10 million, according to co-owner Clark Lyda.

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

The restaurant and kitchen at Blantyre will be completely redesigned as part of the upcoming renovation, with the assistance of Chef Daniel Boulud.

Business updates

The holding company for Citizens Bank, which has a branch in Pittsfield, has donated $25,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Hatfield.

The funding will be used for the Food Bank’s door-to-door distribution program, which each month serves 57 emergency food network partners (food pantries, meal sites and shelters), 50 brown bag for elders sites, and 26 mobile food bank sites with 42 distributions.

The donation is part of a partnership between Citizens and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-re lief organization.

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Berkshires has awarded a total of $63,425 in grants to 16 local organiza tions.

Funded programs fall into three of the foundation’s priority areas: Increasing access to food, housing, and other essen tials for Berkshire residents; promoting self-sufficiency; and empowering young adults. The amounts range from $1,500 to $5,000 and run for one year.

Organizations receiving funding include: Berkshire Bounty; Berkshire Community Diaper Project; Berkshire South Community Center; Greenagers; Roots and Dreams and Mustard; Roots Rising; South Community Food Pantry; and The Guthrie Center.

Also receiving funding are Arts in Recovery for Youth; Berkshire Center for Justice; Berkshire Immigrant Cen ter; Community Health Programs; 18 Degrees; and Literacy Network Empow ering Youth and Young Adults; Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center/ Girls Inc. of the Berkshires; Central Berkshires Habitat for Humanity; and Railroad Street Youth Project

For information about the grants pro gram, contact Esther Messing at esther messing@gmail.com or visit JWFB.org.

Entrepreneurship for All Berk shire County has chosen 14 business ideas as participants in its fall 2022 busi ness accelerator program, which begins this week.

The program will be held in a hybrid format, both virtually and with select classes at the Berkshire Innovation Cen ter in Pittsfield.

This fall participants include: Auto Appraisals Plus of the Berkshires, Jack W. Kearin and Jessica A. Mahoney of Otis; Wednesday’s Dolls, Barbie Rodri guez of East Greenbush, N.Y.; Berkshire Candle, Jenna Gable of Lanesborough; Berkshire Pup People, Michelle Marroc co and Tiffany Boyden of North Adams; Bumblebee Pet Care, Dana Grieb of Pittsfield; Herbellion, Molly Racette of North Adams; and New Pathways Coach ing and Consulting, Julie Haagenson of Pittsfield.

Other participants include: Lati nas413, Tannya G. Romero, Catheryn Chacon Ortega, and Liliana Atanacio of Stockbridge; Farm to Ladle, Lynn Romanick of Pittsfield; Mahogany Forum LLC, Alexa Icenia of Berkshire County; Mendel’s Stained Glass Art Stu dio, Lisa Mendel of Adams; Mind Over Motion, Tiffany Wilding-White of Lee; The Break Room, Stephany Feliciano and Erika Wells of Pittsfield; and The Recovery Room, Christina Meucci of Pittsfield.

BJ’s Wholesale Club, which has a store in Pittsfield, has begun accepting SNAP EBT payments at all of the Marl borough-based chain’s facilities when members use their card at checkout on BJs.com or with the BJ’s mobile app.

SNAP EBT payments can be also used on BJs.com with shopping options such as free pickup, shipping, and same-day delivery.

To learn more about how to use SNAP EBT payment solutions when shopping on BJs.com or the BJ’s mobile app, visit bjs.com/help/ebt/.

Berkshire Family & Individual Re sources has been named a 2022 Health New England Well Worth It Award recipient at the gold level for worksite health promotion and employee health improvement.

The award recognizes the organiza tion’s commitment to its employees’ overall health and their achievements in implementing health and wellness pro grams during 2021. BFAIR was a bronze level recipient last year.

This year’s workplace wellness activ ities included a variety of workshops to offer our employees such as mindfulness, exercise, healthy eating, and smoking cessation.

The Well Worth It Award is an exten sion of Health New England’s mission and honors the work being done by em ployer groups to improve the health and lives of the people in their communities.

Lenco Armored Vehicles has part nered with the Berkshire Veterans Outreach Center to help the organiza tion launch a new website.

The site will serve as a new way for local veterans to access the services they need — with an emphasis on suicide prevention and post-traumatic stress disorder awareness.

Donated by Lenco Armored Vehicles and built by Brick House Web Design, the new site will meet veterans and their families where they are and help ease concerns about taking the first steps to reach out for assistance, according to a news release. With clear information and approachable resources, the site will encourage local veterans to access the center’s free services and understand what options are available to them.

Information: Berkshireveterans.com.

Centene Corp., the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care insurer, will pay more than $14 million to MassHealth to resolve allegations that it overcharged the state agency millions of dollars for pharmacy benefits and services provided by subsidiary companies, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

A review of the company’s pharma cy benefits manager in Massachusetts discovered irregularities in the pricing and reporting of pharmacy benefits and services to MassHealth by Centene’s subsidiary companies. Healey’s office alleged that the company and its bene fits manager, Envolve, failed to disclose or pass on some retail discount fees to MassHealth, which inflated fees and drug costs reported to the common wealth.

“We are pleased to secure these funds to help control Medicaid costs and ensure that state resources are directed to the best possible uses in our health care system,” Attorney General Maura Healey said in a news release.

Boyd Technologies has completed a major rebranding project that changes the company’s name to Boyd Biomedi cal and includes a new brand identity.

The changes include a new logo, messaging platform, and updated en vironmental and digital graphics. The new logo uses a custom font that draws inspiration from the medical device and biotechnology industries, according to a news release from the company.

Boyd Biomedical’s mission is to provide the industry-leading growth platform to biomedical companies com mercializing breakthrough innovations, the company states. Its new purpose statement — Design, Build, Launch — is centered around its growth platform that provides a full suite of services to help medical device and life sciences compa nies commercialize regulated devices and liquid media solutions.

“This is an important step for us as we continue our growth in the medical device and life sciences markets,” CEO Stephen Boyd said in a orepared state ment. “We’re looking forward to many more successful years commercializing breakthrough innovations under our new brand platform.”

The Massachusetts Construction Ad vancement Program has donated $25,000 to Massachusetts Girls in Trades, to support that organization’s mission of supporting female high school students in career technical education programs to start careers in high-paying, highskilled union construction trades.

The Massachusetts Construction Advancement Program is a nonprofit organization that provides services to the construction industry, including educational opportunities for its work force and students interested in careers in construction. It is funded through contractor contributions required in collective bargaining agreements with certain building trade unions.

Massachusetts Girls in Trades will be holding a conference and career fair Nov. 17 at Dean Vocational Technical High School in Holyoke.

Six Berkshire-area students are among the 40 recipients of more than $100,000 in scholarships from Berkshire Bank’s 2022 NeXt Gen Scholars program.

Each NeXt Gen Scholar will receive $2,500 in funding to support their pursuit of an undergraduate degree from an accredited nonprofit college or technical school.

The Berkshire-area recipients include Vivian Leona Bernard, Samantha De pson, Leila Fiana Paredes and Victoria Maria Tynan, all of Pittsfield; Lillian Rose Boudreau, of Adams; and Sean O’Dea, of Rowe.

Eighty-one Berkshire Bank employees volunteered to help select the winners from over 150 applications in the compa ny’s four-state coverage area.

The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission has received two state land use planning assistance grants totaling $62,500.

The BRPC received $37,500 for a project titled “Decarbonizing Berkshire County,” which takes place in Great Barrington, Lanesborough, Lenox, Mon terey and Williamstown. It also received $25,000 for a housing production plan implementation in Sheffield.

The funding is part of $1.2 million in land use planning assistance grants that the Baker-Polito Administration recently awarded to 26 projects across the state through the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The Secretary of State’s Office and the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board are offering a new round of funding for matching grants to preserve objects, sites, and document col lections that are significant to the history and experiences of military veterans in the Commonwealth.

The program is open to Massachusetts municipalities and nonprofit organiza tions, such as libraries, historical societ ies and commissions, museums, schools and universities. Grants provide state matching funds of up to 50 percent of a project’s total cost, and applicants can apply for up to $15,000 per project.

Eligible projects must be relevant to veterans and their military encoun ters, and may include: preservation or digitization of historic documents and photographs; increased access to archi val collections; oral history projects; renovation, rehabilitation, restoration or enhancement of existing monuments or memorials; and proposals to construct new markers for historically significant sites. Planning projects will also be considered.

Applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent by Nov. 6. Applicants who sub mit satisfactory letters of intent will be invited to submit a full application.

Questions: shrab@sec.state.ma.us. Ap plications/information: www.sec.state. ma.us/arc/.

McCann Technical School has re ceived $24,500 from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s STEM Equip ment and Teacher Professional Develop ment Grant program.

The program seeks to prepare students for life sciences careers by enabling schools to purchase lab equipment, materials, supplies, and technology, as well as provide teacher professional development that supports implementation of advanced curricula and standards alignment.

The MLSC’s board of directors ap proved $2 million in capital funding and teacher development funding to support 20 programs across the state in this latest round of funding.

Allied Health Systems of Spring field has reached a $430,000 settlement with the state Attorney General’s Office

to resolve allegations that it falsely billed MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, for services that had not been appropriately authorized by a physician.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the company and its CEO, Henry Azzun, submitted false and/or fraudu lent claims to MassHealth and managed care entities administering benefits for MassHealth members for services that had not been appropriately authorized by a physician.

The settlement also includes a require ment that Allied must operate under a three-year compliance program overseen by an independent compliance moni tor. That program will include updated policies and procedures, new training for staff, and yearly on-site audits conducted by the monitor. Allied will pay for the compliance monitoring program.

Visionary Solutions Consulting of North Adams is one of five finalists that have been chosen to participate in the Berkshire Sustainability Challenge sponsored by small business accelerator Lever Inc.

Each finalist will receive a $3,500 schol arship provided by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The winner of the final pitch event on Dec. 2 will be award ed a $40,000 Lever Innovation Grant.

The other finalists are Prisere LLC of Boston, GenH of Somerville, ModLEV of Medford and CurbHub of Walpole.

Visionary Solutions is currently devel oping a patented low-cost home heating technology to save consumers money and reduce greenhouse gasses.

Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $48,600 to 16 Berkshire area organi zations during its third round of 2022 community funding.

Recipients were awarded grants rang ing from $1,000 to $10,600 to support their local programming.

Included in the awards are a series of Arts Access Grants for arts and cul ture organizations to expand access to programming for underserved audienc es and Food Security Grants for orga nizations with a program focused on providing food to community members in need.

The deadline for the next round of 2022 foundation funding is Dec. 1. To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)©(3) nonprofit organi zation. Applicants are only eligible for funding once in a 12-month period.

Applications/information: tinyurl. com/46bzc8kc.

Berkshire County Arc raised $46,000 at its 27th annual golf classic recently at Berkshire Hills Country Club.

All the funds raised from the event go directly to the individuals that BCArc serves. Those services include: art class es, medical equipment, dance classes, wheelchair swings, concerts and more.

The money also goes to scholarships to area high school students looking to pur sue human services careers. The event has raised more than $925,000 during its 27 year history.

Berkshire Innovation Center and MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board have released the first video installment of a multiplatform regional marketing campaign aimed at building awareness about career paths in key growth sectors in the commonwealth that are available in Berkshire County.

These career paths include advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean tech, aerospace and defense, software and engineering, and health care.

The campaign, whose slogan is “In novation Lives Right Here,” is intended to used as as a building block toward reframing the Berkshires as a hub and destination for technology-driven career opportunities that provide exciting, meaningful work. The initial campaign content will be distributed via the BIC and MassHire’s digital platforms in partnership with regional companies and affiliates.

The campaign announcement and initial 60 second video will be followed by industry-specific 30 second spots featuring footage sourced from local companies, and will eventually expand into broadcast television, billboards and print media.

Information: berkshireinno vationcenter.com/about/careers.

Brewhaha scaling back operations

By scoTT sTafforD

NORTH ADAMS — Brewhaha, the charming breakfast and lunch café on West Main Street in North Adams, is paring down its operations while the owners search for a new operator.

Owners Barry and Nancy Garton stopped serving the eatery’s regular menu on Oct. 31, but Barry said that they plan to stay open indefinitely with a limited menu until they can find a new buyer for the business.

Brewhaha will continue to offer cof fee, espresso and baked goods, along with “popular items that are easy to get out without jamming up the production line,” Barry said.

The Gartons say it’s time to retire.

“The owners are cooked and well done,” Barry Garton said.

He’s not kidding around. The two have been operating eateries since they restored and opened the Miss Adams Diner in 1989.

Sensing opportunity when Mass MoCA opened, the Gartons launched a new, up scale breakfast café named Brewhaha in 2000 on Marshall Street, across from the museum. It quickly grew a wide range of happy customers among both residents and visitors.

In 2006, Barry Garton went ahead and bought the West End Market building at a foreclosure auction.

“For some reason my hand went up,” Barry Garton said, chuckling. “I didn’t know what the heck I was doing.”

Over the next 12 years, in between cook ing and operating the existing space, he worked on renovating the former corner grocery into a upscale café with much more space.

They finally moved the business into their new digs in 2018 and put it up for sale about a month later because, as Barry Gar ton put it, “We’re not getting any younger.”

The couple is in their 70s.

Nevertheless, they launched business in the new location and most of their custom ers came with them. It was not unusual to see lines out the door on busy weekends in

the summer seasons, until the pandemic took hold.

After the months of mandated shut down in the beginning of the pandemic, they began serving meals to go, and slowly ramped up when people were permitted to mingle again in June 2021.

“Somehow we got through it alright,” Nancy Garton said.

The restaurant is decorated like a study or family room. Posters, shelves full of books, knickknacks and flowers, a bulletin board, and throughout the hours and the years, of doing business, smooth jazz could

be heard in the background.

“When I’m here, it feels like I’m in my living room,” Nancy Garton said.

The menu, a creative mix of veggies, fruits, pastries, breads and breakfast items were served with plenty of coffee and tea to wash it down.

The work on the building resulted in a structure specifically designed and wired to serve as a restaurant.

“Surprisingly, no one has yet to take advantage of a terrific turnkey opportu nity,” Barry Garton said. “We’d be thrilled to pass along our recipes, procedures and talented staff of three to a new owner/op erator.”

It is a bittersweet prospect, Nancy

Deli’s delightful run coming to an end

By Tony DoBrowolski

PITTSFIELD — Maria Sekowski‘s days of working the counter, singing to custom ers and making people smile at her quirky Eastern European deli on North Street are coming to an end.

The vibrant Sekowski is planning to close Maria’s European Delights, which has been located in downtown Pittsfield for almost 10 years, when she retires at the end of this year.

She made the announcement recently on her businesses’ Facebook page, adding that she’s willing to keep the store open if someone wants to buy the business.

“It would be nice if somebody would want to buy it,” she said in a telephone in terview, “but I don’t have anybody.”

All gift certificates will be honored be fore the store closes.

Sekowski and her late husband, Kris, originally opened Maria’s European Delights in Great Barrington in 2007, then moved the business to Pittsfield in January 2013. Kris Sekowski died in 2014, and Maria has operated the busi ness, which features Eastern European products, including several types of kielbasa, by herself for the past nine years.

“You need two people,” Sekowski said. “For me, it’s too hard.”

She intends to spend her free time watching her grandchildren, visiting her daughter in Kansas City, “and doing what

I want to do now.”

“The end is near. I face the final cur tain,” Sekowski said laughing while para phrasing a song by Frank Sinatra, one of her favorite singers. Sekowski often en tertains customers at her store by singing songs by people like Sinatra, a personal favorite, or by firing up her on-site kara oke machine.

“We begin every morning together,” she once said in both reference and rever ence to Old Blue Eyes.

Born in Poland, Sekowski was 11 when she came to the United States in 1965. She lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., before coming to the Berkshires.

“It’s tough,” she said, when asked about making the decision to retire.

Garton said, noting that they have had longtime customers bring their kids in, with those kids returning years later grown-up with children of their own. She affectionately calls them “Brewbabies.”

They also have annual visitors who reg ularly seek them out during their visits, she added.

If nobody is interested in buying the place, Brewhaha will seek out other restaurants to make an offer on the kitch en equipment and other supplies after the closing “in order to clear out the building,” Barry Garton said.

They will be open for a little while after the official closing to sell out the remainder of the coffee and food supplies, he added.

Pittsfield shop specialized in Eastern European products

“I have mixed emotions.”

Many small business owners on North Street have expressed concerns about parking on the downtown area’s main thoroughfare, and Sekowski also ex pressed those sentiments in her Face book post.

“Big issue is parking on North Street, which affects all the merchants,” she wrote. “Something for the city officials to address.”

In the telephone interview, Sekowski said those parking issues have cost her customers in the past.

“People who couldn’t find parking just left,” she said.

On Facebook she also wrote, “I want to thank you all for supporting my business throughout the years. Please support your local businesses as there are too many empty storefronts.”

“I love everybody,” she said. “I’ve had a good run and I’ve met so many wonderful people. I met (the late ac tress) Jill Clayburgh. She came into the store.

“I met Meryl Streep,” she said. “That was in Great Barrington. She bought golumpkis (stuffed cabbage) and the hunter’s stew that I made.”

She finished her Facebook post by writ ing, “It was my pleasure to serve you!! I will miss some of you and you know who you are.”

“I have wonderful people,” Sekowski said.

FILE PHOTO

Maria Sekowski, the owner of Maria’s European Delights on North Street in Pittfield, will be closing her shop at the end of the year.

‘Cooked and well done,’ owners look for new operator

Above: Barry Garton, center, and Joanna Scaggs, right, work the grill during lunch hour at Brewhaha. Nancy Garton, left, and Barry have scaled back operations and are hoping to find a new operator so they can retire. Left: Many customers have left comments in the guest book about how much fun they’ve had at Brewhaha.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT STAFFORD

Interprint secures $22M to expand

County has always been a major goal of ours,” said Bill Hines Jr., Interprint’s co-managing director.

completed by next summer, weather per mitting. Additional rotogravure printing presses are expected to be installed by the end of 2023.

By Tony DoBrowolski

PITTSFIELD — Interprint Inc. is investing $22 million to expand its already cavern ous plant by 35 percent to provide addi tional space for a growing new product line.

The 57,000-square-foot expansion will allow the company, one of the world’s leading printers of decor materials, to ex pand further into the burgeoning luxury vinyl tile market.

“That market is going through the roof,” spokesman Peter Stasiowski said recently. “We’re currently only provid ing less than 3 percent for the prints in that market in North America. This is a tremendous opportunity for Interprint to provide even more.”

The company produces a flexible film used in decorative overlays for flooring, furniture and other consumer products at its facility on Route 41. The project is expected to create up to 20 new jobs, which would increase Interprint’s work force to 185 employees.

“Creation, and continued support, of family-supporting jobs in Berkshire

The expansion is being funded through a combination of company equity and bank loans, Stasiowski said. Interprint’s Pittsfield plant is the North American headquarters of the Germany-based In terprint Group, which was acquired by a Japanese company, Toppan Inc., in 2019. Interprint originally came to Pittsfield in 1985; its current plant was built in 2006.

Stasiowski said construction is ex pected to begin in November and be

The city’s Community Development Board and Conservation Commission have both approved the company’s site plan for the project, Stasiowski said. And just last month, the City Council ap proved nearly $500,000 in tax breaks to en sure the company stays in Pittsfield.

The additional equipment will expand Interprint’s printing lines from five to eight. Interprint currently operates four

presses to print decor paper for the lam inate industry, while the fifth prints the flexible films that are used in luxury vi nyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is often used in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.

This will be the fourth expansion of In terprint’s current plant, currently 167,100 square feet, which was completed in 2018. This project will add to the plant’s second expansion, which took place in 2016.

“When we pitched (our plan) for this parcel there was enough room for three phases of expansion,” Stasiowski said.

“The second one will now be complete.”

New head of General Dynamics operation comes full circle

By Tony DoBrowolski

PITTSFIELD — Laura Hooks’ career with General Dynamics Mission Systems has circled back to where it began.

Hooks, who began work with the na tional defense contractor in Pittsfield 28 years ago, has returned to the Berkshires for good as vice pres ident and general manager of mari time and strategic services at Gener al Dynamics Mis sion Systems.

She succeeds Pittsfield native Carlo Zaffanella, who was recently named president and CEO of Ultra Electronics’ maritime division, which has an office in Braintree. Zaffanel la, who had been with General Dynamics since 2009, said he travels between the company’s many offices, but still lives in Lenox.

Hooks first came to Pittsfield in 1994 to participate in General Dynamics’ en gineering leadership program, while studying for both her master’s and doc toral degrees in mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She’s from the Buffalo, N.Y., area.

Hooks has since worked for General Dy namics at company facilities in Taunton, most recently, and Groton, Conn., but has maintained ties to the Berkshires.

“I’ve always owned a house in the area,” Hooks said.

Hooks had served since April un der Zaffanella as vice president and general manager of General Dynam ics ground service systems, which is

headquartered in Taunton, and works with the U.S Army. General Dynamics Mission Systems in Pittsfield works most ly with the U.S. Navy.

“Humbled and excited,” said Hooks, about being named to replace Zaffanella in Pittsfield, where General Dynamics is one of Berkshire County’s largest em ployers, with 1,600 employees.

“I started my career in Pittsfield right out of college and kind of came up through the ranks of engineering. I ac tually led the (engineering) leadership program at one point in my career,” she said. “I can’t tell you how amazing it feels to be back and running the business that I grew up in.”

Her former position in Taunton, she said, “helped me understand, quite frank ly, what I have to do as a vice president and general manager. It was a whole new set of customers, so that was a learning experience for me.”

“I have a lot of experience working with the underseas community and the strategic deterrent community,” said Hooks, who also worked for General

Dynamics’ Electric Boat facility in Con necticut, which builds submarines, for over six years.

Today, her goal in Pittsfield is to ensure that General Dynamics remains a strong part of the community.

“As one of the largest employers in the county, we realize the impact that we have on the community and how import ant that is,” she said.

In Pittsfield, General Dynamics has re ceived a consistent stream of Navy con tracts over the years, most recently a $273 million, six-year contact in July from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop, produce and install firing systems in the new Columbia and Dreadnought classes of submarines.

These contracts have allowed the Pitts field facility to grow. In 2017, General Dy namics expanded into General Electric’s former administration building at 1 Plas tics Avenue after Sabic Innovative Plas tics moved most of its local employees to Houston. General Dynamics recently opened a second pod in that facility, and hopes to expand further throughout that

cavernous structure, Hooks said.

Hooks said the company has filled new positions by drawing candidates from outside the Berkshires to Pittsfield, but needs to improve the pipeline to those jobs for local candidates.

“We have been a part of the Berkshire Business Roundtable and the Massachu setts Roundtable to try and highlight the labor skills of the jobs that we cre ate across the communities,” she said.

“We’ve had really good success, I think, filling those positions as we continue to grow. So we continue to have positions that come open. I think that has been a testament to being able to draw talent into the area. But preparing to fill the pipeline with candidates from local areas is also critically important.

“I think it starts with some of the in teractions we have with the high schools and the community colleges and trying to make people aware — the students, the parents, the guidance counselors and everybody — of the skills they need by working with the Berkshire Innovation Center,” she said.

General Dynamics Mission Systems is partnering with the innovation cen ter on the BIC Manufacturing Academy, an education and training initiative that involves the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Funded by a recent federal grant, the manufacturing academy is ex pected to get underway in February.

The company has also been work ing with local and regional schools, including the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Berkshire Communi ty College, UMass-Amherst, McCann Technical School and other county high schools on manufacturing and engineering careers.

Investment will add up to 20 jobs at plant

Hooks

FILE PHOTO

Kevin McLear mixes colors at Interprint in Pittsfield. The company recently announced plans to expand its plant on Route 41 in Pittsfield and add 20 more jobs.

Employees line the grand entrance to General Dynamics Mission Systems’ remodeled space in April 2020 in Pittsfield.

FILE PHOTO

The BIC will manage the academy, which is a partnership between the in novation center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT is providing instructors, advisors, curricula and re search.

The academy is also envisioned as a collaboration between regional organiza tions, schools, businesses and other stake holders, which already include Berkshire Community College, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and 1Berk shire among others. General Dynamics Mission Systems is the academy’s lead industry partner, and a number of local manufacturers are also involved.

The primary liaison between MIT and the academy is Ben Armstrong, a research scientist who serves as the executive director of MIT’s Industrial Performance Center, where he co-leads the Work of the Future initiative. Arm strong’s work centers around how work ers, firms and regions adapt to technolog ical and industrial change. This includes projects that examine the conditions un der which innovation and innovation pol icies can generate better jobs for workers and more prosperity for regions by mak ing companies more competitive.

“I was introduced to Ben Sosne through a mutual colleague, which led to discussions about what the BIC wants to do with the manufacturing academy,” Armstrong said. “Our goals were aligned, and our participation emerged from that.

“Our role is to collaborate with them to help to set it up for success on a sus tainable basis,” he said. There are possi bilities to continue that relationship on a long-term basis, but for now we are fo cused on the initial stages.”

The academy is being formed at a time when the BIC and other organizations

and businesses are ramping up the push to diversify and expand the region’s man ufacturing economy and technology sec tor. It coincides, for example, with the development of the local Technology Im pact Collaborative, which the BIC is also helping to spearhead.

Planning for the academy began last year, and the project is being funded ini

tially by a recent $914,465 grant from the U.S Department of Commerce through the American Rescue Plan Act, which will be matched by $330,000 in state and local funds.

The federal grant supports the acad emy’s initial startup costs and its first few years of operation. The academy is intended to be a permanent, ongoing pro

BEN GARVER

gram, Sosne said. Long-term funding is projected to come from a combination of grants, contributions and earned income like fees.

The academy’s basic framework has been established, Sosne said, although details are still being developed and in dividual programs will be phased in.

“Our goal is to align the BIC Manufacturing Academy with other training dollars and programs over time, and establish partnerships with employers, so that it becomes a permanent resource,” said Ben Sosne, executive director of the Berkshire Innovation Center.

One of the industrial printers, top far left, at the Berkshire Innovation Center, below far left, uses multiple polymers to create 3D models like these.

Left: Shaun O’Neil, the technology fellow at the Berkshire Innovation Center, rear, and Tim Butterworth, the BIC’s operations manager, are two of the hosts of the innovation center’s new manufacturing academy.

PHOTOS BY BEN GARVER

BIC

FROM PAGE 10

The boot camp programs are expected to begin this fall, and apprenticeships will be offered beginning in February.

Armstrong brings a wealth of knowl edge to his role as the academy’s

primary liaison to the BIC. His programs at MIT study examples of development strategies by industries and the public sector that have been successful in other regions. They also analyze specific char acteristics of regions such as Berkshire County.

“We look for points of comparison,” he said. “You could compare it to a recipe.

Some regions have similar ingredients, and we try to determine what mix would work best for a particular area. For ex ample, conditions in Berkshire County are different than a large metropolitan high-tech center like Boston. It would not be realistic to try and duplicate that. But instead, we can look at what has been successful in similar rural regions with

manufacturing economies.”

It’s also important to create broadly based opportunities for employment in manufacturing, both to update the skills of current workers and provide acces sible entry-level positions and advance ment, he said.

“A key goal is to create middle-class

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Where a beagle’s the ‘head taste tester’

Roxie’s Barkery features home-baked dog treats

By Tony DoBrowolski

NORTH ADAMS — McKenna Burzimati once worked in an animal hospital. The job gave her insight into ingredients that make up many dog treats — but in her view should not.

“They have a lot of preservatives in them or just ingredients that I literally didn’t know what they were,” Burzimati said.

So when the North Adams resident adopted her own dog from a Connecticut rescue shelter around three years ago, she decided to feed it home-baked dog treats made from healthy ingredients.

That led Burzimati to form a business, Roxie’s Barkery, a pet supply shop that features home-made pet treats, including cake and ice cream-style concoctions for dogs, now located in the Norad Mill at 60 Roberts Drive.

Burzimati, 24, first sold her wares from her apartment, then moved the business to her parents’ house, before opening her store in the mill in May. She attended the culinary program at McCann Technical School. After opening Roxie’s, she honed her business plan during the fall of 2021 at Entrepreneurship for All Berkshire County in Pittsfield, a nonprofit that pro vides assistance to budding small busi ness owners.

The business received a loan from Adams Community Bank to open her business. Burzimati also helped fund its launch with grants she received from

EforAll. Burzimati and two family mem bers make up the store’s three employees.

Roxie is the name of Burzimati’s dog, a 5-year-old beagle mix she adopted from Dog Star Rescue in Bloomfield, Conn. Roxie is referred to as “head taste tester and CEO” on the business’ website.

“Looking at her picture, I instantly fell in love with her,” Burzimati said.

Besides cake and ice cream, Roxie’s Barkery sells colorfully named biscuits and cookies. The crunchy carrot cookies are gluten- and grain-free.

“We have a small amount of natural preservatives that we put in them to make sure they don’t mold,” she said of prod ucts. “Everything we use has great health benefits for the dog, so they’re not the ar tificial gross preservatives.”

Common ingredients are peanut but ter, pumpkin and applesauce.

Roxie’s most exotic items are the dog cakes, known as “pup cakes,” and the ice cream, which is served in four-ounce cups. Burzimati began making the cakes while working at an animal day care cen ter. “People were just kind of asking for them,” she said. “Those are also 100 per cent all-natural, human-grade ingredi ents with no sugar in them.”

She devised her dog-style ice cream when looking for a cool treat to give ca nines during hot weather. “Basically, I way cut back on putting any sort of cream in it,” she sad. “You just want to use all natural things for the dogs. It’s really just a lot of fruit and healthy ingredients.”

Roxie’s Barkery is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, from noon to 3 p.m. Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.

BIC

FROM PAGE 11

jobs, with the ability to achieve upward mobility,” Armstrong said. “While manu facturing is changing and becoming more technology oriented, it’s crucial to create job opportunities and outcomes within that environment that do not require a PhD. If the academy is successful, it will create a winning situation for workers and for employers.”

Armstrong and the BIC developed a strategy for the manufacturing academy based on that approach, and the two part ners are still collecting input from manu facturers.

“This has to reflect the needs and pref erences of companies in Berkshire Coun ty,” Armstrong said. “We are going to them with assumptions based on our data and models. We expect that some of those will be challenged, and we’ll make adjust ments according to what they tell us.”

The BIC Manufacturing Academy is fo cused on three basic elements:

• The boot camps: The boot camps are intensive one-day introductions to

specific technologies and products. They are oriented to employees and manage ment of companies, college students and others with an interest in them.

“Some of these are leading-edge tech nology,” Sosne said. “Others have been around for a while but have not had a lot of exposure here.”

To test the idea, the BIC Manufacturing Academy and MIT held an initial boot camp this summer as a prototype. It pro vided an overview of a software applica tion from Autodesk for 3D printing. It was attended by 35 people.

“This software helps to generate a de sign that adds on layers of steel to man ufacture a product,” Sosne said. “At the end of the session, there was a small contest to design a hook to hold the most weight possible using the least amount of material.”

• Apprenticeships: The regional ap prenticeship program will provide in struction and on-the-job training in skills related to these technologies. This will utilize curricula and online content de veloped and presented by MIT and local educational institutions. One purpose of this is to alleviate some of the burden of

using company staff to train other em ployees.

• Deployments: The deployments are intended to help companies become more competitive by integrating technologies into their operations. The academy will provide resources and expertise to enable companies to evaluate in detail how a spe cific product or processes would fit into their operations.

“The deployment program can assist companies to figure out if a particular technology is a good fit for them before they make the investment,” Sosne said. “This reduces their risk. We’ll help them conduct a return-on-investment analysis based on their operations and give them a chance to experience how it works direct ly. They can determine whether it truly has advantages for them. Then they can make an informed decision of whether to adapt it or to continue using what they already have.”

Those attending the academy can in tegrate those elements together in their curriculum.

“For example someone who attends an Autodesk boot camp might decide that the application could be useful and

suggest it to their company,” Sosne said.

“If the company is interested, we can use the deployment process to help them evaluate it. If they choose to utilize it, they can set up an apprenticeship and training program through the academy.”

General Dynamics is also impressed with the manufacturing academy’s goals.

“The purpose of the BIC Manufactur ing Academy is to improve the competi tiveness of regional manufacturing firms by developing skills for regional manu facturing workers that meet emerging industry demand and introducing tech nologies and techniques to manufactur ing engineers and managers that enable firms to invest in improved productivity and innovation,” said company spokes woman Brenda Burdick in a statement.

“The BIC Manufacturing Academy aims to become a resource that comple ments and enhances existing regional educational and economic activities,” she said. “A successful academy would con tribute to productivity improvements at regional firms and serve as an attraction for new firms interested in locating near the BIC as a source of regional training and expertise.”

BEN GARVER

Berkshire Innovation Center Operations Manager Tim Butterworth, left, and the BIC’s Shaun O’Neil, technology fellow at the BIC, will host the Berkshire Innovation Center’s new Manufacturing Academy.

Former Candlelight Inn to be restored, revived

By C larenCe Fanto

LENOX — The third time may be the charm.

The new owners of the former Can dlelight Inn, which closed in 2004 and became a private residence, intend to reopen the historic property as a 40to 60-seat full-service restaurant, bar and boutique hotel with seven guest rooms.

It’s the third effort in the past four years to revive the once-popular des tination, which had a strong local fol lowing for its ambiance, food and pub.

Bryan and Kelly Binder, who have been living part-time in the 35 Walk er St. property since buying it for $907,000 in November 2020, aim to restore the property as a commercial venture. They hope to open next sum mer.

The Zoning Board of Appeals swift ly granted a special permit for the project recently, with all five members voicing enthusiasm for the project.

The Binders plan to rename it The Doctor Sax House after the improvi sational, “spontaneous prose” novel by Beat Generation pioneer Jack Ker ouac, published in 1959.

The year-round business plan in cludes long hours, from 8 a.m. to as late as 1 a.m., for the restaurant, with open porch dining in season augment ing the indoor seating. The couple will be applying for an all-alcohol and en tertainment license from the Select Board.

“We’d like to think we’d be restor ing what once was a landmark in the town and bring it back,” said Bryan Binder. A year-round team of 10 to 15 staffers is anticipated for the inn, with more employees once the restaurant is up and running, Kelly Binder said.

In February 2020, a Pittsfield cou ple sought to buy the landmark 1885 Colonial Revival building in the cen ter of town to reopen it as a bed-andbreakfast. Despite zoning board ap proval, the deal fell through after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted a month later. A 2018 effort to revive the inn had been sidelined by the ZBA.

Before it was opened in 1977 by Jim my and Lynne DeMayo as the Cande light Inn, the centrally located house at Walker and Church streets was the home of the Toby Jug restaurant and, earlier, Chef Karl’s, which began in 1949.

The 7,500-square-foot property sits on just under 0.6 acres and includes a three-bay carriage house, used as a garage, in a commercial zone, part of the downtown historic district.

Ahead of their 5-0 approval of a special permit petition, zoning board members heard Jeffrey Lynch of Lynch Scrimo Attorneys in Lenox

Bryan and Kelly Binder, new owners of the former Candlelight Inn in downtown Lenox.

About that name:

Doctor Sax House

Kelly Binder says the name of their business, Doctor Sax, was inspired by an article that fea tured Lenox and The Bookstore.

“Matt Tannenbaum is pictured with the book, ‘Doctor Sax,” which spurred us to read it,” she said by email. “We were inspired by the way it’s written, following an almost jazz-type-prose and the underlying meaning (to us) that ultimately, good will always prevail. Additionally, [author] Jack Kerouac being Lowell, Mas sachusetts-born made it also feel even more like fate.”

point out that the Binders seek a consistent following to operate on a full-time schedule.

“This would be beneficial for them business-wise but also for the town,” Lynch said, describing early-stage planning. “There are some notable gaps in options during lunch time, especially during the shoulder season and the off-season.”

No outdoor amplified music per formances would be presented after 11 p.m., he said.

The existing carriage house would accommodate a retail boutique, also operated by the Binders’ company, Doctor Sax LLC.

Landscape architect Rob Akroyd of Greylock Design displayed an illus tration depicting an outdoor terrace space and a fireplace for customers.

He acknowledged that there is no on-site parking except for two spaces reserved for handicapped guests. Va let parking, utilizing nearby public

spaces behind Town Hall, is under dis cussion, as well as off-site possibilities such as at Shakespeare & Company.

Principal architect Robert E. Harri son of Berkshire Design and Bradley Architects is expected to handle inte rior alterations. There will be no ex terior addition to the building, Lynch noted, so the project is exempt from any town-imposed parking and load ing requirements.

ZBA member Albert Harper, citing tight parking downtown, urged adop tion of valet parking, since he predict ed “this is going to be a popular spot, and there’s not enough street parking to accommodate another 60 people at a restaurant.”

He urged the Binders to “use your creativity to come up with a solution that works for you and works for the rest of the town.”

“Encouraging development like this is exactly the direction I want to see Lenox go in,” ZBA member and downtown resident Kimberly Duval said. “This is probably the most excit ing project I’ve seen since I’ve served on a bunch of different boards in town. I couldn’t be happier with this petition. I hope you know what you’re getting into, that the expectations are high that you’re going to complete this project the way you’ve positioned it.”

“I think it’s a wonderful project,” ZBA Chairman Robert Fuster Jr., said, citing fond memories of the Can dlelight Inn during its heyday. “It’s been heartbreaking seeing the build ing sitting there, empty.”

Harper said he was impressed by the applicants, calling them “nice young people who are willing to invest in Lenox and make it a better place to be. I’m looking forward to seeing a great commercial success.”

Kelly Binder, a native of Colling wood, N.J., is an entrepreneur, tech nologist and philanthropist. Her last role was as Chief Solutions Officer at Unite Us, a technology company that builds coordinated care networks of health and social service providers. She oversaw all human resources, IT, data products, and operations. Previously, she worked with the U.S. Department of Justice and the De partment of Defense on large-scale software and with the Navy on com bat system engineering initiatives.

Bryan Binder, born in Sayville, N.Y., is a founder of Jetty Rock Cap ital, a boutique investment advisory firm formed to focus on small busi nesses. Previously, he worked at the global private equity firm, Lone Star Funds and at the global investment bank Oppenheimer & Co.

The couple are part-time residents of East Hampton on Long Island, N.Y.

Training Oppor tunities in Healthcare

Dream Away lives to see another day

By M att M artinez

BECKET — The Dream Away Lodge in Becket has been sold to new owners, according to an an nouncement from the restaurant, that hopes to see it reopen after being up for sale since March 2021.

The restaurant’s previous owner, Daniel Os man, has sold the restaurant to a new ownership group, called The Dreamaway Lodge Restaurant LLC, who intend to “offer all the things [Dream Away] did before but even better.” The restaurant provides food, drink and event space for wed dings and other occasions, but is most known for its live music performances.

Osman owned the restaurant on 1342 Coun ty Road for 26 years and put it up for sale in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting at the time that “the Dream Away’s best chance for a fu ture is in the hands of the next generation.”

The deal closed in late September. The owner ship group had been ongoing discussions to make it happen since May of this year.

The restaurant is expected to reopen in Spring 2023. Its ownership group consists of Scott Levy, Sheryl Victor Levy, Daniel Giddings and April Wilson.

Scott Levy has owned a home in Becket since 2004, and was introduced to the Dream Away Lodge around that time. He said he fell in love with the restaurant the first time he went there.

“The very minute that I personally stepped foot in the Dream Away Lodge, it had an affect on me,” Levy said. “I was transported to a different place and time.”

The experience also allowed Levy to become friends with Osman, as he would visit the lodge frequently before the restaurant’s closing.

Keeping the restaurant’s atmosphere, which Levy described as “relaxing, warm and fulfill ing,” intact is one of the main goals of the new ownership. Levy indicated that Daniel Osman and former chef Amy Loveless will both be in volved with the restaurant’s revival, but in differ ent roles than they held previously. They’re still determining the best route for their involvement, Levy said.

“We’re working on this together,” Levy said. “We did this purely to make sure the memory and legacy of the Dream Away could live on.”

Giddings, who owns three other restaurants, said that the lodge was looking to secure a lineup of musicians ahead of their targeted spring open ing, as well as securing a new chef for the restau rant. The new owners will look to keep the menu moderately the same, he said.

“We’re not trying to reinvent it,” Giddings said. “More like revive it.”

In the time since the restaurant’s closing, other developments were attempted. A proposal by Hit The Road RV LLC to develop sites for “glamping” or glam-camping on 48 acres beside the lodge was withdrawn in June, following some deliberation from local boards.

The new owners will look to resume operating the restaurant as it was before, and restoring the “magic” that came along with it.

“The Dream Away will once again be the Berk shires’ magical spot,” the announcement said. “So close and yet so far, the secret place you ei ther know about or don’t!”

CLARENCE FANTO

A sober approach to travel

not having three different drink menus, not asking people again and again and again if they want something to drink. Even having a restaurant that surrounds a bar can be triggering.

By Tony DoBrowolski

STOCKBRIDGE — Travel can be tricky for peo ple in all stages of recovery from substance abuse, and Alexander Brown knows those temptations all too well.

Brown, who grew up in the lodging in dustry as a member of the Fitzpatrick fam ily, is in recovery himself and is a certified addiction counselor.

His mother was the late Jo Ann Fitzpat rick Brown, who ran Blantyre in Lenox for the Fitzpatrick family from 1981 until her death in 2016. He left the industry in 2017 after his family sold the five-star lodging establishment.

But now Brown has decided to reenter the field, and he’s doing so with a venture that reflects the hard-earned knowledge culled from his various experiences.

This summer, Brown launched Recov ery Hospitality, a business that provides lodging packages for people who are re covering from addiction and those dealing with mental health issues.

“I’ve been trained as an addiction coun selor; I’m in recovery from alcoholism myself and I grew up in the hospitality in dustry,” said Brown, who began working on the idea in April 2021. “I’ve seen guests struggle with the isolation of the traveling experience. I’ve seen staff, including my self, struggle with substance abuse.”

Recovery Hospitality provides travelers with both standard and premium packag es designed to lessen the temptations that addicts and those living with mental illness often find when on the road. They include removing alcoholic beverages from guests’ in-room mini bars, no wine or cocktail lists

while dining, the availability of non-al coholic beverages, and providing a con cierge to guide guests to wellness-focused activities and off-property dining options. The firm also operates a travel agency to provide the same services to recovering addicts interested in additional support be yond Berkshire County.

“A lot of time the same things that I do to reduce stress with people who struggle with addiction, carry over and are bene ficial for people who struggle with other mental health concerns,” said Brown, who is interested in expanding his services to people with autism.

Based on his experiences, Brown said the lodging industry is not set up to deal with customers who struggle with mental health issues.

“Hospitality is not accessible for peo ple with mental health issues because

West Africa, West Side meet at Seasoning Grill

By Tony DoBrowolski

PITTSFIELD — A taste of West Africa has ar rived on the West Side of Pittsfield.

Raissa and Mathieu Doumbia, a mar ried couple originally from the West Afri can nation of Ivory Coast, recently opened House of Seasoning Grill at 117 Seymour St., the site of the former Friends Grille. The eatery features African American food, with dishes that lean more toward African than traditional African-Amer ican cuisine. Entrees include familiar American staples like steak, chicken, pork and fish, but seasoned with African ingre dients.

“It’s going to be the same food, the same chicken, the same burger,” Mathieu Doumbia said. “But the difference is go ing to be the seasoning. When you try it, there’s going to be something new. When you open the chicken you can see the sea soning in the chicken.” How do they combine these cuisines?

“It’s a little secret,” Mathieu Doumbia said with a smile.

The ingredients in the seasonings aren’t listed on the menu, but common West Af rican seasonings include curry powder, black pepper, bouillon, thyme, chili pep pers, Cameroon pepper and nutmeg.

The entrees at House of Seasoning Grill include dishes like Choukouya de Poulet, which is African-style jerk chicken mari nated with special seasoning. Choukouya is a word from an African dialect spoken in northern Ivory Coast that means grilled or braised meat. Poulet is the French word for chicken.

The menu includes peanut butter soup with white rice, attieke poisson (fried fish); gigot, which is barbecue roasted lamb with green sauce and onions; and attieke

croupion, grilled turkey tails with a tomato sauce.

Appetizers include traditional Ameri can dishes like chicken wings and chicken and beef kebab sandwiches.

“It’s a combination of both foods,” Rais sa Doumbia said.

She said the eatery’s African dishes come from family recipes and that she ran her own restaurant in the Ivory Coast be fore the couple came to the United States eight years ago. They originally lived in New York City, where Raissa Doumbia worked in restaurants. They came to Pitts field, which has a sizable West African population, in 2017. The eatery has four employees. The couple spent some $70,000 renovating the space.

“When we moved to Pittsfield, we liked that there were a lot of restaurants,” Rais sa Doumbia said. “But it was the same food with no change. When you go out, the food is not always the way you want it. So we tried to bring something new. It’s a new taste for the town.”

hotels are not aware that it’s missing, and I think consumers are not aware that there are things that can be done to make hotels more accessible,” Brown said.

“A lot of it comes down to accessibility,” he said. “Hotels are mandated to be acces sible to people with physical limitations. However, they are not mandated and are often unaware of people who have cogni tive limitations ... I think there are a lot of people in recovery in New York and Boston who are looking for vacation destinations.”

Those in recovery or dealing with men tal health issues are often advised not to travel, he said.

“I heard this advice early in the recovery process,” Brown said. “Don’t do it. Don’t go out to eat. Don’t travel after the first two years because there’s too much tempta tion.”

Brown first entered recovery in 2017, then re-entered 18 months ago after relaps ing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thought to myself when I was trying to find my way back into the hospitality industry that I know there are things op erationally that hotels can do to make the hotel and dining environments less stress ful,” he said. “Not have beverage options,

“I noticed there are things that could be done that weren’t being done,” he said. “My mother did a lot of them at the highend level. But there are things that can be done at all ranges of hotel price points. I know from the digital health care side that things can be done to increase accountabil ity and support and all these things that can be done to lower stress and temptation.

So I just was like I can combine the two.”

Recovery Hospitality’s lodging packages are geared mostly toward individuals and families, although, they could be used for groups or events, Brown said. The con cierges are wellness coaches who check in daily, ether through Zoom or on the phone.

“We have texting back and forth,” Brown said. “They check in on a pre-scheduled ba sis based on stressful times.”

Brown’s family, which runs Main Street Hospitality, a firm that manages several well-known Berkshire lodging establish ments, including The Red Lion Inn, agreed to support the proposal after Brown pitched it to them. Recovery Hospitality is not part of Main Street Hospitality, Brown said, but its recovery-based lodging pack ages can currently be booked at only two Main Street properties, The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, and Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield.

Brown, who also provides consulting services to hotels and restaurants looking to create environments conducive to trav elers with addiction and mental health issues, is preparing to expand Recovery Hospitality’s services to Boston.

Brown received his addiction counsel ing certificate from the University of Mas sachusetts, Boston and is studying for a masters degree in social work at Boston College.

Alexander Brown, founder of Recovery Hospitality, at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. Brown’s new business will offer tailored lodging packages for those in recovery, including removing alcoholic beverages from guests’ in-room mini bars and no wine or cocktail lists while dining.

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Raissa and Mathieu Doumbia operate a

restaurant, House of Seasoning Grill,

American cuisine featuring

Manufacturing is on the rebound. Don’t squander the opportunity

LEE — Manufacturing — that’s right, manufacturing — has be come one of the bright spots in an otherwise uncertain post-pan demic economy.

American manufacturers added back about 1.43 million jobs from the depths of the COVID-19 downturn in 2020 through August, a net gain of 67,000 workers above pre-pandemic levels.

printing presses to support its rapidly growing printed décor business.

Patricia Begrowicz The View from AIM

The same pattern has estab lished itself on a smaller scale in Berkshire County. Manufac turing employment across the county increased from 3,382 at the end of 2020 to 3,511 in December 2021, while the number of manufacturing companies rose from 147 to 152. The pattern has continued this year as manufacturing companies in the county employed 6.9 percent more people in August 2022 than a year earlier.

Total manufacturing wages have also increased, from $228.6 million in 2020 to $235.9 million last year.

Not bad for an industry that some people still regard as a relic of a previous economic era. Evidence for the resurgence of manufacturing is everywhere, despite a raft of challenges from supply chain interruptions to soaring energy costs to a critical shortage of workers.

Take Interprint, one of Berkshire County’s cornerstone employers, which recently announced investments totaling $22 million for an expansion of its Pitts field site and the purchase of additional

Once complete, the 57,000-square-foot expansion will provide space for additional roto gravure printing machines and storage of goods. Construction will begin in November and be completed in the summer of 2023.

The project is expected to even tually create up to 20 new jobs, increasing the company’s employ ment to approximately 185.

Similar stories are being played out across Massachusetts at manufacturing companies both large and small:

• Two Franklin County manufacturers each received $250,000 grants last month to invest in new equipment that will drive production and job growth. Valley Steel Stamp in Greenfield and South Deer field-based Worthington Assembly will use the grants to invest in machines and tools that will expand their business, while also offering high-paying jobs to residents in the region.

• Catania Oils, a fourth-generation com pany based in Ayer, just cut the ribbon on a 51,500-square-foot manufacturing expansion that will create 30 new jobs at a company known nationally for producing virgin olive oil and other edible oils.

• Boston-based real estate firm Berkeley Investments plans to break ground next year on a 203,000-square-foot biomanufac turing facility in Billerica, the latest in a

surge of projects creating facilities for the manufacture of drugs and other substanc es that go into the human body. Some 1.7 million square feet of such facilities are under construction across the state

Manufacturing remains foundational to the Massachusetts economy, even as its contributions are sometimes overlooked in the glare of “new economy” sectors such as computer software and artificial intelligence.

The productivity of Massachusetts manufacturers is staggering — these mostly small companies make and sell some $55 billion worth of products each year, turning out 9.15 percent of the state’s total output with only 7 percent of the workforce.

Employment in the sector has largely stabilized at 230,000 people who, according to the National Association of Manufac turers, earn total average annual compen sation of $104,440.

Manufacturing also maintains a symbiotic relationship with technology. Manufacturing companies throughout the United States account for 58 percent of all domestic research and development, advancing areas ranging from material science to robotics to artificial intelligence.

The big question is how manufactur ers will replace an aging workforce with younger people trained with the math ematical, engineering, computer and production skills needed to make products and parts to tolerances of thousands of an inch.

The issue is pressing — nearly one quarter of manufacturing workers are 55 years of age or older.

At Associated Industries of Massa chusetts, for which I serve as chair of the board of directors, we believe that Massa chusetts will thrive only with a longstand ing commitment to a version of inclusive economic growth that will bring as many people as possible into the workforce and leave no one behind.

AIM is ready with ideas to help address this challenge.

We support public policy that will encourage people to live and work in Massachusetts instead of opting to move to lower-cost states. Last year, we launched our Pink Slip initiative that prompted employers to implement policies that encouraged the large number of women who left the work force during the pandemic to return.

We have aggressively supported the im provement and expansion of vocational education and training and are working with our federal policymakers to ex pand immigration of qualified workers from abroad.

The opportunity to grow the manu facturing sector and manufacturing jobs stands before us. We cannot squander that opportunity.

Patricia Begrowicz, the president and co-owner of Onyx Specialty Papers in Lee, chairs the board of directors of Associated Industries of Massachusetts

High real estate sales no longer sustainable

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire real estate pro fessionals have recently been discuss ing home inventory, buyer demand and how a rapidly changing mortgage interest rate environment may im pact sales in the months ahead.

Sanda J. Carroll Real estate

At the close of the third quarter, the Berkshire County Board of Realtors notes that the historically high real estate sales pace in Berkshire County in 2021 was not sustainable.

There’s been a 5 percent reduction in the dollar volume trans acted so far this year and a 210 percent decrease in the number of residential homes sold. But despite this downward sales momentum, the median sale price of homes rose 6 percent, to $325,000 countywide. It is also important to note that in 2019, home sales reported in January through September amounted to $295 million compared to $456 million this year. The 2020-21 market expansion was significant.

Looking at the market activity in mid-October, some properties listed for sale still generate multiple offers, while others make significant price reductions in the first few weeks of listing. Sellers are faced with a shifting market and cautious buyers.

As the overall U.S. economy struggles, mortgage rates fluctuated greatly in the third quarter this year to try to correct inflationary issues. As Nadia Evange lou, senior economist and director of forecasting at the National Association of Realtors said, “Three factors mainly affect mortgage rates in today’s market: expectations on inflation, economic growth and the Fed’s next rate hike. In flation and higher interest rates typically move up yields as investors demand a

GRAPHICS PROVIDED BY BERKSHIRE COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS

higher return.”

The average 30-year fixed rate was as low as 4.99 percent in August, yet had ris en to 6.7 percent at the end of September, according to Freddie Mac. It then rose even higher, above 7 percent, in October. Freddie Mac and the Mortgage Bankers Association predict the average 30-year fixed interest rate will settle at 5.4 per cent and be at 5.5 percent for the fourth quarter. Yet the National Association of

Realtors forecasts a rate of 6 percent by the end of this year.

For buying power, when borrowing $300,000 at a 7 percent interest rate, a buyer’s monthly payments would be almost $2,000. At the beginning of 2022, when interest rates were around 3.5 percent, monthly payments on a $300,000 mortgage would have been just under $1,350. The same loan now costs roughly $650 more per month.

While the rising mortgage interest rates are pushing down demand as the Fed had hoped, many buyers see this shift as an opportunity to enter the housing market with a bit of leverage. Contract negotiations resume in a more balanced market and appraisers and home inspectors are carefully analyzing the home’s long-term stability and value.

Despite demand slowing, there’s still a shortage of available homes that makes some properties popular and competi tive for interested buyers. In September, there were 614 homes on the market for sale in Berkshire County, compared to 1,759 just 10 years ago, a 35 percent decrease. Since 2013, the inventory of homes for sale has continued to fall. The many factors contributing to a decline in inventory include low building rates in our area, a larger population of citizens desiring homeownership, a shortage of optimal living options for the active

NONPROFIT NOTES

elderly. Investment in real estate has proven to be a sound strategy for longterm wealth.

All real estate professionals are urging buyers in the market to maintain updated pre-approval letters from their lender to make sure their price range remains accurate with the latest rates. Real estate professionals are also direct ing their lower-income buyers to investi gate new programs launched by Freddie Mac in partnership with Mass Housing to open new opportunities. In collabo ration with local lenders and agencies, there are programs available with down payment assistance, grants and money available for buyers in underserved communities.

Freddie Mac has also launched an online program called CreditSmart, which is a suite of free financial capa bility and homeownership classes to empower consumers with the skills and knowledge in their homeownership journey. More information is available at creditsmart.freddiemac.com. The Berkshire Board of Realtors’ full cumu lative market watch report for the third quarter can be found at BerkshireReal tors.net/marketwatch.

Sandra J. Carroll is the chief executive officer of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and the Berkshire County Multiple Listing Service.

New initiative enhances methods to bring funds to the Berkshires

By L iana Toscanini and K aren P eLT o

GREAT BARRINGTON — A new initiative has reached the Berkshires that is designed to bring more state and federal fund ing to the region and The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires is part of it.

The initiative is called “Berkshire Funding Focus.” The need was first discussed at a legislative town hall in January, then systematically pursued by a cross-sector group of re gional organizations and advisers, which ultimately secured funding to hire Karen Pelto as recovery grant specialist to lead the efforts. As we embark on this investment in equitable capacity build ing, we thank state Sen. Adam Hinds for shepherding a budget earmark, and several local contributors including Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 1Berkshire, Berkshire Bank, Fairbank Family Charitable Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Greylock Fed eral Credit Union, Health Resources in Action, and Mill Town Foundation.

We’ve asked Pelto to elaborate on the facets of the initiative in this month’s column:

There is an opportunity in every situa tion — you just have to look for it. This is a lesson I took to heart from the director of a small but mighty state program that survived a line-item veto and went on to become an innovative and indispensable agency.

The COVID-19 pandemic had un equal health and economic impacts and emergency relief funds did not reach all of community members in need. The American Rescue Plan Act, the Corona

virus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act provide us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to counteract the imbalanc es that the pandemic brought into sharp relief and emerge strong, resilient, and prosperous.

Admittedly, the array of agencies, policies and procedures involved can be overwhelming — so many acronyms and so little time!

Berkshire Funding Focus is here to help. Whether you are a small business or entrepreneur, city or town, school dis trict or college, small or large nonprofit, we are here to share information and

insight into state and federal grantmak ing with you.

Housed at Berkshire Regional Plan ning Commission, the initiative relies on close involvement and support from community partners including Berk shire Bank, Berkshire Black Economic Council, Berkshire Educational Resourc es K12, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Berkshire United Way, Health Resources in Action, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, Volunteers in Medicine, and 1Berkshire.

Here’s how Berkshire Funding Focus can take you from idea to implementation:

• Curate: We scour state and feder

al funding announcements, posting high-value opportunities to our website and sending ones of likely interest to your in-box.

• Build capacity: We offer regular training programs to help potential ap plicants develop grant writing and grant management skills. In partnership with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, we are offering the Level Up Webinar & Workshop Series for Nonprofits through Dec. 13.

• Convene: We bring together potential partners to explore collaborative propos als and offer guidance on how to make them more competitive.

• Consult: We are here to help answer your questions and help you navigate government grant solicitations, con tracts and compliance and reporting requirements.

Together, we can generate successful grant proposals that invest recovery dollars in our Berkshire County students and classrooms, workforce and business es, entrepreneurs and incubators, and neighborhoods and downtowns.

On our website, berkshirefunding focus.org, you will find continuously updated lists of state and federal grant opportunities and resources to help you with developing proposals and managing awards from our community partners and beyond.

There is also a calendar of workshops and webinars to help you hone your skills and a glossary of terms to help guide you through the process. We would also like to learn more about you. For more information contact kpelto@berk shireplanning.org.

Karen Pelto is a recovery grant specialist for Berkshire Regional Planning Commission; Liana Toscanini is the executive director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires in Great Barrington.

Toscanini Pelto

FILE PHOTO

The city of Pittsfield is using some of its ARPA funds to develop a plan to renovate the White Terrace Apartments into 41 units of affordable housing.

New documentary reflects promise of the BIC

BY P.J. MOYNIHAN

PITTSFIELD — COVID-19 first hit the Berkshires two years ago. But a new feature-length documentary firm about state manufacturing’s response during all stages of the pandemic will make its local debut this month.

“Project Frontline,” will make its theatrical premiere in the Berkshires at the Berkshire Innovation Center at 7 p.m. Nov. 17. Produced by Boyd Biomedical Media of Lee and Digital Eyes Film of Northampton, the film documents the real-time collaboration of industry, academia and state government to address the Personal Protective Equipment crisis that frontline workers faced early in the pandemic, as well as Massachusetts’ role in the production of COVID testing and the discovery of COVID vaccines.

A question-and-answer session between the audience and members of the film’s producing team and key subjects will follow the premiere performance (the entire event runs from 5 to 8 p.m.) It will be the first of an ongoing series of film screenings and community discussions that will be curated and hosted by the BIC.

The story of “Project Frontline” also marks a collision point between two local companies that was facilitated by a capable enabler that in many ways reflects the promise of the Berkshire Innovation Center.

It began in the summer of 2019 when I received a call from my good friend Ben Sosne, who had recently been hired as executive director of the BIC, which was nearing completion at the William Stanley Business Park of the Berkshires and gearing up for a grand opening ceremony, which took place in February of the following year. Ben was fired up when he spoke to me.

“You have to come to the Berkshires and see what’s going on here,” was his consistent refrain partitioned by tangents about companies named EMA and VidMob and Lenco Armored Vehicles and Mill Town Capital. It was all gibberish to me. But more than anything I heard the unbridled enthusiasm in Ben’s voice. I figured it well worth my while to take a scenic drive out Route 9 from Northampton, which is where my business is based, to grab lunch with my pal and check out the BIC.

At that time, this Minecraft-esque building on the hill in Pittsfield was still a job site. But it was close enough to completion to envision what the interior of this enticing high-tech innovation space might look like. As I began to learn more, it was more the concept of the BIC than its physical apparatus than began to allure me.

Ben’s energy was being fueled by a churning realization that there was an endless well of companies doing tip-ofthe-spear work throughout the Berkshires in key sectors, and that his role at

the BIC was to serve as the convener of all these ideas. He would become a point of connection between these disembodied constellations, promote collaboration, spark innovation, and in doing so, fuel regional economic growth.

“Please pass the Kool-Aid,” I said.

In hindsight, I have a sneaking suspicion that Ben knew my experience at Digital Eyes Film could add value to the BIC. Since 2003, the firm that I own and operates has been a media company specializing in documentary features and all manner of production, consulting and digital storytelling. We’ve seen it all over nearly 20 years in the bowels and boardrooms of the media and entertainment business, carving out a particular niche for our brand outside of the typical meccas of New Yok City and Los Angeles. With a few exceptions our clientele was rarely local, so establishing a presence in Berkshire County was not on our short list of business development goals. But that changed quickly.

Digital Eyes engaged with the BIC to assist with its media needs around the innovation center’s soft launch and grand opening. In doing this, I became increasingly enchanted with the BIC’s mission and vision — especially as I learned what these companies like EMA, VidMob, Lenco, Mill Town, and many others, were up to.

Shortly after this I met Stephen Boyd, the CEO of Boyd Biomedical, who chairs the BIC’s board of directors. Boyd was building its own internal media capacity to service a desire to tell stories from inside the walls of the life sciences sector in Massachusetts. Ben thought Steve and I could benefit from making a connection. That was the collision point.

A few months later in February 2020, the BIC marked its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was a veritable who’s who of movers and shakers in the Berkshires and state government. Gov. Charlie Baker had a special twinkle in his eye when he spoke about the possibility that the BIC represented for the region and the commonwealth. It was a memorable occasion that felt like a seminal moment for the future of industry in the Berkshires.

We all know what happened next. About a week later the governor held a press conference in Pittsfield where the state’s first COVID case had been identified. The world changed. The revelry and possibility that was brimming through the BIC just days before now felt like a fever dream.

In the weeks that followed, Boyd Biomedical answered the call to arms issued by the newly minted Massachusetts Emergency Response Team, a statewide coalition of industry, academic, health care, and government partners endeavoring to source, produce, and test PPE for workers on the front lines of the pandemic. It was then that Steve and his brother Matt reached out to me with a radical suggestion — producing a documentary about the response that was being mobilized in Massachusetts as a case study in the possibility of American advanced manufacturing, and as a means to document and extrapolate lessons from crisis.

More than two years later, the outcome is “Project Frontline.”

When Ben connected Steve Boyd and I before the BIC had even cut the red ribbon, there was no pretense for what might come from that interaction for

Employees gather in the main workspace at Boyd Biomedical in Lee, formerly Boyd Technologies, in this file photo. The company is featured in “Project Frontline,” a documentary about state manufacturing’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will make its Berkshire premiere Nov. 17 at the Berkshire Innovation Center.

either one of us, or our respective firms. But like a savvy point guard looking to create opportunities for his shooters, Ben already understood that if you keep the ball moving the offense is inevitably going to end up with a high-percentage shot. In this case the commonwealth of Massachusetts ended up with a feature-length documentary that reflects on the successes and lessons of the pandemic, which can now be used as a tool for dialogue to help ensure that we learn from reflecting on our not-too-distant past.

A collision point does not inevitably lead to a tangible outcome. However, more often than not, the right collision point can lead to something unforeseen. I would not have expected that my firm would produce a documentary in real time about the response to the pandemic here in Massachusetts, and I commend Matt and Steve Boyd for having the audacity to take such a leap of faith.

But without that connective tissue, a point guard to run the offense, we are disembodied constellations in our own narrow lanes. In spite of the challenges brought forth by the pandemic, the BIC is already ushering in a new era of collaboration in Berkshire County, and “Project Frontline” is proof of that concept.

The premiere of “Project Frontline” is free and open to the public. To reserve tickets go totinyurl.com/yckrwx63. More information about the film is available at www.Project-Frontline.com.

Burnt out on social media? Try something different

PITTSFIELD — One thing that we can all agree on is that marketing a business in the age of social media leaves us feeling overwhelmed and burned out more often than not.

Thanks to TikTok and Instagram Reels in particular, we now feel like we are “missing out” on reach and engagement if we aren’t actively producing what can feel like our own network reality show.

Katelyn Pierce

Thankfully, there are ways to make the chaos feel more intentional, get help with the parts you don’t want to do, and stop wasting the most valuable thing in your business, which is your time!

First, how much time do you have each day, week, and month to work on your social media? Do you have help from employees or family members? This means

reliable, consistent help. Are you able to hire help from a contractor or social media agency? All of these questions are important because without a true picture of how much time you can spend you cannot possibly make a plan that can actually get done. If your social media plan requires 15 hours per week and a production team to create and post all of the content you have outlined but you only have two hours and a marketing assistant, in reality, you are setting yourself up to fail before you even begin.

Second, if you don’t have a social media strategy that outlines your content pillars, or the important topics you want your audience to know about each week, and the types of content you want to create, you are wasting time trying to figure

out what to post every time you sit down to create content.

If you are not clear on who you are even talking to when you post why will people care? Having these parts clearly outlined will help make sure you don’t forget to mention important things when content planning. You can find great templates or work with a social media strategist to map out a straightforward strategy that you can adjust and modify as your business grows.

Lastly, don’t waste your time on social media if you don’t plan to use the features of the platforms. You don’t have to sing and dance or even be entertaining to use Instagram Reels and TikTok. If you are going to spend the time to be on social media at all you need to ride the trends and find ways to adapt them to your business and brand.

The best way to do this is to keep a spreadsheet or list somewhere to drop links to the Reels or TikToks you come across that you want to recreate later.

The goal is to create a list of inspiration and then sit down and batch create as much as you can at once. You won’t have to spend any time trying to find an audio, come up with an idea, or get inspired. You can save your content as a draft — and also to your device just in case — so you or a team member can edit and post later.

Whether you’re running a business alone, are part of a team, or an executive trying to navigate all of the changes, these tips will save you time and give you the foundation of a plan or a chance to improve your existing one.

Katelyn Pierce is the founder and chief strategist of PierceSocial, a digital marketing company.

PJ Moynihan is the executive director of Berkshire Innovation Center studios and founder and CEO of Digital Eyes Film Productions in Northampton.

FILE PHOTO

Shift happens — including workforce development

It’s not new news that the pandemic changed things, especially workforce demands. For the past several months, the MassHire team has been meeting with over 800 companies to better understand the collective impact on Berkshire County and how our workforce has shifted. Here are our key findings:

• Eighty-one percent of employers had diffi culty hiring in the past 12 months (up signifi cantly from 56 percent in 2019).

• Every industry struggled with almost every occupation.

• Top reasons for recruitment chal lenges: “Too few applicants;l” “Employ ability issues;” and “Offered pay was too low.”

• In response, employers tried revising pay of existing and new hires, provided training, and offered flexible scheduling.

• 40 percent used the workforce system; lack of awareness the top reason for those who didn’t.

• Use of online resources to recruit was higher than in previous years.

• Eighty-two percent of employers con fident about success in the coming year.

A FEW OBSERVATIONS

The reemergence of a genuine worklife balance is driving and redefining job quality and quality of life. MassHire will continue to provide training programs that develop the right skills for our job seekers to succeed in virtual work and in-person services. Not just for the jobs of today but also tomorrow.

Workers matter. Most people finally recognize those essential workers who continued to show up and pro vide critical services. Grocery store attendants, truck drivers, warehouse workers, first responders, teachers, manufacturing, mail carriers, drivers, nurses, medical professionals, etc. are treated with greater respect. MassHire has a number of upcoming career fairs to help connect to these vital workers.

Great resignation — in which nation ally 38 million workers quit their jobs. Some of the most experienced workers, baby boomers who had spent years climbing the ladder and working long hours, decided it was time to retire. This impacted about 2,000 people in the Berk shire workforce.

Tight labor force. Restrictive immigra tion policies, 50 years of low birth rates, and aging population has left us with fewer working-age people. Companies will have to work harder to find and keep employees. And it’s not just about raising the pay. Younger generations are seeking help with mental health issues, want to feel appreciated and valued, and want a focus on diversity and social equity in the workplace.

SOLUTIONS TO THE SHIFT

Last month was Workforce Devel opment Month, which gives us reason to celebrate the Berkshires’ workforce development successes, and highlight some new initiatives that will shift and upgrade the skills of workers, connect talent to job openings, and help job seek ers transition into new opportunities.

For context, the latest Berkshire employment statistics (August 2022) show the area unemployment rate of 4.0 percent, with more than 61,084 people in the labor force. The Pittsfield overthe-year employment change shows an increase of 500 jobs (1.1 percent), which reflects a growing confidence in the regional economy. In fiscal 2022, the Berkshire workforce system assisted 2,843 people, 950 companies, 3,500 youth and leveraged $1.8 million to train 150 workers.

MassHire is tasked to attract and prepare job seekers to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s jobs. “Think globally

and act locally.” We are constantly shift ing our workforce system to meet these needs. There is an abundance of infor mation for employers and for job seekers at MassHireBerkshire.com.

Training. One of the best ways for employers to retain talent in the region is by providing skills development and training opportunities. Berkshire Coun ty companies have received more than $10 million in workforce training funds to train more than 11,000 workers since its inception. This fund is a vital tool for many companies to upgrade employees’ skills and increase productivity.

Workforce skills education and training plays an enormous role in economic and personal development by helping residents acquire the skills they need to connect with promising careers. Gov. Charlie Baker recently announced a nursing assistant train ing grant to MassHire and Workforce Skills Capital Grants to Berkshire Community College, McCann Techni cal School, and Berkshire Innovation Center to modernize equipment to offer greater career pathway opportu nities in health care, hospitality and manufacturing.

MassHire Job/Career Fairs. MassHire will be hosting a STEM & Manufacturing Career Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 21 at Berkshire Innovation Center; a New England Job Fair (virtual) Nov. 15-16; and weekly on-site recruitments, career center seminars, workshops, and much

more. Job seekers and people looking to advance their careers are encouraged to visit MassHire Career Center at 160 North St. in Pittsfield for a wide array of career counseling; job clubs; workshops; resume support; online application and interviewing tips; job search strategies; and much more. Attend a career center seminar to learn about all they have to offer.

MassHire Job Quest is a statewide database to help match skills to employ ment opportunities and to help compa nies find employees. This free online portal helps job candidates and employ ers with their workforce needs and shifts in careers.

Market Maker/Business Service Rep. These are our Business 411 resources for hiring and recruitment assistance, tax incentives, training grants, business development support, and more. These services will help Berkshire businesses’ bottom line and help keep them compet itive.

MassHire does our best work together, whatever the sector or the amount of shift. The partnerships between work force development, education, Berkshire businesses and talent development agencies are absolutely vital to meet ing tomorrow’s workforce challenges. MassHire programs like College/Career Readiness, Jobs4Youth, and Industry Sector Training are all designed to help businesses connect with workers and implement a worker training program that supplies them with a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers well into the future.

Over the next few months, MassHire will showcase a series of business tours, listening sessions and workforce appreci ation events designed to highlight proven workforce strategies, solicit feedback from our partners and acknowledge the hard work of our staff that is helping drive our workforce success. With over 3,212 jobs currently available on the JobQuest website (tinyurl.com/3r tuh56m), and projections showing nearly 1,000 job openings to fill annually through 2024, there is more work to be done.

MassHire is confident that through hard work, dedication and the work ethic of the Berkshire worker, we will contin ue to meet those challenges and move our region forward — no matter what shifts arise.

Why we chose to develop our product in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD — It started two weeks ago. “Congrats Eric” began light ing up my LinkedIn messages.

I didn’t win the lottery, nor did I hit my target weight loss goal for the year — yet. People were congratulating me because it’s my first anniversary since taking the helm as CEO of our construc tion-and solar-technology start up, SolaBlock Inc. While I appreciated the good will and sentiment, I certainly didn’t feel I had earned their sincere good wishes — yet.

Eric Planey

As many of you know, the team at Sol aBlock has been hard at work getting our innovative and intuitive product ready to sell in this region. Several years ago, our co-founders had this great idea of marrying a solar photovoltaic cell right into an ordinary-sized cement block so that dormant walls can be transformed into active solar-generating assets. So many times, when I told people about the company I was joining, their reactions were “Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?”

Launching a new technology start up is not easy, particularly when you are creating a product, and not some innova

tive software or app. In our case, we must pass a series of rigor ous tests to meet underwriters laboratories certification, or UL for short.

Almost everything that has an electri cal current running through it must have achieved UL certification in the U.S. Most companies that receive that safety certifi cation are large, longstanding companies that have a research and development center of their own to test the product before it goes to a certified tester.

As a startup, we don’t have elaborate internal pretest capabilities. But as we enter what we believe to be the true final phase of our testing, we have pulled resources from the Berkshire region and our great supply chain partners to replicate those final tests. This is where I am very proud of our team. We are scrappy, and we do what it takes to get the job done.

I am also so happy we have chosen

Pittsfield for our first final assembly op eration. It was a no-brainer to be honest: most of those supportive supply chain partners are here, or very close by. The city is very close to New York state, which is important because Massachusetts and New York are the two dominant states in the U.S. for promoting green buildings.

The leadership of Pittsfield has also welcomed us with open arms. Plus, we are seeing the innovation economy grow with the Berkshire Innovation Center playing a leadership role. Lastly, we have partnered with greater academic institu tions like Berkshire Community College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, to get us to this next level.

It has been a tough go of late, as the UL certification has taken longer than we had anticipated. As a result, we have gotten stretched in terms of manpower, finances, and generating a sales pipeline, among others things. We must watch

every penny and get as much bang for the buck as possible. That’s another reason why we love Pittsfield. We feel we are surrounded by understanding businesses and people who are really supporting and pulling for us.

A few weeks back I attended an event held in New York City during Climate Week. While I met some great people, I also realized it’s so much easier to be a startup in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles or some similar place. There is just so much visibility in those bigger markets, especially with investors.

Yet on the train home, I also realized how it made me more energized to get our Pittsfield operation open this year. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be challenging either. And the reality is while bigger cities have bigger resources, nobody can replicate the depth of the partnerships we have in the Berkshires.

On behalf of the entire team at SolaBlock, thank you to the people of Pittsfield and the Berkshires for your patience. We will get across the UL finish line soon.

Eric Planey is the CEO of SolaBlock Inc., which is one of the Berkshire Innovation Center’s member companies.

Heather Boulger is executive director of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board in Pittsfield.

FILE PHOTO

The MassHire Berkshire Career Center, run by the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, is a key destination for local job seekers.

Heather Boulger Inside the Job Market

Pittsfield has also welcomed us with open arms. Plus, we are seeing the innovation economy grow with the Berkshire Innovation Center playing a leadership role.

A fond farewell to some true originals

PITTSFIELD — One of the joys of shopping on North Street the past few years has been a visit to a funky little deli known as Maria’s Euro pean Delights. Inside this small shop is where Maria Sekowski holds court. A viva cious woman, Sekowski always has a smile for any one who walks in the door, and will often sing to her customers. Sometimes you can sing along with her, which I’ve had the privilege of doing once. We did a duet of the song, “I Who Have Nothing” (her choice).

She also has an onsite karaoke machine. This is much more than just a place to buy kielbasa, although if you’re interested Maria sells several types of the popular Polish sausage.

But those good times will soon come to an end. Sekowski, who is 68, is planning to retire at the end of this year. She’s worked the counter alone for the past eight years since her late hus band, Kris, died, and that’s taken it’s toll.

“You need two people,” she recently told me. “For me, it’s too hard.”

She will close the deli unless someone wants to run it for her, but as of mid-October, there were no takers.

I will miss Sekowski and her store a lot after it’s gone. Unlike almost everyone else in the Berk shires, she always pronounces my last name correctly. And, I can’t tell you how much the

interior of Maria’s European De lights reminds me of my Polish heritage. I could sense it the first time I walked in the store.

The smells, the food, the items on the walls, and the conversations I’ve had over the years with Maria, they all bring back memories of my child hood in Connecticut. Every time I go in there, I’m remind ed of my late grandmother’s apartment.

My grandmother, whose name was Mary, and Maria were both born in Poland. although they lived most of their lives in Amer ica. My grandmother originally

came to the U.S. to work as a maid for some hotshot million aire who lived on Long Island.

Maria came to the U.S. when she was 11, and lived in Brook lyn, N.Y., before coming to the Berkshires. Her story is much different that my grandmother’s, who came to the U.S. shortly before World War I. But like my grandmother, Maria never lost the funkiness, the earthiness, that came with her from the Old World. It makes every visit to her store fun.

A few years ago, I did a feature on Sekowski and her store for The Berkshire Eagle. It turned

out to be more like a conversa tion than a standard interview, because the discussion touched on a variety of topics, and in cluded more than a few laughs. One thing that stood out was of head cheese.

“This is all (made) from a pig’s head,” Sekowski said, referring to what headcheese is made from. “Nothing gets thrown out. You can look it up.

“The Americans, they don’t go for it.” she continued, “because you just say head cheese and they lose it.”

Interviews that go in that direction don’t normally yield

useful information about the subject, but that one did. She likes to talk and joke and laugh. I think the story illustrated who she is very well.

On a related note, Barry and Nancy Garton, two other Berk shire residents who ran food related businesses, have begun paring down the operations of their popular eatery, Brewhaha, in North Adams. They stopped serving the eatery’s regular menu on Oct, 31, but Barry said they plan to stay open indefi nitely on a limited basis until they can find a new buyer for the business. The couple also operated the Miss Adams Diner for several years after restoring it in 1989.

I’ve never met the Gartons, al though I’ve talked to them on the phone. They deserve kudos for the amount of time and success that they’ve had operating small local, dining establishments, a task that’s never easy.

The Gartons, who are in their 70s, are going out with a sense of humor.

“The owners are cooked and well done,” Barry Garton re cently told Eagle reporter Scott Stafford.

Sekowski also provided a funny, final take.

“The end is near. I face the final curtain,” she told me, paraphrasing a song by Frank Sinatra, one of her favorite sing ers, before laughing.

The Gartons and Sekowski. True originals to the end. May they find success in retirement. They’ve definitely earned it.

Tony Dobrowolski is the editor of the Berkshire Business Journal.

SCOTT STAFFORD

Barry and Nancy Garton, who have been operating breakfast and lunch eateries in the Berkshires since 1989, are looking forward to a slower pace in their upcoming retirement.

FILE PHOTO

Maria Sekowski, who owns Maria’s European Delights in Pittsfield, announced recently she would close her North Street store.

Tony Dobrowolski Commentary

Real estate transactions

ADAMS

Joseph Craig Thompson sold property at 91 Orchard Terrace, Adams, to Jodi M. Joseph, $267,500.

Lory Atwell sold property at 28 Anthony St., Adams, to Travis Atwell and Natasha Bordeaux, $140,000.

Cloud City Properties LLC sold property at 22-30 Prospect St., Adams, to JP Parent Company LLC, $330,000.

Ruby Ann Koczela, trustee of the Koczela FT, sold property at 5 Turners Ave., Adams, to Gary and Gail Duranko, $200,000.

Jacqueline D. Seuss, trustee of the Jacqueline D. Seuss RVT, sold property at 6 Dubis St., Adams, to Elias H. Masse, $225,000.

Chester Cyrulik sold property at 63 Meadow St., Ad ams, to Tracey A. and Nicolas J. Modena, $110,000.

Daniel Grady sold property at 2 Conrad St., Adams, to PB Summer Street LLC, $80,000.

Emma Mae Wooley Morin, personal rep. of the Estate of Kevin Jody Filion, sold property at 60-62 Colum bia St., Adams, to Alan J. and Patricia A. Yagmin, $5,000.

John H. Keating Sr. sold property at 20 Highland Ave., Adams, to Laurie D. Haas, $195,000.

David N. and Vickie M. Palardy, trustees of the Palardy FNT, sold property at 162 Columbia St., Adams, to District Properties LLC, $25,000.

ALFORD

Stefanie Waldburger sold property at 47 East Road, Alford, to Joyce Demoose, $1,600,000.

Clark Evans Downs and Emilie Louise Downs sold property at 35 Green River Road, Alford, to Andrew M. Smith & Daphne M. Tong, $1,289,000.

BECKET

Citizens Bank NA and Emily J. Gunn sold property at 27 Prentice Place, Becket, to Citizens Bank NA, $244,000.

Deborah A. Duff sold property at 506 McNerney Road, Becket, to Ralph E. Vogt and Lewis G. Hunley, $420,000.

Louis D. Starsiak sold property at Long Bow Lane and 25 Hopkins Lane, Becket, to Vacation Properties VT I LLC, $366,000.

William F. Johnson and Donna Marie Long sold prop erty at 208 Jacobs Hollow Road, Becket, to Marc E. Melinkoff, $515,000.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar Collins sold property at Captain Whitney Road, Becket, to Home Bridge Real Estate LLC, $13,000.

Beth E. Aitken Vandesteene, formerly known as Beth E. Aitken, sold property at 62 Washington St., Becket, to Amanda Hamel-O’Brien, $157,500.

William Passe sold property at Big Bass Lane, Beck et, to Daniel Plawecki, $10,000.

Joanne F. Ruggere sold property at 1066 Benton Hill Road, Becket, to Roy D. Walker, $246,000.

Matthew J. and Jenna L. Bodnar sold property at 3238 Main St., Becket, to Aimee Felker, $310,000.

Justin Bell sold property at 106 Access Road, Beck et, to Matthew J. and Jenna L. Bodnar, $261,500. W. Frederick Timme III, trustee of the W. Frederick Timme III Trust, sold property at Leonhardt Road, Becket, to Melissa Bauman $377,000.

Tirzah Schwarz sold property at 131 Gentian Hollow Road, Becket, to Hard Cash for Land LLC, $15,500.

Sarah Elizabeth and Caroline Christine Johnson sold property at 313 Winter Drive, Becket, to Jeffrey D. Lamb and Daphne Jiang, $365,000.

Charles S. and Monika H. Mason sold property at Nottingham Court, Becket, to Paul Jonathon and Kathleen Bell Szabo, $34,900.

Ghita Schwarz sold property at 144-A Gentian Hollow Road, Becket, to Hard Cash for Land LLC, $14,500.

Anthony J. and Alice M. Limina sold property at 171 Old Pond Road, Becket, to John C. and Maureen E. Lally, $679,000.

Daniel Osman, trustee of the Dreamaway Nominee RT, sold property at 1342 Country Road, Becket, to The Dreamaway Lodge RE LLC, $615,000.

Palmer Brook Corporation sold property at Tyne Road, Becket, to Eric A. and Heather L. McDonald, $22,500.

Michael A. and Patricia B. Fudge sold property at 271 Jesters Lane, Becket, to Patricia R. Burdick, $75,000.

Melinda Riiska sold property at 101 Friar Tuck Drive, Becket, to Bryan and Taryn McGray Daley, $150,000.

Seth Fowler, trustee of the Robert L. and Lorraine A. Fowler Family Trust, sold property at 307 Friar Tuck Drive, Becket, to Frederick Tibets Jr. and Milena Damianova-Tibets, $160,000.

Joan H. Martling sold property at Birch Lane, Becket, to Robert D. Healey Jr. and Olga Healey, $19,000.

Joseph and Ashley Decker sold property at 5 Huck leberry Lane & Werden Road, Becket, to Christopher G. Milenkevich, $365,000.

Henry and Jacqueline Gates sold property at 816 Main St., Becket, to Susan L. Deacon, Jennifer M. Deacon and Edwin N. Alba, $16,000.

Sharon L. Beckett sold property at 144 Little John Drive, Becket, to Vincent P. Larouche, $44,900.

Deborah L. Wolf, formerly known as Deborah L. Wolf Beckstead, sold property at Castle Lane, Becket, to PFGC LLC, $7,000.

CHESHIRE

Steven W. and Kristen L. Fellmann sold property at 709 Savoy Road, Cheshire, to Ethan P. and Rebecca L. Rougeau, $289,000.

Zachary A. Roy and Kathleen J. Hagy sold property at 84 Ingalls Road, Cheshire, to Michaela Powers, $300,000.

Richard A. Lazarczyk sold property at 745 Savoy Road, Cheshire, to Edward F. and Barbara A. Ameen, $375,000.

CLARKSBURG

Mark A. and Deborah A. LaPine sold property at 48 Demers Ave., Clarksburg, to Michael and Yvonne Storm, $326,500.

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development sold property at 511 Walker St., Clarksburg, to Allison Degrenier, $133,000.

DALTON

Irene M. Jones sold property at 16 Washington Mountain Road, Dalton, to Joshua Carlson and McKensie Saldo, $375,000.

Susan E. McMahon sold property at 488 East Housa tonic St., Unit 8, Dalton, to Joyce Vander Galien, $195,000.

Edward R. and Melinda R. Loeb sold property at 189 Red Barn Road, Unit 57, Dalton, to Camilo Andres Manrique and Lina Bermudez, $680,000.

James P. and Beverly L. Tucker sold property at 1 Charles St., Dalton, to Kathleen Millard, $351,000.

David L. and Alice L. Pelkey sold property at 946 South St., Dalton, to Taylor L., Scott M. and Tammy L. Smoak, $367,500.

Antonio Marcella dba ROTO Realty sold property at 90 Depot St., Unit 90, Dalton, to Antonio and Marga ret Pagliarulo, $180,000.

Helen M. Cultrera sold property at 1105 Main St., Dal ton, to Jeremy J. and Jessica R. Jonson, $125,000.

Shawn M. Henault, personal rep. of the Estate of Thomas A. Henault Sr., sold property at 42 Otis Ave., Dalton, to Matthew J. Larkin, $175,000.

EGREMONT

Leland W. Peck, Gregory E. Peck and Marilyn P. Granger sold property at 3 Pumpkin Hollow Road, Egremont, to Jennifer Schoonmaker, Aaron G. Peck, Karen Granger Lynn Butler, Kevin L. Granger, Kelly L. Belair, Leland W. Peck, Gregory E. Peck, and Marilyn P. Granger, $1,100.

Paul J. Lightfoot and Karen Lightfoot sold property at 270 Hillsdale Road, Egremont, to Kevin Wendell and Katherine Pyles, $772,500.

Karen Marshon sold property at 6 Ridge Road, Egremont, to George B. Gross and Lisa A. Gross, $790,000.

Jonathan R. Hohman and Amanda L. Hohman sold property at 93 Hillsdale Road, Egremont, to Andrew Macfarlane and Claudia Sala, $450,000.

Ada B. Johnson and Jerome Kern Johnson sold property at 88 Blunt Road, Egremont, to Jon Michael Varese, $710,000.

FLORIDA

Kimberly A. Morin sold property at 99 North County Road, Florida, to James D. Dix, $140,000.

Tammy L. and Thomas A. Desormeaux III sold prop erty at 141 Mohawk Trail, Florida, to Helen Elizabeth and Melissa Ann Martin, $298,000.

Peter J. and Anthony C. Arigoni sold property at 141 Central Shaft Road, Florida, to Peter J. and Barbara L. Arigoni, $40,000.

Anne M. and Augustine A. Mowe sold property at 245 River Road, Florida, to James A. and Jennifer L. Mowe, $74,557.36.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Stanley Marcus and Judith S. Marcus sold property at 18 Kalliste Hill Road, Great Barrington, to Donald J. Troy Jr. & Maxine Troy, $1,250,150.

Lindsey J. Morris, trustee of A&R Realty Trust, sold

property at 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, to Berkshire Humane Society Inc., $500,000.

38 Mahaiwe LLC sold property at 38 Mahaiwe St., Great Barrington, to Sweet One LLC, $450,000. Beartown LLC sold property at Mahaiwe Street, Great Barrington, to Office Parking LLC, $120,000.

Gail E. Garrett, trustee of Avery Lane Nominee Trust and as personal representative of the Estate of Michael J. Vincent, sold property at 39 Avery Lane, Great Barrington, to Thomas W. Candee Jr., $285,000.

Louis Forouhar-Graff and Heather Forouhar Graff sold property at 31 Dresser Ave., Unit No. 4, Great Barrington, to Douglas Raymond Williams, $180,000.

Rhett H. Mundy sold property at 420 Stockbridge Road, Unit 3, Jennifer House Commons Condo minium, Great Barrington, to Wingate Realty LLC, $255,000.

Myron Chefetz and Nancy Edman Feldman, trustees of 12 East Mountain Road Realty Trust, sold property at 8 and 12 East Mountain Road, Great Barrington, to Abraham J. Zimm and Allyson J. Ocean, $1,580,000.

Dorothy Phillips sold property at 36 Silver St., Great Barrington, to Robert L. West and Donna P. West, $640,000.

Matthew W. Lokker sold property at 6 Ramsey Ave., Great Barrington, to Cynthia J. Granahan, $350,000.

Blake Williams and Alexandra Cosgrove sold proper ty at 45 Castle Hill Ave., Great Barrington, to David M. Sultan and Kathryn A. Potts, $720,000.

Lana R. Hearst sold property at 0 and 4 Kirk St., Great Barrington, to William Lee Richardson and Lea C. Richardson, $795,000.

HANCOCK

Robert David Bewkes sold property at Whitman Road, Hancock, to Equity Trust Company, Custodian FBO Vincent P. Guntlow IRA, $1,000.

George A. Charney and Donna M. Jamison sold prop erty at Corey Road, Hancock, to Denis S. McGann, $115,000.

Tracy DeMeo sold property at 9541 Mountain side Drive, Hancock, to 9541 Mountainside LLC, $725,000.

Scott B., Jaime E. and Robert G. Blair III sold proper ty at 2175 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Jeffrey L. and John C. Quimby, $115,000.

Scott B., Jaime E. and Robert G. Blair III sold proper ty at 2174 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Jeffrey L. and John C. Quimby, $160,000.

Laurie A. Gomez sold property at Corey Road, Unit 825, Hancock, to James and Carolyn Hensel, $222,500.

Marc Stuart Goldberg sold property at 37 Corey Road, Hancock, to Vincenzo Polsinelli and Francesca Bellu, $115,000.

HINSDALE

Black Dog Family Properties LLC sold property at 298 George Schnopp Road, Hinsdale, to Jonathan Kratter, $292,500.

David M. Patterson sold property at 94 Watson Road, Hinsdale, to Lucian V. Stone, $5,000.

HMA Properties LLC sold property at Washington Road, Hinsdale, to Ryen M. Quail, $29,000.

Mark D. McIlquham and Kelly W. McIlquham, trust ees of the 1110 New Windsor Road NT, sold property at 1110 New Windsor Road, Hinsdale, to Elizabeth K. Juviler and Timothy R. Williams, $750,000.

HSBC Bank USA NA and Neil R. and Lisa K. Genaway sold property at 382 Maple St., Hinsdale, to Constan tine Holdings LLC, $146,000.

LANESBOROUGH

Pillar LLC sold property at 550 North Main St., Lanesborough, to Tim E. Hamilton, $160,000.

Sonia J. and William J. Bruno sold property at 44 Baker St., Lanesborough, to Maryann Hyatt, $349,000.

Seung E. Yoon sold property at Bailey Road, Lanes borough, to Joseph and Amy Bastow, $69,000.

LEE

Loretta Tenuta sold property at 75 Debra Ave., Lee, to Jean Paul Casalinas Alvarez Sr., $395,000.

Sandra J. Bowden, trustee of the Burtt Family Trust, sold property at 160 Laurel St., Lee, to Catherine J. Hibbard, $410,000.

Jane Louise Burns sold property at 90-92 Housa tonic St., Lee, to Jane L. Burns and Theodore A. Pulfer-Terino, $103,500.

Sabrina Tan-Csepes sold property at 265 Greylock St., Lee, to Wilson Y. Tan, $250,000.

Micah C. Stone and Kerri E. McNamara sold property at 80 East St., Lee, to Andrew M. Shive and Kelsey L. Frederick, $421,000.

Richard M. Coty sold property at 385 East St., Lee, to Julian Adolfo Chacon Palacios and Sandra Milena

Lopez Martinez, $297,000.

Mary A. Retzel sold property at 320 East Center St., Lee, to Margarita Marquez, $290,000.

Merryl Bushansky sold property at 880 East St., Unit 200A, Lee, to Susan E. Mechanic-Meyers, $255,000.

David P. and Sue A. Seamans sold property at 40 Summer St., Lee, to Jon and Melissa R. Sundermann, $187,500.

LENOX

ACE Landventures LLC sold property at 756 East St., Lenox, to Gregory E. Bulger and Richard J. Dix, trust ees of the 754 East Street Realty Trust, $175,000.

Jane R. Philip, trustee of the Jane R. Philip Intervivos RVT, sold property at 8 Meadow Lane, Unit 3, Lenox, to Naomi Cohen, $312,100.

Amy C. Wendt sold property at 16 Highcrest Road, Unit 19, Lenox, to Martin and Hilda Levine, $885,000.

Michael F. and Janice M. Moran sold property at 215 Kemble St., Lenox, to Tucson/Lenox LLC, $1,300,000.

James Chervenak sold property at 60 Hawthorne St., Lenox, to Barry Meier and Ellen J. Pollock, $900,000.

Patrick Robbins O’Neil sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Unit C11, Lenox, to Lawrence and Kathryn Casella, $169,900.

MONTEREY

Mark Flicker, trustee of Mark Flicker Irrevocable Trust, sold property at 9 Buckingham Lane, Monterey, to Jamie Dresner and Jeffrey Dresner, $1,410,000.

The Estate of George J. Browne Jr. sold property at 113 Tyringham Road, Monterey, to David G. Browne and Linda A. Browne, $120,000.

NEW ASHFORD

J.W. Kelly’s Enterprises Inc. sold property at 58 Roys Road, New Ashford, to Daniel Costanza and Rebecca Licht, $275,000.

Holly A. Ware sold property at 708 State Road, Route 7, New Ashford, to Larry N. Moody, trustee of the Lar ry N. Moody 2019 RVT, and Nelle A. Moody, trustee of the Nelle A. Moody 2019 RVT, $118,000.

NEW MARLBOROUGH

Eric J. Robertson sold property at 21 Hartsville Mill River Road, New Marlborough, to Donald K. Tate & Karen Tate, $889,050.

Susan M. Hoffman sold property at 0 Norfolk Road and Main Street, New Marlborough, to Andrew R. Zdziarski and Tracey A. Zdziarski, $90,000.

Sylvie Favreau sold property at Route 57, New Marl borough, to Neil Jonathan Blackwell, $60,000.

Ralph Colt Bagley IV and Gillian Linden Bagley sold property at 297 Hotchkiss Road and 0 Hotchkiss Road, New Marlborough, to Kaleigh Riddell Balken and Franscis Webster Balken, $185,000.

David J. Walker-Price sold property at 36 Hayes Hill Road, New Marlborough, to Pamela Arian, $419,960.

Robert H. Johnston and Jennifer J. Johnston sold property at 1090 Cross to Canaan Valley Road, New Marlborough, to Amanda Johnston and Christopher Lee Pratt, $340,000.

NORTH ADAMS

Mary E. and Bruce K. Dickinson sold property at 131 Whitney Sand Bed Road, North Adams, to Centerville Sticks LLC, $180,000.

Dennis M. and Phyllis M. Hakeem sold property at 61 Elmwood Ave., North Adams, to Bryan A. and Miranda Hunt, $400,000.

Diane M. and Norman L. LaValley Jr. sold property at 59-61 Veazie St., North Adams, to Daniel J. and Kathy B. Rapp, $272,500.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development sold property at 23-27 Gallup St., North Adams, to Leydet Properties LLC, $45,500.

Douglas R. Jones sold property at 999 Massachu setts Ave., North Adams, to Anthony Michael Dunne, $237,000.

David W. Hilchey and Patricia Albareda sold property at 1060 Church St., North Adams, to Dylan Hilchey, $110,000.

Pitcher’s Mound Pub Inc. sold property at 218 Ash land St., North Adams, to C.R. Rental LLC, $260,000.

Catherine A. Kuchta sold property at 116 Notch Road, North Adams, to Patrick M. Mateer, $175,000.

JJ Smith Properties LLC sold property at 128-130 Cliff St., North Adams, to JLT Properties LLC, $193,000.

David M. Sacco sold property at 215-217 East Main St, North Adams, to Joshua Poitras, $315,000.

Eva Maruco sold property at 285-287 State Road, North Adams, to Troisi Properties LLC, $99,900.

Richard S. and Howard E. Taskin sold property at 79 Chestnut St., North Adams, to Pure Land LLC, $270,000.

B&B Micro Manufacturing Inc. sold property at 125 Liberty St., North Adams, to Andrea G. and Cindylou Roberts, $148,000.

Wendy A. and Mariah L. Cwalinski sold property at 99-101 Franklin St., North Adams, to HLP Realty Holdings LLC, $90,000.

Wilfred P. and Suzanne J. Rose and Wilfred P. Rose, trustee of Wilfred P. Rose 2001 RVT, sold property at 350, 360-362 State Road and Off State Road, North Adams, to The Garage NA LLC, $301,000.

Richard J., Donald F., and Daniel Alcombright and Patricia Beausang sold property at 1547 Massachu setts Ave., North Adams, to Matthew J. Alcombright, $150,000.

Jamual L. and Pamela E. Harris sold property at 78 Yale St., North Adams, to Adam Benjamin and Theresa Anna Dean, $290,000.

OTIS

Melanie Brochu and Joseph Bettencourt sold prop erty at Route 8, Otis, to Richard J. Tardie, Maureen L. Tardie and Dawn E. Guidone, $53,000.

Fifth Third Bank NA and D. Ann Pyenson sold proper ty at 345 East Otis Road, Otis, to Wicked Deals LLC, $72,000.

Ann Marie Alberding sold property at Route 8, Otis, to Keith and Amanda Noyes, $40,000.

Jae Koo Shin sold property at 81 Norton Road Exten sion, Otis, to Jess E. and Viola E. Gross, $600,000.

PITTSFIELD

Joshua Lang sold property at 216 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, to Abigail Hannah Ruble and Jayne S. Ryan, $325,000.

Cate Wolff, trustee of the Pramhas 2022 RET, sold property at 26 Birch Grove Drive, Pittsfield, to Kris tine A. Flynn, $290,000.

Maria C. Caccese sold property at 43 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, to Shawn J. Kirchner and Alicia S. Helmer, $242,500.

Cavalier Holdings LLC sold property at 68-80 Union St., Pittsfield, to 68 Union LLC, $750,000.

Wayne P. Phillips sold property at 814 West Housa tonic St., Pittsfield, to George C. Whaling and Karen Gomula, $152,000.

Victoria J. Hassan sold property at 1450 North St., Unit 403, Pittsfield, to John P. and Tina D. Brissette, $233,000.

Mary F. Courtney, trustee of the Reinoso Investment NT, sold property at 57-59 Ontario St., Pittsfield, to Leidy Johanna Gomez Suescun, $245,000. Cassandra M. Lipa sold property at 81 Palomino Drive, Pittsfield, to Thomas A. and Jennifer G. Rubi no, $399,000.

Donald and Kyle Pierce sold property at 62 Long fellow Ave., Pittsfield, to Susan J. Kristjansson, $275,000.

Jamie L. Boehm sold property at 86 Anita Drive, Pittsfield, to Edward B. DeLuca, $325,000.

Ethan P. and Rebecca L. Rougeau sold property at 18 Juliana Drive, Pittsfield, to Jamie L. Boehm and Dylan F. McCullough, $529,900.

Margaret A. Samsel sold property at 42 Donna Ave., Pittsfield, to Matthew R. and Ashley E. Lavelle, $275,000.

Albert and Jannine Doyle sold property at 30 Pitts field Ave., Pittsfield, to Richard and Jerri M. Roberts, $325,000.

CJG Investment Holdings LLC and GMG Investment Holdings LLC sold property at 35-37 Glenwood Ave., Pittsfield, to Nidia Ortega Murillo, $245,000.

Bruce F. Jacobs, Karen S. Jacobs and David H. Ja cobs, trustees of the Karen S. Jacobs 2021 RVT, sold property at 19 Cherry Hill Drive, Pittsfield, to Michael A. Pizzi and Kenneth L. Brickman, $675,000.

Kelley Graves and Debra Pavin, trustees of the Cleante T. Caryofilles FT, sold property at 469 Peck’s Road, Pittsfield, to Leonard A. Lally, $430,000.

Patrick D. Hayward sold property at 124 Birch Grove Drive, Pittsfield, to Sean R. Hayes and Meghan R. Robertson-Hayes, $303,000.

Brandon M. MacDonald sold property at 599 Onota St., Pittsfield, to Bradley J. and Sharon S. Fedderly, $210,000.

Angela M. Johansen sold property at 22 Filomena Drive, Pittsfield, to Charliston Dos Santos and Maria Arlette Rocha Camargos, $645,000.

Jason M. Casey sold property at 23-25 Dart mouth St., Pittsfield, to Top Lines Properties LLC, $200,000.

Karen M. DiNicola, personal rep. of the Estate of Jane A. Vittone, sold property at 691 Crane Ave., Pittsfield, to John J. Scott, $237,500.

Greylock Federal Credit Union and Ricki Sambuco sold property at 84 Elizabeth St., Pittsfield, to Con stance Holdings LLC, $140,000.

Donna M. Baker sold property at 90 Orlando Ave., Pittsfield, to Rosemarie D. Miller, $300,000.

Deborah L. Gaylord and Kimberly Ann O’Brien sold property at 753 Peck’s Road, Pittsfield, to Christine E. Lake, $139,000.

McGowan Pomeroy Properties LLC sold property at 19-21 Pond St., Pittsfield, to Top Line Properties LLC, $130,000.

James E. Lane and Jennifer L. Tarozzi sold property at 595 Lakeway Drive, Pittsfield, to Thomas and Marjorie M. Fantasia, $561,100.

Diane M. Colbert, formerly known as Diane M. Wha len, sold property at 20 Deerfield St., Pittsfield, to Sarah D. Malloy and James Cavanaugh, $250,000.

Carol A. Mazza, Michael S. and Mark S. Nykorchuk and Stefanie A. and Aliah M. Curry sold property at 25 James St., Pittsfield, to Lucrecia Gil and Jose Antonio Ramos Bastista, $320,000.

Virginia Ann Maffuccio sold property at 268 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, to Michael F. McNeil, $110,000.

Bellco Realty Co. sold property at 656-658 North St.; 3, 9, 11-13,15-19, 21 Orchard St.; 14-18 Kent Ave.; and 154, 156-162, 164, 172, 174 Summer St., Pittsfield, to Pittsfield Residences LLC, $5,200,000.

Clifford Hover sold property at Fairfield Street, Pittsfield, to H. Yvonne Borsody, $1,000.

Deborah M. Pickard sold property at 39 Winship Ave., Pittsfield, to Gerardo J. Gonzalez Urroz, $247,000.

Pittsfield Properties Group LLC sold property at 6466 Circular Ave., Pittsfield, to Naa Kwarley Brown, $145,920.

Charles D. Wendell Jr. sold property at 42 Put nam Ave., Pittsfield, to William A. and Anita Kusi, $220,000.

Benny B. Gaylord sold property at 33 Fairfield St., Pittsfield, to Samuel F. Larios Bixcul, $220,000.

Steven A. and Susan G. Johnson sold property at 107 Alpine Trail, Unit 26-C, Pittsfield, to Fred and Joan Weinstein, $607,100.

Michelle J. LaJoie sold property at 41 Revilla Terrace, Pittsfield, to Jeffrey D. Castegnaro, $165,000.

David N. and Keiderling Hicks sold property at 51 Westwood Road, Pittsfield, to Christopher K. Mc Cann and Joanna K. Wrzesinski, $230,000.

James K. Haggerty, personal rep. of the Estate of James Ashby Haggerty, sold property at 207-211 Springside Ave., Pittsfield, to Alper K. and Doner Filioglu Kuruca, $225,000.

Mary Ann Harding sold property at 597 Crane Ave., Pittsfield, to Daniel L. and Lauren F. Pravia, $290,000.

Tracy A. Wilson sold property at 41 Paula Ave., Pitts field, to Halli Stewart, $275,000.

Rohlfs Realty LLC sold property at 147-149 Pomeroy Ave., Pittsfield, to William A. O’Bryan, trustee of the William A. O’Bryan RVT, $615,000.

Thomas A. Polidoro, personal rep. of the Estate of Shirley T. Polidoro, sold property at 579-581 East St., Pittsfield, to Terena P. Adams, $182,000.

Kathryn M. Turner, personal rep. of the Estate of Kathleen T. Connolly, sold property at 349 Elm St., Pittsfield, to Kelly Lewis and Paula Cameron, $192,500.

Chris Ziegler sold property at 23 Cynthia Lane, Unit 23, Pittsfield, to William W. and Cynthia A. James, $495,000.

Michael J. Fallon and Regina F. Fitzgibbons sold prop erty at 1 Eaton Lane, Pittsfield, to Gary P. Herland, $426,000.

Caroline G. Dindio sold property at 32 West Union St., Unit A, Pittsfield, to Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity Inc., $99,415.

Witman Properties Inc. sold property at 30 Division St., Pittsfield, to Wilmer Dominguez, $66,000.

Jeffrey O. Arthur sold property at 582 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Ian and Tiffany Roberts, $145,000.

Raymond H. and Priscila Lavalley sold property at 275 Francis Ave., Pittsfield, to Michael Paul Frekey, $152,900.

Kenneth M. Williams sold property at 340 Lebanon Ave., Pittsfield, to June Estelle Green, $133,306.

Lisa Cummings, personal rep. of the Estate of Krys tyna Krysztof; Mark Krzysztof and Edward Krzystof, sold property at 5-7 Pleasure Ave., Pittsfield, to Scot R. Levasseur, $154,000.

William T. and Alexandra Kacheris and Peter Kacher is sold property at 233 Mountain Drive, Pittsfield, to Carl J. Giordano and Laura M. Dietl, $560,000.

Karen A. Fisher, trustee of the Karen A. Fisher 2012 FT, sold property at 116 Edward Ave., Pittsfield, to Christopher-Michael and Jessica M. Vecchia, $250,000.

Charles E. Russell sold property at 39 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, to Ginley LLC, $45,000.

Francis E. Lannan Jr., William P. Lannan and

Christopher M. Vitale sold property at 41 Brown St., Pittsfield, to Lazare Adjama Tayi, $215,000.

Shane E. Kasala sold property at 61 Winship Ave., Pittsfield, to Sharon Chiellini, trustee of the 61 Win ship Avenue Nominee RT, $390,000.

Kenneth L. Brickman sold property at 30 Churchill Crest, Unit 30, Pittsfield, to Dana J. and Kathy B. Rapp, $239,000.

Rocket Mortgage LLC sold property at 11 Dodge Ave., Pittsfield, to Anthony P. Doyle, trustee of the Hillview NT, $150,000.

F. Lawrence and Angela R. Lyon sold property at 46 Kensington Ave., Pittsfield, to Kristine Hurley, $282,000.

Dylan F. McCullough sold property at 585 Elm St., Pittsfield, to Jessica Duplin, $249,900.

Michael W. and Arlene R. Langdon sold property at 1020 Cascade St., Pittsfield, to Peter John and Denise Botelho, $845,000.

Terence J. and Kathleen M. Chiaretto sold property at 134 Oak Hill Road, Pittsfield, to Alan R. Guinen II and Melissa E. Guinen, $442,500.

Jan Blaszak, trustee of the H.D. RT, sold property at 198-200 Appleton Ave., Pittsfield, to Sava Svirskiy, trustee of the St. Petersburg Nominee RT, $210,000.

Pittsfield Properties Group LLC sold property at 75 Howard St., Pittsfield, to Chis-Home LLC, $194,000.

Charles C. and Christine L. Rawson sold property at 29-31 Scammell Ave., Pittsfield, to Royal Realty Hold ings LLC, $155,000.

Barbara A. Ellsworth sold property at 73 Winship Ave., Pittsfield, to Kally Y. Fuentes De Gomez and Angel J. Quinones Hurtado, $250,000.

Ryan D. Melle sold property at 4 Betnr Industrial Drive, Pittsfield, to Bryan P. Townsend, $170,000.

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency sold property at 79 Ontario St., Pittsfield, to Jennifer R. Patsellis, $226,000.

David M. Martin, John J. Martin Jr., William E. Martin, Beth A. Martin, and Roberta C. Martin sold property at 61 Tor Court, Pittsfield, to Adam R. Bowling, $1,050,000.

Jennifer Trainer Thompson sold property at 35 Brunswick St., Pittsfield, to Kyron Woolf Scott, trust ee of the R. Lane Scott Trust, $621,000.

Bryan W. White Sr. and Jane E. White sold property at 60 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, to Lisa Pletzer and John Pletzer, $160,000.

Jan Blaszak, trustee of the H.D. RT, sold property at 30 View St., Pittsfield, to Amelia Louise Krump, $157,000.

Timothy A. and Patricia S. Martin sold property at 1 Onota Lane, Pittsfield, to Tanya M. Palmer, $222,500.

Cynthia J. Kelly sold property at 1232 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Matthew F. Carmichael, $187,000.

Joseph Hugal sold property at 35 Brenton Terrace, Pittsfield, to Jason M. Reynolds and Shayla K. Clark, $215,000.

Richard A. and Cathy A. Chaloux sold property at 46 James St., Pittsfield, to Katherine Rys, $145,000.

Stephen J. Carlson, Dale E. Carlson and Donald P. McCarthy sold property at 233-235 Second St., Pittsfield, to Douglas M. Escalon, $90,000.

Daniel P. and Lynn J. Powers sold property at 45 Churchill Crest, Pittsfield, to Candice Forrest, $224,000.

David T. Wimberly Jr. sold property at 19 Bruns wick St., Pittsfield, to Terry W. Zych and Linda E. Zych, co-trustees of the Zych Family RVT of 2017, $590,000.

Michaela M. Powers sold property at 19 McArthur St., Pittsfield, to Ashley Bowman, $228,000.

RICHMOND

Alison J. Cole sold property at 28 Spruce Road, Richmond, to Alex Glenn-Murray, $446,000.

Wayne G. and Marjorie E. Dix sold property at 1606 State Road, Richmond, to Andrew C. and Jill W. Penman Myers, $1,740,000.

Jennifer Morse, formerly known as Jennifer Brug geman, trustees of the Elizabeth B. Bruggeman Irrevocable Trust, sold property at 103 Patton Road, Richmond, to Amy D. Stuart, trustee of the ADS Trust January 2009, $575,000.

SANDISFIELD

Nicholas W. Logie and Julia M. Bennett sold property at 98 New Hartford Road, Sandisfield, to Jay M. Case and Denise Koeppel, $360,000.

Theodore Marolda and Laurence L. Hannafin sold property at 0 West St, Sandisfield, to David Poh and Claudia DeMairo, $235,000.

Janet Adams and Albert J. Adams sold property at 241 Sandisfield Road, Sandisfield, to

Mark Woodbury, $182,000.

Lucid Forest LLC sold property at 30 Dodd Farm Road and Dodd Road, Sandisfield, to Brigitte Ruth man, $315,000.

Tina L. Demanbey sold property at 25 South Sandis field Road, Sandisfield, to Michael R. Cox and David R. Majoris, $360,000.

Estelle L. Leeds and Charles Giaimo sold property at 32 South Sandisfield Road, Sandisfield, to Jonathan Gosberg and Crystal Gosberg, $410,000.

SAVOY

Timothy Chase Schwartz sold property at 412 Loop Road, Savoy, to Thomas C. and Donna E. Schwartz, $200,000.

SHEFFIELD

Estate of George G. Cronk sold property at 302 Polikoff Road, Sheffield, to Pine Island Farm Partner ship, $215,000.

Sandra D. Gale sold property at 153 Root Lane, Sheffield, to Lawrence A. O’Brien Jr. and Nancy E. O’Brien, $300,000.

Kelly E. Johnston and Jose J. Sarmiento sold proper ty at 35 School St., Sheffield, to Jeffrey A. Frank and Liberty E. Frank, $635,000.

Sheffield Land Group LLP sold property at 839 Bow Wow Road, Sheffield, to Benjamin L. Kjome and Leslie E. Glaser, $475,000.

Joseph Wilkinson III, trustee of JTK Nominee Realty Trust, sold property at 255 Hulett Hill Road, Shef

field, to Mark & Stina LLC, $105,000.

Estate of Michael Robert Ebenstein and Betsy J. Ebenstein sold property at 283 Silver St., Sheffield, to Kimberley Skorzanka, trustee of the Expecto Patronum Trust, $439,000.

Neil Naidech and Ingrid Wahle Naidech, trustees of Neil and Ingrid Wahle Naidech Revocable Living Trust, sold property at 246 County Road, Sheffield, to Sarah Mary Sharma, $625,000.

STOCKBRIDGE

Marjorie C. Resnic sold property at 2 South Hill Road, Stockbridge, to Gary L. Conboy, trustee of the Gary Conboy Living Trust, $715,000.

Susan W. Bonak sold property at Glendale Road, Route 183, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge to Paul Storti, $40,000.

Across Roads LLC sold property at 58 Interlaken Road, Stockbridge, to Victoria Choy, $520,000.

Frank Gioia and Susie Kaufman sold property at 326 Old Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, to Brooke Bedingfield, $525,000.

Elaine Hertz sold property at 19 Hawthorne Road, Unit D-1, Stockbridge, to Herbert and Anne Paster nak, $500,000.

Gail Denicola sold property at 15 Lakeview Drive, Stockbridge, to Scott K. and Maryann Goodell, $640,000.

Raymond P. and Mary A. Tuggey sold property at 17 Beachwood Drive, Stockbridge, to Olga Faktorovich and Steven M. Allen, $455,000.

Alan P. Birnbaum sold property at Train Hill Road, Stockbridge, to Joseph H. DeGiorgis and Joy E. Van Alstyne, $10,900.

People in the Berkshires

Family nurse practitioner Lisa Moulton has joined South western Vermont Medical Center’s Deerfield Val ley campus in Wilmington, Vt. With this appoint ment, Moulton also rejoins the Dart mouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians.

In 2017, Moulton served as a primary care provider at SVMC Internal Medi cine. Previously, she worked for SVMC’s Mountain Medical Clinic in Dover, VT, and as a research nurse for Dart mouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Moulton received both her bachelor’s and master’s in nursing from Graceland University in Missouri and her regis tered nursing credential from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in Massachu setts. She is board certified by the Ameri can Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Pittsfield native Chuck Custer, retired morn ing co-host and longtime news anchor/director at WGY News Radio 810 & 103.1 in Albany, N.Y., has been inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame, class of 2022.

Custer spent more than 36 years on WGY before retiring in 2020. He was the co-host of the top-rated morning show with Kelly Lynch beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he served as morning news anchor and the on-air partner for 25 years with NYSBA Hall of Famer Don Weeks.

He also served as news director and program director at WGY, and is a for mer president of the New York State As sociated Press Broadcasters Association. Before coming to Albany, Custer worked in radio at stations in Providence, Charleston, W.Va., and Utica, N.Y.

During his tenure as news director at WGY, the station’s news department received more than 35 awards for excel lence in journalism including four na tional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association.

WGY is New York’s first commercial radio station. The station marked its 100th anniversary on air on Feb, 20, 2022.

WASHINGTON

Benjamin D. Grillon, personal rep. of the Estate of Richard J. Grillon, sold property at 1046 Washington Mountain Road, Washington, to Emily Ann and Adam Jeremy Larson, $200,000.

Edward P. Provost sold property at Cross Place Road, Washington, to Robert Heinzman and Katherine Miller, $100,000.

Jay N. and Patricia D. Fortier sold property at 129 Upper Valley Road, Washington, to Stephen and Dolores Wallin, $425,000.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE

Dominick A. Luchi Jr. and Michelle A. Luchi sold property at 123 West Center Road, West Stock bridge, to 123 West Center Road LLC, $2,750,000.

Marie Massini-Reynolds sold property at 18 Albany Road, West Stockbridge, to Ana Ramos Rales, $215,000.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Sarah P. Voisin sold property at 231 South Hemlock Lane, Williamstown, to Heath J. and Kristin M. Isaac son, $299,000.

Berkshire Properties Inc. sold property at Sweet Farm Road, Williamstown, to TGC Heritage LLC, $250,000.

Diane Cramer sold property at 48 Lower Windflow er Way, Williamstown, to Tamy A. Raina-Kalinik, $475,000.

Celia J. Twomey sold property at 76 Cluett Drive, Williamstown, to William W. Sprague, trustee of the William W. Sprague 2022 Trust, and Elizabeth P. Sprague, trustee of the Elizabeth P. Sprague 2022 Trust, $672,500.

came General Dynamics marketing and public relations manager in 2002, and adopted the role of senior manager of marketing and public relations in 2014.

Destinie Batacchi sold property at 27 Bridges Road, Williamstown, to Ahna Resendez, $240,000.

James R. Gallop sold property at Deer Ridge Run, Williamstown, to Greylock Land LLC, $350,000.

Mary Elizabeth Devoe and Jay Benjamin Sachs sold property at 56 Hawthorne Road, Williamstown, to Stephen Kealhofer and Janet Ann Luck, trustees of the Stephen Kealhofer and Janet Ann Luck 1999 FT, $706,000.

Janice V. Williams sold property at 533 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, to Mark Hopkins, $246,500.

WINDSOR

Jeremy B. Field sold property at 1621 Peru Road, Windsor, to John and Jody Waugh, $125,000.

Gregory V. Kelly and Angelica B. Black sold property at 0 Flintstone Road, Windsor, to Matthew E. and Lisa M. Mlynarczyk, $75,000.

Bruce E. and Trudy A. Forgea sold property at 102 Monahan Road, Windsor, to Shane E. Kasala, $360,000.

Joan C. Duguay, trustee of the Helen S. Koziara RVT, sold property at Peru Road, Windsor, to Maria Lidia Nieves and Joshua Michael Crim, $22,500.

FT — Family Trust LLC — Limited Partnership

LT — Life Trust

NT — Nominee Trust

RET — Real Estate Trust

RT — Realty Trust|

RVT — Revocable Trust

The real estate transactions are provided by the Middle Berkshire, North Berkshire and South Berkshire Registry of Deeds offices.

Collier departed for a position with the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance.

Berkshire United Way has named Emily Daunis of North Adams as its new director of devel opment.

Daunis has more than a decade of expe rience in all aspects of fundraising and development across the nonprofit sector, including museums, the performing arts, education, and health care organizations throughout the Northeast.

She most recently served as director of patron program and donor engage ment at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, where she managed the cultivation and stewardship of high-level donors and special events. Previously, as senior manager of membership and special events at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams, she led the team in raising $3.5 million out of $5 million annual fund raising revenue and helped close out a $100 million campaign to build endow ment support.

A native of Massachusetts, Daunis holds a bachelor of fine arts degree from Lesley University, and received a certificate in nonprofit management from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. In 2020, she was elected to serve on the School Committee for the North Adams Public Schools, and she also serves on the city’s community and economic development advisory board.

Brenda Burdick, the di rector of strategic communications at General Dy namics Mission Systems in Pittsfield, has been elected chair of the board of trustees at Massachusetts College of Lib eral Arts. She succeeds Mohan Boodram.

Prior to her election, Burdick had served as chair of the student affairs committee and academic affairs com mittee at MCLA as well as vice chair of the board. Gov. Charlie Baker appointed Burdick to the board in 2018. She was reappointed for a second five-year term in July.

Burdick started her career at General Dynamics in Pittsfield in 1995. She be

Before joining General Dynamics, the Adams resident served as the director of sales and marketing for the former Swift River Inn in Cummington and as both a sales manager and a public relations assistant for Canyon Ranch in Lenox. She also served as a member of the Berk shire United Way board of directors from 2008-17, which included one two-year team as chair and two two-year terms as vice chair.

Burdick holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a double major in business communica tions from Bryant University and is vice chair of 1Berkshire’s executive commit tee.

Angela Parker has been hired as a science and art educator at Flying Cloud Institute. Parker will lead the institute’s summer pro gram, vacation camps, classroom residencies, family STEAM challenge events, and work with the FCI team to inspire the next genera tion of artists and engineers.

She brings multifaceted K-12 educa tional experiences to the organization as it continues to partner with local school districts to bring meaningful experiences to students. Parker previously initiated a multisite STEAM museum program for the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Conn. in collaboration with the Connecticut Science Center.

She also has worked with teaching artists to plan school tours that incorpo rated studio art activities, ranging from bookmaking to ceramics at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond, Va. And she has served as classroom teacher at St. Ig natius Loyola Academy and trained and supported adult students at both Capital and Asnuntuck community colleges in Connecticut.

Duffy Judge has been ap pointed executive director of the Northern Berk shire United Way by the organiza tion’s board of directors.

Judge had served as interim executive director since March of this year after Christa

He previously worked for Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield, where he served as development manager since July 2017.

“It has been a wonderful experience at Berkshire United Way, but I yearn to serve the community in which I have raised a family, Northern Berkshire,” Judge said in a statement. “This oppor tunity would allow me to have a direct impact on people I interact with every day and that would be the absolute ideal for me.”

Carol Bosco Baumann has been formally named exec utive director of Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire. She had joined the organization in March as interim ex ecutive director following the retirement of her predecessor, Allison Marchese.

The Housatonic resident brings a variety of skills to the position, including strategic marketing, branding, commu nications and community development.

Baumann was first introduced to community development work while living in the west Fenway neighborhood in Boston, creating a summer camp in partnership with the MFA, Isabella Stew art Gardner Museum, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Harvard Medical School, and others for children in under-resourced Boston neighborhoods.

She has volunteered for many initia tives and organizations in the Berkshire community, including Housatonic village and school redevelopment efforts, and has chaired the Chesterwood Advi sory Council. She has lived in Housaton ic with her husband, and their cats and dogs, since 1996.

Kaitlyn Moresi has been named clini cal director of Berkshire Family & Individual Re sources. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and science disorders from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis with a minor in autism from Endicott College.

Moresi went on to become a board-cer tified behavior analyst. She also holds her state licensure in Massachusetts as a

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behavior analyst.

While in graduate school, Moresi worked for BFAIR as an in-home spe cialist. After becoming a board-certified behavior analyst, Moresi worked in the Hoosac Valley Regional School District as well as providing in-home applied behavior analysis services with Positive Behavior Supports Corp.

Paula McLean has been chosen to receive the 2022 Berkshire Realtor of the Year award from the Berk shire County Board of Realtors.

The award is given to a Realtor that best exemplifies professionalism and service to the industry, and has contributed outstanding time and energy to the betterment of the Realtor organi zation, the real estate industry and the Berkshire community. The award crite ria upon includes service to the organiza tion on the local, state and national levels as well as service to the community.

McLean serves on the board of di rectors of the Multiple Listing Service; as a trustee of the Berkshire Realtors Housing Fund; is a current volunteer and past chair of the Realtor Community Service, and also serves as a member of the professional standards committee; designated Realtor outreach liaison; stra tegic planning committee; town monitor and nominating committee: presidential appointment.

She has earned the President’s Award for completing the commitment to excellence certification challenge. In the community, McLean is a member of the board of directors of Berkshire County Kids’ Place and Violence Prevention Cen ter; a member of both 1Berkshire and the Lenox Chamber of Commerce; and a 2021 and 2022 committee member and supporter of Jimmy’s Ride.

Stephanie Bosley, who has been involved with several Berkshire County organizations, has been appointed senior gifts officer of the South western Vermont Health Care Foundation.

In this role, she will support the foundation’s mission to raise funds for Southwestern Vermont Health Care. Bosley most recently served as direc tor of community partnerships at the Berkshire Community Action Council in Pittsfield. She has worked in member services for 1Berkshire, and as a commu nity development specialist for the town of Adams.

The North Adams resident has also served in leadership roles with Relay for Life of Northern Berkshire, the North Adams Steeple Cats, Berkshire Business and Professional Women, and the Berk shire County Commission on the Status of Women.

A member of Berkshire Community College’s annual “Forty Under 40” list in 2019, Bosley holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a master’s degree in public affairs from the Univer sity of Massachusetts Boston.

Donna Has sler has been named director emerita of Ches terwood, sculptor Daniel Chester French’s historic home, by the Na tional Trust and Advisory Council. The executive director of Chesterwood for 14 years, Hassler officially retired on Sept. 30 after completing several parttime curatorial projects this summer. Senior site manager Margaret Cherin was appointed Chesterwood’s interim director on July 1.

Hassler received the honorary title for raising the profile and visibility of both

Daniel Chester French and Chesterwood during her tenure from an historic house museum to the launch of an artist resi dency center.

Throughout her tenure, Hassler raised the profile and visibility of Chester wood through the rehabilitation and reinterpretation of French’s Studio; the installation of a new, climate-controlled study collections gallery displaying over 150 works by the artist; a project under written by the Henry Luce Foundation; and has overseen the preliminary plans and implementation of construction to begin the renovation of the 122-year-old historic residence into the center of an artists’ residency program.

Hassler also transformed Chester wood’s 44-year-old annual outdoor sculp ture exhibition from a juried show to a highly curated selection process.

Guild of Berkshire Artists member Shany Porras has volunteered to serve as gallery manager for the new Art on Main Gallery in West Stockbridge.

Art on Main is a newly established art gallery for guild members who can sign up to curate their own shows and exhibit their work with fellow member artists.

The idea for the gallery was conceived following the success of the Guild’s an nual art show, “Art on Main,” for which building owner Randy Thunfors facilitat ed the Guild’s use of the space at 38 Main St. to host a year-round art gallery.

Porras, who lives in Stockbridge, has years of experience establishing new en terprise risk programs at global financial organizations prior to making a career move into the arts a few years ago.

Information: berkshireartists.org/arton-main-gallery.

Dr. James MacGregor, a surgeon, has joined Southwestern Vermont Medical Center general surgery and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Medical Group.

MacGregor received his medical degree from University Medicine and Health Sciences in St. Kitts. He complet ed his residency in general surgery at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix.

He also completed an internship with the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and Science in Minnesota.

Jack Miller Contractors has hired two new employees, added three others during the past year and promot ed Joel Kinney to superinten dent.

The most recent hires are Nikolaos Tom bras as director of preconstruc tion services and Zachary Hettinger as assistant project manager.

Superintendent Albert Apon te, assistant superintendent Dan Pratt and estimator Zenon Libowicz have been hired during the past year.

Kinney has been with the company for three years.

Prior to joining Jack Miller Con tractors, Tombras worked for archi tecture firms in Pittsfield, New Haven, Conn., and Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor of architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and is a LEED accredited professional.

Hettinger has previous experience in government agency and food service construction project management as well as project engineering for commer cial health care.

In Illinois and Michigan, he managed construction milestones for the Chicago Parks District’s 200 plus playgrounds, provided progress, budget and planning oversight for a full-service design-build firm, and managed interdepartmental coordination of operations, marketing, design and merchandising for a regional grocery store chain. He holds a bach elor’s degree in architecture from the University of Kansas.

Following an extensive search, Greylock Federal Credit Union has hired Amit Behal as its new senior vice president/ chief information officer.

“Amit’s expertise in digital transfor mation will be a great benefit to Grey lock and our members,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Jeff Gerard. “He will direct our technology team with a focus on cyber security, data and analytics to enhance our members’ experience. We are very fortunate to have a professional of his caliber on our leadership team.”

Behal holds a master’s degree in computer applications from Devi Ahilva University in India. Prior to joining Greylock, he managed global cloud operations for Granicus, and spent eight years at American Express delivering on their digital transformation efforts.

Dr. Mark A. Taylor II, a general surgeon, has been appoint ed to the medical staff of Fairview Hospital and the provider staff of East Mountain Medical Specialty Services, according to Berkshire Health Systems. East Mountain Medical is a rural health clinic of Fairview Hospital.

Taylor received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno, Nev., and completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City.

He is trained in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Taylor’s clinical interests include hernia, gall bladder, colon and rectal surgeries, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and breast cancer surgery.

Dorisanne Wonsor has joined South western Vermont Regional Cancer Center and Dart mouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physi cians as a physi cian assistant.

The cancer center is a department of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, which is part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care.

Wonsor most recently served as an inpatient physician assistant at Da na-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham & Women’s Cancer Center in Boston, where she also served as both a senior research data specialist and as a new patient coordinator in the past.

She received her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from MCPHS University in Worcester, and her bache lor’s degree in chemistry from College of the Holy Cross.

She is certified by the National Com mission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Kara Clark and Don Disbrow have been named branch officers of Adams Com munity Bank’s offices in Lenox and Lee, respec tively.

Clark was promoted to the position. She began her tenure with Adams Community Bank five years ago as a customer service representative in Williamstown. After developing extensive knowledge of the banks services and products in two years of customer service, she was promoted to assistant branch manager in Lee.

Disbrow joins the bank from Carr Hardware, where he served as general manager for several locations, including the chain’s Lee store. He has a strong familiarity with the community and its people, substantial sales knowledge and years of experience.

“I’m pleased to welcome Don to the Adams Community Bank family and proud of Kara for stepping into her new role,” said Adams Community Bank President and CEO Charles P. O’Brien in a prepared statement. “Both bring a passion for their communities and will help build our South County connec tion.”

Dr. Joseph L. Simonson, a board certified and fellowship trained pulmon ologist, has joined the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the provider staff of Pulmonary Professional Services of BMC.

His clinical interests include intersti tial lung disease, pulmonary hyperten sion and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Simonson is board certified in inter nal medicine and fellowship trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine by the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He re ceived his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn/Downstate Medical Center.

Attorney Virginia E. McGarrity, who lives in Housatonic but works in Connecticut, has been selected to the Hartford (Conn.) Business Journal’s 2022 “40 Under Forty” class.

McGarrity is an employee bene fits and compensation partner at the Hartford law firm Robinson + Cole.

The honorees were profiled in Hartford Business Journal in a special section that was published in August, then recognized at a special ceremony in September.

A noted employee benefits lawyer, au thor, and speaker, McGarrity represents Fortune 500 companies and other public and private entities, including those in the hospitality, health care, and higher education sectors, throughout the United States. She chairs her law firm’s associ ate & Counsel Benefits Committee and is vice-chair of the Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Committee.

McGarrity was recently listed in the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America as Hartford Lawyer of the Year in the area of employee benefits law. She received the same distinction in 2021.

Holly Simeone of Berkshire Money Management, who is based out of the firm’s office in Great Barrington, has become a licensed financial adviser

Simeone, who joined Berkshire Money management as a client care specialist in 2021, was promoted to financial adviser after earning her Series 65 license.

Originally from the Worcester area, Simeone holds a certified estate and trust specialist designation from the Institute of Business and Finance, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fitchburg State University, and master’s in finance from the New England Insti tute of Business at Cambridge College.

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A Recipe For Success

Tracey and

Lussier