Triplex Cinema Appoints New Board President and Members

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Triplex Cinema announced changes to its Board of Directors, naming Gail Lansky as the new Board President and welcoming Leslie Chesloff, Matthew Penn, and Mitch Smilowitz as new board members.

Gail Lansky has a career in non-profit organizations, including the Yiddish Book Center, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and Amherst Cinema. Her prior board experience includes ten years on the Board of UMass Amherst Hillel, where she served as President, and ten years on the Board of the Amherst Survival Center, serving as Vice President.

Leslie Chesloff has worked in television entertainment for 35 years, holding executive positions at Columbia Pictures Television, Chris Craft Corporation, The Tribune Company, and Lifetime TV Networks. Since 2015, she has been a real estate agent.

Matthew Penn is an Emmy-nominated director with extensive experience in theater and television, having directed shows such as "Law and Order," "The Sopranos," and "NYPD Blue." He has also directed theater productions for Barrington Stage, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Theatre Group, and Great Barrington Public Theatre.

Mitch Smilowitz is the CEO of The Joint Retirement Board (JRB), a non-profit organization that serves as the plan sponsor and administrator of a denominational (403b) retirement plan.

Board President Lansky said, "We welcome Leslie, Matthew and Mitch to our Board. They bring an array of skills and connections to the community that round out our Board. I look forward to working closely with them. I’d like to express my gratitude to what Nicki Wilson, my predecessor as Board President, has done to Save the Triplex. It was Nicki’s vision and determination that helped to bring the Triplex back to live as a nonprofit organization. With her endless energy, dedication and ability to forge partnerships the Triplex has become a community hub and now has more than 600 members who actively participate in our wide range of events. However, our work is not yet done. Our priorities are renovation Theatre Two, replacing seats, redesigning our patio, and further expanding our membership base. With the help of our Board, and the more than 1000 supporters who help to Save the Triplex, we look forward to making these much needed upgrades and improvement in the coming months."

The Triplex Cinema, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that screens first-run, independent, foreign language, classic, children’s, and documentary films, and partners with schools and local non-profits for thematic programming.

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Monterey Man Arrested in Suspicious Fire

Update: John Rohane was taken into custody on a warrant connected to the fire. He was taken to an area hospital for an issue unrelated to the fire or his arrest.
MONTEREY, Mass. — State Police, Monterey Police, and other officials are searching for John Rohane, 60, following a suspicious fire early Wednesday morning at his home on Main Road.
 
Rohane may be wearing a green jacket and boots. Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is urged to call 911 right away. Do not approach him.
 
The Monterey Fire Department responded to 340 Main Road at about 3:50 Wednesday morning for a report of a fire. Otis responded for mutual aid. No injuries were reported. 
 
Based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence, State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal's office determined that the fire had been intentionally set.
 
As the investigation continued, State Police and regional partners began searching for Rohane, bringing additional assets to the wooded area behind 340 Main Road, including areas of Beartown State Forest.
 
Those efforts remain active at the posting of this information at 5 p.m.
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