Berkshire Agricultural Ventures celebrates a new food safety hotline

Great Barrington—  Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is excited to announce two significant milestones in its mission to bolster the regional food supply chain: the opening of the BAV/AgriForaging Food Safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Hotline and a successful visit by the USDA to BAV’s headquarters in Great Barrington.

BAV has partnered with AgriForaging Food Safety to introduce the AgriForaging Food Safety HACCP Hotline. This initiative is part of the Local Meat Processing Support Program, which strives to provide guidance and support for meat and poultry processors across the region. 

This dedicated hotline is open every Thursday from noon to 4 p.m., offering industry experts’ insights into state and federal meat and poultry compliance regulations, as well as HACCP principles. The hotline is committed to providing personalized solutions for a wide range of compliance questions, ensuring peace of mind for local processors as they navigate the complexities of food safety regulations. For more information or to schedule a call, visit https://www.berkshireagventures.org/haccp-hotline.

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Pittsfield Community Television hosts 36th annual meeting and celebration 

Pittsfield — Pittsfield Community Cable Broadcasting, Inc., which operates Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM, held its 36th Annual Meeting and Celebration on Thursday, September 21st at the Polish Falcons Club on Belair Avenue in Pittsfield. New board members were elected, and recognitions of achievement in programming and community service were awarded.

The annual meeting began with PCTV’s Executive Director Shawn Serre championing a successful year. Serre advocated for modernizing the funding models for community media and highlighted a bill currently in committee in the state legislature which would help support organizations like PCTV. “It’s a fair and equitable method of providing support for the critical local news and programming that PCTV and similar organizations around the state provide. We need to act together, right now, to preserve and promote the services that PCTV has been providing our community for almost 40 years,” Serre said.

PCTV President Susetta Doucette gave a report to the members of the organization and emphasized the work that the board and staff have accomplished in the past year. Treasurer Cindy Shogry-Raimer delivered the treasurer’s report to the members and informed them that the financial position of the organization is strong. Two incumbent board directors were re-elected during the annual meeting. Returning for new three-year terms are board Vice-President Jonah Sykes and Assistant Vice-President Brian Andrews; newly elected to the board at this year’s meeting are Joshua Cutler and Charles Walker.

Jonah Sykes, re-elected incumbent board member of PCTV.

Jonah Sykes is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Berkshire Community College. He has served on the PCTV Board since 2017 and has contributed to the Advancement Committee as a co-chair. Sykes previously worked at Berkshire United Way in fundraising and marketing and has served on the board of 1Berkshire, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, and Berkshire Young Professionals, as well as several community initiatives across the Berkshires. He is a graduate of Taconic High School, earned his bachelor’s at MCLA and his master’s degree from St. Rose College in Albany.

Brian Andrews, re-elected incumbent board member of PCTV.

Brian Andrews is a nationally certified Paramedic and President/CEO of County Ambulance, Inc. in Pittsfield, which provides paramedic-level ambulance and intercept service to the Berkshire County area. Brian is also President of EMSCO of Berkshire County, past President of Western Massachusetts EMS, and a member of its executive committee. He is a member of many local task forces. Andrews was first elected to the PCTV board in 2018 and chairs the equipment and facilities committee.

Joshua Cutler, newly elected board member to PCTV.

Joshua Cutler is a fourth-generation Pittsfield native who is deeply invested in the local business and nonprofit communities. A veteran of the banking industry of a decade, he is now the Manufacturing Project Lead/Program Performance Analyst at General Dynamics in Pittsfield. He has served on the Pittsfield Public School Committee, has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Anshe Amunim for the last 11 years, serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Eagles Band Inc., and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.

Charles Walker, newly elected board member to PCTV.

Charles Walker is a broadcast television and digital media content producer with more than 45 years’ experience. After more than 35 years at Disney/ABC News he recently retired. At ABC News he contributed significantly to the development of ABC News Digital, the company’s media streaming service for news content acquisition and distribution. His experience includes production at television stations in Oklahoma City, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles as well as nationally and internationally for ABC News, Tribune Broadcasting and other communication and entertainment industry leaders. He lives in Pittsfield, where he continues to produce television programs, independent films and live streaming media content. 

The Celebration portion of the event was lively, as the organization handed out several awards for excellence in programming and community service. Finally, PCTV awarded Community Programming Accomplishment certificates to several member producers. The certificates recognize five, ten, and fifteen-year milestones in producing community programming.

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MCLA Alumni Association to hold awards ceremony for distinguished alumni and friends of the college

North Adams — On Saturday, October 21st, the MCLA Alumni Association will hold its annual Alumni Awards Brunch to recognize distinguished alumni and friends of the College for their accomplishments.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Photo courtesy of coplac.org.

The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on campus in Murdock Hall Room 218, with a special time set aside for photos of awardees from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The following recipients will be recognized:

• Kevin Pink ’09, 2023 Vanguard Award
• Benjamin Lamb ’07, 2023 Service to the College Award
• James Chapman ’15, 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award
• Lindsay St. Pierre-McGinnis, M.Ed. ’08, 2023 Outstanding Educator Award
• Laurie Dias-Mitchell ’81, 2023 Community Service & Citizenship Award
• Arlene Wynn ’63, 2023 Outstanding Educator Emeritus Award (posthumous)

To purchase tickets and view descriptions of each award, please visit https://lnk.mcla.edu/snjc2.

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Frost Stone House Museum receives two grants totaling more than $24,000

Bennington — The Robert Frost Stone House Museum at Bennington College has received a total of $24,250 in grants from the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Historic Preservation Barn Grant program. Both grants will help restore the property’s distinctive New England barns and make greater use of these spaces for programs and events.

“The barns on this property are part of the landscape that inspired Robert Frost’s poetry and supported his life as a farmer,” said Erin McKenny, the director of the Robert Frost Stone House Museum at Bennington College. “These funds are tremendously useful in our efforts to restore  these beautiful and historic agricultural spaces and to welcome the public to experience their continued significance and enduring charm.”

Robert Frost Stone House Museum. Photo by Phil Holland.

The Historic Preservation Barn Grant of $5,500, which must be matched by the College, will be used to replace the metal roof on the largest of the property’s outbuildings. With the roof repaired, the museum will expand the use of the barn for readings, concerts, art installations, workshops, and their annual Holiday Makers’ Market.

The Vermont Arts Council’s grant of $18,750 will support the installation of electricity and plumbing to the historic barn. The grant was a part of more than $300,000 in Cultural Facilities Grants to nineteen Vermont arts and community organizations. The funds provide organizations with resources to enhance, create, or expand the capacity of existing buildings that offer cultural activities for the public.

For more information, visit https://www.bennington.edu/robert-frost-stone-house-donation-page.

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Berkshire Community College sees significant increase in enrolled students

 Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports an increase in students from 1,367 in 2022 to 1,601 in 2023, representing an increase of 17.1%, the largest percent increase in students since the institution started tracking this metric in 1991. The last time BCC experienced an increase of this magnitude was 2009, when the number of students increased by 14.3%.

For matriculated students, BCC reported an increase from 1,079 in 2022 to 1,173 in 2023, an 8.7% increase. A matriculated student is any student who is enrolled in a program to pursue a degree or a certificate. For overall credits taken by students, the institution reported a 12.0% increase.

The largest share of these gains comes from dual enrollment students (high school students) and Pre-Nursing students, followed by Liberal Arts and Business Administration students.

Berkshire Community College. Photo courtesy Berkshire Community College.

Adam Klepetar, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, said that while the increase in enrollment cannot be definitively linked to any particular source, positive indicators include the Commonwealth’s new MassReconnect program, the recent funding supporting scholarships for community college nursing programs, and BCC’s increased online offerings.

MassReconnect provides Massachusetts residents ages 25 and older with access to free associate degrees and certificates at community colleges. This fall, 47.5% of matriculated BCC students are in the age group eligible for the program.

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Learn how anyone over age 25 without a degree can attend BCC for free

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) continues its series of special community college information sessions on Wednesday, November 1st at 5 p.m. and Thursday, November 30th at 5 p.m. The November 1st session will be held in Room G-12 on BCC’s main campus, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield. The November 30th session will be held online. Both sessions are free.

To register for either session, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/massreconnect. Financial aid, admissions, and advising staff will be on hand.

The event is part of MassReconnect, a program that pays the full costs of community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. MassReconnect covers tuition and fees for eligible students, who also receive an allowance to pay for books and supplies.

Students are eligible for the MassReconnect program if they:

• Are 25 or older on the first day of classes
• Are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public community college
• Have not previously earned a college degree
• Are enrolled in at least six credits per semester
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Are a Massachusetts resident

For questions regarding the MassReconnect program, contact the BCC Admissions Office at admissions@berkshirecc.edu or 413-499-4660. Further information, including full program guidelines, is also available at www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/massreconnect.asp.

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Nominations open for Berkshire Community College ‘40 Under Forty’ awards

Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces nominations are now open for the annual “40 Under Forty” awards, which will be held Thursday, March 21st.

“40 Under Forty” is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. 40 Under Forty awards honor people from all walks of life who are making a difference in the Berkshires.

Nominees are eligible for this award through:

• Their professional work and how it makes a difference; or
• Their personal commitment to their community; or
• Other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires.

1Berkshire, BCC’s strategic partner, has identified recruiting and retaining young people as an economic imperative for Berkshire County. By celebrating this younger generation of people in the Berkshires, we underscore the importance of their contributions to our community and to its future prosperity. To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty. Nominations close Wednesday, November 29th. For more information, email 40under40@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-236-2185.

The post BUSINESS BRIEFS: Berkshire Agricultural Ventures meals security hotline; PCTV annual assembly; MCLA Alumni awards; Frost Stone Home Museum receives grants; BCC enrollment enhance; Over 25? Attend BCC totally free!; ‘40 Below Forty’ nominations open appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The great poet Robert Lee Frost was born on this day in history, March 26, 1874, in San Francisco, California.

Frost spent the first 11 years of his life in San Francisco until his father, journalist William Prescott Frost, Jr., died of tuberculosis, according to Biography.com.

After his death, Frost, his mother, and sister moved to live with his grandparents in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 25, 1911, A FIRE AT THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FACTORY KILLED 146

The move was actually a homecoming for the Frosts, as their ancestors were originally from New England, according to the Poetry Foundation.

In 1892, Frost graduated from Lawrence High School. He was made “class poet” and served as co-valedictorian, along with his future wife Elinor White.

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Portrait of Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Robert Frost in the 1960s. When he was 86, Frost was asked to write and recite a poem for the inauguration of John F. Kennedy on January 20, 1961.

Two years after graduating high school, Frost’s poem “My Butterfly” was accepted by the New York Independent.

He received $15.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 14, 1879, ALBERT EINSTEIN WAS BORN IN GERMANY

To celebrate, Frost printed two copies of a book of six poems called “Twilight” — one for himself and one for his wife.

Over the next eight years, Frost published just 13 more poems, according to Biography.com.

Portrait of Robert L. Frost, American poet who wrote North of Boston and A Boy’s Will circa 1910.

The poet attended Dartmouth College for several months before returning home to work at a series of “unfulfilling jobs,” the site reports.

In 1897 Frost attended Harvard University. He broke off his studies after two years for health reasons and returned to his wife in Lawrence.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 14, 1869, CINCINNATI RED STOCKINGS BECAME THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM

Frost moved to Derry, New Hampshire, with his wife and two children in 1900 on property purchased from Frost’s grandfather.

Frost’s firstborn, Elliot, died of cholera in 1900. White gave birth to four more children.

The youngest Frost child, Elinor, born in 1907, tragically died just weeks after birth.

The Frosts attempted to make a living on the farm in New England for the next 12 years and pursued a number of unsuccessful ventures, including raising poultry, reports Biography.com.

The story goes on

Frost had two poems – The Tuft of Flowers and The Trial by Existence – that were published in 1906.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 1, 1872, MAJESTIC YELLOWSTONE BECOMES AMERICA’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK

In 1912, Frost moved to Britain with his family after American magazines consistently rejected his work, reports the Poetry Foundation.

While Frost continued to write about New England, even while living across the pond, he published two volumes of poetry, A Boy’s Will (1913) and North of Boston (1914).

The poem “Mending Wall” (1914) by Robert Frost as featured in Barnes & Noble’s “A Treasury of Classic Poetry”.

“North of Boston” contained two of Frost’s most notable poems, “Mending Wall” (1914) and “After Apple-Picking” (1914).

These publications allowed Frost to return to the United States in 1915 – where he was celebrated as a literary figure.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEB. ON JANUARY 18, 1931 AMERICAN AUTHOR TONI MORRISON WAS BORN IN OHIO

Frost met fellow poets Ezra Pound and Edward Thomas during this period.

They reportedly influenced Frost to write The Road Not Taken (1916).

This poem and Birches (1915) were published in his 1916 book Mountain Interval.

Robert Frost, poet, taught at Amherst College until 1938 when his wife died of cancer.

Frost’s reputation for writing poetry about nature grew while he was praised for his traditional poetry and meter, reports the Poetry Foundation.

His next book, New Hampshire (1923), contained classic poems such as Stopping by Woods on a Snowing Evening, which earned him his first Pulitzer Prize.

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In addition to writing, the poet has pursued a teaching career at several colleges, including Dartmouth College, the University of Michigan, and Amherst College in Massachusetts, according to Biography.com.

He taught in Amherst until 1938 when his wife died of cancer. The college’s main library is named after Frost.

Poet Robert Frost (center) reads one of his poems during the inauguration ceremony of John F. Kennedy at the Capitol in Washington, DC on January 20, 1961.

Frost has won four Pulitzer Prizes for his poetry and 40 honorary degrees.

In 1960 he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by Congress.

At the age of 86, Frost was asked to write and recite a poem for the inauguration of John F. Kennedy on January 20, 1961.

On January 29, 1963, Frost died as a result of a previous prostate operation.

He was survived by two daughters, Lesley and Irma.

The post On this present day in historical past, March 26, 1874, American poet Robert Frost is born in San Francisco appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Cold and windy conditions are sweeping the region, bringing night frosts, strong gusts of wind and high surf, according to a revised forecast issued by the National Weather Service Monday evening, which extends a frost watch to much of the Bay Area.

The update also includes a forecast for rain on Friday.

A wind warning is currently in place for the coast of the region north of Santa Cruz until 6 a.m. Tuesday with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph. In the south, the Monterey County coast counseling lasts until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

A freezing warning was issued for much of the Bay Area from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday, with lows in the 20s and 30s expected in some areas.

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Caution – Freeze Advisories and Freeze Warnings now apply to Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning. The coldest temperatures in the interior of the valleys, with lows in the upper 20’s. #cawx pic.twitter.com/QuEQTPqtL3

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) February 14, 2023

Meteorologists revised their original forecast Monday morning, which had called for frost to be isolated in the inner valleys.

People who are unprotected and marginally protected are at risk, weather officials said.

The low temperatures could kill plants and other plants and damage unprotected outdoor installations.

Residents are urged to start protecting outdoor plants and water pipes now. Pipes should be wrapped and deflated or allowed to drain slowly.

Those with underground sprinkler systems should drain systems and cover overhead pipes.

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