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Graduates of BCC's two nursing programs were invited to a drive-through pinning ceremony to get their certificates and degrees.
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BCC Pinning Ceremony Recognizes Nursing Graduates

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BCC, like many other schools, has been forced to be creative in recognizing its graduates during the pandemic. The graduates have often put their own spin on the unusual ceremonies. See more photos here.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Twenty-seven graduates of the practical nurse certificate program at Berkshire Community College and 57 associate degree in nursing graduates were recognized on Tuesday night for a combination drive-through and remote ceremony in order to observe social distancing protocols because to COVID-19.  
 
Ann Tierney, a nursing adviser, retired nurse practitioner and professor of nursing, addressed the practical nursing students while Lynn Geldert, with a background including critical care nursing and providing clinical instruction to nursing students, addressed the associate degree program graduates in the online portion of their ceremony.
 
The ceremony is a time-honored nursing school tradition, dating back before the turn of the 20th century. Traditionally, nursing students have conducted an honors or pinning ceremony to mark the passage of student nurse role to practice role. It can be an emotional event that is shared with family, friends, faculty and others important to the students' education.
 
On a rainy Tuesday evening, graduates in the program were invited to drive around the college's circular driveway to receive their pins, certificates and diplomas.  
 
Graduates of the 10-month practical nursing program are eligible to sit for the Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) exam.
 
Pins and certificates were presented to the following graduates listed by town: 
 
Cheshire: Jacqueline A. King, Shelby L. Provencher
 
Dalton: Carmen Y. Quinde
 
Great Barrington: Morgan B. Formel
 
Lee: Michelle A. Schleimer
 
Lenox: Marybelle L. Burns
 
Pittsfield: Ciara M. Berkeley, Jamie L. Brown, Danielle A. Collette, Holya Ebiyatakyih, Cecilia A. Ebuley, Sarah M. Engle, Anne-Marie Ezoua, Amber Hertzberg, Hahna Kim, Ama S. Koblan Epse Ngoran, Ellen Laryea, Teressa N. LeBeau, Jacqueline C. Polynice, Ernestina Sackey, Kniesha M. Tarjick
 
Savoy: Jennifer L. Walker
 
Springfield: Kadian S. Anderson, Elizabeth Twum-Barima
 
Westfield: Selina M. Lopez
 
Windsor: Jonathan R. Bailey
 
Lakeville, Conn.: Valencia O. Phillips
 
Awards were presented to the following students: Clinical Excellence Award: Sara Engle, Academic Excellence Award: Marybelle Burns, Professionalism Award:  Ernestina Sackey, Spirt of Nursing Award: Jacqueline King.
 
 
 
The 51st annual ADN Pinning ceremony, sponsored by BCC's Student Nurse Organization, honored the following students who graduated on May 29, 2020:
 
Adams: Nataliya M. Houghton, Kelsy M. Nixon
 
Ashley Falls: Grace L. James
 
Clarksburg: Stephanie J. Rogers
 
Dalton: Courtney J. Corbett, Angelia M. Elser, Danielle. M Furlong, Elisabeth C. George, Alexi M. Liccardi, Amanda L. Nefreres, Renee M. Saville, Raegan B. Van Rumund, Shaina R. Weber
 
Hinsdale: Patricia A. O'Brien
 
Housatonic: Blythe A. Hinkley-Grady
 
Lanesborough: Michelle M. Gingras
 
Lee: Tyler V. Buratto
 
Leeds: Cheyenne D. Robair
 
Lenox: Suzanne J. Cotton
 
Lenox Dale: Kathryn M. Forbes
 
North Adams: Caitlin S. Gelineau, Nicole L. Maloney
 
Northampton: Ronald V. Cruz
 
Otis: Bryan E. Arnold
 
Pittsfield: Halimat O. Ahmed, Christine A. Ahoussi, Daniluz Aloyo-Hebert, Dorcas S. Archer, Michelle L. Bateman, Maribel Bednarski, Marie J. Blankson-Atte, Kortney M. Boos, Nicole M. Campos-Vasquez, Rosemary C. Carnes, Kayla J. Doyle, Alexandra M. Ely, Spencer E. Ferro, Alison E. Gregory, Amy L. Hunt, Nancy M. Klose, Jesse D. Kordana, Kelsey E. Lane, Brittany S. O'Donnell, Tomeka L. Parslow, Shila J. Vallencourt
 
Plainfield: Samantha M. Davis
 
Springfield: Luke A. Boasiako, Lucy M. Gichuhi
 
Tyringham: April A. Curtin
 
Williamstown: Alexandra W. Levinsky
 
Worthington: Fawn M. Mougin
 
Albany, N.Y.: Israel Rolly T. Muamba
 
Averill Park, N.Y.: Natalie E. Emery
 
Fort Johnson, N.Y.: Morganne T. Ottati
 
Millerton, N.Y.: Millie A. Trees
 
Portland, Maine: Andrew J. LaDouceur
 
Torrington, Conn.: Jack O'Meara
 

Tags: BCC,   graduation 2020,   nursing education,   pinning,   

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EPA Lays Out Draft Plan for PCB Remediation in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requested the meeting be held at Herberg Middle School as his ward will be most affected. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric have a preliminary plan to remediate polychlorinated biphenyls from the city's Rest of River stretch by 2032.

"We're going to implement the remedy, move on, and in five years we can be done with the majority of the issues in Pittsfield," Project Manager Dean Tagliaferro said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"The goal is to restore the (Housatonic) river, make the river an asset. Right now, it's a liability."

The PCB-polluted "Rest of River" stretches nearly 125 miles from the confluence of the East and West Branches of the river in Pittsfield to the end of Reach 16 just before Long Island Sound in Connecticut.  The city's five-mile reach, 5A, goes from the confluence to the wastewater treatment plant and includes river channels, banks, backwaters, and 325 acres of floodplains.

The event was held at Herberg Middle School, as Ward 4 Councilor James Conant wanted to ensure that the residents who will be most affected by the cleanup didn't have to travel far.

Conant emphasized that "nothing is set in actual stone" and it will not be solidified for many months.

In February 2020, the Rest of River settlement agreement that outlines the continued cleanup was signed by the U.S. EPA, GE, the state, the city of Pittsfield, the towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield, and other interested parties.

Remediation has been in progress since the 1970s, including 27 cleanups. The remedy settled in 2020 includes the removal of one million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and floodplain soils, an 89 percent reduction of downstream transport of PCBs, an upland disposal facility located near Woods Pond (which has been contested by Southern Berkshire residents) as well as offsite disposal, and the removal of two dams.

The estimated cost is about $576 million and will take about 13 years to complete once construction begins.

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