Casita Restaurant to Host Community Choke Saver Class

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Casita restaurant, located at 1111 MASS MoCA Way, will host a Choke Saver Class for the community on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

The class is inspired by a recent incident at the restaurant where a guest choked, and Casita's chef and owner, Justin Forstmann, administered the Heimlich maneuver to clear the airway. This event highlighted the importance of knowing how to respond to such emergencies.

In partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC), Casita will offer a comprehensive class covering the identification of choking signs in adults, children, and infants. Participants will also learn the correct techniques for the Heimlich maneuver and other necessary steps for airway obstruction emergencies.

Event Details:

• Event: Choke Saver Class
• Location: Casita, 1111 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
• Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required via the Berkshire Community College website: https://www.berkshirecc.edu/academics/community-education-and-workforce-development/workshops/choke-saver.php

Pre-registration is mandatory, and space is limited.

Northern Berkshire United Way: War and Peace

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
09:38PM / Saturday, February 28, 2026

Northern Berkshire United Way is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Each month, we will take a look back at the agency's milestones over the decades. This first part looks at its successes and challenges during the war years.

 

The Community Chest started the decade on the upswing but ended with a decline in fundraising. A bright spot was its establishment of new agencies to help the citizens of North Adams and Clarksburg. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Community Chest ended its first decade on an upswing, even as the clouds were darkening over Europe.

 

But what goes up, must eventually come down. 

 

The 1940 campaign drive again set a goal of $39,600 and volunteers toted up $23,000 at the first meeting.

 

James Hunter Machine was the first to attain 100 percent enrollment with annual gift of $6.13 per person for a total of $1,275. Some 200 businesses and organizations hit their red feather level of 100 percent, including all of the schools as well as State Teachers College. 

 

The litany of businesses and organizations included long-gone establishments such as Simmons Funeral Home, Spofford Motors, McCann Ice Cream Co., C.H. Cutting, West End Market, Apothecary Hall, Florini's Italian Garden, and Pizzi's, along with still existing enterprises like Whitney's Beverage Shop, Cascade Paper and Mount Williams Greenhouse.

 

The now annual dinner was served by the Ladies Aid Society of First Congregational at the YMCA, and attendees were entertained by singers from the Advent Christian Church, directed by the Rev. Martin Ball and accompanied by his wife on the piano. "Assisting in useful capacities" were YMCA junior members Howard Goodermote, Roy Modlinger, Fred Myers, Norman Remillard, George Grenier, Wallace Konopka and Anthony Pessolano.