Nominations Sought For Fall Neighborlies

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is accepting nominations for the Fall Neighborlies, a community recognition award night. The Neighborlies will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. at the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, located at 53 Lois St.
 
The nbCC's Northern Berkshire Neighbors welcomes residents to consider people of all ages who performed acts of kindness or made a positive difference in their lives, in their neighborhoods or in their community. Anyone may nominate individuals or groups in one or more of the following categories: neighborly acts, young people taking the lead, business/agency support, or groups pulling together on a project.
 
You may nominate a person or group through the nbCC website. Applications can also be picked up and mailed to the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Office at 61 Main St., Suite 218, North Adams, MA, 01247. Nominations can also be called in to 413-663-7588 or emailed to arodgers@nbccoalition.org. Send the name(s), address and phone and email of those nominated and those making the nomination, indication of the category and a brief description of the reason. 
 
Each nominee will receive an invitation to the event, where Mayor Richard Alcombright and Coalition staff will present certificates of appreciation. This is a great way to thank individuals who help make a positive difference and honor the ordinary acts of kindness and cooperation that happen every day in our communities. Nominations will be accepted through Octo. 15. 
 
For more information, call the Coalition at 413-663-7588.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

'Into Light': Addressing Addiction One Portrait at a Time

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The "Into Light" exhibit is sketching a new path toward transforming the conversation around addiction — one portrait and story at a time. 
 
Since 2019, the nonprofit's founder Theresa Clower has put on close to 21 exhibitions around the country, sharing the stories of more than 600 people who have lost their lives to addiction. 
 
Now, the installation will be on view at Hotel Downstreet from Friday, March 13, through June 30, featuring 10 portraits of local community members who died from addiction and 20 portraits from the eastern Massachusetts exhibit. 
 
This collaborative effort combines municipal opioid settlement funds and lead sponsor Berkshire Health Systems, in collaboration with the Northern Berkshire Opioid Abatement Collaborative, HEAL Coalition, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and North Adams Regional Hospital.
 
In addition to the installation, the team has developed programs and forums to be held throughout the three months to start a conversation and improve education on the disease. 
 
"The core to our efforts around 'Into Light' is the community education, especially building on people's awareness of addiction as a disease and as a disease that is curable," said Andy Ottoson, BRPC senior public health planner. 
 
Ottoson stressed the importance of treating substance use disorder like any other disease, reducing stigma, and normalizing open conversations around addiction and the resources out there to help recover.
 
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