The Colonial Theatre Donates 1900 lbs. of Non-Perishable Food

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Colonial Theatre donated 1900 lbs. of food to Berkshire Community Action Council, Inc. in the month of December. The non-perishable food items were collected on December 3 at a showing of the film A Christmas Story and on December 17 at a showing of the film, sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, of It’s a Wonderful Life. Over 650 people attended the screenings, which by donating, were free of charge.

“Hundreds of people came for the showing of these two very different holiday films. For many it was their first time inside the Colonial. Every soul went home lighter afterward and every heart was glad to have come together as a community during difficult times and give back in some small way. On the evening of It’s a Wonderful Life, the parallels between the film story and the real-life event at the Colonial were stunning. It was a perfect event at our community theater,” said Colonial Executive Director David Fleming.

Community Action Agencies are private, non-profit human service and advocacy organizations that were established by Congress and the President over 30 years ago to fight poverty by opening the doors to self-sufficiency.
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Kennedy Calls BCC Workforce Graduates Inspiring

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.
 
Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.
 
They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
 
College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.
 
She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication. 
 
"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."
 
Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.
 
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