Press

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For Eric Quaidoo, pursuing a career in nursing came naturally.

“Growing up in my family, there was always someone in the nursing or medical field,” he said. “It’s just like second nature to me.”

Quaidoo, a senior at Taconic High School in the health technology career and technical education (CTE) program, currently works at the Wingate Residences at Melbourne Place, a senior residence and assisted living facility in Pittsfield. He spends his time caring for residents there as part of a co-op assignment with the school.

“Melbourne is more like a home — all the patients even call me their grandson sometimes,” Quaidoo said with a smile. “It’s great being able to have the ability to help them in their time of need. Just being there for them is the best part.”

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — By all accounts, to hear Christopher “Stix” Hairston’s drumming was to peer into his soul.

Aimee Gelinas has heard that rhythm since 2007. Hairston, then freshly a graduate of Taconic High School, joined her as part of the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers, an intergenerational group of local percussion students and performers. Gelinas said he had an innate ability to connect with the group’s members across a wide range of ages with his drumming.

He brought an exceptional level of skill to the craft, and a “young energy” that inspired others around him, Gelinas said. She could hardly believe the intensity that he brought at just 19 years old. Hairston came to Gelinas to expand his knowledge of African-rooted drumming.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Gina Coleman is on shuttle duty.

On a recent Tuesday morning, her band Misty Blues has a day off before a touring performance in Birmingham, Ala., so she’s driving around bandmates; some wanted to explore downtown, others wanted to play golf.

She may be Misty Blues‘ founder and lead vocalist, but she’s also its chauffeur. And percussionist. And cigar box guitarist. And main composer.

That’s in addition to two day jobs: one as head women’s rugby coach at her alma mater Williams College, the other as director of diversity, equity and inclusion at The Brien Center.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Before rapper Christopher Barton could release his latest album, “Honey Fusion Tapes,” he had to overcome his fear that no one would listen.

Barton, the North Adams barbershop owner who writes, raps and records under the handle BIGZDAKING, has certainly not been short on inspiration. A trip in 2022 to the legendary Stankonia Studios, in Atlanta, gave him enough fuel to pen an entire album, “Weekends in Atlanta.”

But after he finished recording it, he became discouraged about releasing it. He felt like he didn’t have enough of an audience to make the project successful. Barton decided not to move forward, ultimately waiting until he was able to generate some buzz for himself.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock Regional School District is formalizing a partnership with an area leader in the field of cultural proficiency.

Pittsfield’s Shirley Edgerton will join the staff at Mount Greylock Regional School for a half day per week through the end of the school year and for the foreseeable future, Superintendent Jason McCandless told the School Committee on last week.

“We began working with Shirley Edgerton several years ago to address some specific circumstances at Mount Greylock Regional School,” McCandless said. “I’ve known her and respected her and consider her a mentor and someone who helped me take steps forward in understanding my own biases.

“Our administration, after a consultation, brought forward a plan that is very low cost and is dependent on Shirley thinking enough of us to alter her very busy, quote, ‘retired’ life to become part of our community.”

McCandless made the announcement Tuesday after reviewing for the committee the district’s three-year plan to continue addressing the goals of the 2019 Student Opportunity Act. 

PITTSFIELD — The Sumpter Brothers will be back in the ring together, representing Pittsfield in Pandemonium at the Palladium 3.

Quintin and Steve “The Savage” Sumpter will be fighting on the same card for the first time in almost two years, on March 23 at The Palladium in Worcester. They both won fights in Framingham in 2022, and will return to central Massachusetts next Saturday.

Steve (9-0, 7 KOs) fought in the first Pandemonium at the Palladium, beating James Perkins to claim the IBA Americas Super Middleweight Championship on Aug. 20, 2023. He was supposed to fight in the second edition of the event, but his opponent dropped out at the last minute. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If music be the food of love, as the Bard professed, then jazz music feeds the soul. And Berkshires Jazz founder Ed Bride has made sure the people of Pittsfield never go hungry for tasty vibes and sizzling rhythms.

The annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, presented by Berkshires Jazz, returns with a heady mix of free and ticketed events at downtown venues from restaurants to the Colonial Theatre. Musicians over the past two decades have included local favorites, young emerging artists and veteran headliners.

The festival follows a widely-accessible format spread over 11 days from April 18-28 during nationally-recognized Jazz Appreciation Month. The festivities kick-off Thursday, April 18 with an open-jam session at Hot Plate Brewing Co. On Friday, April 19, the always-popular Jazz Crawl returns, bringing jazz enthusiasts to a variety of venues. A schedule can be found at berkshiresjazz.org. A swing dance with the Wandering Dance Society follows on Saturday, April 20 at Proprietor’s Lodge. Lessons by Jason Fenton begin at 6 p.m., with the dance floor opening at 7 p.m. Jazz brunches will be held at Dottie’s, 10 a.m. to noon, with Brian Hailes on April 21 and Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis on April 28.

STOCKBRIDGE — On her first day working at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in the summer of 2019, Eset Rose stood by a statue of Ganesha, the Hindu God of beginnings.

“Why did you bring me here?” she says she called out, a couple hundred feet from the office where, at 39, she had her first 9–to–5  job.

As a Black woman — Rose calls herself “a Jewmaican” — used to the diversity of the music industry, she was hyperaware of being in a largely white space. In another life, Rose had been Alicia Keys’ manager and creative director, as well as the president of her production company AK Worldwide. Why, she wondered, had she applied to be director of luminary programming at a wellness retreat center in Western Massachusetts?

A calling from a loving community played a part in finding Dolce Rose a space on North Street as well. The new beauty supply, located at 305 North St. is the product of the love and passion of mother-daughter team Gloria and Destiny Saunders.

Jocelyn Guelce is one of the other recipients of the Vibe North Street grants. With support from the Berkshire Black Economic Council, Guelce is launching The Collab, “a dynamic blend of a recording studio, art gallery and collaborative workspace” that’s “an extension” of The Collab’s digital marketing agency, at 163 North St.

Guelce said her mission — and the mission of the studio’s resident engineer Mark Messina — is to “nurture and promote our local arts community while also serving as a catalyst for professional development.”

The response to that drive has been overwhelming, Guelce said, adding that the first youth workshop the Collab hosted nearly sold out. On March 1, the organization plans to host its grand opening showcase event.

PITTSFIELD — When it comes to making the most of February break in the Berkshires, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better expert than the region’s youngest residents.

Released from the routines of school and extracurriculars for eight glorious days, local kids and their families are making the most of their school vacation days. It’s a time for visits with grandparents and cousins, trips to sights and activities just off the beaten path and an opportunity to just slow down and enjoy the freedom of a completely open schedule.

The Berkshire Eagle caught up with some of the foremost leaders on school break for a look at the tips and tricks to a fun-filled week. Here’s what they had to say:

LENOX — Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Allyn Burrows is determined to shake things up this summer with two world premieres; one regional premiere; two major outdoor productions — one of which is described as “an enhanced staged reading” — and a Shakespeare cabaret.

The cabaret, “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret,” is set for July 2-7 in the Tina Packer Playhouse, which will be transformed into a full cabaret setting. The show is being put together by Burrows and stage and film actor Jacob Ming-Trent, who played Bottom in last summer’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

LENOX — Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Allyn Burrows is determined to shake things up this summer with two world premieres; one regional premiere; two major outdoor productions — one of which is described as “an enhanced staged reading” — and a Shakespeare cabaret.

The cabaret, “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret,” is set for July 2-7 in the Tina Packer Playhouse, which will be transformed into a full cabaret setting. The show is being put together by Burrows and stage and film actor Jacob Ming-Trent, who played Bottom in last summer’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Greylock Federal Credit Union’s Pittsfield roots date back to the establishment of the credit union in 1935. Since then, the credit union has sought enriching partnerships to enhance the well-being of community members in its home city. Its collaboration with the Westside Legends, Inc., is one such example. The Westside Legends formed with the mission to improve the quality of life for residents living in the Westside, a purpose for which Greylock has fully supported.

Great Barrington— Rachel Melendez-Mabee has been named to the board of CHP Berkshires.

As vice president of culture and brand and DEI officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union, Melendez-Mabee brings to CHP her skills in corporate workplace diversity issues, training and initiatives. She has previously worked for the PGA of America, as PGA WORKS’ workforce development and lead manager, DEI. She has also worked as social and digital brand manager for Berkshire Bank, and as a senior account executive for Roberts Communications, a public relations firm. Earlier, she worked as a sales and marketing specialist for PGA of America.

The Freedom Center chose Whitaker to lead it after a seven-month national search. She is a former White House senior adviser and professor at New York University. She has held leadership positions for more than two decades in the corporate, nonprofit and public sectors — among other things, she knows how to raise a lot of money.

PITTSFIELD — Greylock Federal Credit Union has appointed Brett Random to its volunteer board of directors. A Pittsfield resident, Random is the executive director for Berkshire County Head Start and a certified parent educator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies: children, families and society from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; a master’s degree in social work from Westfield State University; and a certificate in organizational leadership from Harvard Business School. Random also is a 2018 recipient of the 40 Under Forty Award from Berkshire Community College.

After Berkshire Nursing Families identified that there were no Black doulas working in Berkshire County, Health New England made a $50,000 grant to Springfield Family Doulas to help train and support Black people in Berkshire County to become doulas and lactation counselors.

The W.E.B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy hires an executive director, elects emeritus and executive officers, and announces theme for 2024 season.

BOSTON — On January 15, 2024, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Governor Maura Healey, in partnership with the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), announced additional efforts to increase state contracts with diverse and small businesses by assessing and reopening contracts that can provide such opportunities. This effort also includes swearing in the state’s first Diverse and Small Business Advisory Board for the Supplier Diversity Office.