image description

Berkshire Running Foundation Announces 2025 Race Calendar

Community submissionPrint Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire Running Foundation recently announced a year-long schedule of races and community engagement.
 
The season kicks off with the MCLA Sam Gomez 5K on Sunday, April 6.
 
“The Berkshire Running Foundation is thrilled to be working with the community partners, MountainOne, Berkshire Health Systems, Spectrum Health and many other local organizations to bring these new and classic events to the Berkshires," Executive Director Shiobbean Lemme said. "The impact the running community makes in the Berkshires continues to grow each year, with our work in since 2011 donating over $330,000 to nonprofits in the Berkshires. We are energized at the community growth and passion for these events.” 
 
All registration information is available on the Race Calendar page of the Berkshire Running Center website Race Calendar.
 
April
MCLA Sam Gomez 5K, April 6
Puddle Jumper 5K for Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, April 12
 
May
May Day Races for the CRA, Nessacus Middle School, Dalton, May 4
Mother's Day Race, BCC, May 11, 2025
MountainOne Steel Rail Race Weekend, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, May 17-18
Memorial Day 5K with the Lee Lions Club, May 26
 
June
Berkshire Pride 2nd Annual 5K, June 1
Gould Farm 5K, June 1
Branches 5K Walk/Run, June 8
Wild Thing 5K/10K, June 14
 
July
Independence Day 5K, July 4
High Lawn Farm 5K, July 27
 
August
Pedal and Plod Biathlon, Aug. 3
Greylock 8 Mile Road Race, Aug. 31
 
September
Spectrum Health’s FIR 5K, Sept. 21
 
October
BCC Harvest Run, Oct. 18
Red Lion Inn’s Roaring 5K, Oct. 26
 
November
Soldier On 5K, Nov. 9
MountainOne Thankful 5K, Nov. 27
 
December
Jingle Bell Run, Dec. 20
 
Berkshire Running Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to promote and support the positive impact the running community makes in the neighborhoods in which we live. For more information contact Lemme at director@berkshrierun.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hot plate Brewing Co. on Becoming Top 3 Best New Brewery

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Hot Plate is located at 1 School St. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hot Plate Brewing Co. was recently recognized as No. 3 in USA Today's list of  "Best New Brewery."
 
A panel of beer experts selected their top picks and then readers cast their votes to determine the "10 Best" breweries founded since 2022, according to the publication. No. 1 was Frazier Creek Brewing & Distilling Co. in Stuart, Fla.
 
Hot Plate, which opened in 2023, is owned by couple Sarah Real and Mike Dell'Aquila.
 
"I started home brewing first, Sarah was just much better at it than me," Dell'Aquila laughed. He got a home brewing kit in 2013 and a couple of years later Real decided to try and brew as well.
 
"Hot Plate was sort of born when we were living in Brooklyn and the city came and turned off the gas in our condo building because there had been a code violation so that meant no heat, no hot water, no functioning stove," he said. "But Sarah had already decided that she really wanted to pursue this."
 
Real bought a hot plate to start brewing, a hot plate that is hanging up at their brewery today. 
 
Dell'Aquila said he wanted to change the industry through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories