Press

After several unsuccessful attempts to open an ice cream shop, Ludwig Jean-Louis spotted a “for sale” sign by Cravin’s Soft Serve & Frozen Yogurt while driving through his town of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in early 2022.

A Black Christian minister, a Jewish rabbi and a gay woman who have been friends for over 20 years meet up at their favorite restaurant.

LOWELL — After knocking on the door for years, Taconic finally broke through on Saturday evening with a Division 5 state title.

The Pittsfield vocational school held off a spirited effort from previously unbeaten David Prouty, surviving with a 53-51 victory at the Tsongas Center.

On Feb. 18, Jamer Jones had been touching up his opponent for the better part of three minutes. With little time left, Anthony Andreozzi threw a punch which Jones managed to avoid and countered with a jab that Andreozzi couldn’t.

NORTH ADAMS — Otha Day was self-employed, making his living as a musician teaching and playing classical piano when he had a stroke in 2003.

Unable to make money, he had to make a career shift.

“I couldn’t lift a bowl of cereal,” he said during a recent interview.

LEE — Nick Woodard stands in the gym at Lee Elementary School with both ends of a jump-rope in his hands. Before he really shows off what he can do, he needs to know something first: How much energy is in the room right now?

“If you answer my question right, I’m going to keep jumping,” Woodard said. “If you answer it wrong, I’m going to go home. I don’t want to go home yet. Here’s the question — are you ready for a show?”

NORTH ADAMS — How does a body dance oxygen? How does a body dance trees breathing out and people breathing in — the invisible balance that keeps us alive?

South African choreographers/dancers Thulani Chauke and Albert Fana Tshabalala will find out in North Adams as they improvise together.

For A.J. Enchill, the president and executive director of the Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC), economic development for Berkshire County and building up Black entrepreneurs and businesses go hand in hand.

“The makeup of our community in Berkshire County is changing,” Enchill said. “If we ever want to close the wealth gap and uplift this economy, we need to have a diverse plethora of racial makeup in our industries. It’s going to take Black and minority businesses, and other white-owned mom-and-pops, filling up our vacant storefronts.”

PITTSFIELD — For nearly all of the late aughts, I had spent every other winter weekend at Nonna’s house in Pittsfield. Nonna was my friend Eric’s maternal grandmother, but I knew her by no other name. If you’d asked me in 2008 how to spend a weekend in Pittsfield, I’d have suggested Friday-night lasagna at Nonna’s, or a warm bowl of Saturday morning tortellini soup before a ski session at Jiminy Peak, a few towns over.

NORTH ADAMS — The key to a good sandwich: the bread.

That’s according to Berkshire chef Xavier Jones, who will soon be serving up Philly cheesesteaks in the Berkshires once again, and on bread imported from Philadelphia.

In late April, Jones and two other co-owners, Warren Dews Jr. and Dully Saimbert, are opening BiggDaddy’s Philly Steak House on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art’s campus in a space that was occupied by A-OK Barbecue until it closed last year. 

Greylock Federal Credit Union (Greylock) makes no secret of its commitments to supporting the local community. But it’s not until you see them laid out on the page — or 16 pages, to be more precise — that the full scope of the 88-year-old institution’s contributions become apparent.

In its 2022 Impact Report, published this month, Greylock outlines its many community-centric initiatives from the past year, ranging from monetary donations to special loans, educational programs and research projects. 

Greylock Federal Credit Union (Greylock) makes no secret of its commitments to supporting the local community. But it’s not until you see them laid out on the page — or 16 pages, to be more precise — that the full scope of the 88-year-old institution’s contributions become apparent.

In its 2022 Impact Report, published this month, Greylock outlines its many community-centric initiatives from the past year, ranging from monetary donations to special loans, educational programs and research projects. 

Pittsfield has found itself in a little bit of a boxing renaissance. Steve and Quintin Sumpter have been fighting out of the largest city in the Berkshires, with Steve winning the Massachusetts Light Heavyweight Title in November.

Now a new fighter is taking the Massachusetts stage and he, too, will have a shot at a state title. Pittsfield’s Jamer Jones (2-1, 2 KOs) will be boxing on Saturday at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Mass. The Taconic graduate will be challenging Massachusetts State Middleweight Champion, Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (4-2, 1 KO) for his belt. 

Congratulations to all the grant recipients! Click the link below to watch the video.

PITTSFIELD — Six local small-business owners received a $4,000 boost from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Leaders for an Equitable Pittsfield as part of a grant program aimed at supporting economic equality in the commonwealth’s smaller cities.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Black Economic Council made its first grant awards to six organizations on Wednesday evening.

The Leaders for Equitable Pittsfield recipients are Maggie Sadoway Immigrant Co-op leader Maria Arias, Gustitos Boricuas/La Cocineras Latinas owner Miriam Orengo, Grice Beauty owner Ranish Grice, Guelce Marketing Collaborative owner Jocelyn Guelce, Cravins Ice Cream owner Ludwig Jean-Louis, and Berkshire International Market owner Goundo Behanzin. 

Now in its third year, The Boston Globe’s Black History Month Film Festival will honor and celebrate the lives, culture, and creativity of Black Americans through film. Both classic and new works will be made available for virtual viewing throughout the month. Each screening will also be followed by a virtual panel event to provide insight and context for these stories of strength, joy, and love. Join Globe writers and editors, filmmakers, and talent for these five installments.

As Pittsfield community leaders spoke to a crowd of protesters on the sidewalk in Park Square, Kamaar Taliaferro took to the streets. When others saw what he was doing, they stood alongside him.

PITTSFIELD — By the time Manny Slaughter gets home each day, he’s just about ready to go to bed.

Between his day job at Alternative Living Centers and running the After School Homework and Mentorship Program, he’s certainly got enough to keep him busy. But the payoff is worth the effort. 

The Taconic and Pittsfield High School boys basketball teams are two of the biggest noisemakers as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association released its second set of power ratings Tuesday morning.