#FSLTIJSF #VTJOFTT /FXT t /PWFNCFS t Page 15 Log onto www.berkshirechamber.com for Berkshire Chamber members APPOINTMENTS, EXPANSIONS, PROMOTIONS, & RECOGNITIONS Lisa Cunningham has joined True North as a Financial Advisor at the Williamstown office. Cunningham started her career in Boston and has chosen to return to the Berkshires to continue her career growth. She is a CFP® practitioner and has experience in all areas of financial planning, including tax, estate, life insurance, and cash flow planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption College and a Master of Science in Financial Planning degree from Bentley University. Berkshire Community College (BCC) named Richard Felver director of the Jonathan Edwards Library. In this role, Felver will provide leadership and direction in the operation of the library. He will direct, organize, and oversee all areas of operation as he seeks to apply his artistic and creative background to the ever-changing world of the academic library. Paula M. Walczyk joined the Pittsfield office of Raymond James located at 7 North Street in downtown Pittsfield as Vice President, Investments. Paula has been in the financial services industry for over 15 years, most recently with Wells Fargo Advisors in Northampton. She is a Berkshire County native and an active member of the local community, serving on numerous non-profit boards. The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has hired Karen Sinopoli as AVP, Assistant Controller. Sinopoli ¬– a graduate of St. Joseph’s Central High School – reports directly to Chip Moore, The Co-op’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to signing on with The Co-op, she served as AVP, Assistant Controller at Berkshire Bank. Long-time local banker Richard E. Whalen has joined The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank’s Mortgage department and will serve as their Secondary Market Manager. Whalen ¬– a Lenox native now living in Pittsfield who has completed the Berkshire Leadership Program ¬– began his career with City Savings Bank 1984 and most recently served as Senior Loan Underwriter at Berkshire Bank. United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Berkshire County hired Kristen Baker as its new director of marketing and development. In this role, Baker will foster brand and program awareness across the Berkshires and beyond as well as spearhead fundraising campaigns and special events. Baker is a native of the Berkshires and before coming to UCP, worked for organizations including Citi Performing Arts Center, Worcester Art Museum, and the Berkshire Museum. Lee Toole Insurance has appointed Anne Stout as Director of Business Development & Marketing and Chrystal Beaumont as a Personal Division licensed P&C Client Representative. Stout will be building market position by locating, developing, defining, and closing business. She has 20+ years of success in marketing and consistently strives to maximize the reach, efficiency, and business impact of communications. Beaumont has been in the insurance industry since 2006 and aspires to be your agent for life and has built long lasting relationships with her customers – by acting with honesty and integrity. Berkshire County Arc opened its 35th residence on Dug Road in Westfield, MA. The house is the third Berkshire County Arc residence that is funded through an Acquired Brain Injury Waiver through the Department of Developmental Services. The residence provides four individuals who have had brain injuries with a supportive alternative to nursing home placement, which is often common for brain injury survivors. Berkshire County Arc is also celebrating its 60th anni- versary this year – with 35 residences that serve 123 individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties. Eleanore Velez, an admissions counselor and coordinator of the Multicultural Center at Berkshire Community College (BCC), was honored at the Literacy Network of South Berkshire (LitNet) annual gala with the sixth annual Founders of America Award, which pays tribute to immigrants who have made important contributions to American society in general, and to life in the Berkshires in particular. Velez was honored alongside Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announced that Charlotte Degen ’73, vice president of student affairs, is retiring from the College after 40 years of service. Throughout her career, Degen authored numerous federal, state, and foundation grant proposals, and participated in many initiatives – such as MCLA’s educational enrichment program, which evolved into the Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE). Ron Mason, President and CEO of Alarms of Berkshire County announced the recognition of Thomas R. Kelley, General Manager for his 30 years of service. Tom joined the company on November 5, 1984 as a service technician and his years of dedication are much appreciated. AWARDS, GRANTS, PROGRAMS, & SCHOLARSHIPS Robert Thistle of Pittsfield, MA has been awarded the sixth annual James C. Kapteyn Prize for his extraordinary work as a teacher and coach at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown. The prize, which is granted through a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, comes with a $10,000 award and was established to recognize high school teachers who are of exemplary character, integrity and honor and who lead by example and impart to their students a lifelong love of learning and dedication to personal growth. Tapestry Health, which provides confidential reproductive health care to women, men, and adolescents at a low cost, has relocated to the MountainOne Wellness Center on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) campus. Members of the community and the College’s students alike may access Tapestry Health’s services at its new MCLA location, at 289 Church St. Appointments are available by calling (413) 662-5258 or (413) 443-2844. Greylock Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Collegiate Funding Solutions (CFS), is now offering a brand new, hands-on college admissions and financial aid service that is available exclusively for Greylock members to help ensure that their child goes to the right college for them and for “pennies on the dollar!” This helps parents of college-bound high school seniors, juniors, or sophomores learn how to get discounts from high-priced colleges, why expensive private schools can cost the same as or less than state universities, and how to avoid making the 10 biggest mistakes that most parents make, costing them thousands of dollars in lost financial aid. Berkshire Bank Foundation again will be donating to New England Habitat for Humanity chapters during NESN’s coverage of the Boston Bruins 2014-15 season through its Hockey 4 Housingsm initiative. This donation is connected to the team’s level of play during the regular season, and will directly benefit twelve regional Habitat for Humanity chapters. $200 will be donated for each successful Boston Bruins penalty kill during NESN televised games. Last season, $44,000 was evenly donated among New England Habitat for Humanity chapters. On Sept. 20, a team of employees from Adams Community Bank participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Cheshire. The team, led by Dawn Lampiasi and Nancy Hubbard, raised the money through various effort – ultimately raising over $13,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA) has received a National Athletic Training Association (NATA) Ethnic Diversity Enhancement Grant for $2,400. This funding will benefit MCLA’s primary outreach and admission activities to attract and expand multicultural student applications to MCLA’s athletic training program. Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club raised more than $10,000 for the Pittsfield Family YMCA to support their Facility Improvement Project to renovate the Women’s Locker Room and Annual Campaign, which provides financial assistance for childcare, membership, programs and more. With lead support from MountainOne, Hillcrest Educational Centers’ 2014 Fall Golf Classic benefit raised over $60,000 from tournament sponsorships and silent auction and raffle sales. The event was held on Friday, September 26th, at Wahconah Country Club in Dalton. Additional lead sponsors included: The Kraft Group and The New England Patriots, Barry Architects, Inc., Graphic Impact Signs, Inc., Commercial Distributing, Inc., Restorations, Inc., Haddad Dealerships, NDS Electronics, Berkshire Bank, Pignatelli Electrical Contractors, Reliable Yarwards Inc., The Nichols Family and Climate Heating and Cooling, Inc. Gross and net team prizes, closest to the pin and longest drive for men and women winners were awarded. The 2015 tournament is scheduled for Friday, September 25th. Berkshire Community College (BCC) and the University at Albany (UAlbany) entered into an academic agreement allowing qualified BCC atmospheric science graduates to transfer to the University at Albany’s atmospheric science bachelor’s degree program in Albany, NY. BCC launched its new Atmospheric Science concentration in the Liberal Arts degree program this fall. The concentration provides a strong foundation in the sciences, particularly the fundamental calculus, physics and chemistry courses necessary to transfer into baccalaureate programs in the physical sciences. Berkshire Enterprises and Pittsfield Community Connection are organizing a county wide business pitch contest for high school students. Informational meeting for potential business coaches/mentors will be on Nov. 18th, 6:30PM; Location: 2nd floor conference room, 1Berkshire, 66 Allen St. Contact Steve Fogel at sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com. Berkshire Enterprises will host a Business Breakfast Forum on Friday, Nov, 7th titled: Good Help—How do you find it and how do you keep it?—a forum for owners and managers of small businesses to discuss what works and what doesn’t. The forum is held on the 2nd floor conference room, 1Berkshire, 66 Allen St. Contact Steve Fogel at sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com. ARTS & CULTURE Norman Rockwell Museum returned as a category on the popular TV game show, “Jeopardy!” this October, featuring footage originally shot at the Museum last December, the show’s Clue Crew tested contestants’ knowledge of Norman Rockwell’s work for “The Saturday Evening Post.” Berkshire Museum opened their “Spark!Lab” in October, which provides hands-on space for people to experiment with everything from building electrical circuits to box-car size vehicles. The center is one of four Spark!Labs currently operating in the nation. The original was developed and opened in 2008 by the Smithsonian Institution by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History. The Red Lion Inn’s Executive Chef Brian Alberg will be traveling to Haven’s Kitchen in New York City to teach monthly recreational classes that will feature hands-on cooking along with tastings that highlight ingredients and products from the farms and purveyors in the Berkshires. The classes will highlight ingredients and products from Berkshire farms and small-batch artisan food makers, several of whom will be joining him as special guests to share their story and food-making process with the class, including Wandering Star Craft Brewery. For more information, visit redlioninn.com. The Clark Art Institute welcomes new parents and their infants to a series of New Parents Gallery Talks on select Friday mornings through late winter. The free hour-long sessions are designed to give parents a cognitive break from thinking about “all things baby” and are best suited for parents with pre-toddlers. The talks offer a chance for parents to engage with the Clark collection with their infants and participate in open-ended guided conversations about the art in a way that welcomes all contributions. For information, call 413 458 0410. The prestigious Martha Hill 2014 Young Professional Award will go to Danielle Robin Reinstein, an alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, located in Becket, MA. The award includes a $1,000 gift from the Martha Hill Dance Fund and will be presented in NYC at the fund’s annual Gala. Reinstein was a participant of The Contemporary Program of The School at Jacob’s Pillow during the summer of 2014. The Berkshire Museum has announced that the 2014 Festival of Trees theme is “On Safari”. The annual holiday event will feature more than 100 holiday trees decorated to evoke an exotic safari adventure. Featuring trees sponsored by businesses, schools, and community organizations, visitors can expect to see lots of wonderful trees with animals incorporated into the designs. This event is a fundraiser for Berkshire Museum every year — the proceeds benefit the education programs that provide more than 17,000 educational experiences annually. On display from November 14 thru January 4, 2015. Norman Rockwell Museum announced that tens of thousands of digitized black-and-white photographs from its Norman Rockwell Photographic Print Collection—the largest single collection in the Norman Rockwell Archive – are now available for viewing freely on the Museum’s website, www.nrm.org, under “View the Collections,” and by appointment through the Stockbridge museum’s Reference Center, which has a computer workstation to accommodate its many visiting researchers. ■ Three Cheers information is published on a first come, first served basis as space allows. The Chamber reserves the right to edit all copy. Only Berkshire Chamber members may submit material and must be sent on or before the 15th of each month. Information should be sent via e-mail to news@berkshirechamber.com.