image description — Cassilis Farm in New Marlborough, being renovated by Construct into affordable housing, will be the site of a designer showcase fundraiser in June.

Construct to Host Designer Showcase

12:06PM / Tuesday, April 16, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NEW MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Construct Inc., a nonprofit provider of affordable housing and supportive services to residents in 15 towns across the Southern Berkshires, will hold its first Designer Showcase event/exhibition.

Slated for the entire month of June 2024, the Designer Showcase will highlight the work of more than a dozen local and regional designers, as well as landscape architects and visual artists. Each exhibitor has been assigned a space at Cassilis Farm, a 27-acre, Gilded Age estate that Construct, along with the New Marlborough Housing Development Committee, purchased at auction with the intention of renovating and converting it into 11 much-needed affordable housing apartments.

"We have the opportunity to take advantage of Construct having acquired this magnificent estate," said board Secretary Hinda Bodinger, who is also co-chair for the Designer Showcase Committee. "Utilizing such a beautiful space allows us to highlight the talent of the designers, and to share our mission in a unique way with the greater community."

"As we've reached out to interior designers, landscape designers and others with our appeal to help us with the Showcase, the overwhelming response has been 'YES!,'" said co-Chair and board member Laura Jordahl. "Because they, like many businesses, have been directly affected by the shortage of affordable housing. All of us know that working to make Cassilis into a place that 11 families will call home will help to strengthen our community ties."

The Designer Showcase, themed "Nature in the Berkshires," will be a timed, ticketed walkthrough and will be open to visitors through five weekends in June. Additional events surrounding the fundraiser include a New Marlborough community day as well as a special opening night tour and reception at Cassilis Farm.

Berkshire Magazine is the official media sponsor of the Construct Designer Showcase.

Information about the Designer Showcase will be updated here, as well as via Construct's social media handles. Tickets may be purchased online

Tags: affordable housing, showcase,

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Lee Chamber Celebrates Local Community Members

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:58PM / Tuesday, November 10, 2026

Chamber Executive Director Alexandra Heddinger is applauded for her work.

LEE, Mass. — Longtime teacher, coach and community activist Thomas Cinella was the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lee Chamber of Commerce.

Cinella was one of four individuals and one organization who were celebrated at last week's gathering at the Greenock Country Club.

"We have the honor of recognizing some outstanding individuals and organizations whose dedication, leadership, and generosity make Lee such a remarkable place to live, work, and raise a family," said President Erik Williams. "Each of our award recipients embodies the spirit of community and service that makes our town so special."

The awards were presented to Cinella, Ray Murray III, Scott and John LePrevost, and the Lee Lions Club.

Cinella, born in Lee in 1941, has joked he'd spent all but the four years he was in college in his hometown. He taught math at Lee High School as well as coaching basketball for 45 years. He has a record of six state championships and 15 Western Massachusetts championships during his 20 years of coaching the girls' varsity team.

Outside of school, Cinella served on the Lee Library Board of Trustees, chaired the Sandy Beach Committee, was the town lifeguard, and was involved with the town's playgrounds.

"Tom, your name is on the basketball court, and the banners and trophies, and it tells an impressive story. But your greatest legacy is found in the students you encouraged, the players you believed in, and the generations of young people who carry something of what you taught them with them every single day," Williams said. "Lee has been fortunate to have you as a teacher, coach, volunteer, and neighbor."

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