Nomination Deadline Nears for BCC's 40 Under Forty Awards

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s 40 Under Forty Awards event will be held Thursday, March 27, 2025.  
 
The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
 
To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty
 
40 Under Forty is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in the 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. 
 
Mill Town Foundation will provide each 40 Under Forty Award winner with the opportunity to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization. This donation is intended to empower young leaders and instill a lifetime of philanthropic engagement. 
 
The event is made possible by sponsorships from 1Berkshire, Mill Town Foundation, Berkshire Eagle and Berkshire Community College Foundation.  

Tags: BCC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

CBRSD Makes Cuts to Lower Town Assessments

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — School officials say reductions in the Central Berkshire Regional School District's budget will be felt, but remain optimistic that it will not prevent them from being "the best regional district in the state."
 
Throughout the budgeting season, officials said they strived to keep the seven member towns informed amid contractual increases outside their control and concerns with a state aid funding formula described as "remarkably wrong."
 
The initial budget was about a 9 percent increase, but with "strategic reductions" the district was able to cut that down to 2.99 percent, bringing the total budget to $37,740,005. 
 
"This was no small feat," said Paul Farella, district's Finance Committee chair.
 
In earlier budget drafts, towns voiced concerns over significantly higher assessments, which ranged from approximately 7 to 15 percent, compared to prior years, when it was about 2 to 7 percent. 
 
With the revised budget, projected net town assessments are: 
  • Becket for $2,859,205, an increase of 5.49 percent
  • Cummington for $670,246, an increase of 5.11 percent 
  • Dalton for $10,106,445, an increase of 5.86 percent
  • Hinsdale for $3,277,495, an increase of 10.54 percent 
  • Peru for $1,083,751, an increase of 6.11 percent 
  • Washington for $826,774, an increase of 6.64 percent
  • Windsor for $995,438, an increase of 9.37 percent
"[The cuts] will be felt, but we believe that it is what is necessary for the time being to not overburden our towns while still being able to provide a quality education to our community," Farella said. 
 
Delivering high-quality education while responsibly managing public funds in a district, which like many rural areas, faces financial constraints is a duty Superintendent Michael Henault said he takes very seriously.
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories