Brain Injury Survivor to Speak at BFAIR Annual Meeting

03:06PM / Wednesday, April 20, 2016Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Berkshire Family & Individual Resources will host its annual meeting on Friday, April 29, at the Williams Inn.

The breakfast, set to begin at 7:30 a.m., will include the presentation of several awards for employee recognition, as well as the recognition of the community employer of the year. Additionally, the chairwoman of the board will offer remarks on the organization’s continued success and growth through 2015.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Stacia Bissell. A lifelong Berkshire resident, Bissell is a former educator who lives with an acquired brain injury. Her story surrounding her brain injury is a powerful one of perseverance.

She currently volunteers her time with the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, where she co-facilitates a monthly support group and assists with the monthly publication of their newsletter and completes other special projects as needed. She is also a website designer/developer.

BFAIR has seen significant growth in homecare, residential and habilitative services during 2015. Major milestones include the opening of a satellite campus on Roberts Drive and expansions throughout Berkshire County. BFAIR’s recent annual campaign has raised more than $15,000 to date.

To attend the annual meeting, please RSVP by April 22 to Carol Fox by calling 413.664.9382 ext. 40 or emailing cfox@bfair.org. Online registrations are accepted at www.bfair.org. A suggested donation of $10 may be made at the door.

Tags: BFAIR,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

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

Williamstown Housing Trust Agrees to Continue Emergency Mortgage, Rental Programs

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
04:14AM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The board of the town's Affordable Housing Trust at its December meeting voted to extend its mortgage and rental assistance programs and discussed bringing in some consultants early next year before embarking on any new programs.

Chair Daniel Gura informed the board that its agreements with Pittsfield's Hearthway Inc., to administer the Williamstown Emergency Rental Assistance Program and Williamstown Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program was expiring at the end of the year.

Gura sought and obtained a vote of the board to extend the programs, born during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the end of January 2026, at which time the board plans to sign a new long-term agreement.

"In 2024, we distributed $80,000," through the programs known as WERAP and WEMAP, Gura said. "This year, to date, we gave $16,000, and Ihere's $17,000 left. … It's a little interesting we saw a dropoff from 2024 to 2025, although I think there were obvious reasons for that in terms of where we are in the world."

Gura suggested that the board might want to increase the funding to the programs, which benefit income-qualified town residents.

"If you look at the broader economic picture in this country, there's a prospect of more people needing help, not fewer people," Thomas Sheldon said in agreeing with Gura. "I think the need will bump up again."

The board voted to add an additional $13,000 to the amount available to applicants screened by Hearthway with the possibility of raising that funding if a spike in demand is seen.

View Full Story