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The courts opened with a first serve from college and government officials.

BCC Dedicates Tennis Courts To Former President

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Above: Paul Raverta unveils a plaque that dedicates the courts in his name. Below: State Reps. Paul Mark and William 'Smitty' Pignatelli, and state Sen. Benjamin Downing presented state certificates honoring Raverta.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College capped off the revitalization of its athletic facilities on Monday morning when the tennis courts were dedicated to former President Paul Raverta.

Raverta found the courts in deplorable condition when he first came to BCC in 2005. So many weeds were growing in the cracked surface that he joked on Monday about having staff mow the courts like the rest of the playing fields.

For the last four years, Raverta has been trying to secure grant money to revamp them and his efforts finally came to fruition.

"We played tennis here over 30 years ago and for some time the courts were in disrepair, grass growing on it and cracks, it was horrible for us," said William Ballard, vice president of the U.S. Tennis Association's New England branch who helped fund the project. "What you see before you is all about commitment."

Ballard remembered when Raverta first came to him about funding the project but it took a long time to put the pieces together. However, the process has led to the creation of the first U10 courts (players under age 10) in Western Massachusetts, he said.

The courts were the latest renovations; others include the inside of the school's Paterson Field House, opening of the pool and a new turf playing field.

"Our goal was to re-do the whole south side. Here, six to seven years later, and we've completed it," Jeff Doscher, BCC Foundation executive director, said. "It was a total cooperative effort."

Raverta said the complex helps the school become even more of a community resource. The public will be able to play on the courts (there are a limited number of available courts in the city) and children will be able to learn to play on the U10 courts.

"When I arrived I saw immediately that he vision of the college was community," Raverta said. "I am just so pleased and humbled today."



Before the ceremony, a couple of children got to try out the new U10 court.
The courts were named after him and state Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, and the county's House of Representatives delegation read special citations from their legislative bodies.

While Raverta said he was "humbled" by the honor, many in the BCC community said the courts would never have been revitalized without him.

"The tennis courts were his vision," Susan Lombard, chairwoman of the school's Board of Trustees, said.

Lombard said the completion of the courts is just one example of the school's future growth.

The dedication ceremony also featured guest speakers Ellen Kennedy, the school's new president, Mayor Daniel Bianchi and Ward 6 Councilor John Krol.





Tags: athletic complex,   BCC,   dedication,   tennis,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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