Mildred Elley Pittsfield Moving to New Campus in 2013

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mildred Elley Pittsfield is one of the first new tenants of the former KB Toys building at 100 West St.  

The career-training school announced on Thursday during an event for faculty, staff, students and community partners that it is relocating its campus by early 2013. The move is not expected to affect the current class schedule and officials said it "will be seamless for all students."
 
"This is a win-win situation for both our students and the community, said Faith Takes, president of Empire Education Corp. and Mildred Elley. "This will allow us to expand our campus and provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for our students. This relocation will also assist in the revitalization of the downtown Pittsfield corridor. Our students, staff and faculty will be spending money downtown which will provide an economic boost to the downtown businesses."

Mildred Elley Pittsfield and its more than 200 students are currently located at St. Luke's Square, a plaza at the corner of Elm and East Main Street. The KB building, vacant since the company went under, was purchased by Laurin Publishing in April.
 
"We are extremely excited about this upcoming move," said Lori Houlihan, campus president of Mildred Elley Pittsfield. "The building will have new medical labs, a model day-care room, and updated facilities to meet the needs of our students. This is a time of growth and opportunity for our campus and our students and we are so pleased to be a part of providing a quality education to individuals in the Berkshire community."
 
Mildred Elley was founded in 1991, renting space in St. Mark's School, and had worked in conjunction with the Berkshire Training and Employment Program (now BerkshireWorks) to establish a medical assisting program for displaced workers. The Pittsfield campus opened its doors with 30 students. Today, it offers nine programs in six academic areas. Students from the Pittsfield campus are also eligible to transfer to the Albany campus to earn associate's degrees.
Tags: relocation,   workforce training,   

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 
 
Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.
 
Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.
 
"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."
 
The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.
 
"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.
 
She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.
 
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