Berkshire HorseWorks Equine-Assisted Reading Program for Children

03:09PM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025Print Story | Email Story

RICHMOND, Mass. — Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. will launch a new program this spring called "Book Club at the Barn," offering an equine-assisted reading experience for children. The after-school program aims to enhance literacy, reading comprehension, and vocabulary through discussions and interactions with horses.

The program will be facilitated by Eagala-certified practitioners Hayley Sumner, an Equine Specialist, and Caitlin Scott, a Speech-Language Pathologist, at the Berkshire HorseWorks campus in Richmond.

Two series will be offered on Mondays from 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM:

Graphic Novel Series (Ages 7 and up):

May 5 – "Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth" by Judd Winick
May 19 – "The Moth Keeper" by Kay O’Neill
June 9 – "Picture Day" by Sarah Sax

Chapter Book Series (Ages 9 and up):

May 12 – "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
June 2 – "Pages and Co: The Book Wanderers" by Anna James
June 16 – "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

Participants are expected to read the assigned book before each session. Discussions will focus on themes such as friendship, bravery, self-esteem, and environmental care. Following the discussion, participants will engage in equine-assisted activities based on the Eagala model. The program is ground-based, and no prior horse experience or riding is required.

Individual sessions are priced at $70 per participant, and the full three-part series is $195. Sliding scales are available. The program has a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 participants.

Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers equine-assisted psychotherapy, learning, and team-building programs. The "Book Club at the Barn" is a new educational initiative.

For more information, call 978-660-3442 or email bookclubatthebarn@gmail.com.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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