Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Welcomes New Board of Director Member

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local agriculture and a resilient regional food system, announced the appointment of Martha Page to its Board of Directors. 
 
With her experience in nonprofit, government, and private sector management, Martha brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to further strengthen BAV's mission and impact across the Berkshire-Taconic region. 
 
Page joins the Board following her successful tenure as the Executive Director of Hartford Food System Inc, where she spearheaded innovative initiatives to address food security, promote equitable access to nutritious food, and foster community development. Her deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the food system will be invaluable in helping guide BAV's strategic vision.
 
Throughout her career, Page has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to collaborative problem-solving. Her multi-disciplinary background has allowed her to navigate complex landscapes and build strong partnerships across sectors which will play a vital role in helping to shape BAV's initiatives.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Martha Page to the Board," Tom Gardner, Board President of BAV said.  
 
He emphasized her impressive background and steadfast commitment to enhancing food systems, which strongly resonates with BAV's mission. 
 
" Martha's extensive expertise in the government and not-for-profit sectors will help BAV foster the development of a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system within their service area."
 
Martha Page will collaborate closely with other Board members and BAV's dedicated staff to ensure that BAV continues to make a significant impact on the local agricultural communities of Berkshire, Litchfield, Columbia and Dutchess counties.
 
"I am so excited to join the Board of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, I have followed the work of this impressive organization and have been a fan for several years," Martha Page said. "What they do to ensure strong farms and food businesses in this region resonates so strongly with my ongoing commitment to help build a resilient New England food system. I look forward to working closely with Rebecca and the other Board members to promote and support the work of BAV's dedicated and talented staff!"  
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Great Barrington Public Theater Appoints Artistic Director

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Great Barrington Public Theater announced that Associate Artistic Director Judy Braha will now join Jim Frangione at the helm as Artistic Director of Great Barrington Public Theater.
 
"We at Great Barrington Public Theater are thrilled that Judy Braha will assume the role of Artistic Director alongside myself. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to help advance the interests of the theater as we move into the next phase of growth as the region's premiere developmental theater," Founder & Artistic Director Jim Frangione said. "Judy brings a tremendous amount of experience and value to our company and has, in just a few short years, grown and greatly enhanced GB Public Theater's signature program, Berkshires Voices, where playwrights develop their work, leading to public readings and in some cases workshops and full productions. I look forward to working more closely with Judy to select the next generation of plays to be presented under the GB Public banner. It's a "Bear" of a job! But we feel great about the direction of our theater."
 
Judy Braha joined the GB Public artistic leadership team in 2023 as the Associate Artistic Director after 2 years directing for the company. She has since then been collaborating with Founder and Artistic Director Jim Frangione on the selection of new work for readings and full productions in the summer season. Her impressive portfolio of credits and accomplishments strengthened Great Barrington Public's creative programming and offered new perspectives to the body of works and events produced each year. 
 
Judy Braha has been a career director, actor, teacher and artist for social justice for over four decades with directorial credits in theaters and universities throughout New England. She led the M.F.A. Directing Program at Boston University's School of Theater, retiring in 2022 after 29 years of service at BU. 
 
"Judy has the strength of commitment, leadership and passion for theater and how it affects communities that fit hand-in-glove with our founding mission and core beliefs," Founder and Producing Director Deann Halper Simmons explains. "Her artistic integrity, sense of stage esthetic and ability to make important choices that craft life from the script continues to be a great asset to our company and growth."
 
"Judy's distinguished artistic voice has significantly contributed to the exceptional growth of GB Public in recent years," Managing Director Serena Johnson added. "We are truly excited to have her stepping into this leadership role in the 2026 season."
 
 
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