Berkshire HorseWorks Equine-Assisted Reading Program for Children

RICHMOND, Mass. — Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. will launch a new program this spring called "Book Club at the Barn," offering an equine-assisted reading experience for children. The after-school program aims to enhance literacy, reading comprehension, and vocabulary through discussions and interactions with horses.

The program will be facilitated by Eagala-certified practitioners Hayley Sumner, an Equine Specialist, and Caitlin Scott, a Speech-Language Pathologist, at the Berkshire HorseWorks campus in Richmond.

Two series will be offered on Mondays from 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM:

Graphic Novel Series (Ages 7 and up):

• May 5 – "Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth" by Judd Winick
• May 19 – "The Moth Keeper" by Kay O’Neill
• June 9 – "Picture Day" by Sarah Sax

Chapter Book Series (Ages 9 and up):

• May 12 – "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
• June 2 – "Pages and Co: The Book Wanderers" by Anna James
• June 16 – "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

Participants are expected to read the assigned book before each session. Discussions will focus on themes such as friendship, bravery, self-esteem, and environmental care. Following the discussion, participants will engage in equine-assisted activities based on the Eagala model. The program is ground-based, and no prior horse experience or riding is required.

Individual sessions are priced at $70 per participant, and the full three-part series is $195. Sliding scales are available. The program has a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 participants.

Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers equine-assisted psychotherapy, learning, and team-building programs. The "Book Club at the Barn" is a new educational initiative.

For more information, call 978-660-3442 or email bookclubatthebarn@gmail.com.

Suspect Arraigned in 'Horrific' Dragging Case

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:56PM / Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Complete write-thru 3 p.m., Feb. 18.

District Attorney TimothyShugrue says the community has been 'really upset' by this case. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Hancock man has been charged in last week's gruesome dragging that killed 69-year-old William Colbert. 

 

William Gross, 65, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday for negligent motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene. He was arrested Monday after police investigators narrowed down the type of car seen on video at the accident scene. 

 

Police say Colbert had fallen in the road at the Francis Avenue and Linden Street intersection on Feb. 10 before he was struck and dragged nearly four miles. His body was found on West Housatonic Street.

 

Gross is being held on $250,000 cash bail in the Berkshire County House of Corrections. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case will go to a grand jury and foresees additional charges being placed. 

 

"I think this community was really upset by this case," Shugrue said while being interviewed by the press after the morning arraignment.  

 

"It's a horrific case, and the fact that someone was fleeing, and there was someone that was stuck there that could have been treated, and potentially in the initial stages, could have been potentially saved." 

 

Colbert was coming from a house on Francis Avenue about 11:30 on Feb. 10 when fell in the road and had trouble getting up, according to Shugrue.