BCC Announces New, Returning Staff

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of three new staff members and two staff members returning to BCC after a hiatus necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 

New to BCC  

Gabriella Martinez has joined BCC as a Clerk IV for the SUCCESS Program (Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services). A native to Berkshire County, Martinez attended American International College (AIC), where she earned her B.A. in sociology and worked in the Student Affairs Office. In her free time, Martinez enjoys hiking with her dog or doing yoga.  
 
Sean Reagan has joined the BCC Academic Advising & Transfer team as an Academic Counselor. He arrives from Holyoke Community College, where he had been teaching English and journalism for ten years. Reagan is a graduate of Saint Michael's College and Western New England University School of Law, and he also holds an M.F.A. from Goddard College. He lives in Cummington with his wife, three children, two horses and a flock of geriatric chickens. When not teaching and advising, he spends his time gardening and hiking. 
 
Ross Ryan has joined BCC as a Database Analyst. He attended New York University and Columbia College in Chicago. Ryan brings experience he gained while working at Crane & Company in Pittsfield, starting as a designer and working his way up to the positions of Senior Systems Analyst and Database Administrator. In his spare time, he enjoys writing and painting. 
 
 
Returning to BCC  
 
Eric Nystrom has returned to BCC as an Academic Success Coach through the SUCCESS grant. Nystrom has been with BCC in a variety of roles since 2005, when he started as the coordinator for the Fitness Center. He has been an adjunct faculty member and served as Interim Director of Recreation Services before assisting as Special Projects Coordinator at Paterson Field House. Nystrom graduated from Nichols College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and received his master's degree in counseling psychology. He is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. 
 
Patricia Wright has returned to BCC as a Maintainer I for Facilities in the Administration and Finance Division. Previously, she worked at BCC as a Maintainer II evening shift supervisor. Wright, who goes by "PJ" to family and friends, grew up in Sheffield, MA and currently lives in Pittsfield with her husband Lee. Her interests include reading, gardening and spending time with her dog Indy. 

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North Street Parking Study Favors Parallel Parking

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes.

The city, by request, has studied parking and bike lane opportunities for North Street and come up with the proposal staged for implementation next year. 

While the request was to evaluate angle parking configurations, it was determined that it would present too many trade-offs such as impacts on emergency services, bike lanes, and pedestrian spaces.

"The commissioner has been working with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and my office to come up with this plan," Mayor Peter Marchetti said during his biweekly television show "One Pittsfield."

"We will probably take this plan on the road to have many public input sessions and hopefully break ground sometime in the summer of 2025."

Working with Kittleson & Associates, the city evaluated existing typical sections, potential parking
configurations, and a review of parking standards. It compared front-in and back-in angle parking and explored parking-space count alterations, emergency routing, and alternate routes for passing through traffic within the framework of current infrastructure constraints.

The chosen option is said to align with the commitment to safety, inclusivity, and aesthetic appeal and offer a solution that enhances the streetscape for pedestrians, businesses, cyclists, and drivers without compromising the functionality of the corridor.

"The potential for increasing parking space is considerable; however, the implications on safety and the overall streetscape call for a balanced approach," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales wrote.

Bike lanes and parking have been a hot topic over the last few years since North Street was redesigned.

In September 2020, the city received around $239,000 in a state Shared Streets and Spaces grant to support new bike lanes, curb extensions, vehicle lane reductions, and outdoor seating areas, and enhanced intersections for better pedestrian safety and comfort.

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