Monument To Honor Fallen Berkshire Veterans and Families

07:47AM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025Print Story | Email Story

LENOX, Mass. — A committee of former soldiers, Gold Star family members, and former State Representative William "Smitty" Pignatelli is working to establish a monument in Lenox to honor fallen Berkshire County veterans and their families.

"Currently, Fall River is the only community in Massachusetts with a Gold Star memorial. Together we can bring this meaningful commemoration to the Berkshires, ensuring that our community has a sacred space to honor and remember the incredible sacrifices of our heroes and their families," said Smitty Pignatelli.

The monument is intended to recognize the sacrifices of both the veterans and their families. In partnership with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, the Gold Star Families Monument project has raised $120,000 toward its $175,000 goal. The $175,000 goal will cover the monument's creation, landscaping, lighting, and engraving.

Donations can be made at npcberkshires.org.

The Gold Star designation dates back to World War I when families displayed small banners with either a blue or gold star. After World War II, Congress passed an act establishing the Gold Star Lapel Button to identify widows and parents of members of the armed forces who lost their lives in service.

"The wounds of war extend far beyond those experienced by the individual service members. They extend deep into the hearts and souls of the families left behind," said Marie T. Field, Brigadier General (retired), Massachusetts Air Nation Guard. "The pain of uncertainty, the overwhelming sense of helplessness and the longing for answers, for closure, can haunt families for decades beyond their losses. A memorial can bring peace and resolution to Berkshire County Gold Star Families."

The monument will be located in Lenox, with a projected unveiling in October, 2025

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Great Barrington Public Theater Appoints Artistic Director

09:57AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

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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