BCC to Offer High Schoolers Free Communications Course

PITTSFIELD, MA — Berkshire Community College (BCC) invites Berkshire County high school students to apply for a free Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (COM-104) course and earn three credits towards their college education.

Taught by Interim Dean of Teaching and Learning Innovation Tattiya Maruco, the course will be held on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 14 and concluding Dec. 21.  The hybrid course combines in-person meetings with online coursework.

Students learn how to actively build strategies for effective interpersonal communication with a diverse audience, conflict management and self-advocacy by experimenting with language, non-verbal cues and the art of listening. Classes feature presentations, active projects, guest speakers and discussions. 

To meet eligibility, participants must be Berkshire County high school students that have a minimum 2.7 GPA or a college-level reading and writing placement by Accuplacer, an assessment test used to determine skill level in mathematics, reading and writing. While the class is open to all grades, freshmen and sophomores must placed by Accuplacer. 

The communications course is part of a larger Early College program at BCC. Eligible high school students may take up to 15?credits this fall, academic schedules permitting. Three options are offered within the program:  

• Bridge to College: Available to high school seniors only, this option offers waived tuition and fees for one course per year.  
• Concurrent: Students enroll in a high school course approved for BCC college credit. 
• Dual Enrollment: High school students enroll in a BCC college course. Normal tuition and fees are waived.  

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis?until classes begin on Sept. 6, 2022.  Early registration is recommended as class sizes are limited. For more information, including helpful webinars, resources and how to apply, visit?www.berkshirecc.edu/early-college. 

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.