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.

North Adams School Committee Applauds Award Winner, Hears Budget

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
02:42PM / Wednesday, April 08, 2026

Superintendent Timothy Callahan presents his first Superintendent's Award to Brayden Canales. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee on Tuesday voted to send a recommending fiscal 2027 budget to a public hearing and congratulated the newest recipient of the Superintendent's Award. 

 

Drury High School senior Brayden Canales is graduating at the top of his class with 33 college credits and a grade-point average of 4.3.

 

"In addition to his impressive list of college courses, he has rounded out his transcript with several Advanced Placement and project based learning courses," said Superintendent Timothy Callahan, adding, "I had the honor to be Brayden's principal when he began a Drury."

 

Canales is a member of both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies and received the Principal's Award for having the top five average in his class all four years and the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Institute of Technology award for science and math as a junior outside of the classroom.

 

He's also been a member of the soccer, hockey and baseball teams and this year was presented the Berkshire County Ice Hockey Officials Association's Sportsmanship Award for his leadership. Canales has also been a peer mediator, student ambassador, among other activities.  

 

He plans to pursue a major in architecture but has not yet selected a college. 

 

The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Certificate of Academic Excellence is awarded to students who have achieved not only academically but in leadership and community service.