No one should be surprised to learn that Quality Printing Co. of Pittsfield has once again scored an award for its beautiful work.

What's even more satisfying is that it won for its most recent annual calender, "A Closer Look at the Berkshires," which was dedicated to the late Joel Librizzi.

The Printing Industries of New England gave it a Pinnacle Award for Best in Category for the 2010 calendar, which features some of the best local photography in the Berkshires. Librizzi, a longtime photojournalist for The Berkshire Eagle, had been a judge for Qualprint's calendar competition for more than a quarter-century before he died last year.

The past May, the calendar picked up a silver in a national calendar contest, the second year in a row "A Closer Look" had struck silver.

Qualprint also won a PINE award of merit for work it did for Berkshire Money Management in the association's regional Awards of Excellence Competition on Nov. 12

The presentations were made at PINE's 2010 Industry Awards Gala held at the Newton Marriott with hundreds of industry professionals in attendance. The Awards of Excellence Competition attracted more than 200 entries from 35 printing and imaging companies across New England competing in a variety of printing and graphic communications categories such as best annual report, direct mail campaign, corporate identity package, and more.

Panels of three judges with extensive experience in printing and print production were brought in to examine the wide range of work submitted. Tim Burton of Burton & Mayer, Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Paul Schmitz of Schmitz Press, Sparks, Md., and Art Stowe, former president of the Printing & Graphics Association Mid Atlantic were the judges. Each entry was judged anonymously on its own merit in a category with similar printed pieces.

The judging criteria included: registration, clarity and neatness, sharpness of halftones and line drawings, richness and tonal qualities of color, paper and ink selection, ink coverage, difficulty of printing, effective contrast or softness, overall visual impact and bindery.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown Chamber should take a leadership role in creating a sustainable Williamstown that includes promoting the creation of private-sector jobs and economic development, and offering cooperative marketing opportunities.

It also should have a greater voice in defining the future of Williamstown — and wait until it has more information on the pros and cons of a proposed biomass plant before taking a stand.

That's the result so far of a survey sent to 300 members on Nov. 10; only a sixth have yet responded to the online survey.

The six statements on the survey are designed to gauge members' interest in the chamber taking a more active role beyond marketing, networking, local promotions and organizing popular events like the upcoming Holiday Walk. The results will be used to help inform the chamber's strategy over the next five years.

Between 80 and 90 percent of those who responded so far strongly and somewhat agreed that the chamber should "lead in economic development" to attract new business, especially outside the tourist/hospitality area, and (three-quarters strongly agreed) offer more cooperative ventures to market to residents as well as tourists. Just over half strongly agreed members with pro-business mindsets should serve on local boards. The

However, while the percentages were high, the total respondents was still low. "We need the input," said Allen Jezouit, a member of the chamber's board, at Tuesday night's annual meeting and mixer hosted by Gramercy Bistro on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts campus.

Co-Presidents Bonnie Clark of Northern Berkshire Healthcare and Mary Morrow of Williamstown Savings Bank will be completing their terms (a announcement that evoked a long awwwww from the more than 40 attendees) and new officers will be introduced at the January meeting.

"Mary and I are on our way out the door. It's been great and if we can say anything to any of you, stay involved," said Clark. "You don't have to do a lot if everybody does a little bit ... it's easier.

Clark, who becomes chairman of the Membership Committee, said there's plenty of room for participation on the chamber's committees. "It's the involvement in the community that counts. You can sit back and complain all you want but ... if you're not part of the solution ... ."

Members also said goodbye to board member and current Secretary Aimee Hirz of the Williams College Museum of Art, who is moving to the Albany, N.Y., area.

Coming up, the chamber will be expanding activities for the annual Holiday Walk to include an "elf" hunt amongst Water Street businesses and an "Ugly Art Swap" at the Harrison Gallery, and is thinking up more activities.

Members also applauded news that they'd raised $3,200 for local nonprofits from this year's networking events.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Shop owners at the Allendale Shopping center have welcomed Simmons Lifestyle Furniture into its fold. The store opening is not only the furniture company's third location, it marks the beginning of an alliance between related shops to offer consumers a broader palette for acessorizing their homes.

"This has always been the dream for us," store manager Donna Riley said. "It was a collective draw. We'd always sit around the dinner table and say 'this is what we should do.' Now we're doing it."

The 130-year-old Simmons also operates stores in Adams and in the Pittsfield Plaza on Route 20.

In addition to their own collective skills as designers and decorators, Riley and her mother, Phyllis Riley, have also signed on with the other stores in the shopping center to form the Interiors Resources Alliance, which includes Stevens World of Flooring (which recently added a discount flooring warehouse and includes Organize It home and closet organizational systems), Berkshire Fabric and Wallpaper and Litco Supply Co., which will be highlighting its Luxury Bath Center Showroom.

Simmons celebrated its grand opening in Allendale on Thursday evening with supporters, other business owners and Mayor James Ruberto. Riley said moving into the large anchor space, formerly occupied by Stevens World of Carpets, has been an "unbelievable" experience thanks to her new neighbors.

"It's been a little bit of a long transition but everyone's been very welcoming," she said. "The doors have been open for about a week now and the purchasing is the same as in some of the other stores that we run. We've been having fun here, though, because we can really push the limits on style. We can go from really contemporary to really traditional. It's all here to visualize."

Indeed, the 25,000-square-foot space is filled with different styles and price points from $200 armchairs to $8,000 custom dining room tables. The store also offers bedroom, living room and dining sets, accent furniture, recliners and mattresses to name a few. The pieces are showcased in various themed settings, including a "Jetsons" living room complete with a bobble-head dog statue and futuristic glass folding tables.

High-end bedroom sets are paired with modern recliners and accents pieces in Simmons' Allendale store.

"Between all of us you can do anything," Riley said. "For shared customers, we're doing certain discounts. It's a new way for us to do business."

David Gopfert, owner of Berkshire Fabric and Wallpaper next door, said he was thrilled to have Simmons on board.

"This is a great addition to the center," he said. "It's going to drive a lot of people in this direction. It's one-stop shopping. There's everything for the budget-minded client as well as the high-end client."

Jan Barranger of Litco Supply was also at the opening to welcome her new neighbors.

"I'm thrilled to death that I have all of the resources my customers need here at Allendale," she said. "How nice to be able to say to a customer 'just walk up the stairs and take a left.'"

The Interiors Resources Alliance, said Ruberto, is a reassuring step in the right direction for the city's economic growth.

"Thank you for investing in the city of Pittsfield. This idea is terrific," he said. "This is really remarkable because small businesses are the backbone of Pittsfield and they are creating more jobs here. This is a mini design center, and we're very pleased that you've invested here."

SALISBURY, Conn. — The historic White Hart Inn closed its doors abruptly on Tuesday and was placed on the market for $5 million.

The 204-year-old Litchfield County inn was rescued from an uncertain future when Scott Bok, a Manhattan investment banker, and his wife Roxanne purchased it a decade ago.

A feature in Rural Intelligence described how the Boks ordered major renovations last fall to update and reduce the number of guest suites to 15 as well as to expand the restaurant. This renovation followed on the heels of the Boks' 2008 purchase of a 115-acre farm down the road from the White Hart, which they named Twin Lakes Farm.

According to a New York Times article two years ago, the farm had a $3 million price tag and its sole purpose was to provide locally sourced beef (more than 50 cows) to the restaurant portion of the inn. The fate of the farm, where the Boks reside on weekends, is unknown at this point.

No one connected with the inn was available for comment. In a statement sent to the Register Citizen, Bok said it seemed appropriate to close the inn with the quiter winter season coming up and that it was "debt free."

The couple enjoyed operating the inn but "it was also a heavy responsibility and time commitment to oversee a 24-hour, 364-day-a-year enterprise, despite having a young family and full-time job 100 miles away," he stated in the press relesase.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation had planned a press conference at the inn on Wednesday that had to be moved to another location.

The inn has been listed with Best & Cavallaro Real Estate in Salisbury.  The Register Citizen said those seeking room deposit refunds or with questions on related matters should call 860-435-0030.
 

Networking events, workshops and seminars for the month of November are listed below. Got an upcoming business event? Send it to info@iberkshires.com.

Registration was due Oct. 25, but it may be worth checking out if room is still available at the "Women Investing in Themselves" presentation slated for Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Orchards Hotel, 206 Adams Road, Williamstown. Guest speaker Linda A. Duessel, equity strategist at Federated Investors, will discuss money management strategies for women. Call 800-432-744, ext. 123 or email womensconference@dionmm.com for more information.

The Zonta Club of Berkshire County will meet on Monday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. at Patrick's Pub, Park Square, Pittsfield. The guest speaker will be Amanda Rae Busch, senior editor at Berkshire Living. The meeting includes networking, a business meeting, speech and dinner. For more information, email berkshire@zontadistrict1.org or call 413-637-2722.

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, Berkshire Creative will hold a Sparkettes networking event for interior designers, landscape architects, architects, builders, home designers/makers and real estate agents from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Jae's Spice, North Street, Pittsfield. The evening inclues a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. RSVP here.

Northern Berkshire Business and Professional Women holds its semiannual Meet and Greet event, featuring Julia Bowen, executive director of BArT Charter School, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Williams Inn, Williamstown. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 8 to Maureen Riley Moriarty, membership chair, 413-743-0432.

Berkshire Community College is offering the workshop "The Power of Email Marketing" (WKS-2460-E4) on Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The class is structured for a lecture during the first half and hands-on practice durng the second half. The fee is $40. To register, call 413-236-2127 or email lpierce@berkshirecc.edu.

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours event on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Berkshire Children's Chorus, Dewey Memorial Hall, 91 Main St., Sheffield. To RSVP, contact Joy at visitor@southernberkshirechamber.com.

The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gramercy Bistro, MASS MoCA Way, North Adams. New officers will be introduced, and board members will share chamber initiatives and plans for the new year. Admission is $10; call 413-458-9077 or email info@williamstownchamber.com to register.

The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will host a "Chamber Nite" at Wohrle’s Food Warehouse, 1619 East St., Pittsfield, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free Wohrle’s tote bag. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Be sure to bring your business cards for networking and to be entered into the door prize drawing for a full piece of choice beef tenderloin (6 lb. avg.).

Registration by Nov. 12 is strongly encouraged. To register, call 413-499-4000, e-mail choyt@berkshirechamber.com or register at www.berkshirechamber.com.

Northern Berkshire Business and Professional Women will meet for dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Williams Inn, Williamstown. The speaker, Sharon Boyd, director of Arcadia Employment, will discuss the employment market in Northern Berkshire County. The cost is $25; for meal choices and to make a reservation, contact Lucy Milette at 413-663-6080.

Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce members are invited to attend "Beginning Quick Books" for a combined 7 hours of instruction on Thursday, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The cost is $60 per student. To register, send name of attendee, business name and phone number by Nov. 10 to sbcc@rnetworx.com.

All young professionals living and/or working in Berkshire County are invited to attend the Berkshire Young Professionals Networking Social at Taylor’s, 34 Holden St., North Adams, on Thursday, Nov. 18. The event is free for BYP membership cardholders and $5 for nonmembers.  Taylor’s will be treating attendees to a sampling of sushi and other hors d'oeuvres. There will be live entertainment and an introduction to the Taylor’s dart league. Bring business cards for networking and to be eligible for the door-prize drawing. To register, call 413-499-4000, ext. 26, e-mail choyt@berkshirechamber.com or at www.berkshirechamber.com/byp.