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Jacqueline Sciola: 'Heart and Soul' of BHS Endoscopy Unit

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting colonoscopy screening, which can help to prevent colon cancer or to catch it early when it is most treatable.
 
At Berkshire Medical Center, the heart and soul of the Endoscopy Unit is Jacqueline Sciola, RN, who has worked there since 1985 and who, according to Gastroenterology Division Chief Jason Bratcher, MD, "has done basically every job in the unit."
 
Jackie Sciola was honored recently with the inaugural BMC Endoscopy Recognition Award, for her decades of service and community promotion of the importance of screening colonoscopy and endoscopic care.
 
In 2021, the BMC Endoscopy Units at the main hospital and the North Adams Campus of BMC provided over 9,500 endoscopies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"Without Jackie, we could not have weathered the pandemic we are currently experiencing. She is the glue that keeps us together and deserves enormous recognition," Dr. Bratcher said. "She is an amazing leader and has the respect of everyone she works with, is always ready to pitch in and help out, and above all, she is one of the kindest people I have ever met, always willing to provide a helping hand or an ear to listen."
 
Jackie would also remind our community that screening colonoscopy is recommended for those who are 45 and older if at average risk of colon cancer, and earlier if higher risk. Talk with your primary care physician and schedule your screening if you are due. Colonoscopy saves lives.




Tags: BHS,   BMC,   


Score! Pittsfield's 'Mini-Pitch' is Ready for Goals

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city now has a "mini-pitch" soccer field at Crane Park, placed over the longtime rink that had seen better days. 

"I think it's a real improvement," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said, pointing to social media comments believing the city took away inline skating. 

"Well, we didn't do that. The surface can accept rollerblades.  In fact, as soon as this was constructed and we sort of said it's open, the first one to show up was a gentleman with rollerblades and a hockey stick. He skated around and loved it." 

The Parks Commission saw pictures of the completed field on Tuesday. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer worked with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The project was funded entirely by grants.  In June, the City Council accepted the gift of a "mini-pitch" facility, valued at over $100,000, and $10,000 from the Mill Town Foundation to ready the site.  

Boards framing the former rink were removed, and this system was installed in a couple of days about a week and a half ago.  The mini-pitch's click-together sports tile floor is bordered by a galvanized steel system with two goals, benches, and storage containers. 

"Folks can really play lacrosse in there; they can play in-line hockey in there, and of course soccer is ready to go as well," McGrath said. 

"We're trying to continue with this multi-sport approach here at this park, but with a much upgraded piece of infrastructure going behind it." 

The mini pitch system came with a light tower and two LED lamps, but Crane Park does not have power, and it won't be illuminated. 

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