Casita Restaurant to Host Community Choke Saver Class

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— Casita restaurant, located at 1111 MASS MoCA Way, will host a Choke Saver Class for the community on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

The class is inspired by a recent incident at the restaurant where a guest choked, and Casita's chef and owner, Justin Forstmann, administered the Heimlich maneuver to clear the airway. This event highlighted the importance of knowing how to respond to such emergencies.

In partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC), Casita will offer a comprehensive class covering the identification of choking signs in adults, children, and infants. Participants will also learn the correct techniques for the Heimlich maneuver and other necessary steps for airway obstruction emergencies.

Event Details:

• Event: Choke Saver Class
• Location: Casita, 1111 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
• Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Registration: Required via the Berkshire Community College website: https://www.berkshirecc.edu/academics/community-education-and-workforce-development/workshops/choke-saver.php

Pre-registration is mandatory, and space is limited.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.