Tyringham, Mount Washington Flags Added To Great Hall

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Top, 30 Tyringham residents attended their flag presentation. Left, Mount Washington's flag. Both will hang in the Great Hall of Flags.
BOSTON — Two of the Berkshires' smaller communities will have their flags waving in the State House's Great Hall of Flags.

Flags for Tyringham and Mount Washington were presented on July 18 at the State House by Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and the towns' officials.

Tyringham Town Administrator Molly Curtin Schaeffer and Selectman Alan Wilcox were among the presenters of Tyringham's flag to Bureau of State Office Buildings Superintendent John Billera. The flag design was voted on by town residents, 30 of whom came to Boston for the presentation ceremony.

Once properly cataloged by state officials the flags will be added to the impressive display of community flags in the Great Hall of Flags, which is open to State House visitors. The Great Hall of Flags serves as the largest function room in the State House. In 1992, the agency that manages state office space, the BSB, began collecting official flags from the 351 commonwealth communities and hanging them throughout the Great Hall in order to improve the acoustics of the room. 

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Second Streets Second Chances Awarded $85K for Workforce Re-Entry Program

By Brittany Polito

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local program for formerly incarcerated citizens seeking a technical career received $85,000 from the state.  

On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $2.25 million in Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants to 12 organizations that will provide job training, career support, and employment opportunities to 445 formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.

Second Street Second Chances was allocated $84,712 to partner with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office to offer a training program to 12 returning citizens with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry.  

The funds will be used to put 12 returning citizens through a training program with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in manufacturing and welding roles at Onyx Specialty Papers and Hi-Tech Mold and Tool.

The program was one of 12 awardees, a majority on the eastern side of the state; Greenfield also saw funding.

"When people return to their communities, they should have a real opportunity to get a good job, support their families and build a stable future," said Gov. Maura Healey in a press release. 

"These grants connect people with the training and experience they need to succeed and with employers that are ready to hire."

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said successful reentry means making sure people have the tools and opportunities to move forward, and these programs bring together community organizations, public safety partners, and employers to connect people directly with training and jobs. 

Launched in 2022, Second Street Second Chances' mission is to provide a central point of access for medical and mental health, housing, job training, legal services, and more for a successful reentry into the community. 

Early this year, the nonprofit saw an $89,000 grant from the program.  Executive Director Lindsay Cornwell at the time said this funding allowed 2nd Street to expand its mission of supporting returning citizens in Berkshire County through meaningful workforce opportunities and a pathway toward sustainable employment. 

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