NBCC Hosts A Twelve Week Financial Literacy Program

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) is partnering with the nonprofit, Women's Money Matters, to present a twelve week, in depth series focused on empowering women through financial wellness. 
 
Women's Money Matters helps women regain control of their finances, reduce financial anxiety, increase economic self-sufficiency and transform their lives by teaching core money management skills. They serve women over the age of 14 who are living on low-incomes, many in transitional housing. Their programs are for cis and trans women, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women.
 
This twelve week series is targeted specifically to women with a series of weekly workshops starting April 26, 2023. These workshops will take place every Wednesday evening from 6:00pm to approximately 7:30pm at the UNO Community Center, located at 157 River Street.
 
One unique aspect of the Women's Money Matter program is that each participant is matched with their own personal volunteer coach. Coaches and participants attend workshops together, and coaches and participants also meet in between workshops to work on the participants personal financial goals. The workshops are interactive and include guest presenters.
 
This program uses community based learning where all participants are encouraged to share ideas and experiences. There will be interactive exercises with both small group and paired breakouts, plus guest presenters from financial institutions to answer tough questions from the group. No two workshops are alike. 
 
Registration for the series is available online at: https://www.tfaforms.com/4849798?tfa_2869=a0O8Y000019hmMV&tfa_2881=tfa_2882
 
Those interested in volunteering as a coach or presenter in this series, please reach out to Berny Lugo at blugo@womensmoneymatters.org.  Training is provided.
 
For more information or to register for this program, please reach out to our office by calling 413-663-7588 or by emailing Nancy Kennedy at nkennedy@nbccoalition.org

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North Adams Police Charge 7 After Drug Investigation

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police charged seven people after executing simultaneous search warrants on Eagle Street and Arnold Place.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, members of the North Adams Police Department Detective Unit and Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3 and 59 Arnold Place.

According to police, the search warrants were the result of a month-long investigation into a group of people from Springfield utilizing both residences as part of their heroin and cocaine distribution operation.

Police reported that during the search warrant execution at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3, Giovanni Ramirez was taken into custody. Joanne Bentley and Chad Luczynski were also located in the apartment and will be charged as part of this investigation.

During the search warrant execution at 59 Arnold Place, Sandra Bunt, Raven Vanderburg, Jaiden Langford-Andrews and Angel Ortiz were all taken into custody.

Bunt's bail was revoked on a separate open case, and she is held without bail. Vanderburg is being held without bail for a probation violation on a separate case.

Langford-Andrews, Ortiz and Ramirez were all held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for later this week and early next week.

As a result of the investigation, the following evidence was seized:

  • Approximately 110 grams of cocaine
  • Approximately 2,323 bags of heroin (46 grams)
  • Approximately $6,817 U.S. Currency
  • Multiple functioning digital scales with residue

The following people were arrested and charged with the following:

Jaiden Langford-Andrews of Springfield:

  • Arrest Warrant
  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Angel Ortiz, of Springfield:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy
  • Giovanni Ramirez, of Springfield, Massachusetts:
  • Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 grams
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin
  • Conspiracy

Sandra Bunt, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

Raven Vanderburg, of North Adams:

  • Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
  • Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
  • Conspiracy

The following people were charged but not taken into custody:

Joanne Bentley of North Adams:

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