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Berkshire Humane Executive Director John Perreault is presented a check donation from the Cincinnatus Lodge and Wisdom Lodge AF&AM.

Wisdom & Cinncinatus Lodges Donate to Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Two local Grand Lodges of Massachusetts selected the Berkshire Humane Society for their charity donation. 

Cincinnatus Lodge and Wisdom Lodge AF&AM hosted a golf and cornhole tournament last year, raising $2,500. Members of each lodge presented the check to Berkshire Humane Executive Director John Perreault last week.

The Wisdom Lodge does a golf tournament every year to benefit local charities or schools, and is locally sponsored, but last year's tournament was special to them.

"Personally, this year, because my father passed away, we changed the name of the tournament to represent him, so it's now called the RW Lawrence D. Tonini Memorial Golf Tournament," said Christopher Tonini.

"And because my father loved the animals, we thought that we would change course this first year of the name change and do something he would love to have happened."

Tonini is the master of the Cincinnatus Lodge and the treasurer of Wisdom Lodge.

He said they are also looking at a surprise donation to be given to the Humane Society on top of the $2,500.

Joint member Nicholas Oleen said their lodges are always looking to benefit the community.

"We're a non-profit organization, and our teachings are basically about building character and helping out people in the community and charity."

They've donated to many other organizations in the past, including Soldier On and Food Bank of Western Mass.

Perreault was able to make the trip to receive the checks from the two lodges and give his thanks

"At the Berkshire Humane Society it’s more than just helping animals, it's helping people as well," he said. "And every time we help a companion, we're actually helping the owner as well. And part of our programming is really pet retention.

"So our goal is, rather than have animals coming into our shelter, is to keep it in their homes. So a lot of the funding that you're providing here tonight will go to help keep animals in their homes and not in shelter."

He said the money will go toward the shelter's pet food bank and wellness clinic. 

"I can tell you that many, many, many animals will be helped, which will make many, many people happy," he said. "And if you have pets at home, you know that they are part of your family, and they certainly help you out in good times and in the bad so we can't thank you enough for what you guys have done, so thank you."

The lodges have many events coming up and you can find out more information on their Facebook or Instagram.


Tags: Berkshire Humane Society,   donations,   Masons,   

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Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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