BerkChique! Returns to Ventfort Hall

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LENOX, Mass. — BerkChique!, a pop-up fashion re-sale fundraiser, returns to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum for a third consecutive year, on June 5, 6, and 7.
 
Now in its 11th season, BerkChique! offers a  community-powered alternative to the traditional fundraiser: a pop-up boutique filled with upscale, rack-ready clothing and accessories sourced from closets in the Berkshires—often featuring designer and one-of-a-kind finds at accessible prices.
 
The weekend kicks off with BerkChique!'s famed VIP "First Dibs" Shopping Party on Friday, June 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.—an evening with priority-access shopping and complimentary refreshments. 
 
Free weekend shopping will follow: Saturday, June 6 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Sunday, June 7 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.), with admission free for all shoppers.
 
Proceeds benefit Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum and additional local nonprofit beneficiaries including WAM Theatre, Berkshire Humane Society, Community Access to the Arts (CATA), and Berkshire Art Center.
 
Founded in 2012 by Vicki Bonnington and Nancy Fitzpatrick, BerkChique! was conceived as an inventive way for donors to refresh their closets while directly fueling local causes.
 
BerkChique! will feature Bonnington Collection. A curated "shop-within-the-shop" featuring Vicki Bonnington's own designer clothing and accessories. 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Victim Identified in Fatal Richmond Crash

Staff ReportsiBerkshires

RICHMOND, Mass. — A 25-year-old South County man died Thursday in the fiery crash on Route 41. 

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office on Friday reported that the victim was Christopher Lee Kilmer, 25.

The single-vehicle accident took place on Route 41 in Richmond near 2715 State Road. A Hyundai Sonata driven by Kilmer was travelling northbound when it crossed into the southbound lane and off the road; the car was engulfed in flames when first responders arrived.

According to the DA's Office, West Stockbridge Fire and County Ambulance declared Kilmer dead at 9:53 a.m. when the Fire Department "was able to extinguish the fire." 

"It was at this time (when the fire was extinguished) that first responders observed a single occupant in the vehicle and made the declaration of death," according to the press release.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken custody of the body. 

On Friday morning, several South County fire departments posted tributes on Facebook to Kilmer, who they reported was a member of the West Stockbridge and Alford fire departments.

"Every first responder carries a fear that one day the next emergency call will involve someone they know, a friend, a neighbor, or someone they love. But perhaps the greatest fear of all is when that call involves one of our own," the post read. 

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