BCC Announces Workforce and Community Education Workshops

08:17AM / Tuesday, December 03, 2024Print Story | Email Story

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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Berkshire Law Enforcement Officials Endorse Fenton for Governor's Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:11PM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Michael Fenton, a Springfield attorney, ran unsuccessfully for the 8th District seat on the council in 2022. He is challenging incumbent Tara Jacobs of North Adams.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ranking Berkshire law enforcement officials are putting their weight behind a Springfield lawyer for Governor's Council in the September Democratic primary over North Adams incumbent Tara Jacobs.

The Berkshires' District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, Sheriff Thomas Bowler, and Clerk of Courts Lisa Denault-Viale touted Michael Fenton's experience and approach over Jacobs, who bested him and two other attorneys in 2022.

The Governor's Council advises the governor on matters relating to judicial appointments, treasury warrants, pardons and commutations, and a number of other important executive functions. The winner of the primary will represent the 8th District, which covers more than 100 cities and towns including North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Northampton and Springfield, as there is no other candidate on the November ballot.

Gathering at Park Square on Wednesday morning, Shugrue said Jacobs does not provide the representation Berkshire County requires and deserves.

"This individual [Fenton] would conduct himself with a great deal of common sense and confidence," Bowler said.

Fenton said there are only 11 Superior Court judges assigned to Western Mass, and that too few of them are from Berkshire County.

"At one time there were four vacancies. That left only seven judges serving the entire 102 cities and towns of the western region. Seven judges serving 102 cities and towns at a time when you add Hampden County, Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee in, at a time when there were over 100 pending murder cases. Seven judges for 100 pending murder cases," he said.

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