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Pittsfield Mayoral Candidates Speaking at Chamber Breakfast
Daniel Bianchi and Peter Marchetti will each be afforded an opportunity to address the chamber membership regarding issues they believe are relevant to the business community. Daniel Bosley of the MountainOne Financial Partners board of directors will emcee the event.
The breakfast will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 7:45 to 9. The cost to attend is $25 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers and includes a breakfast buffet. The event is sponsored by MountainOne Financial Partners.
The chamber's Good News Business Salute Breakfasts seek to showcase "good news" in the Berkshires to create a positive environment for business while promoting quality jobs and celebrating the spirit of success. Businesses to be honored with "good news" recognition at the final celebration of 2011 include Berkshire Graphics, Mark Joseph Jewelers and Partnerships in Employment.
The event will also include a special community recognition of the Berkshire Leadership Program, currently soliciting applications for and celebrating 15 years with the class of 2012.
To register, contact 413-499-4000, Ext. 10, jlavigne@berkshirechamber.com or www.berkshirechamber.com.
State Unemployment Rate, Jobs Down in September
The rate is lower than the national jobless rate of 9.1.
Preliminary September job estimates show a decrease of 2,300 jobs for a total of 3,231,700 jobs in Massachusetts. The September job loss follows a revised 10,500 job loss in August, previously reported as a loss of 8,900 jobs.
In September, Information; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; Education and Health Services; and Manufacturing posted over-the-month job gains.
Year-to-date (December 2010 to September 2011), 37,900 jobs have been added in the Bay State with 43,800 private sector jobs added. Over-the-year (September 2010 to September 2011), jobs are up 48,700, for a growth rate of 1.5 percent. Private sector jobs are up 53,800, for a growth rate of 2.0 percent with gains in nine of the 10 sectors. Over-the-year, the national rate of job growth is 1.1 percent with private sector job growth up 1.7 percent.
The largest job gains over the month were in Information (5,200); the biggest losses were in Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (3,500).
Local area unemployment statistics for September 2011 will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The full press release is here.
BJ's Nearing Completion
The new BJ's Wholesale Club in Pitsfield is expected to open on Saturday, Oct. 22, with a grand opening the following Saturday. This store also includes a gas station and the big sign (at left) prompted us to stop last Friday to see if it was open — and if we could fill up. Unfortunately, the bargain price was just the crew doing a test; some of the pumps were sporting a not-so-bargain $9.99 a gallon! The pumps should be working when the gas station opens on Thursday, Oct. 20. The store is located on Hubbard Avenue behind Berkshire Crossings. |
Crazy Cakes Bakery Opens in Adams
Crazy Cakes Bakery in Adams offers homemade baked goods and specialty cakes, including wedding cakes. |
Crazy Cakes Bakery opened the beginning of October inside Pizza Jim's on Howland Avenue but instead spreading pizza sauce, it's specializing in cakes and baked goods.
One family works together to run and operate the pizzeria and the bakery. By combining the two, customers have a wide variety of choosing either pizza or baked goods to enjoy.
The bakery was started by Cindy Rosenburg. The pizzeria is operated by Jim and Linda Rosenburg Montgomery, who moved the operation to Howland Avenue nearly two years ago from Commercial Street.
"We've always gotten along and worked well together," Rosenburg said of her sister-in-law Linda and her husband.
She started baking and selling cakes and goods from her basement in the town of Florida and felt the need to expand. So she contacted her in-laws about joining forces. "We got together and decided to try it," she said.
Crazy Cakes specializes in typical baked goods from whoopie pies to cookies to wedding cakes. Rosenburg said "everything" is specialty. The family hopes business will take off and keep customers happy.
Check the out the bakery's Facebook page for daily specials. Hours are 8 to 4 and the bakery is located inside Pizza Jim's at 86 Howland Ave. in Adams. For more information, call 413-743-1379.
Cranwell Expands Meeting, Conference Space
LENOX, Mass. — Cranwell Resort has recently converted some its space to provide three additional venues for conferences and groups.Meadow View, once the home of the Cranwell Golf School, encompasses 4,700 additional square feet of event space.
The Rockwell Room can accommodate up to 40 people classroom style and the Chesterwood Room is suited for banquets of up to 40. Casual events and indoor recreational or teambuilding activities can be held in the rustic Harvest Barn. The entire complex is connected by a deck overlooking a forested area for outdoor team-building activities, barbecues and picnics, putting contests or group snowshoeing outings in winter.
"We began offering the space to wedding clients seeking a different venue for their rehearsal dinners and soon realized that the area was suited for a variety of corporate and social events," said Dawn Ramsey-Jacobsson, Cranwell's director of sales. "Since then we have held many meetings and functions year-round."
The complex is private and is located across the street from the main entrance. The venue is further enhanced with artwork presented by Sohn Fine Art.
In addition to receiving a Best of the East Award by Meetings East Magazine in 2010, Cranwell Resort was also voted Best Event Venue" in the 2011 Berkshire Eagle Readers' Poll.
To book corporate or social events in the new Meadow View space or any other venue at Cranwell Resort, contact the Group Sales Department at 800-572-8938 or sales@cranwell.com.