Two BMC Employees Chosen for Super Bowl Trip

12:03PM / Friday, February 05, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has announced that Dionne Hamilton, a housekeeper on BMC's Environmental Services Team and Kate Heath, an RN in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) have been invited to the Super Bowl.

"I keep waiting for it to disappear. It doesn't seem real," said Heath.

The Kraft Family and the New England Patriots organization have selected Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) among a select group of hospitals across Massachusetts to provide two employees with a free trip to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, Fla.

In a press release earlier this week, the New England Patriots explained that this trip has two goals: "to recognize and thank a representative group of the countless healthcare superheroes in New England, and to celebrate and spread the important message of getting vaccinated."

Hamilton and Heath, who have both been fully vaccinated, will join 74 other healthcare workers from New England for the full VIP Super Bowl experience, including a two-night stay at Patriot Place, transportation on the Patriots' Plane to Tampa, plus tickets to pre-game concerts and events, as well as attendance at the game.

"We would like to thank the Kraft Family and the New England Patriots for recognizing healthcare workers with this amazing opportunity and for their advocacy around the importance of vaccination and access to personal protective equipment," Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) President and CEO David Phelps said. "We are incredibly proud of all of our staff at BMC and BHS for the work they have done since Day one of this crisis." Phelps added, "Though we can only send two employees, each and every one of our staff members is deserving of this VIP Super Bowl opportunity. Dionne and Kate are exemplary employees and we know that will represent our organization well."

As a critical care nurse, Heath has spent the past year caring daily for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Heath explained that working on a COVID floor can be isolating for frontline workers. She said it is a challenge for non-patient-facing staff, community members and even immediate family members to understand what COVID care is like and how challenging the past year has been.

"It's validating to be acknowledged by the Krafts and the Patriots organization in such a big way," said Heath.

Dionne Hamilton, who is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting COVID hospital rooms at BMC, volunteered for extra shifts at Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center when the facility was experiencing an outbreak this winter. After working a full day at BMC, Hamilton donned her full PPE again and spent her nights working at Hillcrest.

"I was just doing what I could," said Hamilton. "Everybody did a lot."

According to the BHS press release, Hamilton and Heath, who are both football fans, are looking forward to the "Big Game," along with a little sunshine and 70-degree Florida weather.

"I am smiling so hard under this mask," Hamilton said.

Tags: BHS, BMC, COVID-19, super bowl,

More Coronavirus Updates
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:

iBerkshires.com

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

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

www.rkmiles.com

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

Crane Park's Mini-Pitch is Open for Fun

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Wednesday, October 21, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Town officials celebrated the opening of the new Crane Parks mini-pitch on Tuesday.

Players from several local soccer programs, community leaders, and project partners gathered to kick the ceremonial first pitch into the goal on the new facility.

Back in May, the Parks Commission endorsed a project to place a mini-pitch over the aging, cracked concrete surface of Crane Park's former rink. A mini-pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates.

"The mini-pitch system will create a space that encourages physical activity and welcomes play through teamwork. The space will serve as a location for the community to gather for outdoor fun and recreation for many years ahead. They'll be able to put their cell phones down for a few minutes and actually engage in some great outdoor entertainment," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

The project was funded entirely by grants. In June, the City Council accepted the gift of the mini-pitch facility, valued at over $100,000, and $10,000 from the Mill Town Foundation to ready the site.

The facility has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together. Cleats are not allowed on the surface, but sneakers and other sports shoes are.

The mini-pitch system came with a light tower and two LED lamps, but Crane Park does not have power, so it won't be illuminated. That could change in the future, officials said.

The pitch is open for the community every day, but Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reminded users to be mindful as they play as well as to respect the pitch and the neighborhood it resides in.

McGrath said the idea grew out of conversations with Andy Wrba, program director for the Mill Town Foundation.

"There's been a deep, deep soccer community in Pittsfield and throughout the Berkshires for a long time. I've seen it as a multi-generational way for communities to connect and pass down lessons and connect families and everyone. And a big part of that has been the West State Soccer League," Wrba said.

He said the goal is to keep the space active and encourage outdoor recreation and youth engagement.

McGrath said that with the partnership from Mill Town and the city's park commission they were able to bring the pitch to the finish line.

"It's a testament to our ability to bring new and unique facilities into our city that accommodate youth sports. And it really, at the end of the day, is about promotion of soccer. And we are just so pleased that our partners all came together and that we were able to get this mini-pitch completed," McGrath said.

Other contributors as well were the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who provided the mini-pitch system, surface materials, and installation assistance at no cost to the city, as well as Massachusetts Youth Soccer who partnered with Pittsfield to bring the system to the city.

"All these contributions made this project possible, and highlights how our community continues through public and private partnerships to provide new facilities and amenities for all to enjoy," Marchetti said.

View Full Story