BCC Announces Workforce and Community Education Workshops

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Workforce and Community Education department continues to expand its, affordable personal enrichment and professional development
workshops and courses, announcing new offerings for the spring 2025 semester.  
 
"Our Workforce and Community Education department is constantly creating and growing partnerships in the Berkshires. Local employers know they can count on us for training the workforce in
a multitude of career areas, and we welcome the community to partake in our many workshops and classes," said Linda Morelli, Workshop Manager, Workforce and Community Education. "We're excited to offer a whole new slate of opportunities this spring." 
 
With a mission of helping people succeed in the Berkshire County job market, the Workforce and Community Education department offers a wide range of programs, workshops and services designed
to meet the needs of job seekers, career changers and employers. Workforce training areas include healthcare and social services courses for certified nursing assistants, community health workers, substance abuse counselors, emergency medical technicians,
phlebotomy technicians and more.  
 
Online classes are offered for certified paralegals, human resources professionals, HVAC/R technicians and professional bookkeepers, while corporate solutions training workshops are available for area employers. 
 
Upcoming personal enrichment courses, listed below, are centered around four core areas: healthcare, personal growth, art and youth. Further details, including course descriptions and locations, will be announced at a later date. 
 
Healthcare: 
  • Reiki for Healthcare, Level 1: Tuesdays, January 28 and February 4, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Reiki for Healthcare, Level 2: Tuesdays, February 18 and 25, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Body's Blueprint for Orthopedic Massage Techniques, Class 1: Unlocking Mobility for the Hip and Abdomen: Saturday, March 22, 9 am-3 pm 
  • Body's Blueprint for Orthopedic Massage Techniques, Class 2: Lumbar Regions and Addressing Common Issues in the Leg, Knee, Ankle and Foot: Sunday, March 23, 9 am-3 pm 
 
Personal growth: 
  • Developing Intuition: Tuesday, February 11, 6:30-8:30 pm 
  • Exploring Tai Chi and Qigong: Weekly on Tuesdays, February 18 – March 25, 3:15-4:15 pm   
  • Unpack Your Life: Mastering the Art of Decluttering: Saturdays, April 26 and May 10, 10-11 am 
 
Professional development: 
  • Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Training, Session 1: Weekly on Tuesdays, January 21 – March 4, 6-9:30 pm 
  • Exploring the Entrepreneurial Journey:  How to Start and Run Your Own Business: Weekly on Tuesdays, February 4-25, 5:30-7 pm 
  • Massachusetts Construction Supervisor License (CSL) Training, Session 2: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 1 – May 13, 6-9:30 pm 
Art: 
  • Create A Mosaic Garden Stepping Stone: Saturday, April 5, 10 am-1 pm  
  • Tree Painting Class: Saturday, April 5, 12-3 pm 
  • Create Your Own Mosaic Plant Stand: Wednesday, April 16, 5:30-8:30 pm 
  • Learn to Draw: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 29 – May 20, 6-7:30 pm 
Youth: 
  • BCC's After School Dungeons & Dragons Program: Weekly on Wednesdays, February 26 – April 30, 4-6 pm 
  • Financial Fitness:  A Teen's Guide to Budgeting, Security, and Smart Money Habits: Weekly on Tuesdays, April 29 – May 13, 4-5:30 pm 

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Arrest Warrants Issued for Pittsfield Shooting

Staff reportsiBerkshires

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were granted arrest warrants for two people suspected to be responsible for the Aug. 16 shooting on Francis Avenue. 

Jason Wright, 41, and an unnamed juvenile are charged with assault and battery, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of a gun without an FID card or license to carry. 

On Aug. 16, near 211 Francis Ave., three individuals suffered gunshot wounds and were all transported to Berkshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. This is one of four gun violence incidents on city streets this summer. 

Police say two of the individuals who suffered gunshot wounds are the subjects of the arrest warrants.

"I first want to commend the Pittsfield Police Department on solving this case in just eight days. They, along with members of the Task Force who provided support when needed, worked around the clock to identify those responsible," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue wrote on Monday. 
 
The DA said he understands that Pittsfield remains on edge, and said he is fully committed to providing resources, including funding for overtime and State Police detective resources, to support the Pittsfield Police Department as it continues its active investigations into the June 18, Aug. 4t, and Aug. 16 shootings. 

"No stone will be left unturned. If you bring violence and guns to our county, you will be held responsible to the greatest extent of the law," he wrote. 

The first arrest warrant issued is for a juvenile. The juvenile is charged with:

  • Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
  • Attempted murder
  • Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
  • Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
  • Possession of a firearm without an FID card/license to carry
  • Possession of ammunition without an FID card/license to carry

The second arrest warrant is for Jason Wright, 41, with a last known address on Woodlawn Avenue. Wright is charged with:

  • Attempted murder
  • Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a firearm
  • Two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, to wit a Firearm
  • Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
  • Possession of a firearm in commission of a felony
  • Possession of a firearm without an FID/LTC
  • Possession of ammunition without an FID/LTC

There have been four gun violence incidents in Pittsfield since mid-June, leaving one person dead and a total of seven injured. Additionally, a Lanesborough man is facing multiple charges for allegedly shooting a gun near homes and a road while intoxicated on Sunday. 

On June 18, a person died after being shot in the area of Tyler Street and Pleasure Avenue, and another person was injured. Following an extensive investigation, police on June 23 had an arrest warrant out for Terry Martizna, 35, on a charge of murder.

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