Pittsfield Co-op Named one of Fast 50 Banks

08:49AM / Saturday, September 03, 2022Print Story | Email Story

The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has been named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Commercial Lenders in Massachusetts and the first of all banks headquartered in the Berkshires.

The Fast 50 is compiled from data collected by the Warren Group, publisher of The Banker & Tradesman magazine. The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank is on the list of the 50 fastest growing lenders for the first six months of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021.

"it’s an honor to be recognized among the state’s premier commercial lenders by an organization as respected within the industry as Banker & Tradesman,” said J. Jay Anderson, President and CEO of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. "Small businesses and small banks compete daily with well-financed rivals that have more resources to spend across the board. We focus on what we do best, building relationships and we believe that this is a key differentiator for our customer."

The Bank ranked sixth in the number of Commercial Loans and ninth in Commercial Loan Volume.

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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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