BCC Announces Community Education Workshops

07:38AM / Tuesday, January 13, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the schedule of Community Education Workshops for 2026.

Workshops cover the topic areas of art, culinary and hospitality, professional development and self-care. All workshops are open to the public.

For more detailed information and to register for each course, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/workshops.

Art Workshops

Mosaic Butterfly Garden Stake with instructor Lisa Mendel: Wednesday, March 11, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in BCC Room K118. Cost: $50.
Mosaic Stepping Stone with instructor Lisa Mendel: Thursday, April 9, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Mendel's Stained Glass Studio, 1 East Hoosac Street, Adams, Mass. Cost: $40.
Landscape Painting with instructor Leila DiGirolamo: Saturdays, April 18 and May 9, 12 – 3 p.m. in BCC Room K118. Cost: $65.

Culinary and Hospitality Workshops

Basic Dinner Party with instructor Jill Weinberg: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $65
Beginner’s Flower Cupcake Decorating with instructor Melissa Albano: Saturdays, March 7-28, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $145.
Quick and Easy Dinners with instructor Jill Weinberg: Tuesday, March 10, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $65.
Brunch Fun with instructor Jill Weinberg: Tuesday, April 7, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $65.
Chicken Every Day with instructor Jill Weinberg: Tuesday, May 5, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $65.

Professional Development Workshops

Free Choke Saver Training
- Session 1: Monday, Jan. 12, 10 – 11 a.m. in BCC’s Susan B. Anthony Center, Room G12
- Session 2: Monday, Feb. 23, 10 – 11 a.m. at Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Rd., Great Barrington, Mass.
- Session 3: Wednesday, March 25, 10 – 11 a.m. at Freight Yard Pub, 1 Furnace St, Building 3, North Adams, Mass.
Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Exam Prep with Construction Supervisor Training LLC Staff
- Session 1: Tuesdays, Jan. 27 – March 10, 6 – 9:30 p.m. in BCC’s Melville Hall, Room 213. Cost: $525.
- Session 2: Tuesdays, April 14 – May 26, 6 – 9:30 p.m. in BCC’s Melville Hall, Room 213. Cost: $525.
Getting Paid to Talk: An Introduction to Voice Over with Voice Coaches Staff
- Session 1: Monday, March 2, 6:30 – 9 p.m. in BCC’s Susan B. Anthony Center, Room G12. Cost: $50.
- Session 2: Monday, May 4, 6:30 – 9 p.m. in BCC’s Susan B. Anthony Center, Room G12. Cost: $50.
ServSafe Training Certification with instructor Nancy Ruderman
- Session 1: Tuesday and Thursday, March 3 and 5, 5:30 – 9 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $185.
- Session 2: Monday and Wednesday, May 4 and 6, 5:30 – 9 p.m. in the BCC Kitchen. Cost: $185.

Self Care Workshops

Regulate and Restore: Nervous System Regulation for Trying Times with instructor Rose Hedreen, LICSW: Thursdays, Feb. 5 – 26, 5:30 – 7 p.m. in BCC Room G12. Cost: $65.
Unlock Your Mind: Self-hypnosis for Focus, Calm and Confidence with instructor Victoria Layden, Monday, March 9, 5 – 7 p.m. in BCC’s Susan B. Anthony Center, Room G12. Cost: $30.
Healthy Habits, Hypnotist Style: Making Good Choices Automatic with instructor Victoria Layden, Monday, March 30, 5 – 7 p.m. in BCC’s Susan B. Anthony Center, Room G12. Cost: $30.

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Fenton: Governor's Council Must Deliver for the Berkshires

Community submissionGuest Column
10:22AM / Friday, August 28, 2026

I am a Springfield lawyer running for Governor's Council and I am asking for Berkshire County residents to support me over an incumbent from North Adams.

Here's why: Last year I learned about staffing issues in our regional courts that I could not ignore. In 2025, it was reported that four of Western Massachusetts' 11 Superior Court judgeships were vacant, all at the same time. A few weeks later, that grew to five vacancies. This meant there were only six Superior Court judges serving all of Western Mass at a time when Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties had more than 100 pending homicide cases.

Those numbers were alarming to me, so I started to engage with leaders in the community who work most closely with the court system and I came to learn that these vacancies were only the tip of the iceberg here in Berkshire County.

I learned that no Superior Court or District Court judge had been appointed from the Berkshires since the current incumbent took office. As a result, there is not a single Superior Court judge who lives in the Berkshires today, and several of the District Court judges drive in from other counties to support Berkshire courts in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, and North Adams. Court staff also informed me about severe staffing shortages at the Berkshire Clerk of Courts office resulting in other counties needing to loan staff to the Berkshires just so hardworking employees can take a brief and planned summer vacation. This is not normal. These issues are a reflection of genuine problems with the Berkshire County court system and show a lack of proactive attention from our Governor's Councilor.

Instead of focusing on regional equity, I watched as the current incumbent celebrated that she has voted against the governor's nominees more than any other councilor, without much explanation as to why. Most recently, she voted against two extremely qualified former prosecutors for the Parole Board. This was despite an in-person plea from the governor and a letter of support from all the three of the district attorney's from Western Mass. Those votes do not show independence or standing up for principles, they demonstrate naivete, and an unwillingness to work with the key stakeholders.

I had seen and heard enough. I decided to jump in the race and challenge the incumbent to address these problems head-on.

I am a partner of a regional law firm. I understand our courts and the importance of having qualified, fair and hardworking judges. And I know how important it is to have judges from the Berkshires serving the Berkshires. To achieve that, you need strong relationships with the legal community and local stakeholders. You need to know how to use the power of the Governor's Council to fight forcefully for our region. And you need to be laser focused on identifying vacancies before they occur so that they can be filled quickly with local candidates.

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