BCC Students to be Honored at Convocation Reception

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College will recognize the academic achievement of 129 students during an Honors Convocation reception on Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Robert Boland Theatre of the Koussevitzky Arts Center on the College’s main campus.

Each honored student ranks in the top 5 percent of the college with a grade point average of 3.75 or better in courses totaling at least 12 credits. Comments and congratulations will be offered by Ellen Kennedy, BCC president, and Frances Feinerman, the college’s vice president for academic affairs. Christine Adams, professor of English, will serve as keynote speaker during the ceremony.

Honored students and their hometown include the following:

Massachusetts

Adams: Stacy Kolis, Virginia Sowers, Vanessa Torchia and Susan Vincent.

Ashley Falls: Joyce Schneider.

Becket: Kaila Arsenault and Christian Rokosz.

Clarksburg: Paul Ethier, Cynthia Schock and Sarah Underwood.

Dalton: Bridget Donovan, Tyler Hastings, John Jensen, Amber Kasala, Mark Newsome, India Waitt and Sherry Zink.

Great Barrington: Emma Bryce, Colleen Fernbacher, Parkpoom Seesangrit, Anthony Swenson and Helen Vanam.

Hinsdale: Tami Maddocks, Lee McCasland, Kaleigh McLellan, Amos Pike and Dianne Wieland.

Housatonic: James O'Connor and Kate Olds.

Interlaken: Sandra Haywood.

Lanesboro: Dominica D'Avella, Michael D'Avella, Victoria Nichols and Joanne Rosier.

Lee: Malcolm Chisholm, Brittany DelGrande, Mary Doherty, Julia Gallagher Stickney, Colleen Jones and Carol Rauch.

Lenox: Natasha Anderson, Brittany Hadfield, Elisa Henderson, Karis Howes and Mitchell McCue.

Lenoxdale: Shelby Meyers.

North Adams: Amanda Belanger, Misty Cooper, Patricia Johnston, Rebecca Patterson, Brenda Piantoni and Catherine Piechowski.

Otis: Linda Fitzgerald and Cynthia Paterson.

Pittsfield: Lauren Albano, Justin Allen, Rebecca Amuso, Alexander Bassett, Rachel Bigelow, Katherine Carman, Aubrey Casella, Jaimie Codding, Katherine Coscia, Jerrid Coty, William Dewhirst, Lindsay Dewinkeleer, Paul Dupuis, Jr., D. Erik Forsberg, Sanah Fouz, Rachelann Friederick, Emily Graham, Jacquelyn Graves, Amanda Hall-Corio, Christian Halley, Timothy Helmer, Diana Hurley, Alexandria Jackson, Heather Jones, Jahn Kefa, Kimberly Kirchner, Noah Kirkman, Renata Kogut, James Koomson, Jessica LeClair, George Leibinger, Tammara Leminen, Paul Lisi, Jr., Nicole Lowery, Lucas Mancari, Kaylee Maynard, Gordon McKennerney, Christopher McLaren, Jennifer McNulty, Judith McNutt, Alzie Mercado, Jennifer Mercier, Shayla Moquin, Janet Notarfrancesco, Michelle O'Boyle, Rebecca Polo, Shaun Reagan, Janet Richardson, Alan Robinette, Sarah Sacchetti, Martha Seiger, Tabitha Shank, Kristofer Soberano, Emily Thomson, Julia Turner, Nicole Viale and Kristen Wichmann.

Richmond: R. Topaz Ross Kelso.

Sandisfield: William deManbey and Elizabeth Vaughan.

Savoy: Tais Keels.

Sheffield: Riva Rischner.

Stockbridge: Xavier Domjan, Jessica Grover and Elizabeth Skakel.

Williamstown: Sharon Dunn.

Windsor: Courtney Rousseau and Kimberley Tuck.

New York

Cohoes: Sara Gifford.

East Chatham: Dennis Gawron.

Owego: Geoffrey Watson.

Stephentown: Alan Eckhardt and Leilani Hover.

Vermont

Bennington: Carl King.

Stamford: Rebecca Gamari.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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