BCC to Host Women's Volleyball Letter of Intent Signing Press Conference

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will officially launch its new athletics program with its first Women's Volleyball Letter of Intent signing ceremony and press conference on Thursday, April 24, at 3:45 p.m. at the Paterson Field House gymnasium.

High school athletes Hannah Burrows from Wahconah Regional High School, Maya Creamer from Miss Hall's School, Jazmine Gregory from Hoosac Valley High School, and Jasmin Aslan from Taconic High School will sign their letters of intent to join BCC's inaugural Women's Volleyball team for the fall 2025 semester. The college will also launch its first Men's Baseball team in spring 2026. Both sports will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) against other Massachusetts community colleges and schools across the Northeast.

New volleyball head coach Evaguel Rhysing will discuss her vision for the BCC Falcons volleyball team this fall. Michael Muscato, the new baseball head coach, will also be present to discuss recruitment for the spring 2026 baseball team.

"We're reaching out to any athletes who want to continue playing volleyball or baseball and take advantage of the benefits of free community college," said Daryl Shreve, director of recreational services at the college. "Now that we're in the NJCAA league, our students can seamlessly transfer to their school of choice without missing a beat. It's a win-win."

Rhysing has already hired former Mount Greylock volleyball player Chelsea Garrison as an assistant coach for the Falcons volleyball program. The team's first game will be a home game on Sept. 11 against Massasoit Community College.

BCC is experiencing record enrollment thanks to free community college for Massachusetts residents without a bachelor's degree. Students who qualify can attend BCC for a more affordable education and continue playing competitive sports. Fall classes begin on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

For more information about the college's athletics program, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/athletics.


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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Stairs at Pontoosuc Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Shoreline access stairs are coming to the south side of Pontoosuc Lake. 

Last week, the Conservation Commission approved an amendment to the Order of Conditions for work at Pontoosuc Lake Park.  There will be two stair sets on the south shoreline, and additional bank stabilization. 

In 2025, the park's south side saw new stairs from the parking lot, a boardwalk, and other improvements.  Later phases of the project will enhance the north side of the park for swimming, and remedy a concrete barrier wall that is partially underwater. 

"Generally, what we're looking to do at Pontoosuc Lake Park is install some stair sets in two locations to help folks access from up above the bank, over the bank, and into the water," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained during the July 23 meeting. 

"We're sensitive to some of the issues that are currently existing on the bank, and we're also sensitive to some of the needs for lake recreation out there."

Stairs for water access will be placed on the shoreline at the beginning of the boardwalk, where it is highly eroded, and the second staircase will be at the extreme western end of the project area, which has around 100 feet of highly eroded bank. 

Additional brush layering will also stabilize the bank. 

An area near the boat ramp where live stakes were vandalized will see them replanted after the ConCom found some of the bank erosion was worse than believed on a site visit last year. 

The city originally proposed not replanting the area where live stakes were removed. 

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