Regional notes

Print Story | Email Story
Record donations Local residents left more than 68,000 pounds of non-perishable food by their mailboxes for collection as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 8 — a record amount — the association announced this week. By day’s end, all the food had been re-distributed to over 20 food pantries around the county. Local 286 letter carrier Mike Callahan, who served as local coordinator for the drive for the fourth year in a row, said in a news release, “We cannot thank the community enough. Their generosity matters to thousands of local residents as they struggle to make ends meet while living on a fixed or reduced income.” Pittsfield volunteers included letter carriers, active and retired postal workers and their family members, 40 high school students from Taconic High School-Berkshire Youth United, staff members of Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Community Action Council and GE Advanced Materials. The total collected in Central Berkshire, including Pittsfield, Dalton, Lenox, Lanesboro, and Hinsdale, was 39,162 pounds, almost 7,000 pounds more than in 2003. The total collected in Northern Berkshire, including North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, and Williamstown, was 21,850, an increase of 1,700 over 2003. In Southern Berkshire, including Becket, Lee, Great Barrington, Housatonic and Sheffield, the total was 7,086 pounds, an increase of 1,442 over 2003. Diversity Day LENOX — Berkshire County Red Cross youth leaders will host a free Community Day event in honor of the diversity and difference in the community on May 22, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lenox Community Center. The event is called “What If...DIVERSITY: A Celebration of Differences in the Berkshires.” Students will perform a short series of monologues about diversity to open and close the event. The celebration centers on the performance of Sambadees Productions, a group of professional musicians that perform Brazilian music. Manos Unidas will provide interactive art booths that will be available for all ages to express their visions of diversity. Monetary donations and donations of school supplies, soccer equipment and health-care products (bandages, antibacterial creams, band aids) are suggested. Monetary donations will be given to Barton’s Crossing Homeless Shelter, and some will be used to send the donated supplies to the village of Maio in Cape Verde, West Africa. Some refreshments will be provided. The Youth Leadership Program is a service learning program open to high school students in Berkshire County. The Leadership Program is funded by the Berkshire Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and the United Way. Information: Jodi LaPlante-Santos, 442-1506. Nursing graduates PITTSFIELD — The 35th pinning ceremony for graduates of Berkshire Community College's associate degree in nursing (ADN) program will be celebrated Tuesday evening, May 25, at 7 in the college's Robert Boland Theatre of the Koussevitzky Arts Center. Billie Allard, vice president of nursing services at North Adams Regional Hospital, will address graduates. The ceremony, sponsored by BCC's Student Nurse Organization, will honor the following graduating students from Berkshire County: Casandra DeBlois and Barbara Varno of Adams, Jennifer Phillips of Becket, Jennifer Betti of Berkshire, Eric Bushika of Cheshire, Amy Bartlett and Eline Forward of Dalton, Denise Bigelow and Rachel Darby of Hinsdale, Jody Bauer of Housatonic, Cheryl Ericson and Sue Marshall of Lanesboro, Annie Burkott of Lee, Alicia Hanford of Lenox, Rachel Shove of Lenoxdale, Melissa Adriance, Brenda Ahern, Karin Boehm, Anna Celentano, Terry Chretien, Darlene Gregory, Kierstin Hunt, Rebecca LaBeau, Pamela Langlais, Jill Lemieux, Yvette Losaw, Kendra Price, Howard Samel, Amy Slonski, Andree Small and William Weeden of Pittsfield, and Maryellen Andrews of Washington. Nearby out-of-state students graduates include Aita Askinazi, Rebecca Boccio, Arlene Koleszar, Shannon May-Vernali, Arlene Reid, Celia Thomas-Kirby and Dorinda Truax of Connecticut and Gregory Kuttles of New York. Graduates of BCC's associate degree program may continue their education by transferring as juniors into a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program through BCC's participation in articulation agreements with the University of Massachusetts, Russell Sage College, and Framingham State College. Information : 499-4660, ext. 242. Volunteers honored PITTSFIELD — Elder Services hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner at the Crowne Plaza on April 28, in honor of over 400 volunteers who help county elders maintain their dignity and independence. Volunteers transport people to and from medical appointments and help with grocery shopping. They are companions and money managers. They also help prepare, package and deliver hot, home-delivered meals. Ombudsmen volunteers visit and advocate for nursing home residents. SHINE counselors provide health insurance information. Berkshire Senior TV volunteers help produce informative programs through Public Access Television, and volunteers from the Retired Senior Volunteers Program assist in preparing Elder Services’ direct mail appeals and ready the monthly Berkshire Senior Newspaper for circulation. The evening began with Vivian Rodowicz at the piano during cocktail hour, followed by Bill Kudlate singing “The National Anthem.” Barbara Kie, president of the board of directors, announced the “Volunteers of the Year” for each of the five volunteer programs. Executive Director, Robert P. Dean, presented awards to Wallace Boyer, ombudsman; Barbara Callahan, nutrition; Joseph Tirrell, money management; John Tufo, community service; Myrna Rosenberg, SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders). After dinner, volunteers and guests listened and danced to the the Eagles Stage Band. The 18-piece band volunteered its talents and time. The theme for this year’s event was Volunteer Energy, as demonstrated by the work of volunteers who serve over 3,000 elders monthly. Anyone interested in joining Elder Services’ team of volunteers may call 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242 and ask for Angela Fields. YMCA camps PITTSFIELD — The Pittsfield Family YMCA is accepting registration for its summer camps. Registrations can be picked up at the front desk of the YMCA. Camps include Kiddy Camp, Aqua, Adventure, Soccer, Track and Field, Sports Mania and Camp Sumner. Information: Earl Persip III, 499-7650, ext. 15. Law scholarships PITTSFIELD — Applications for law-school tuition assistance through the Anthony J. Ruberto Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Frank H.Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund are being accepted by the Berkshire Bar Association’s Scholarship Committee. Any Berkshire County resident who is enrolled in law school may apply for these scholarships. Applications may be obtained by contacting Joseph A. Pieropan, at the Berkshire district attorney’s office, 7 North St., P.O. Box 1969, Pittsfield, MA 01202-1969; telephone 443-5951. All application materials must be completed and submitted to the committee by June 25. Idol contest CHESHIRE — Over 200 people attended the first annual North Berkshire Idol Contest on Saturday, May 8, at St. Mary’s Church. Eleven people competed for the title of Junior North Berkshire Idol, and four competed for the title of Senior North Berkshire Idol. The winner in the junior category, 14-year-old Krista Duplantis of North Adams, received a perfect 10 by the panel of nine judges. She was the only contestant to receive a perfect score. She received a trophy and a $50 gift certificate to Persnickety Toys on Eagle Street, North Adams. The second-place winner was 12-year-old Kari O’Neil of North Adams, who received a $25 gift certificate to Falcetti Music. Two people tied for third place, 12-year-old Jessie Ferdinando and 12-year-old Deena Bak, both of Cheshire. Both received $20 gift certificates to Applebee’s. In the senior category, the first-place winner was Sabrina Gogan of Pittsfield. She won a $25 gift certificate to Pasta’s and a trophy. The second-place winner was Bonnie Senecal of Cheshire. She won a $25 gift certificate to Falcetti Music. Third place went to Katrina Weider of Pittsfield, who won a $20 gift certificate to Wood Brother’s Music. There were also hundreds-of-dollars worth of prizes donated by local merchants that were given out to audience members as door prizes. All of the audience members and contestants received coupons for Old Country Buffet in Pittsfield. All proceeds from the event will be used for enrichment activities for members of Girl Scout Troop 546. Federal employees PITTSFIELD — Chapter 428 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees will meet on Monday, May 24, at 1:30 p.m. in the Senior Center. Up-to-date information on legislation, health care, annuities and other issues of interest and concern to current and retired federal employees and their families will be available. Clothing drive PITTSFIELD — Over 23,000 pounds of textiles were collected countywide in April during the ninth annual Earth Day Clothing and Textile Drive coordinated by the Center for Ecological Technology, in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires. “Berkshire County residents donated over 10 tons of textiles this year, making the drive a real success, Amy Johns, CET coordinator of the drive, said in a news release. “The textile drive is becoming part of spring in the Berkshires, an event people expect. It‚’s a reminder that reusing and recycling old textiles like clothing, shoes, bedding and drapes is preferable to throwing useable goods away.” Goodwill will resell the wearable clothing at its local stores. The agency uses the collection, sorting and retail sales as job training for individuals with barriers to employment. Any clothing that cannot be sold through Goodwill stores will be sold on the textile market, made in to rags or recycled. The CET thanked Banknorth Massachusetts, Berkshire Bank and Lee Bank Pittsfield for advertising support. A number of organizations also provided donations or served as drop-off sites, including Bagels, Too on North Street, Pizza Hut on Merrill Road, BFI in Cheshire, Old Parish Church in Sheffield, the town of Washington Transfer Station, Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, Tri-Town Health Department in Lee, the Center for Environmental Studies at Williams College and the Clarksburg, Lanesboro and Lenox town halls. The CET coordinated the drive with help from Tri-Town Health Department and the Southern Berkshire Solid Waste Management District. SVC graduates BENNINGTON, Vt. — The following Berkshire County residents received bachelor’s degrees at the 2004 commencement at Southern Vermont College on Sunday, May 16. North Adams: Leon A. King, criminal justice; Tania Hernandez, criminal justice; Tanya Marie Nuvallie, liberal arts. Pittsfield: Lee W. Meisenheimer, nursing; Matthew Ortega, criminal justice. Williamstown: Paula J. Couture, gerontology; Ryan H. Dickinson, criminal justice. In addition, Dwayne E. Raimer of Williamstown received an associate’s degree in nursing, and David R. Santiago of Williamstown received an associate’s in liberal arts.
Share
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Stockbridge Grange Community Dinner

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — The Stockbridge Grange is holding a community dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, featuring spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and bread with dessert choices of chocolate cream or lemon meringue pie.
 
Dinner is $17.00 per person, take out only with 12-1:30 pm pick up at the Stockbridge Grange Hall at 51 Church Street, Stockbridge.  Orders may be made by calling 413-243-1298 or 413-443-4352. 
 
Inclement weather postpones the meal for a week.
View Full Story

More Stories

Sports
image description

Canes Reign in Division 5 Boys Basketball

Sports
Sports
image description

Hoosac Valley Boys Upset Drury in State Quarter-Finals

Sports
Sports
image description

Drury Comes Back on Hoosac Valley to Advance to State Semi-Finals

Sports
Sports
image description

Pittsfield Girls Get Back to Final Four

Sports
Sports
image description

Throwback Friday: Tonight's Hoosac-Drury Game Has Echoes of 2013

Sports
Sports
image description

Lee Girls Go 1-2-3 at Individual State Championships

Sports
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?