2014 Alma Riello Scholarship Deadline May 9

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. seeks applicants for its Alma Lousie Mary Riello scholarship for 2014. The deadline to apply is May 9.

This scholarship is open to high school seniors and a total of five scholarships of $200 each will be awarded in May.

Through her role as a founding member of the board of directors of Northern Berkshire Community Television, Riello led in the development of local Public Access. As a community leader she took her vision on the air in a very popular show, "Bone Soup," during which  local events and cultural activities took center stage.

The multitalented Riello was a well-known actress who often portrayed Susan B. Anthony, a writer, General Electric's first female forklift operator and a culinary artist.


Students from each of the four schools within NBCTC's service area, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, Charles H. McCann Technical School, Drury High School and Hoosac Valley High School may apply for the Alma L. Riello Memorial Scholarship. A fifth scholarship is available to any student who resides in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg or North Adams and who does not attend one of the above mentioned high schools.

Applicants must be a student entering a school of higher learning; special attention will be given to the candidate who has volunteered at NBCTC, or the candidate who is going to study in the fields of broadcasting, theater arts, or communications. Funds are to be used for school-related expenses.

Students wishing to apply for the communitywide scholarship can come to the NBCTC Studios at Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Building 6, to pick up the application materials or contact their respective guidance office  for application materials. Students may also download the application from NBCTC’s website, www.nbctc.org, or here.

For further information, contact NBCTC at 413-663-9006 or at nobctv@bcn.net.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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