Berkshire Museum Announces New Chief Development Officer

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Museum is set to welcome Lori Eastman as its new Chief Development Officer.
 
Eastman has spent her career at private liberal arts colleges, including the last 25 years at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, which she also attended as an undergraduate. At Skidmore, she served as the Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff in the college's Office of Advancement, where she acted as a frontline fundraiser, building relationships with donors and prospects, overseeing staff and teams engaged in fundraising, and managing larger fundraising projects. Before that, she spent ten years working at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, as a Director of Annual Giving, Special Gifts Officer, and an Assistant Director of Alumni Relations.
 
"What interests me most about joining the staff of the Berkshire Museum is the chance to work with the museum's current supporters, as well as prospective donors and volunteers, and to help them all learn about the progress and momentum happening at the museum," Eastman said.
 
The museum is currently undergoing a renovation, that is slated to be completed in Spring 2026. The work underway on the first floor will bring new exhibits and a children's activity center, along with other spaces and an upgraded aquarium to their doors, something Eastman herself is eager to see finished.
 
"It is incredibly exciting for the museum to have this moment to build on its past strengths and accomplishments, and to prepare for the future,"  Eastman said.
 
Berkshire Museum Executive Director Kim Bush Tomio spoke about her eagerness to see Eastman join the staff.
 
"The museum is thrilled to have Lori join our team," said Bush Tomio. "Her wealth of experience as a fundraiser, personal connection with the Berkshires, as well as support for our mission, were instrumental in our choice. We look forward to having her be a part of our community."
 
Lori Eastman's selection was the culmination of a competitive nationwide search for a Director of Development, led by Arts Consulting Group (ACG). ACG is a leading provider of hands-on executive search, interim management, revenue enhancement, strategic planning and community engagement, and facilities and program planning and research services for the arts and culture industry. 
 
Eastman is set to start at the museum on Monday, Aug. 18.

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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