MEMBER SIGN IN
Not a member? Become one today!
         iBerkshires     Williamstown Chamber     Williams College     Your Government     Land & Housing Debate
Search
Berkshires Beat: Brien Center Receives Donation from Williams Rugby Football Club
01:40PM / Monday, May 15, 2017
Print | Email  

The Williams Rugby Football Club donated the earnings from the John Donovan Memorial Tournament for the past three years, totaling nearly $4,000

Tacking mental health: The Brien Center for Mental Health has received a donation from the Williams Rugby Football Club. The club has donated the earnings received from the John Donovan Memorial Tournament for the past three years, totaling nearly $4,000.

The team has been organizing the John Donovan Memorial Tournament in memory of their former teammate who lost his battle to mental illness. The tournament was designed to raise awareness about mental health and support organizations like the Brien Center working to help those suffering from mental illness in the Berkshire community. This year, six teams from four schools - Williams College, Keene State, Colby-Sawyer College, and UMass/Amherst - participated in the event. All proceeds earned from the tournament were donated to the Brien Center.

The WRFC has been in existence for 45 years and has always been a completely student-run organization.

 

Brotherly love: The Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum welcomed author Jeanne Gehret on May 7 to give a talk about the Anthony family's place in history as well as provide insight into the topic of her sixth book, "The Truth About Daniel," the first book in her Dauntless Series. Through her research on a previous topic, Gehret became intrigued with the Anthony family and now writes about the family and their adventures in a growing and ever-changing country. Gehret shared her knowledge of the family with those at her talk as well as giving a peek into what can be found in this book and the rest of the trilogy.

Daniel Anthony, brother of the famous Susan B. Anthony, was chosen as the main focus for this trilogy because the letters between he and Susan showed him as the black sheep of the family. Although there were disturbing events going on, he always wrote to Susan with respect and kindness. While researching further, Gehret learned of Daniel's wife, who was 20 years his junior and an heiress from Martha's Vineyard. This interesting match begged for more research and had a story to be told. The next two books will focus on the time that Daniel and his wife Annie live in Leavenworth, Kan., and Annie the island girl learns to adapt to living in the wild west. Annie will learn more about Daniel, nicknamed DR, as they live together and forge their own way in the world.



Forging a path: Twenty-one-year old Jordan LaMothe, a professional blacksmith and graduating senior at Williams College, will be a contestant on Episode 7 in Season 4 of the number one ranking show on the History Channel, "Forged in Fire." LaMothe's episode, "The Talwar," will air on Tuesday, May 16, at 9 p.m.

"Forged in Fire" is a reality television show in which four blacksmiths compete for a $10,000 prize. In the first round, all four blacksmiths have three hours to forge a knife. One blacksmith is eliminated. In the second round, the remaining three blacksmiths have three hours to finish their knives. One more blacksmith is eliminated. In the final round, the two blacksmiths travel to their home forges to craft an iconic blade from a historical period. In LaMothe's episode, that sword is a Talwar, a curved sword honed to perfection in the Indian Subcontinent during the 14th century.

LaMothe has been forging metal and making tools since 2009 in his home forge in Hebron, N.Y., where he lives on a small farm with his parents and four siblings. In the summer of 2014, after his first year at Williams College, LaMothe started Jordan's Blades, designing, making, and selling his own hand-forged knives. At Williams, LaMothe is a music major who participates in Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and the Jazz Ensemble, as well as working in the machine shop. He intends to make knives fulltime after he graduates in June.



The write stuff: The Berkshire Athenaeum and The Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum are hosting the 39th annual Short Story Writing Contest for Children and Young Adults. Forms are available at the Children's Desk. There are five divisions (Age 5-6 years as of June 1, 2017; Age 7-8 years as of June 1, 2017; Age 9-10 years as of June 1, 2017; Age 11-14 years as of June 1, 2017; and Age 15-18 years as of June 1, 2017). If there are not at least 10 entries in a division, it may be combined with another. See the Children's Desk for full rules and contest entry form.

Depending upon entries received, the following prizes will be awarded in each division: First place will receive a $35 cash prize, second place will receive a $25 cash prize, and honorable mentions will receive $20 cash prizes. Prizes are donated by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Stories will be judged on their originality, appeal and writing style. Each contestant should submit her/his story to the Berkshire Athenaeum Children's Library (1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield; and all entries, whether delivered in person or by mail, must be received by 4 p.m. Monday, July 17. Winners will receive their awards at a special ceremony for all participants, which will be held Friday, Aug. 18, at 1 p.m. in the auditorium of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

 

Cooking up something special: The Williamstown Rotary Club, in partnership with Rotary District 7890, recently purchased a new stove for the Berkshire Food Project. On May 9, the club joined with BFP to celebrate the acquisition. At the event, Rotarians presented Valerie Schwarz, BFP executive director, with a symbolic check to mark the event.


BArT deadline: The Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School is currently enrolling students in grades six through nine for the 2017-18 school year. The next enrollment deadline is Wednesday, May 24, at noon. More information on the school’s enrollment and lottery process can be found online. BArT is a nationally recognized, award-winning, tuition-free public middle and high school focused on preparing students for college.

 

Spreading warmth: Members of the local chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders gathered recently to present a check to the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center in Bennington, Vt. More than $800 was raised through a quilt raffle. The funds will be added to the Cancer Center Patient Resource Fund, which is used to assist cancer patients with the expenses related to their diagnosis.



Nominations sought: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Berkshire County is seeking award nominations for the 2017 Eunice Zorobo Awards, which will be presented during the organization’s annual meeting in September. In addition, the organization is seeking nominations for its Board of Directors. Following are the 2017 Euince Zorbo Award categories:

Member of the Year: This award recognizes a member as someone who contributes enthusiastically to NAMI Berkshire County’s activities in support of its mission to help families whose lives are affected by mental illness.

Citizen of the Year: This award is given to someone who has shown an understanding of mental illnesses and advocates for improvement in treatment of those who live with mental illnesses and their caregivers.

The Silver Ribbon: This award recognized an advocate in the mental health field whose work has shown a commitment to the care of those whose lives are affected by mental illnesses.

To nominate someone, please submit the individua's first and last name and a statement of why you feel they should receive the award to namibc@namibc.org or mail it to NAMI Berkshire County, 333 East St., Room 417, Pittsfield, MA 01201. The submission deadline is Monday, May 22.



Winter wonderland: Berkshire County Arc is accepting gently-used coats, scarves, hats and mittens - as well as winter clothing items that have been knitted or crocheted - from now through May 31. Drop off locations are as follows: Berkshire County Arc’s Community Apartments, 189 First Street, Pittsfield; 288 Pecks Rd, Pittsfield (one of the agency’s residential facilities); and Berkshire County Arc’s Main Office, 395 South Street, Pittsfield.

The agency will hold a second winter clothing drive in the fall and, at that time, all donated items will be distributed to various organizations in the community. For questions or additional information, contact Rhodora at 413-499-4241, ext. 255.



Mission accomplished: A diverse assembly of more than 100 leaders from 17 Berkshire County communities of faith met with members of the Berkshire state legislative delegation on April 30 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield and won their recommitment to Berkshire Interfaith Organizing’s legislative agenda.  After hearing testimony from BIO leaders, including many poignant stories, state Sen. Adam Hinds and Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier reported to BIO on their efforts and received strong rounds of applause for their leadership on the issues facing Berkshire residents.

Rep. Paul Mark, who was unavoidably in Lowell at the last minute, indicated his leadership on food insecurity through drafting a letter to Gov. Baker urging the timely release of $6,000,000 in authorized capital funds for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP), an essential tool in increasing access to affordable, healthy food in low-moderate income communities and food deserts across the Commonwealth. The Berkshire legislative delegation has expressed support for An Act Relative to Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives (S.1551 and H. 1640), which would allow municipalities to band together to levy tax to support our rural public transportation system Legislators pledged to work with BIO leaders and others to research innovative modes of public transportation that can meet our unique transportation needs in Berkshire County and to do everything in their power to help secure additional funding for this essential public service.

After hearing stirring accounts from both immigrants and non-immigrants, Sen. Hinds and Rep. Farley-Bouvier, both strong proponents of the Safe Communities Act, responded in kind. Sen. Hinds, a member of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, referred to An Act to Protect the Civil Rights and Safety of all Massachusetts Residents (S. 1305 and H. 3269) as a statement declaring that we want all Massachusetts residents, including immigrants, to be able to live without fear and "to work hard to make our dreams come true," as quoted by one BIO immigrant leader.

As the final commitment of the event, the full assembly signed single sheet petitions urging the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to schedule a committee hearing on the Safe Communities Act and do everything in their power to advance the bill.

BIO is an interfaith group of clergy, communities of faith, and their regional affiliates who seek to make justice real in our community. For more information or to get involved, go online.

Comments
More Featured Stories
Williamstown.com is owned and operated by: Boxcar Media 102 Main Sreet, North Adams, MA 01247 -- T. 413-663-3384
© 2011 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved