Shakespeare & Company welcomes Janet Egelhofer as Director of Development

10:04AM / Monday, May 07, 2007Print Story | Email Story

Lenox, MA - As the company gears up for its 30th Anniversary season, Shakespeare & Company's Executive Director Mark W. Jones, and Artistic Director Tina Packer welcome Janet Egelhofer as the Company's new Director of Development. Ms. Egelhofer replaces former Development Director Susan Bronson who stepped down earlier this year. S&Co opens the summer season May 25th with Tom Stoppard's comedy Rough Crossing directed by Kevin G. Coleman. Please call the box office at 413-637-3353, or visit www.shakespeare.org for tickets or to request a season brochure. Ms. Egelhofer comes to Shakespeare & Company from The Williston Northampton School where she worked since 1994, first as the Director of Parent Leadership Giving and Parent Relations, then as the Director of the Annual Fund which saw an increase in giving from $575,000 to $1.2 million over four years. During her recent tenure as Senior Major Gifts Officer, the school began a five-year $36 million endowment campaign, the first the school had undertaken. She traveled the country meeting Williston alumni, parents and friends of the school raising awareness and cultivating their interest in the campaign. In previous years, she also held positions at The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Brown University and The Boston Consulting Group Inc. in fundraising, communications, public relations, volunteer management and event planning. "We are extremely pleased to have Janet on-board with us," said Jones. "Tina, our Board of Directors and key staff members invested a considerable amount of time and energy in finding exactly the right person for this position, and I know that I speak on behalf of the entire Company when I say that we have found the perfect match. It was a unanimous decision to bring Janet on board, and it is particularly heartening that she has been a long-time supporter and friend of Shakespeare & Company." From 1989 to 1994, in the years prior to the explosion of the internet, Janet owned and operated Janet Egelhofer Rare Books. She enjoyed hunting though old barns and antique markets for unique finds and participating in large book fairs like NYC's New York is Book Country each September. Her background also includes a long history of volunteerism near her primary residence in Holyoke, including The Junior League, The YMCA, The United Way, The League of Women Voters, The Children's Museum, The Holyoke Public Library, The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and Providence Ministries for the Needy. Janet and her husband John have two children who live in New York City. "Janet comes to us at a time when we are about to embark on some exciting changes, challenges and growth for the organization," says Packer. "How delightful it is for us to have someone with Janet's fundraising experience who also has a passion for Shakespeare, literature, education and community." In order to take better advantage of the exciting arts offerings in the Berkshires, the Egelhofer's recently purchased a second home in Winden Hill on Old Stockbridge Road. Shortly after, she heard about the opening at Shakespeare & Company: "When I accepted the position, the response from many of my friends was, but you've been saying for years that that's your dream job! And it is, says Egelhofer. "I am delighted to be living my dream here in this exciting, vibrant organization as it Celebrates the Dream on its 30th Anniversary, bringing first rate performance and education programs to admiring fans, such as myself."

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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