BMC Receives Baby-Friendly Designation

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) announced that it has achieved international Baby-Friendly designation after a  review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States. 
 
This demonstrates that BMC is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the first days of a newborn's life. 
 
According to a press release, the positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. For example, the Surgeon General's 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that "Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant's nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children." 
 
BMC joins a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world, 551 of which are in the United States. These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman's right to make the best decision for herself and her family.  
 
"BMC has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns," said James Lederer, MD, Berkshire Health Systems Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "This designation is a tribute to our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources, information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best, healthiest start in life." 

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With Taxes Paid, Berkshire Mall Owners Plan for Senior Housing

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The majority of the mall will have to be demolished as the 40-year-old big box stores are not suitable because of space and condition. 

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Berkshire Mall owners have paid their town taxes and plan to transform the property into more than 400 units of housing.

JMJ Holdings is entering into the design process for a nine-figure overhaul of the shuttered mall property into 420 to 450 units of senior housing. Town Administrator Gina Dario confirmed that the full fiscal year 2025 tax balance, totaling $293,380, has been paid.

"It's basically an apartment building that's catered towards older populations, people generally in their mid-60s, and the amenities on site really cater to that lifestyle. It's kind of all comprising," Timothy Grogan of the Housing Development Corp. explained, adding that there will also be assisted living, memory care, independent living, and senior affordable housing.

Grogan was hired as a consultant to guide a feasibility study for the property.  He said there haven't been recent conversations with the town "because we're really hashing it out, we want to come to them with a fully thought-out proposal in terms of the amount of supportable units."

"I think it would be a huge boon to Berkshire County, generally, in a way that the mall used to be," he said. "We're really excited about it. We're moving forward with full steam ahead."

The feasibility study determined that there could be up to 600 units, but the project team imagines a more conservative amount between 420 and 450 units.

It is being scoped as a Low Income Housing Tax Credit project, which means that at least 20 percent of the units would need to be reserved for people at/or below 50 percent of the area median income or at least 40 percent of the units would need to made affordable for persons with incomes at/or below 60 percent of the area median income.

Grogan said conversations have been scheduled with the offices of Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and state Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus.

"Given the political importance of this property and Governor Healey's emphasis on gateway cities, we don't expect that to be such a long lead item. That being said, this is envisioned to be a phased project where we have the assisted living, active adult and independent living kind of in one bucket with affordable housing in another one," he said.

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