Women of Color Giving Circle Annual Graduates Recognition Event

08:17AM / Wednesday, May 17, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires, in collaboration with the NAACP – Berkshire County Branch, St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 10, will host the 21st annual Graduates Recognition Event at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20 at Berkshire Community College, 1350 West. St., Pittsfield.

The event will be held in the Connector building.

The event, which is free and open to the public, recognizes Berkshire County high school graduates of African descent. Each student will receive a financial gift toward their academic pursuits.

Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, Sen. Paul Marks, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Ellen Kennedy, president of BCC, are among the invited guests who will share greetings with the graduates.

The keynote speaker will be Roberta McCulloch-Dews, vice president of marketing at Greylock Federal Credit Union. McCulloch-Dews is also a member of the Giving Circle and a youth mentor with the Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (R.O.P.E.).

The event will also feature a piano selection from Zoey Brizan and a solo from Abigail Percy, scholars with R.O.P.E.

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Berkshire Vietnam Veterans Receive Long-Awaited Welcome Home

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
04:52AM / Wednesday, September 16, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds gathered at the fence of Pittsfield Municipal Airport to give Berkshire County Vietnam veterans the warm welcome home they did not receive nearly 60 years ago.

As the sun rose high over the Berkshire Mountains, nearly a dozen veterans hopped on a small chartered jet to Washington, D.C., where they were able to visit their fallen comrades at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The daylong trip, organized by William "Smitty" Pignatelli, former state representative, marked the first Honor Flight for veterans departing from Pittsfield Municipal Airport.

"It was very emotional because we have friends on the wall that we had a chance to go back and do a little bit more closure," Air Force veteran Lenwood "Woody" Vaspra said.

As the veterans returned home after the "emotional trip" they were greeted with patriotic tunes performed by Lenox High School Band, and a wave of community members, including some family members, clapping and screaming out their names. For some, the sight brought tears to their eyes.

The evening ended with a moment of unity as Laurie Schiff performed "God Bless America" a cappella. Community members joined hands and added their voices to hers, bringing the homecoming ceremony to a close.

The day was filled with several phases of surprises, Pignatelli said, from being greeted by Congressman Richard Neal at the memorial wall to being gifted tribute bags at the welcome home ceremony.

"In honor of each of these gentlemen, a U.S. flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol in their honor," Pignatelli said.

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