BCC Announces Workforce and Community Education Workshops

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Workforce and Community Education department continues to expand its, affordable personal enrichment and professional development
workshops and courses, announcing new offerings for the spring 2025 semester.  
 
"Our Workforce and Community Education department is constantly creating and growing partnerships in the Berkshires. Local employers know they can count on us for training the workforce in
a multitude of career areas, and we welcome the community to partake in our many workshops and classes," said Linda Morelli, Workshop Manager, Workforce and Community Education. "We're excited to offer a whole new slate of opportunities this spring." 
 
With a mission of helping people succeed in the Berkshire County job market, the Workforce and Community Education department offers a wide range of programs, workshops and services designed
to meet the needs of job seekers, career changers and employers. Workforce training areas include healthcare and social services courses for certified nursing assistants, community health workers, substance abuse counselors, emergency medical technicians,
phlebotomy technicians and more.  
 
Online classes are offered for certified paralegals, human resources professionals, HVAC/R technicians and professional bookkeepers, while corporate solutions training workshops are available for area employers. 
 
Upcoming personal enrichment courses, listed below, are centered around four core areas: healthcare, personal growth, art and youth. Further details, including course descriptions and locations, will be announced at a later date. 
 
Healthcare: 
  • Reiki for Healthcare, Level 1: Tuesdays, January 28 and February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Reiki for Healthcare, Level 2: Tuesdays, February 18 and 25, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Body's Blueprint for Orthopedic Massage Techniques, Class 1: Unlocking Mobility for the Hip and Abdomen: Saturday, March 22, 9 am-3 pm 
  • Body's Blueprint for Orthopedic Massage Techniques, Class 2: Lumbar Regions and Addressing Common Issues in the Leg, Knee, Ankle and Foot: Sunday, March 23, 9 am-3 pm 
 
Personal growth: 
  • Developing Intuition: Tuesday, February 11, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Exploring Tai Chi and Qigong: Weekly on Tuesdays, February 18 – March 25, 3:15-4:15 pm   
  • Unpack Your Life: Mastering the Art of Decluttering: Saturdays, April 26 and May 10, 10-11 am 
 
Professional development: 
  • Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Training, Session 1: Weekly on Tuesdays, January 21 – March 4, 6-9:30 pm 
  • Exploring the Entrepreneurial Journey:  How to Start and Run Your Own Business: Weekly on Tuesdays, February 4-25, 5:30-7 pm 
  • Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Training, Session 2: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 1 – May 13, 6-9:30 pm 
Art: 
  • Create A Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone: Saturday, April 5, 10 am-1 pm  
  • Tree Painting Class: Saturday, April 5, 12-3 pm 
  • Create Your Own Mosaic Plant Stand: Wednesday, April 16, 5:30-8:30 pm 
  • Learn to Draw: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 29 – May 20, 6-7:30 pm 
Youth: 
  • BCC's After School Dungeons & Dragons Program: Weekly on Wednesdays, February 26 – April 30, 4-6 pm 
  • Financial Fitness:  A Teen's Guide to Budgeting, Security, and Smart Money Habits: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 29 – May 13, 4-5:30 pm 

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Letter: Pittsfield Court Injustices Against Seniors

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The Foundation: A Lifetime of Integrity

For over 45 years, I have been a fixture of the Berkshire community. As a professional house painter, I helped maintain the homes of this county; as a self-taught artist and photographer, I contributed to its culture. In the 1970s, my work was exhibited at the Berkshire Museum, where I earned multiple ribbons for my photography.

The Shattered Sanctuary

My retirement in a Section 8-assisted apartment was meant to be my creative peak. For six years, I lived in peace and maintained a friendship with my landlord. That changed in July 2024, when a new tenant and her adult son moved into the unit directly above mine. The son, who had recently completed a four-year prison sentence for robbery, was under house arrest for months.

The noise from above became unbearable, making my creative work and daily life impossible. These neighbors show a complete lack of consideration for others and disregard the basic ethical standards necessary to live harmoniously within a community.

The Weaponization of the Law

Left with no protection from the landlord or the Housing Authority, I was forced to defend my living space. This tension allowed the plaintiffs to weaponize the legal system. The plaintiff’s son successfully petitioned for a restraining order against me. To prevent the order from being dismissed in late December, he fabricated a new allegation: He claimed I was "following him" in my vehicle.

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