image description — State Sen. Paul Mark and state Sen. Robyn Kennedy of Worcester, holding gifts, visit Berkshire County Arc's programs earlier this month.

State Senators Tour Berkshire County Arc Programs

12:25PM / Thursday, December 28, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Sen. Paul Mark and state Sen. Robyn Kennedy of Worcester, chair for the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, recently spent time visiting Berkshire County Arc's programs. Mark is also a member of the joint committee.

During their visit, they spent time discussing short- and long-term plans for human services in Massachusetts.

BCArc offers a broad range of community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism.

In the photo above, from left: Pam Kight, director of employment and community-based day services; Cybele Kilby, vice president of day & employment services; state Sen. Paul Mark; state Sen. Robyn Kennedy; President & CEO Maryann Hyatt; Erin Manson, Department of Developmental Services residential services director; CFO Blanca Durant; Jessica Russo, director of family support & advocacy; and Scott Barschdorf, director of brain injury services.

Tags: bcarc, paul mark, state officials,

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Taconic High Speaker Booted for Passing Out 'Political Material'

Staff Reports 04:20PM / Friday, January 30, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A guest speaker at Taconic High School was escorted out of the building after school officials said they passed around unapproved political material.

Principal Matthew Bishop sent out an email and voice message to the school community explaining some of what happened.

The event was an approved community outreach activity to write letters to veterans. The principal said the guest speaker had provided officials with the materials to be used for the activity, which were reviewed and approved.

"However, the guest speaker began distributing politically motivated materials that were not previously approved," Bishop said. "As soon as staff became aware of this, we immediately asked that guest speaker to leave. ...

"The unauthorized materials distributed today were not part of what was shared with us beforehand. This was a breach of trust and we wanted to be clear. The distribution of these materials is not endorsed by our school in any way."

Bishop did not identify who the speaker or what the unauthorized materials were. Some parents have pointed to a Turning Point USA representative and that the political material was a red wristband that says "We are Charlie Kirk."

An image posted to Facebook shows a group of male students showing off the bracelets with a woman wearing a shirt with a "Club America" logo on it. Club America is high school chapter of Turning Point, a conservative nonprofit founded Kirk.

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