2025 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards Honorees Chosen

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, has announced the names of 7 honorees receiving recognition at the 8th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on May 20. 
 
The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards recognize the accomplishments and dedication of the people who work in the nonprofit sector.
 
A panel of 22 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors deliberated via Zoom to choose honorees in each of 7 categories from among 50 nominations. The honorees are:
 
Board Leadership: 
Cynthia Farr Brown/Berkshire County Historical Society
 
Executive Leadership: 
Melissa Canavan/Berkshire Immigrant Center
 
Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership: 
Rachael Bentz/AIRY (Arts in Recovery for Youth)
 
Rock Star:
Lauren Smith/Fairview Hospital
 
Unsung Hero:
Chris Ciepiela/Berkshire Horseworks
 
Volunteer:
Pamela Conroy Breslin/Literacy Network
 
Lifetime Achievement:
Jane Winn/Berkshire Environmental Action Team
 
"There were many excellent nominees this year, however, the judges found consensus very easily based on the impact these honorees have had both on their organizations and in our community," said Nonprofit Center founder Liana Toscanini. 
 
The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards is made possible by sponsors: Acrisure/Toole Insurance, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Blackrock Foundation, Brown & Brown Insurance, Doctor Sax House/Dulu Café, Feigenbaum Foundation, Fitzpatrick Trust, Greylock Federal Credit Union, NBT Bank, Tricia McCormack Photography, Warrior Trading, and Williamstown Community Chest. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Connecticut Man Killed in Otis Tractor-Trailer Crash

OTIS, Mass. — Thursday's collision between two tractor-trailers on Route 8 killed one of the drivers. 
 
Antonio Luis Marcucci, 32 of Waterbury, Conn., was northbound at about 9 a.m. Thursday when he apparently lost control of the truck and veered into the southbound lanes, colliding head-on with a southbound tractor trailer, according to police. 
 
According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, police dispatched to 1322 South Main Road found the truck with Connecticut plates in the northbound lane and a truck bearing Oklahoma plates lodged in a snowback on south side. 
 
The officer began rendering aid to the northbound driver, identified as Marcucci. He was pinned inside the cab of his truck. He was extracated and transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by Otis EMS, where he was pronounced dead.
 
The driver of the Oklahoma tractor trailer in the southbound lane did not receive serious injuries.
 
Early investigation, including dash camera footage captured by one of the tractor trailers, shows the Oklahoma tractor trailer was traveling in the southbound lane and the Connecticut tractor trailer was traveling in the northbound lane, according to the DA's Office. The Connecticut tractor trailer lost control veering off the other side of the road ultimately ending on the southbound lane. Shortly after the two tractor trailers collided in a head on collision.
 
The investigation remains ongoing.
 
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