Israel Frees Sheffield Men Detained on Gaza Aid Flotilla

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Two Sheffield natives detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have been released. 
 
"THEY ARE FREE," the mother of Adnaan and Tor Stumo posted on Tuesday. 

The Stumos were among the hundreds volunteering on the Global Sumund Flotilla to bring food and medical supplies to Gaza when they were intercepted by Israeli Defense Forces. Tor was taken from the Huga boat on Wednesday, and Adnaan from the Mikeno boat near Gaza on Thursday. 

During their detainment, their mother, Nadia Milleron, an aviation and consumer advocate who ran as an independent for Congress in 2024, was searching for her sons while urging constituents and lawmakers to speak out against the actions of the IDF. 
 
"Thank you to everyone for contacting your government officials, for sharing posts about my sons and the Flotilla, and for all of your messages of love and support," Milleron wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. 

"I am so very grateful for all of you." 

Above her thanks was a picture of Adnaan and Tor filing out of a bus with a heart drawn around them. 



The flotilla that set out from Spain early last month had about 50 vessels with 500 activists and humanitarian aid. They were escorted part of the way by the Spanish and Italian navies. 

According to the Global Sumud Flotilla tracker, the Huga was intercepted around 4:15 on Oct. 1, and the Mikeno was intercepted around 4:20 a.m. on Oct. 2. 

"All 42 boats in the historic Global Sumud Flotilla mission were illegally intercepted between October 1-3, while attempting to break Israel's siege on Gaza. 462 people were kidnapped in international waters," the flotilla’s website reads. 

"This world's commitment to stand with Palestine continues. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in partnership with Thousand Madleens and the Conscience, has more boats on the way." 

Along with the Stumos were climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was deported to Greece on Monday with 170 others, and Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela.

Mandela was released and flown to South Africa on Wednesday morning. Those detained have spoken of mistreatment and Mandela and other South Africans believe they were singled out because of their nation's involvement in a U.N. case accusing Israel of genocide. 

"My kids insist that countries behave in a humane manner toward all citizens, so that our world will be good for everybody to live in. And that's the type of people that they are, and that's the standard that they are looking for from everyone," Milleron told iBerkshires on Monday. 
 
She said Israel accused people who went through rigorous nonviolent training of being terrorists. Reportedly, flotilla volunteers threw away all knives and screwdrivers before being intercepted, so they did not appear violent. 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshire Art Center Announces Fall 2026 Classes & Workshops

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Art Center (BAC) invites artists of all ages and experience levels to participate in  lineup of Fall 2026 classes and workshops.

With programs offered at Citizens' Hall in Stockbridge as well as partner locations including Berkshire Music School, WANDER Berkshires, and the Mass Audubon's Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, BAC's fall season celebrates creativity through ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, and more.

Ceramics students will find opportunities to develop their skills this fall. Faculty Artist Paula Shalan returns with Tableware: Creating with Soft Slabs, where students create functional pottery such as mugs, tumblers, and bowls, as well as Cut, Add, and Stretch: Creating with Soft Slabs, which explores more contemporary approaches to handbuilding. Jess Cropper-Alt teaches Timeless & Tactile: Handbuilding Traditions, while Donna Bernstein leads Wheel Throwing for All, an all-levels course featuring demonstrations, individualized instruction, and ample studio time.

For those looking to try clay for the first time, Lorimer Burns offers Try Your Hand at the Pottery Wheel, a welcoming two-hour introduction to wheel throwing. BAC also offers fun, social workshops including Wall Pocket Party, perfect for beginners, friends, couples, and families with children ages 10 and up, and Pottery Night: Beer Stein Social, an evening of creativity and community where participants craft their own handmade ceramic beer stein.

Mixed media and printmaking enthusiasts will find an inspiring variety of offerings throughout the season. Jody King Camarra teaches Color Theory Through Collage, Print Lab: Collagraph, Drypoint & Relief, Working in a Series: Creating Cohesive Collages, Monoprint Magic, and concludes the season with the festive workshop Handmade Holidays: Winter Layers in Gel Plate Printmaking.

Additional printmaking opportunities include Eco-Printing: Basics and Beyond with Mallorey Caron, where students create beautiful botanical prints using real flowers and leaves, Gelatin Plate Printmaking with Johanna Merfeld, an introduction to playful experimentation with layering, texture, stencils, and image transfers, and Image Transfers & Mixed Media, where Diane Firtell shares versatile techniques that can stand alone or enhance existing artwork.

Photographers can celebrate autumn alongside Thad Kubis, whose seasonal workshops include Photography of Daniel Chester French's Studio at Chesterwood in Stockbridge and Photographing Fall Colors in the Berkshires at Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield.

Painters and drawing enthusiasts will discover classes ranging from foundational techniques to expressive exploration. Jill McLean returns with Watercolor Foundations and Watercolor Landscapes at Berkshire Music School, along with shorter, 1-day workshops including Berkshire Polaroids in Watercolor and Handmade Holidays: Watercolor Bookmarks.

Wednesday Nelena Sorokin offers Creative Writing & Abstraction, where students use stream-of-consciousness writing to inspire expressive abstract paintings, along with Painting Basics, Two-Dimensional Composition Workshop, and the popular Abstract Painting: Color, Design and Spirit. Artists looking for a relaxed, supportive studio environment can also enjoy the return of Friday Painting Studio, featuring a new and more accessible tuition rate and experienced facilitators who provide encouragement, feedback, and creative community while participants work on independent projects.

BAC's monthly workshop series at WANDER Berkshires in Pittsfield also continues this fall. Held on the second Saturday of each month, these welcoming two-hour sessions invite participants to sketch, paint, journal, and experiment in a relaxed community setting—no long-term commitment required. The series begins September 12 with Commonplace Visual Journaling led by Kaily Ritz, followed by Mini Nature Assemblage Boxes with Johanna Merfeld on October 10, Indoor Urban Sketching with Jill McLean on November 14, and concludes December 12 with Watercolor Reset for the New Year, led by BAC Executive Director Laura Thompson.

For a complete schedule of classes and workshops or to register, visit www.berkshireartcenter.org/classes.

 

View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories