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Duncan Brown, chairman of the North Adams Partnership, is the recipient of the Francis H. Hayden Award for community service.
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Linda Gaspardi Febles of Coakley Pierpan Dolan & Collins assumed her new role as chairman of the Board of Directors.

Berkshire Chamber Outlines 'New way' at Annual Meeting

By Paul HopkinsiBerkshires Correspondent
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Esther Quinn Award winner John Bissell is shown with his wife, Melissa, son, George, and daughter, Whidbey.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Leaders of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce called for a renewed focus on economic development at the chamber's 103rd annual meeting Friday evening at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

President and CEO Jonathan Butler said the chamber will set the tone for a "new way" for a unified future, including greater promotion and awareness of the 1Berkshire collaboration (the chamber, Berkshire Creative and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau), assisting businesses with recruitment and retention, addressing population loss, and creating an entrepreneurial environment.

Butler said studies have shown that the county has lost 18,000 residents in 40 years, with a notable loss of population of those aged 22 to 40. He said a population task force will focus on lifestyle in the Berkshires to attract that age group.

"Five years from now, we want opportunities for that group to work and live here," he said.

Butler said work force alignment is another critical need.

"There are 1,700 unfilled jobs in the county – good jobs with benefits – and there may be another thousand jobs that aren't listed," he said. "We need to produce a pool of qualified employees" to reassure businesses that the right work force is available in Berkshire County.

The chamber president also said the organization will focus on building an "entrepreneurial environment" to make the Berkshires a destination for small businesses.

"We will need mentors, advisers and professionals to foster that environment, and we need to provide financial incentives."

Butler said the chamber's foundation is strong, "but as the world moves, so must we."

He said there will be a shift in marketing and communication methods toward social media and the Internet, and will offer free social media consultation for businesses to help them assess the effectiveness of their own efforts.

Chamber members elected Linda Gaspardi Febles as the organization's new board chairman.


Febles, of Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan and Collins (a division of MountainOne Bank), called it a "special day" and said she has been "thinking about this moment for a long time – I've been waiting 10 years!"

Febles recalled her work as a Chamber ambassador, working with new members to make connections and build a network.

Members also honored outgoing board Chairman Peter Stasiowski, director of communications at Interprint Inc.

The 2014 Esther Quinn Award was presented to John Bissell, executive vice president of Greylock Federal Credit Union, for his commitment to developing the Berkshires' community, evident in his involvement in early childhood literacy, and cultural and economic development initiatives throughout the county.

In presenting the award to Bissell, Kristine Hazzard, executive director of Berkshire United Way, lauded him for his "impressive intellect and personable and respectful demeanor" and added, "he wants the best for his community."

Bissell thanked his employer for giving him the time to volunteer and said "volunteerism runs very deep" at Greylock Federal Credit Union.

"I accept this on behalf of the entire Greylock team. With teamwork, we can take on any challenge and we can succeed."

Massachusets Museum of Contemporary Art Executive Director Joseph Thompson presented the Francis H. Hayden Award to Duncan Brown, chairman of the North Adams Partnership. The award is given to a Northern Berkshire resident who has made significant contributions to the economic, social, or cultural condition of the region.

"I believe all of us in this room are New Englanders who share similar values," said Brown. He said those values include honesty at every level, frugality, and being good neighbors. "Helping our neighbors – it's in our genes.  We wouldn't be in this room if we didn't do that. I'm honored to be a New Englander, I'm honored to be a Berkshirite. But I'm mostly honored to be a recipient of the Hayden Award."

Elected to three-year terms on the cdhamber Board of Directors were Jerry Burke (Hillcrest Educational Centers), Linda Bjork (TD Bank), Eugene Dellea (Hillcrest Campus of BMC), Donna DiGennaro (United Personnel), Stephanie Kinstle (Cranwell Resort), Joseph Lotano (NBT Bank), Mark McKenna (Lee Bank), Christa Proper (Proper Connections LLC), Jodi Rathbun-Briggs (Greylock Federal Credit Union) and Ron Griffin (EDM Services, Inc.)

Appointed to one-year terms were Jared Decoteau (Public Eat & Drink); Donna Halton (Adams Community Bank), Scott Kirchner (Mad Macs Inc.), Thomas Hammel (Martin, Oliveira & Hamel, PC) and Christine MacBeth (The Brien Center). David Paris (Carr Hardware) and Craig Smith (Berkshire Community College) were introduced as additional new board members.


Tags: annual meeting,   Berkshire Chamber of Commerce,   Hayden Award,   Quinn Award,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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