Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Awards $257,175 in Scholarships

SHEFFIELD, Mass.—The Board of Directors of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced that 32 scholarship funds for Berkshire County students have awarded a total of $257,175 in scholarships for the 2015-2016 academic year.

For specific schools and school districts:

Charles and Elinore Agar Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain): Terrance W. Powell; Caligari Family Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain): Audriana Esperat; Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid (Central Berkshire Regional School District) Year 1: Marco Vincent Anastasio, Eric Archambault, Sarah Elizabeth Bachli, Kevin Ronald Boino, Matthew Bourdon, Rachel Marie Burgess, Nicholas John Clayton, Courtney Jean Corbett, Jamie E. Downer, Jonathan Andrew Downs, Kaitlyn Dumas, Sarah Marie Duquette, Sarah Elizabeth Friedman, Sara Elizabeth Hopper, Nicholas Jamrog, Bryanah Haeleigh Johnson, Eric Michael Klem, Andrew J. Kowalczyk, Bridget Lussier, Ryan Daniel McMahon, Collin Michael Parrott, Lindsay Perrea, Sean Norman Peters, Taylor Renee Powers, Ryan Joseph Psutka, Faith Anne Pudlo, Jeffrey Alan Pullano, Dorianna Wendell Reardon, Sheridan Robinson, Dakota Austin Sprague, Maddie Sprague, Victoria Vreeland and Michael J. Wagner; Renewals: Timothy Bachli, Kelley Brennan, Rachel Brennan, Mitchell Chapman, Catherine Cherry, Eleanor Cherry, Austin Cooney, Tiffany Corbett, Anthony Delmolino, Joseph DiMassimo, Taylor Van Dyke, Logan Gresser, Eric Grogan, Lane Grogan, McKenzie Harrington, Jenna Harris, Brianna Holsborg, Kate Hopper, Nathan Ivanowsky, Patrick Jamross, Trevor Jamross, Samantha Keller, Elizabeth Kowalczyk, Amanda McLeod, Kristina Miller, Kyle Miller, Theresa Miller, Divya Muruga, Shivaram Muruga, Marion O’Brien, Ellen Ross, Justin Schnopp, Shannon Steele, Kayla Stergis, Daniel White and Kelcie Yarmey; Winthrop Crane Fund for Graduate Student Aid (Central Berkshire Regional School District): Adam Blefari, Elizabeth Corley, Aliah Currey and Jordan Schnopp; J. Edward Dery Scholarship Fund (Pittsfield): Dina Bilotta; The Honorable James P. Dohoney Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain, Mount Everett, Lenox or Lee): James Allentuck, Haley Barbieri, Charlotte Cahillane, Cassandra Case, Adam Derwitsch, Katherine Donovan, Henri Morrison, Ava Naylor, Matas Rudzinskas, Alexandra Springstube, Alexandria Summers and Kristin Wolfe; Dana Labbee Scholarship Fund (Hoosac Valley High School): Travis Ciempa; Guido Masiero Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain and Manchester Essex): Emily Jaworski and Alexandra Summers; Louis N. Massery PHS Scholarship Fund (Pittsfield High School): Taylor Patti; C.M. Owens Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain): Audriana Esperat; Daniel and Evelyn Smith Scholarship Fund (Sutton Memorial High School): Virginia Santee; Waterman and Remillard Scholarship Fund (Drury High School): Christa Sprague; Williams Academy Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain): Sophia Danyluk and Duncan Jenny; Williams High School Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain): Cam Black, Emma Carchedi, Owen Hunter and Alexandra Springstube.

For residents of specific towns or regions:

William and Margery Barrett Scholarship Fund (Adams, Cheshire or Savoy): Daniel Butler, Austin Milesi, and Sean Ryan-Kut; Nicholas Boraski Family Scholarship Fund (Berkshire County): Kiana Estime and Cam Powell; Housatonic School Scholarship Fund (Housatonic): Haley Barbieri, Katrina Fitzpatrick, Caroline Raifstanger, John Ryan and Timothy Shumsky; McLaughlin-Wilson Scholarship Fund (Monterey): Kelsey Alcantara, James Allentuck, Molly Amstead, Lauren Andrus, Cassandra Case, Eloisa Dean, Laura Dinan, Jason Duryea, Jacob Edelman, Katrina Fitzpatrick, Gabriella Makuc, Joseph Makuc, Ezra Marcus, Bruce McAlister, Sheridan McAlister, Judah Piepho, Emily Shaw and Leah Weisgal; Myrtle and Raymond Mercier Scholarship Award (Stockbridge): Maria Colli; Emma Miller Scholarship Fund (Adams, Cheshire or Savoy): Dylan Quinn; Antonio and Antoinette Pieropan Scholarship Fund (Stockbridge or West Stockbridge): Aaron Norton and Alexandria Summers; William Stanley Scholarship Fund (Berkshire County): Zoe Borden, Judah Piepho and Grace Singleton.

Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds. 

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer. 

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said. 

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward." 

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio. 

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units.  A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched. 

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.  

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant.