The Berkshire Grown Winter Farmer’s Market season begins!
Great Barrington– The first of the season of six indoor winter farmers’ markets will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Housy Dome (Housatonic is a village in Great Barrington) on Saturday November 19 and will run until Saturday April 15, 2023. The North Adams/Williamstown Winter Farmers Market will be held at Greylock WORKS on Sunday, November 20 and Sunday, December 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
We are extremely grateful to our Winter Farmers Market sponsors: the Berkshire Food Co-op, Jane Iredale, Rolling Rock Salt, Ed Herrington, Inc., the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives at Williams College, Berkshire Property Agents, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Lee Bank, Marty’s Local, MountainOne, and the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies. We also thank the Town of Great Barrington for their support in our use of the Housy Dome as a market venue, and Greylock WORKS for hosting the North Adams/Williamstown Winter Farmers Markets, and our deepest gratitude to the Department of Agriculture of Massachusetts for their support of the winter farmers’ markets.
All markets feature locally grown and produced food. Free entry. Current Covid-19 regulations require social distancing. Masks encouraged. SNAP and HIP benefits are accepted in all markets. 1:1 Market Match is available for up to $25 in each market.
Visit https://berkshiregrown.org/public-engagement-events/winter-farmers-markets-2022-2023/ for updates on winter farmers’ markets, including old and new vendors.
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Flying Cloud Institute appoints Liliana Atanacio as after-school educator
Great Barrington— The Flying Cloud Institute (FCI) has hired Liliana Atanacio as an after-school science and art educator. In this role, Liliana will lead after-school girls’ science clubs and MakerSpaces, as well as school residencies, and work with the FCI team to inspire the next generation of artists and engineers. She brings a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of multiple disciplines and the ability to analyze systems and integrate critical thinking to create positive and inspiring change.
The Flying Cloud Institute’s mission is to inspire youth and educators through dynamic experiences with science and art that spark creativity. FCI offers a range of programs in the arts and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) that serve more than 2,000 local youth and educators each year. More information can be found at flyingcloudinstitute.org.
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MCLA Appoints Dr. Jean Clarke-Mitchell, Ph.D., to Board of Directors
North Adams– MCLA announces that Dr. Jean Clarke-Mitchell ’00, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Lesley University has been appointed to the MCLA Board of Trustees. She is also in her second term on the MCLA Foundation Board of Directors.
Dr. Clarke-Mitchell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), who served as Clinical Director of the Elizabeth Freeman Center and Outpatient Clinician at the Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. With over 20 years of experience in the clinical field and over 10 years in academia, Dr. Clarke-Mitchell is eager to participate in the board. Dr. Clarke-Mitchell has an extensive resume in social justice activism and works with community organizations, including the Rights of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) program as a senior mentor.
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Lenox Library Receives Grant
Lenox— Community One Stop for Growth is a single application portal that provides a streamlined, collaborative review process for 12 state grant programs that fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning , site preparation, building construction and infrastructure. In total, this round of One Stop is awarding more than $143 million in grants to support 337 local economic development projects in 169 communities.
The Rural and Small Towns Fund Awards Celebration was held Nov. 9 in the Lenox Library Reading Room, attended by Secretary Mike Kennealy, Under Secretary Ashley Stolba, Assistant Secretary Juan Vega, Lenox City Manager Christopher J. Ketchen and other state and local officials. . The Lenox Library received a grant to upgrade the library building and systems.
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Rebranding of Silver Therapeutics
Williamstown– Silver Therapeutics, a New England-based cannabis company with stores in Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, today announced a large-scale rebranding to reflect the brand’s expansion into more outlets. sale, their state-of-the-art cultivation operations in Maine and Massachusetts, and a new Cannabis Education Center coming in 2023.
Silver Therapeutics of Massachusetts operates three dispensaries in Williamstown, Palmer (opening Spring 2023) and in late 2023 will open City Farm, a retail dispensary and social equity campus that will provide a platform for people to learn each component of a vertical cannabis business. The company will open one of Vermont’s first recreational dispensaries in Bennington in late 2022.
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The Lenox Library Association is soliciting book donations for the 2023 Annual Book Sale
Lenox– The Lenox Library Association is accepting book donations for its next book sale, to be held on Labor Day weekend of 2023. Each year, the sale features more than 7,000 books in more than 30 categories. All proceeds benefit the many services and programs of the Lenox Library. Community support through donations and volunteer hours is greatly appreciated.
The Book Sale Committee welcomes hardback and paperback books in very good condition, as well as CDs. Due to lack of space, the committee asks donors to review its guidelines, which outline what can and cannot be accepted; guidelines can be found on the library’s website at lenoxlib.org/support/booksale.
Donations can be dropped off at the Book Sale donation area at Lee Premium Outlets (Store 450, across from Tommy Hilfiger) Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon.
For complete information, visit our Book Sales webpage, pick up a flyer at the Lenox Library main office, or contact Nancy Cohen, Director of Book Sales, at 413-652-1327 or nancycohen1112@gmail. com.
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Housatonic Water Hosts Manganese Pilot Study Briefing
Great Barrington– Housatonic Water Works invites customers to join a Zoom briefing on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. to hear an update on HWW’s manganese removal pilot study.
The meeting will also include information on issues affecting the levels of haloacetic acid that have been detected in the HWW water system.
The meeting link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88339634831. To reach by phone: (929) 205-6099. The webinar ID is 883 3963 4831. The meeting can also be accessed on the HWW website here.
To simplify meeting access, the city also posted the event on the city calendar with live links to login information.
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Salisbury Bank launches annual ‘We Believe’ toy drive
Salisbury— Salisbury Bank announces the launch of its ‘We Believe’ toy drive and asks the community to join them in bringing the magic of the holidays to children. Together we can help make this time of year a very special time for local children who otherwise would not experience the joy of the holiday season. You can drop off new unwrapped gifts at any of Salisbury Bank’s fourteen offices before December 9th.
Gift ideas include but are not limited to sports equipment and balls, books, board games, portable electronic games, backpacks, construction kits, craft kits, bags handbags and cosmetics. Plus, gift cards from local retailers are always a great option.
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Mac-Haydn Theater receives $10,000 in stimulus funding from New York State Council on the Arts
Chatham— The Mac-Haydn Theater received a $10,000 Regrowth and Capacity grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. The grant will go towards the organization’s COVID-19 costs, as the Chatham Theater continues its ongoing recovery from the challenges of the pandemic.
After closing for its entire 2020 season, the Mac-Haydn reopened in July 2021 and recently wrapped up its first full 4-month season since 2019 last summer. COVID-19-related expenses range from PPE to weekly company-wide antigen testing to certification training for COVID compliance officers.
For more information about the Mac-Haydn and its current projects, please visit www.machaydntheatre.org.
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Greylock Promotes O’Neil to Vice President, Market Director
Pittfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the promotion of Jennifer O’Neil to Vice President, Market Manager. In this role, she will oversee a number of branches in the South Berkshires and Columbia County, New York.
Jennifer joined Greylock in 2003 as a Member Services Representative and most recently served as the Lee Branch Manager. She attended Salve Regina University and currently volunteers as Vice Chair of the Board of Lee’s Chamber of Commerce.
