Biz Briefs: Red Lion Inn Partners with Stash Hotel Rewards

New partnership

The Red Lion Inn is partnering with with Stash Hotel Rewards, the largest loyalty program for independent hotels in the United States. Guests at The Red Lion Inn are now able to earn points toward free nights at more than 150 independent hotels across the country. And Stash members can earn and redeem points to stay at one of the most quintessential Berkshires hotels in Stockbridge.

"Aside from being able to offer our guests rewards points for their stays, we wanted a loyalty program with a unique portfolio and a devoted following," said Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, which owns and manages the inn. "Stash's network of community oriented, independent properties puts us in great company, and the program’s dedicated members allow us to share loyal guests between hotels."

Guests of The Inn can join Stash for free online. at http://www.stashrewards.com/. Stash members earn five points for each dollar spent on eligible room rates and can redeem them at great independent hotels across North America, including the Caribbean and Hawaii. Stash points never expire, and redemption is simple, without blackout dates or category restrictions found in many chain programs. Stash partner hotels also provide members with exclusive travel deals.

Car raffle

Berkshire Humane Society and Haddad Subaru will host their sixth annual Subaru Car Raffle drawing on Saturday, Oct. 27. This year, the winning ticket will be drawn for a 2019 Outback with a package value approximated at $33,000. The drawing is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the dealership in Pittsfield. Live 95.9 will broadcast live from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and adoptable animals will also visit the dealership during this time.

Tickets are still on sale and may be purchased up until noon on October 27 at the main shelter and up until 1 p.m. at Haddad Subaru. Tickets are one for $40 or three for $100. The winner does not need to be present to win. The raffle is limited to 2,100 tickets; to date, approximately 1,100 tickets have been sold. Between now and Saturday, October 27, tickets may be purchased at the following locations: BHS (214 Barker Road, Pittsfield), Bark N' Cat (28 Holden St., North Adams), Bartlett's Orchard (575 Swamp Road, Richmond), Catwalk Boutique (325 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington), Chez Pet (55 Pittsfield Road, # 4B, Lenox), Haddad Subaru (652 East St., Pittsfield), and Purradise (301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington).

“The Berkshire Humane Society is in need of our local support as a community more than ever. The work they are doing now and in the future really demands our full support. The 6th annual raffle is just one way Haddad likes to contribute to our local community. The culture Subaru envelopes around “Share the Love” and pets is an amazing one. All of our staff believes, supports, and even participates in the BHS’s yearlong goal. We are here to help pay the bills and spread the word on what the BHS strives to accomplish every day. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in John, we go way back and continue to grow our relationship with the BHS and Haddad Subaru. I really have a soft spot for these animals, so whatever we have to do in order to provide them safe shelter, we will,” said Chris Kramek, General Manager of Haddad Subaru.

Lemonis visit

Berkshire Money Management is hosting a fireside chat with Marcus Lemonis, serial entrepreneur and celebrity host of CNBC's "The Profit" on Nov. 7 at the firm’s headquarters, the Model Farm on 161 Main St. in Dalton. Cocktails begin at 3:30 p.m. Lemonis will speak at 4:30 p.m., addressing local business owners and economic leaders about looking towards the future of their companies; and knowing what to do.

Nonprofit discussion

The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires presents its first roundtable discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 23, on the topic of "organizational partnering." Participants will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Berkshire Athenaeum on Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield and are encouraged to bring lunch. Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum will provide refreshments. This event is free to Berkshire nonprofits but participants must register online or by calling 413-645-3151.

An NPC survey in 2017 showed that most Berkshire nonprofits are partnering in one form or another and that the majority want to do more. Discussion will focus on models of collaboration, best practices, and pitfalls. Panelists include Jeff Gagnon,program manager at Community Access to the Arts; Alex Reczkowski, library director/Berkshire Athenaeum; Christa Collier, executive director of Northern Berkshire United Way; and Randy Kinnas, executive director of the Berkshire Family YMCA. Alisa Costa of Pittsfield Working Cities will moderate the discussion.

Training grants

Excelsior Integrated and Porchlight Homecare, two Southern Berkshire businesses located in Lee, Mass., have received a two-year training grant from the Workforce Training Fund Program.

Excelsior Integrated, Inc. was awarded $48,750 to train 20 employees and anticipates adding four jobs by 2020. The company works to help product entrepreneurs, ecommerce merchants, retailers, and marketing teams outsource and automate their fulfillment operations. Porchlight VNA/ Homecare was awarded $22,504 to train 20 employees and anticipates adding 15 jobs by 2020. Porchlight provides all home health needs, such as skilled nursing, 25-hour care, social work, and therapies for all of Berkshire, Hampden and Hampshire counties.

Awarded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation, the Workforce Training Fund Program invests to help local Massachusetts companies create new jobs, increase skills and opportunities for workers, and improve overall productivity and competitiveness for businesses in the commonwealth. EOLWD and Commonwealth Corporation review and award training grants of up to $250,000 to Massachusetts businesses to fund training for current and newly hired employees. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."