EforAll Berkshire County Fall 2021 Cohort

04:33PM / Thursday, September 02, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County announced the 13 business ideas chosen to participate in the Fall 2021 Business Accelerator program which begins the week of Sept. 13, 2021.

These 13 businesses (14 individuals) represent a wide array of ideas and come from a broad swath of the region:

Alisa Costa/Pittsfield: Orchard Engagement
Anneice Cousin/Hudson, NY: Beautiful Racket
Genesis Rivera & Talya Taliaferro/Pittsfield: TG's Clubhouse
Kira Smith/Dalton: Shire Alchemy
Marlee Tyska/Pittsfield: Berkshire GreenLeaf & Wellness, LLC
Mary Stucklen/Hinsdale: Tommy's Compost Service
Maya Richards/Pittsfield: Little Wing Wellness
McKenna Burzimati/North Adams: Roxie's Barkery
Michael Dell'Aquila/Pittsfield: Hot Plate Brewing
Paula Buxbaum/North Adams: Bux Vintage
Susan Slack/Pittsfield: Sewing Business TBA
Travis Toole/Windsor: Build With Nature
Trevor Daniels/Pittsfield: Winter Games/Cookout

This will be the fourth Business Accelerator for EforAll's Berkshire County site, with 36 entrepreneurs already “launched” through the three previous cohorts. This new class of 13 will meet twice per week for business education and will be matched to three mentors each---a total of 39 volunteers from the community who will work with them for the duration of the program.

The classes and mentoring will be held virtually over Zoom for the most part, with the hope of doing the final presentations and gala in person, health conditions permitting.

The public will be invited in December to the Gala and Showcase at the Berkshire Innovation Center at the conclusion of the 12-week intensive program.

Tags: entrepreneurs,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

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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