BCC Holds Pinning Ceremony for Nursing Graduates

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) held a traditional pinning ceremony for 32 graduates of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program on Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Robert Boland Theatre on the main campus.
 
The wearing of the school pin symbolizes the right to serve others, signifying the acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of nursing and the educational preparation of the wearer. The ceremony is a time-honored nursing school tradition dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The gold center of the pin features the college seal, including the words "To travel hopefully." 
 
Four graduates received awards:
  • Rachel Moriarty received the Academic Excellence in Nursing Award, which is presented to the student who has the highest GPA within the ADN program and is given in acknowledgment of academic excellence in nursing. This award recognizes the student’s hard work and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of nursing knowledge.
  • Thomas Gwinnell received the Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award, which is presented to a student who performs exemplary delivery of nursing skills in the clinical setting. This award recognizes the role of advocacy in nursing by promoting compassionate and holistic patient-centered care.
  • Petrina Roberts received the Professionalism in Nursing Award, which is presented to a student who is committed to high quality patient care, and who also serves as a role model for teamwork and collaboration. The award recognizes the importance of communication and critical thinking while promoting the positive image of nursing.
  • Santiago Diaz Charry received the Berkshire Healthcare Systems Spirit of Caring Award, which is given to a graduating Associate Degree Nursing student who best exemplifies the spirit of compassion.  The recipient of this award is committed to clinical and service excellence, optimizes each patient interaction to its full potential, and shows caring and concern for patients and their families.
The ceremony honored the following Class of 2025 graduates:
 
Connecticut
Bloomfield: Petrina Roberts
East Windsor: Camela Smith
Stafford: Trevor Maffuccio
 
Massachusetts
Adams: Emma Moser
Clarksburg: Cara Moulton
Dalton: Victoria Partridge, Courtney St. John
East Otis: Max Koivisto
Great Barrington: Stephanie Sanchez-Heredia
Lee: Amber Fabiano, Alexandra Saunders
North Adams: Alanah McLear, Payton Miller, Kelly Therrien
Pittsfield: Santiago Diaz Charry, Melissa Cobb, Thomas Gwinnell, Kobe Holloway, Laura Murphy, Clarinda Osei, London Steinman, Nicholas Stockley, Sally Twumasi
Richmond: Grace Ellrodt
Savoy: Jeremiah Reagan
South Egremont: Rachel Moriarty
South Lee: Nicole Bianco
Southfield: Peter Regan
Springfield: Kelly Phipps, Myrna Shapiro
 
New York
Stephentown: Jenessa Fuller
 
For more information about BCC Allied Health and Nursing programs, call the Admissions Office at (413) 236-1630 or visit www.berkshirecc.edu/nursing.

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Lanesborough OKs Open Space Plan, Short-Term Rental Forms

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday set fees for short-term rentals and adopted an Open Space and Recreation Plan.
 
Town Administrator Gina Dario discussed the draft for STR registration and certificate of inspection since the new bylaws were passed at the annual town meeting.
 
The draft shows the process to file for inspection through Permit Eyes, the town's online permitting system that includes the state building code and safety requirements. Dario said members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and the building commissioner looked at other town models to come up with the best process for registration.
 
Inspections will be annually for non-owner occupied units and five years for owner-occupied. The inspection fee is a flat $50. The last suggestion discussed was the posting requirements for key information.
 
Dario said they looked at about four other communities on how they used non-sensitive information on owner contacts. Chair Deborah Maynard motioned to have the information posted both inside and out to help with law enforcement if needed.
 
"I'm going to make a motion that we put that relevant information not only on the inside of the short-term rental but on the outside, so if the police need to respond, ambulance needs to respond, fire especially needs to respond, all that information is there, nobody has to go searching for it," she said. "If push comes to shove, and it's a matter of minutes, that's going to make a big, a big difference in the outcome of the incident."
 
The board then heard a presentation from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's community planner Andrew McKeever and Open Space and Recreation Committee Vice Chair Mark Hawthorne.
 
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