Nominations Open For BCC's 40 Under Forty Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces nominations are now open for its annual 40 Under Forty awards, which will be held Thursday, March 26, 2026.  
 
To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
 
40 Under Forty is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. 
 
Nominees are eligible for this award through:  
  • Their professional work and how it makes a difference; or 
  • Their personal commitment to their community; or 
  • Other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires. 
Mill Town Foundation will provide each 40 Under Forty Award winner with the opportunity to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization.
 
The event is made possible by sponsorships from 1Berkshire, Mill Town Foundation, and Berkshire Community College Foundation. All proceeds from this year's 40 Under Forty event support workforce programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment. 
 
For more information, email 40under40@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2185. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner: Freya, Fudge & Charlotte

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If looking for the perfect feline pet, why not triple the fun? There's a threesome at Berkshire Humane Society waiting for a family to call their own.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

We highlighted Freya, Charlotte and Fudge last month and they are still looking for their new home together. 

Kittens Fudge and Charlotte and their mother, Freya, have been at the shelter and in a foster home since April. All three have tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), often described as feline HIV/AIDS

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to them. 

"They originally were brought in from animal control. The conditions weren't the best in the home. But when they came in, they were tested positive for feline AIDS (FIV). We do send our kittens normally to foster programs to get socialized with the mom. So they got sent to a foster program for about two months to get socialized," she said.

The shelter preferably would like the three to as a family, and to a home with respectful children that will keep them inside.

"We would prefer if they could all go together, but they are a very sweet trio of kitties. They would have to be indoor only because of them being feline AIDS positive," Petell said. "It is OK for them to go into a home with other cats. We prefer if they go into a home with feline AIDS-positive cats, but even if they are negative for feline AIDS, as long as they're not actively scratching each other and biting each other to transmit it, then it should be OK."

Each cat has their own personality. The two kittens love to play with an abundance of toys; one is shy and the other is outgoing. They both like to curl up and sleep in your lap once they get to know you.

It turns out that Fudge is actually a girl. In our previous article, he was mistakenly identified as a boy. 

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