Berkshire Athenaeum's Employee Earns Mass History Alliance Award

08:13AM / Wednesday, June 15, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts History Alliance has awarded Ann- Marie Harris, a longtime staffer in the Berkshire Athenaeum's Local History Department, with its STAR Award.

The Mass History Alliance, which recognizes excellence in local and public history in Massachusetts, designates the award to specifically honor a "long-term commitment, outstanding work with concrete results, exemplary innovation, local leadership for change, and contributions to equity and justice," according to a press release.

Harris, who has been a full-time staff member since 2003, received the award at the organization's conference held in June.

During her tenure, Harris has become a partner of the Berkshire Family History Association, including welcoming volunteers and over 80,000 rolls of microfilm during the library's integration of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) archives.

Library Director Alex Reczkowski said the award was a fitting recognition for Harris' comprehensive service.

"Ann-Marie's expertise is far-reaching. She has long been an expert on digital microfilm machines, even serving as an early tester for ScanPro, an industry leader," said Reczkowski, of Harris, who's also a lifelong resident of Pittsfield. "Her passion for sharing what she knows has shown in her coordination of annual third grade classroom visits to the library and previous service on the district board of the Boy Scouts of America. Her service continues as a current member of the Pittsfield Historical Commission. The Athenaeum is proud to have their 'STAR' recognized."

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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