Berkshire Business Journal August 2026

From ‘weed guy’ to Washington Lenox native has become a voice for the hemp industry Page 2

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Berkshire Business Journal AUGUST 2026 | VOL. 5, NO. 8

They Dream Green — and big

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Dream Green Recycling co-Founders Kyle Danforth, left, and Patrick Kennedy at the company’s Pittsfield warehouse. “We want to be a one-stop shop for all recycling,” Danforth said.

Recycling partners seeking to expand Adams company By Jane Kaufman The Berkshire Eagle ADAMS — Starting with box cutters

and working from a home garage in North Adams, Patrick Kennedy and Kyle Danforth founded their business on the simple act of ripping mattresses. That was in 2023, after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection banned mattresses from the waste stream as of Nov. 1, 2022. Today, their company, Dream Green Recycling, rips 10,000 to 15,000 mattresses a year, from Berkshire County and beyond. It does cleanouts of homes and is expanding through diversification. It recycles air conditioners, scraps appliances and, as of July, has a rare international certification to do data destruction, scrubbing and overwriting on hard drives

and solid state drives. The company co-owner Dan Haskins, who serves also reclaims precious metals from as chief financial officer, are looking computers, including gold. to expand in Adams, seeking a speWhile the matcial tax assessment tress and applifrom the town for ance recycling “If we have a facility seven years. market is limitUnder the name ed to a radius of big enough, whatever DG Investments, about an hour’s Dream Green drive, recycling someone throws at us Recycling on computers means July 14 bought a the business can and we can solve that 16,000-square-foot reach a national, problem, we want to building, where it and even internahas leased space, tional market. for $840,000. It has do that.” “We want to be an $800,000 morta one-stop shop Kyle Danforth, gage with the for all recycling,” co-founder of Dream previous owner, Danforth said. “If Shaker Mountain we have a facility Green Recycling Properties. big enough, whatIf Dream Green ever someone throws at us and we Recycling wins the special tax ascan solve that problem, we want to sessment, it would give the compado that.” ny tax breaks for each of the next Kennedy and Danforth, along with seven years in return for putting 12

more people on the local payroll by Dec. 31, 2028. Today there are four. Winning that special tax assessment will require both the endorsement of the Select Board as well as an affirmative vote at a town meeting, possibly as early as September. Specifically, the special tax assessment would give Dream Green Recycling a 100 percent tax abatement in the first two years, 75 percent in the third and fourth, 50 percent in the fifth and sixth, and 25 percent in the seventh and final year. Adams has a commercial property tax rate of $21.51 for fiscal year 2026. Nicholas Caccamo, town administrator, estimated the taxes of the property, at nearly $16,000. Blueprints for an additional 11,000-square-foot warehouse in Adams are on the wall of one of the offices in the building. But Danforth says the 1.5-acre DREAM GREEN, Page 4

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August 2026

Front pages

From ‘weed guy’ to Washington Lenox native has become a voice for the hemp industry

DAVID CARR

Thomas Winstanley, a Lenox native who helped grow Theory Wellness into a major Berkshires cannabis brand, is now president of Edibles.com and lobbying Congress to protect low-dose hemp-derived THC products. By M aryjane Williams LENOX — When Thomas Winstanley was

a teenager at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, he was known as a “weed guy.” He captained three sports teams, went on to a good college and, as he puts it, “worked hard.” Regardless, his affinity for cannabis was the thing adults warned would get him into trouble. Now, the Berkshires native is president of Edibles.com, a national hemp-derived THC marketplace backed by Edible Arrangements. From his base in Atlanta, he’s flying to conferences, testifying before lawmakers and lobbying members of Congress and federal agencies to keep low-dose THC gummies and drinks legal as Washington rewrites hemp rules this year. That national role grew directly out of the work he did much closer to home helping build Theory Wellness and, in turn, the modern cannabis industry in the Berkshires. ROOTS IN THE BERKSHIRES As a graduate of Lenox High, Winstanley said the close-knit school environment evoked a strong sense of community that has shaped the way he approaches business. “You almost are forced to adopt community roots in a way that if you’re living in Atlanta, where I am today, it’s bigger and you almost have like a little bit of a less connection,” he said. He once swore he’d never move back to the Berkshires. But, after college and a stint working out of state, he did just that, eventually landing at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health as director of marketing. Then, in 2018, as Massachusetts’ legal cannabis industry was just emerging, he interviewed for a job with a small company that had just opened a medical dispensary in Great Barrington: Theory Wellness. At the time, Theory was a two-dispensary medical cannabis operation with locations in Great Barrington and Bridgewater and a staff of about 40.

“I met with a very close family friend, and he was like, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’ And I said, ‘I want to go work with a small company and help grow it and turn it into something,’” Winstanley said. Soon after, in January 2019, Theory’s Great Barrington store opened for recreational sales, changing the business and the local cannabis economy almost overnight. “We were on an incredible run rate during those years… the rec tide kind of raised everybody,” Winstanley said. “We took a lot of the capital we were making, invested it into growth, scale, new markets, new stores, upgrading production facilities, making new products.” Lines of customers, many with out-ofstate plates, wrapped around Theory’s parking lot. Winstanley helped shape the brand as Theory expanded to new stores and products, including an outdoor farm in Sheffield and one of Massachusetts’ first cannabis beverage lines, Hi5. As the company grew, Winstanley grew with it, rising from director of marketing to vice president and eventually chief marketing officer. He credits Theory’s longevity in a crowded market to maintaining a clear identity as the brand expanded. “Anybody in the company would have answered the same question of, ‘What do you want this company to be?’ ” he said. “We wanted to feel craft, new, accessible, premium, but not alienating to folks. We knew there were a lot of people who were coming in for the first time to experience consumer retail within this category, and we never really lost sight of a lot of those things.” For Winstanley, opening a regulated cannabis dispensary in his home county carried a certain irony after years of being told that the substance would land him in trouble. “[There’s] this kind of poetic justice to be able to open a commercially viable store in your hometown,’” he said. As chief marketing officer, Winstanley became Theory’s primary bridge to the skeptical public when the recreational dispensary opened, calling uneasy residents directly and walking them through

how a regulated operation works. To ease the community’s concerns further, Theory also built close ties with local nonprofits and community programs. “We always wanted to make sure that we were doing something that showed, not said, that we were committed to our local areas,” he said. Even as the business expanded into other states, the Berkshires remained central for him. His parents still live in the Berkshires, two of his children were born here, and he makes regular trips back for holidays and Tanglewood. “The Berkshires has always been home to me,” Winstanley said. A NEW FRONTIER: HEMP-DERIVED THC If Theory anchored Winstanley in the local cannabis boom, his next move pushed him into a different part of the THC economy shaped by the 2018 Farm Bill. The law legalized hemp farming and set the legal limit at 0.3 percent THC, enough to allow low-dose gummies and drinks made with the same compound found in cannabis, just not enough to count as marijuana. That’s also why, unlike state-licensed cannabis, they can often ship across state lines. The catch: the FDA was left in charge of regulating hemp-derived food and supplements, and it still hasn’t set clear rules, so companies are operating in a legal gray area that differs from state to state. A few years into that shift, the parent company behind Edible Arrangements approached Winstanley with a proposition: It owned the domain Edibles.com and wanted him to build a business around it. “It was one of the most interesting job briefs I had ever experienced,” he said. He joined as executive vice president of Edibles.com, which operates as a mostly independent business under the Edible Brands umbrella. The site is an online marketplace for hemp-derived THC and CBD ingestible products, including drinks, gummies and drink enhancers, with an emphasis on plant-based wellness. The goal isn’t the high, Winstanley said. It’s what comes after: better sleep, less EDIBLES, Page 3

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

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PROVIDED BY THOMAS WINSTANLEY

Thomas Winstanley, center, a Lenox native and president of Edibles.com, now splits his time between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., lobbying lawmakers to protect low-dose hempderived THC products.

Edibles FROM PAGE 2

stress, sharper focus and a plant-based alternative to the pill bottle. “One of our trademark lines is ‘health not high,’ because I’m a big believer in the health and wellness properties of the plant, and I think we lose a little bit of that in the rec markets at times,” Winstanley said. “We want to help bridge the gap of what consumers are looking for for alternative plant-based medicine.” The company’s customer base backs that up. Winstanley said the platform skews 55 and older and predominantly female — a demographic that already has a relationship with the Edible Arrangements brand and trusts it to deliver something safe and legal. “I think a lot of this Nancy Reagan-era generation is starting to shed some of that stigma,” Winstanley said. “Those 55 and older people are not the ones who are looking to get infused prerolls and dabs and all this stuff … people are coming to us for the health and wellness benefits of the products.” Unlike a dispensary menu with hundreds of items, Edibles.com carries a smaller set of products, Winstanley said, many from brands that also operate in state-licensed cannabis markets but maintain separate hemp lines. While the Farm Bill allowed hemp products federally, individual states have since written their own rules, with some banning or restricting certain forms of hemp-derived THC and others allowing them more broadly. Edibles.com currently ships to 30 states, with product restrictions in some places based on state law. Winstanley said the company tries to respect these regulations and avoid shipping products where they aren’t allowed, including Massachusetts, where hemp rules differ and a mature cannabis market already exists. FIGHTING FOR HEMP’S FUTURE IN WASHINGTON The bigger test is sitting in Washington, D.C.

Congress is currently working on a new Farm Bill and lawmakers are debating proposals that could significantly restrict or ban many hemp-derived THC products nationwide. Winstanley now spends a significant share of his time in Washington, meeting with members of Congress, the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies to argue for a different approach. “Any form of continued prohibition, which this hemp ban would be, is adversely going to impact all segments of THC, not just cannabis or hemp,” he said. Instead, he argues for a split regulatory model, where low-dose gummies would be regulated like dietary supplements under existing FDA frameworks, low-dose beverages would be overseen under the alcohol system by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and higher-dose, more intoxicating products would remain exclusively in state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. “In the same way that you can get creatine and ashwagandha and all of these other plant-based alternatives for your health, I think cannabinoids should be part of that conversation in very low doses, and I’m talking 3 to 5 milligrams per serving,” Winstanley said. He also makes the case that hemp-derived THC could benefit American agriculture. Farmers who grow hemp, he said, can earn more than they do growing commodity crops like corn and soybeans. “American farmers are hurting right now,” he said. “This has given them a lifeline to cultivate things that actually have a commercial value, where I don’t think that challenges indoor gardens and indoor cultivation facilities and regulated markets.” Regardless, Winstanley’s overarching concern remains the same: consumer access to hemp-derived THC products. Whether Congress narrows the hemp market or formalizes it, he says, the demand it unlocked is not going anywhere. “An edible that people consume with THC is always going to be something that is going to exist,” Winstanley said. “Where we choose to participate in that future is the question.”

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Dream Green FROM PAGE 1

parcel Dream Green Recycling now owns won’t be large enough to accommodate the expansion he’s planning in the next five years, and he’d like to stay in Adams. He’s looking for 5 acres to build on. “My five-year plan is to be a $20 million revenue company,” he said. Part of realizing that kind of revenue might depend on whether the company can move into solar tile recycling. Dream Green Recycling also rents about half of a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Pittsfield with 20-foot-high ceilings. Height is important for baling the foam material and fabric from mattresses into 1,000-pound bundles. It takes 40 of those bundles to make a truckload that will get shipped to points as far away as Indiana. But with a $3.8 mllion price tag on the Pittsfield building, the company isn’t looking to buy that warehouse. Dream Green Recycling picks up mattresses with a 16-foot box truck. And recently, it was expected to add a used 20-foot box truck at a cost of $60,000, doubling the size of the fleet. While the company has hired two people in the past month, it’s also looking to hire more immediately to drive that new truck, do e-commerce, administrative work and general labor. On a recent Tuesday, two workers came back with the company truck loaded with mattresses and appliances. Offloading took place in about 15 minutes, with a stove going directly into the scrap bin outdoors, and mattresses piled up and moved with a forklift. Danforth, who is CEO, and Kennedy, COO, have researched placements for every part of a mattress except the styrofoam corners and the plastic sheathing. On clean mattresses, that’s all that goes to the landfill. If a mattress is dirty, soiled fabric and foam goes to landfills as well. Springs go to scrapyards. Toppers and foam go to textile manufacturers in those 1,000-pound bales. Cotton felt gets separated out for use as insulation, carpet padding and dog beds. And the wood frames? While they’d like to send them to people in need of wood for home heating, the state has rules about what recyclers can do. So they get reused in the wood stoves of maple syrup producers. While precious metals from computer components command a lucrative price, scrap metal is the next most-valuable commodity on Dream Green’s resale market. Baled foam and cotton com-

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Patrick Kennedy deconstructs a mattress into its individual materials, which are then packed into bales and shipped off-site for reuse. mand just 4 cents a pound. So their costs are covered by the $55 fee customers pay to toss out their mattresses and the fees customers pay to recycle other appliances and computers. Still, last year, Dream Green Recycling made close to $500,000 in revenue, Danforth said, up from $75,000 the previous year. This year, he expects to clear $1 million. Danforth and Kennedy went to Drury High School both graduating in 2003. They remained friends. Danforth was national sales director of National Hanger Co., got his real estate license and owns K. Danforth Enterprises, a construction company. He also owns The Rainbow Shack in Adams. Kennedy worked for Central Radio in sales. This business was his brainchild. Adams has given special tax assessments to other businesses, most

recently in 2019 to B&B Micro Manufacturing, a tiny home builder on Howland Avenue. The Select Board discussed the proposal for a special tax assessment at a July workshop meeting after ongoing discussions between the town and the business.

“I got a sense of a lot of positivity and support,” Caccamo said. “This seems like a very interesting field. I think the work that Dream Green is doing kind of dovetails nicely to a very real problem that the commonwealth has with landfill capacity.”

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Business updates GREAT BARRINGTON

Nature-inspired shop opens on Railroad Street Undergrowth, a new art studio and gift shop inspired by the natural world, has opened at 47 Railroad St. Undergrowth was founded by artist, teacher and forager Michal Strawbridge and her daughter, illustrator Kai Strawbridge. Shoppers will find a curated collection of handmade and nature-inspired goods, original artwork, botanical products, books, stationery, home goods, and gifts from local and independent makers. The shop will also host workshops, artist demonstrations, poetry nights, seasonal events, and community gatherings throughout the year. For updates, workshops and store information, visit undergrowthgoods.com or follow @undergrowthgb on Instagram and Facebook. PITTSFIELD

Beacon Bank invests $600K in nonprofits Beacon Bank and the bank’s foundation invested nearly $600,000 in more than 130 nonprofit organizations across its communities in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont through charitable giving and sponsorships from January to March. Examples of nonprofits that received funding in the first quarter include Berkshire Community College Foundation, Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, Community Access to the Arts Inc., Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center Inc., and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Inc. Beacon Bank invests in the success and vibrancy of its local communities by supporting programs and organizations that focus on one of three areas: Neighborhood revitalization and preservation, education and critical services. For more information, visit tinyurl. com/49z9maxa. PITTSFIELD

Eight students awarded BCArc scholarships Berkshire County Arc and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group awarded scholarships to eight area high school seniors. • The Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group Scholarship Award was received by Sam Iovieno of Wahconah Regional High School. • The Berkshire County Arc Debra Jarck Memorial Nursing Scholarship Award was received by Grace Horbah of Taconic High School. • The Berkshire County Arc Debra Jarck Memorial Nursing Scholarship Award was received by Remi Perreault of Monument Mountain Regional High School. • The Berkshire County Arc Carol Craighead Memorial Scholarship Award was received by Gloria Yankey of Pittsfield High School. • The Berkshire County Arc Scholarship Award was received by Jordyn Lloyd of McCann Technical High School, Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk of Westfield High School, Samuel Korte of Lee Middle & High School, and April Soasti of Taconic High School. NORTH ADAMS

MountainOne releases third children storybook MountainOne has released “Getting to Work,” the third children’s storybook in its series about “Mo,” the MountainOne spokesgoat, following “How to Climb a Mountain” and “Something to Save.” Written by Doug Murphy and illustrated by Laura Salafia, the book follows Mo and Penny the chipmunk as they discover the importance of responsibility, teamwork and community. New characters include Dakota the dog, Great the farm goat, and Rory the raccoon. The books are designed to promote

financial literacy and life skills for young readers. MountainOne staff also visit schools, libraries and community events for readings and activities. More information is available at mountainone.com/mo-storybook. EGREMONT

Interior design studio nets House Beautiful recognition Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio, newly established in Berkshire County, has been named to House Beautiful magazine’s Next Wave Class of 2026, recognizing emerging talent in interior design. The distinction places founder Abigail Marcelo among a select group of designers chosen nationwide for their fresh vision, creative excellence and the promise of lasting influence on American design. Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio recently relocated to South Egremont from Salisbury, Conn., where Marcelo resides with her family. Marcelo worked in New York City for a decade before moving to Litchfield County in 2019. For more information, visit casamarcelo.co or follow @casamarcelo.co on Instagram. PITTSFIELD

GFCU ceremony honors Wealth Ambassador grads Greylock Federal Credit Union recently held a ceremony celebrating the first class of its Wealth Ambassador Program, a youth-centered financial literacy initiative. The 2026 class included 16 people ranging in age from 11 to 19. The event, which was attended by several ambassadors, their relatives, members of Greylock’s leadership team and board of directors, marked the culmination of the program that began in September 2025 and ended this past May. The program, developed to expand the ambassadors’ knowledge around financial literacy and deepen their connection to the credit union, included a blend of online and in-person sessions throughout the year. Participation required a Greylock membership and submission of an application outlining why financial literacy is important. For their commitment to the program, participants received a stipend and letter of commendation. The program can accommodate up to 20 participants up to the age of 22. Applications for the 2026-27 class are available at greylock.org/wa. GREAT BARRINGTON

Fairview birthing center wins quality care award The Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network has recognized the Fairview Hospital Family Birthplace with a 2026 Clinical Team Award. The award recognizes clinical teams for improving perinatal health, with an emphasis on health equity and care for underserved and historically marginalized populations. According to PNQIN, the nomination highlighted Fairview’s participation in the AIM Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Bundle collaborative and its efforts to improve screening, early identification, coordinated care and support for birthing patients and families. PNQIN also noted many patients said they may not have sought help without staff encouragement and guidance. PITTSFIELD

MassHire presents awards during June annual meeting The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board celebrated its fiscal 2026 accomplishments, elected officers and presented its annual Workforce Impact Awards during its annual meeting June 4 at Hill-crest Educational Centers. Onyx Specialty Papers Inc. was named Employer of the Year for its commitment to workforce development, career exploration, and community partnership. Kristen Palatt, Erica Girgenti and

Lindsay McGinnis of Hoosac Valley Middle & High School received Educator of the Year honors for expanding career readiness programs, internships and pathways for students. Taconic High School sophomore Romelo Holley received the Outstanding Youth Award for his work through a MassHire marketing internship. Sara Milano, a member of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, was named Workforce Professional of the Year in recognition of her 12 years of dedication to strengthening the region’s healthcare and manufacturing workforce. Officers were re-elected to serve fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 include David Moresi of Moresi & Associates, president/ chairperson; Michael Taylor of the city of Pittsfield and Christopher Smith of Hillcrest Educational Centers, vice chairs; James Brosnan of Northern Berkshire Vocational School District, treasurer; Beth Petropulos of MountainOne, assistant treasurer; Chelsea Robbins of Mativ, secretary; Albert Ingegni of Salisbury Estates, at-large member; and Doug McNally, FrostHollow Associates, Youth Council chair. During fiscal 2026, the board provided career experiences for about 2,800 students, supported internships for 330 youth, assisted 950 businesses with workforce needs and expanded training programs in manufacturing, healthcare and early education. PITTSFIELD

Eight students awarded Co-op Bank scholarships Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has awarded $9,500 for the Conrad Bernier Memo-rial Scholarships to eight students in recognition of their academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and commitment to higher education. This year’s recipients are Matthew Egan from Pittsfield High School; Romeo Yankey from Taconic High School and an intern in Co-op Bank’s Information Technology Department; Madison Judson from Wahconah Regional High School; Jordyn Lloyd and Aidan Tremblay from McCann Technical School; Brooklynn Lamke from Lenox Memorial High School; and Heidi Saupe and Caroline Becker from Monument Mountain Regional High School. The students will attend colleges and universities including Salve Regina University, Northeastern University, Emmanuel College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, New York University, and Elon University. The Conrad Bernier Memorial Scholarship reflects the bank’s continued support of education and Berk-shire County students. GREAT BARRINGTON

Funding advances nonprofit health insurance initiative State Rep. Leigh Davis announced that $100,000 for the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires’ Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative was included in the House-passed Massachusetts Economic Development Bond Bill, which passed 148-2 and now moves to the Senate. The funding will support the launch of a statewide health insurance initiative allowing nonprofits to pool their purchasing power to access more affordable premiums, stronger plan options and streamlined administration. Acrisure will serve as the professional benefits aggregator, organizing the pool and negotiating with carriers, while each nonprofit retains the flexibility to determine whether participation is right for them. “Nonprofits are essential to the economic and social fabric of our communities, but many struggle to offer competitive health benefits,” said Davis. “This investment helps level the playing field, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to support and retain their workforce while expanding access to quality, affordable care.”

Berkshire County is home to nearly 1,200 nonprofit organizations— one of the highest concentrations per capita in Massachusetts — and the sector supports approximately one in four jobs. Despite this, many nonprofits lack the scale needed to secure affordable health insurance. The initiative aims to address a major barrier to participation: aligning nonprofit health plan renewals to a shared Jan. 1 start date without forcing employees to pay “double deductibles” during the transition. Davis thanked Samantha Anderson, executive director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, for her leadership in advancing the initiative. “This investment is about fairness and sustainability for the nonprofit workforce,” said Anderson. “Nonprofits employ a significant share of our regional workforce, yet too often lack access to the same quality, affordable health benefits as larger employers. The Common-wealth Benefits Collaborative is a practical, scalable solution, and this funding removes a critical barrier to launching it in a way that protects employees and sets the model up for long-term success.” NORTH ADAMS

BFAIR in Bloom raises $40K for disability services BFAIR’s annual BFAIR in Bloom fundraiser on June 4 at Proprietor’s Lodge in Pittsfield raised $40,000 to support programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families throughout the Berkshires. The event featured craft tastings, desserts, live music, and floral displays, with contributions from local vendors and performers.

A free monthly publication by The Berkshire Eagle 75 South Church Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Visit berkshirebusinessjournal.com for advertising information and to subscribe. NEWS DEPARTMENT 413-447-7311 news@berkshireeagle.com ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT AMY FILIAULT, Advertising Manager 413-496-6322 afiliault@berkshireeagle.com CHERYL GAJEWSKI, Director of Advertising Sales 413-841-6789, 413-496-6330 cmcclusky@berkshireeagle.com Share your news with the Berkshire Business Journal. If you have a company promotion, a new business or a new venture, let the Berkshires know about it. Remember the 5 Ws and that briefer is better. Email text and photos to BBJ@newenglandnewspapers.com. Provide your expertise in the Berkshire Business Journal. Do you have the answer to a persistent question about business and the Berkshires? Do you have ideas and suggestions on how our business community can grow? If you have a comment to make about doing business in the Berkshires or if you’re looking to raise an issue with the business community, this is the venue for that. We welcome letters up to 300 words and commentary up to 600 words. Send these to BBJ@newenglandnewspapers.com. Berkshire Business Journal is published monthly by New England Newspapers Inc., 75 S. Church St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsfield, MA 01201. Berkshire Business Journal is delivered free to businesses in Berkshire County via third class mail. Additional distribution is made via drop-off at select area newsstands. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. Only publication of an advertisement shall constitute final acceptance of an advertiser’s order. All contents are copyrighted by New England Newspapers Inc.

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Grant boosts climate tech startups By I an McM ahan

PITTSFIELD — Marc Bellora used to build his prototypes out of steel, but with resources from the Berkshire Innovation Center, he now has access to laboratories and 3D-printing equipment that make developing his water clarifier easier. “For a company like mine that’s being self-funded, that was very important to help get us to the next level,” he said. The center will be able to help more entrepreneurs like Bellora after receiving a $120,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to support climate technology startups. This year, the grant will go to support several preexisting initiatives based out of the Woodlawn Avenue center. The largest investment will support the Accelerator Program, which will focus on preparing founders for managing their growing businesses, said Ben Sosne, executive director of the BIC. “That founder, who might be a great engineer, they’re all of a sudden running a company with multiple employees,” Sosne said. “There’s a real learning curve when that company starts to grow.” Bellora joined the Accelerator Program in 2025, specifically looking for help to get his machine — a portable water clarifier that can combat algae blooms in lakes without adding chemicals to the water — to the testing phase and later for possible sale. While access to water testing equipment and 3D printing made a great difference to his prototyping, Bellora said, the advice and expertise of the BIC’s seasoned staff was just as valuable. “The BIC is an important resource for companies like mine because otherwise there would be no place to collaborate with other entrepreneurs [or] receive guidance and mentorship,” he said. After a year of development, Bellora’s Clear Waterways Group is putting its invention to the test. “We’ve proven the concept — we recently were provided approval from the conservation commission of Pittsfield to conduct further studies at Pontoosuc Lake,” he said. In the future, Bellora said he hopes to offer his water clarifier as an environmentally friendly solution to algae blooms that can close lakes and swimming holes. Another long standing BIC partner and Accelerator participant, Noble Carbon, is also advancing its smart circuit breaker technology, which could help

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Berkshire Innovation Center Executive Director Ben Sosne leads Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on a tour of the facility in Pittsfield in August 2025. The center received a $120,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to support climate technology startups.

The largest investment will support the Accelerator Program, which will focus on preparing founders for managing their growing businesses.

BERSKHIRE INNOVATION CENTER

Jared Lebos, left, sits down last year with Dennis Rebelo, chief learning officer at the Berkshire Innovation Center, for a podcast on Lebos’ clean energy startup Noble Carbon. “Because the BIC was so good to us in the beginning, the BIC will always be a part of Noble Carbon’s story,” Lebos said. reduce energy consumption. Jared Lebos, CEO of Noble Carbon, said that his time at the BIC allowed him to connect with other industry play-

ers — leading to additional funding from MassCEC for his company to participate in a pilot project with Eversource. “The essence of this project

that we’re doing with Eversource is to get our systems into low and moderate income households in and around Western Massachusetts to

drive energy savings,” he said. “Because the BIC was so good to us in the beginning, the BIC will always be a part of Noble Carbon’s story.” The MassCEC grant is the latest of five awarded to the innovation center under the state’s Innovation Ecosystem Program, adding to a total of more than $300,000 invested in supporting climate technology startups, according to Benedikt Renolds, program manager for the state’s program. “Because climate tech takes five to 10 years to scale and reach the market, these companies benefit from having incubators like the BIC,” Renolds said. “We want to help provide indirect support and create this ecosystem.”

Merged entity to rebrand as Trailmark Bank By Tara Monastesse PITTSFIELD — As two Berkshire County

banks prepare to merge later this year, they’ve selected a new name. In a joint statement, Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced Wednesday the name of their combined institution will be Trailmark Bank, pending approval from regulators. Bank leaders chose the name to reflect the region’s outdoorsy spirit by referencing the county’s broad network of hiking trails, as well as to evoke “movement, resilience and the shared experience of nav-

IMAGE PROVIDED

igating forward together,” according to a press release. “Trailmark Bank reflects the character of this region — hard-working, resilient and grounded in the outdoors and community,” said Gregg Levante, incoming president of the combined bank, in the release. “These trails have connected our

towns for generations, and in many ways, that’s what we’re doing here — bringing people together and helping them navigate their financial journeys.” The two banks announced in April that they planned to merge, pooling their existing resources into a combined $1.5 billion in assets, nearly 200 employees and full-service branches across the county. The merger is expected to be finalized later this year once regulators sign off on it. “Trailmark Bank reflects both where we come from and where we’re headed,” said Julie Fallon Hughes, incom-

ing CEO for Trailmark Bank, in the release. “We are proud to be a bank built by people who believe in staying the course, investing in our communities, and helping our customers make their mark for years to come.” Both banks will continue to operate independently until the merger is complete, and there have not yet been any changes to customer accounts or either bank’s services. New branding, products and materials in line with the new name will be phased in as the merger progresses. Trailmark Bank plans to base its headquarters in Pittsfield.

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

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Cannabis company growing into retail By Jane K aufman

The company plans to hire five to 10 more employees to staff the retail operation.

ADAMS — LC Square, which

cultivates and manufactures cannabis products, hopes to open its own retail dispensary within the next year. The company plans to convert a former weigh station — an outbuilding measuring less than 700 square feet on the south side of the property — into a retail dispensary on its Howland Avenue property. The shop would sell marijuana flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, rosin, wax, vape cartridges, edibles, cannabidiol products and accessories, all produced at the company’s 10,000-square-foot cultivation and manufacturing facility. In a formal presentation given during a public meeting last month as part of the regulatory process required by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission, Tyler Shaw explained security precautions that would be set up to prevent sales to minors. Shaw, who oversees compliance and regulatory affairs at LC Square, outlined security measures designed to prevent sales to minors. He also said the former weigh station will need extensive renovations, including a new roof, floor and security system. Before the retail shop can open, LC Square must obtain a retail license from the Cannabis Control Commission. Founder and CEO of LC Square LLC Art Babayan was unavailable for comment. LC Square received its cultivation licenses in 2018, but didn’t

JANE KAUFMAN

Tyler Shaw is looking forward to opening a dispensary on the grounds of LC Square in Adams. The company produces an average of 120 pounds of dry material a week, Shaw said. start production until 2021. It’s now producing an average of 120 pounds of dry material a week, Shaw said. Total gross sales of marijuana across the state have exceeded $9.6 billion since legal

sales began in November 2018, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. Sales totaled $12.4 million statewide last week and more than $156 million in June. Shaw said that marijuana

flower is the biggest seller to LC Square’s wholesalers. Inside the plant, employees worked at stations packaging cannabis-infused toothpicks, vape cartridges, gummies and weighing marijuana flower.

Employees must wear hairnets, face masks and disposable boot covers to keep contaminants away from edible production areas. “When our employees get to work, they change their clothes completely,” Shaw said. “If a small aphid were on you, and it got in a flower room and populated, you’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix that problem.” Shaw said opening a retail dispensary makes good business sense. “It gives us no middle man,” he said. “It gives us an opportunity to create more jobs in the community.” The company plans to hire five to 10 more employees to staff the retail operation, he said. LC Square has close to 50 employees now. Shaw, who grew up in Adams and graduated from Westfield State College where he majored in music with a concentration in jazz studies, said he approaches his job as if it were a puzzle. “I love spreadsheets,” he said. “I love being organized, and I love doing that stuff. So, it’s fun for me.”

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Berkshire Business Journal

August 2026

Seafood, piano lounge poised to open

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Gordy Hebler is planning to open The Grand, an upscale seafood restaurant and piano lounge, in the historic Shipton Building on North Street in Pittsfield. “I know what good food is,” he said. “I know what you’re supposed to experience.” By Tara Monastesse

If you go ...

PITTSFIELD — A new restaurant

opening on North Street this summer hopes to make diners feel like they’re stepping back in time to the 1920s, complete with live music and an art deco vibe. Local caterer and restaurateur Gordy Hebler will open The Grand, a new seafood restaurant and piano lounge, sometime in August. An exact opening date has not yet been set. In addition to fresh oysters and caviar, live entertainment will be a key part of the experience. A rotating series of piano players and singers will perform at the restaurant every evening it’s open, led by Music Director Ron Ramsay. Born and raised in Pittsfield, Hebler, 67, has pursued a career in catering and show business that’s led him to travel across the country and work with high-profile performers. He also briefly co-owned “zoie’s on main” in North Adams in the late 1990s. Now that he’s moved back to the Berkshires to be closer to family, he hopes to take advantage of a particularly slow summer for concert-based catering gigs to launch a new restaurant in his hometown. “The menu is designed around all the food I’ve enjoyed eating over the years,” Hebler said. He’s taking inspiration from dishes he’s sampled across the U.S., from oysters eaten in the French Quarter of New Orleans to the shrimp cocktail he once savored in Indianapolis. Hebler’s got an old-school approach to running a restaurant. No delivery, just dine-in. Nothing fried, no burgers or chicken — just fresh seafood and some solid

What: The Grand seafood restaurant and piano lounge. When: Seasonally from April to December, opening in August. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for brunch, and 4:30 to 9 p.m. for dinner. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations: Suggested

The Grand owes its name to the piano that already sits on a riser at the front of the space on North Street in the historic Shipton building. The restaurant will host a rotating series of piano players and singers every evening it’s open. appetizers, and hopefully beer and wine once he’s able to secure an alcohol license. A self-described “absolute snob” when it comes to food, Hebler is aware of his strong convictions but is unapologetic about them. “I know who I am. I know what good food is,” he said. “I know what you’re supposed to experience.” He also speaks his mind with audacious candor, and not just when it comes to his opinions on seafood. He thinks Pittsfield is in desperate need of more diverse dining options, and finds himself frustrated by how many local

restaurants serve the same thing. “We should make sure that we don’t overlap each other,” he said. The Grand will be located at 156 North St., on the first floor of the historic Shipton Building. Hebler chose the location because it already had a ventilation system installed in the kitchen, and has invested in a complete interior renovation. The restaurant will be open seasonally, from April to December, Hebler said. Reservations will be suggested but not required. A recent visit to the restaurant, still under construction, offered a first glimpse into the

developing aesthetic: the dining room features chandeliers, a bar and wallpaper patterned with peacock feathers. And, of course, a white grand piano immediately to the left of the entrance. “It’s a little upscale, but it’s not too fancy,” Hebler said. You can expect linen at your dining table, and a semi-formal dress code is lightly suggested. At maximum capacity, about 60 people can be seated at a time. The storefront was previously home to Iztac Mexican Restaurant, which the city’s health department closed in March after an inspection uncovered live cockroach activity. Steve Oakes, owner of the Shipton Building,

ended Iztac’s lease not long after, citing frustration with his tenant’s inability to properly address the pest problem. “It was time for a change, and I think The Grand is a great direction to go in,” Oakes said. “I think it’s going to be a very inviting place.” Hebler said the restaurant has gone through a “war-grade fumigation” to eradicate any unwanted insects. In terms of pest control, he said, “we’re right up where we need to be.” Andy Cambi, the city’s public health director, confirmed the storefront’s pest issue has been dealt with appropriately. “We’ve been in great communication with the owner of the building after the previous tenant vacated,” Cambi said. “The owner has worked to correct the issue with the cockroaches as far as having an exterminator on site.” “We’re excited for the new place,” he added.

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

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Berkshire Business Journal

August 2026

Artisan market opens in Lenox village By Clarence Fanto

LENOX — After more than a year of extensive renovations to a historic downtown building adjacent to Town Hall, former fashion designer Matthew Ames has opened the Walker Street Market as a design gallery for handcrafted home goods, furniture, lighting and ceramics. The gallery showcases 70 artists and designers working in wood, ceramics, glass, textiles and metal. Ames, 46, a Washington, D.C., native, was trained at the Art Institute of Chicago. From 2003-11, he lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he had a design studio before returning to Chicago prior to his move to Lenox last year. He purchased the 22 Walker St. site from Richard Rothbard in March 2025. Rothbard had operated his “An American Craftsman” gallery there since 2018. The building sold to Ames for $1,154,500, according to the Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds. Ames declined to specify his investment in the restoration project handled by Eddie Hyatt of Lakeside Builders of Pittsfield. According to the Lenox Historical Society, the nearly 4,000-square-foot Classic Revival structure, built in 1909 by F.J. Morrier, originally housed a dry goods store, a jeweler, a women’s tailor and later a restaurant, The Coffee Break. After Charles Dee purchased the site in 1925, he operated Dee’s Department Store. The business was purchased by Francine Darey, an employee, in 1956, and in 1973 it was acquired by Marguerite Bullwinkle. After Nancy Fitzpatrick bought the property in 1994, it housed Evviva women’s fashion boutique. Ames is keenly aware of his building’s history and significance to the Lenox community. “Walker Street Market is about connection between artists and landscapes, makers and materials, and above all, the personal stories behind the work,” he said. “It’s a space where works across disciplines are brought into conversation with one another, shaped by the scale and character of the place itself, and the irreplaceable experience of encountering them in person.” Ames describes the market as “a sanctuary for the handmade with the aim of building community around craftsmanship in the Berkshires and beyond.” Reflecting the building’s 117-year history, Walker Street Market also offers a curated selection of kitchen tools, tableware, functional décor and

GILLIAN HECK

Former NYC fashion designer Matthew Ames has opened Walker Street Market at 22 Walker St. in Lenox. “Walker Street Market is about connection between artists and landscapes, makers and materials, and above all, the personal stories behind the work,” he said. apothecary items. The exhibition space will host a rotating program of at least six shows year-round, featuring artists and craftspeople from the Berkshires and beyond. “Summer Camp,” the first exhibition, on display through Labor Day, reflects the region’s tradition stretching back to the Shakers of Hancock “who built an entire way of life on the principle that work done with care and intention is itself a form of devotion,” Ames suggested. Multidisciplinary work by 35 artists reflects playfulness and storytelling inspired by arts and crafts made at camp during the summer as well as

If you go ... What: Walker Street Market, a contemporary craft gallery. Where: 22 Walker St., Lenox. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays. Information: walkerstreetmarket.com select Native American, Japanese and Shaker antique crafts. Workshops will be held throughout the summer with artists to foster connection and build

community around the art of craft, Ames said. Among his collaborators are West Stockbridge woodworkers and furniture makers Peter Thorne and his daughter Lily Thorne, who built gallery displays including Shaker shelves and a 38-foot-long peg rail that spans the length of the gallery wall. “I always aim to be intentional about what I’m putting into the world,” Ames said. “Walker Street Market is an expression of that and a celebration of the beauty of the handmade, and reflects the value of living intentionally with well chosen objects. Ideally ones that are crafted slowly, thoughtfully, and to last.”

‘Old-world’ apothecary brings the magic By Charlie Greenberg

If you go ...

GREAT BARRINGTON — Custom-

ers leaving The Mossy Cauldron are told to “have a magical day,” a fitting farewell from owner Jessica Rosario, whose new Railroad Street shop blends handcrafted candles, essential oils and what she calls “well-meaning witchcraft.” After 11 years selling candles at the Great Barrington Farmers Market and from her studio in Winsted, Conn., Rosario opened her “old-world woodland apothecary” downtown two weeks ago. “The witchy aspect of making potions is not what people think,” Rosario said. “Being a witch is about asking nature for permission and harvesting the beauties that she creates.” The connection between scent and magic dates back to her childhood, Rosario said. “My grandmother is the one who got me into magic,” Rosario said. “She would make special potions for all of her grandchildren, and she would tell us to put them under our

What: The Mossy Cauldron, Old-World Apothecary Where: 35 Railroad St., Great Barrington Hours: Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday

CHARLIE GREENBERG

Jessica Rosario opened The Mossy Cauldron on Railroad Street in Great Barrington. “For me, magic is not necessarily about casting spells,” she said. “There is beauty in slowing down, embracing nature, and remembering the old wisdom that reminds us we are all connected.” beds for protection.” At The Mossy Cauldron, Rosario hopes to share her vision of magic as something closely con-

nected to being at ease in nature. “For me, magic is not necessarily about casting spells,” Rosario said. “There is beauty

in slowing down, embracing nature, and remembering the old wisdom that reminds us we are all connected.” After leasing the former office of Stone House Properties at 35 Railroad St., Rosario has spent the last few months renovating the space according to her vision of a timeless apothecary, she said. “I’m hoping people will feel like they’re coming through a fairy portal,” Rosario added. A native of Tolland, Rosario graduated from the University of Hartford’s art school before working as an insurance clerk

and a website developer. Eleven years ago, Rosario began selling the soy-based candles she made at the Great Barrington Farmers Market. “I have learned that life has a way of taking us places we never expected,” Rosario said. “But each moment has been a culmination of who I am at the time.” In addition to The Mossy Cauldron, Rosario makes candles under the Cottages Wicks brand name out of Winsted. However, Rosario will make nearly all the candles and oils she sells at The Mossy Cauldron onsite, she said. Still settling in to the routine of business, Rosario said she hopes to host a grand opening in about a month and to begin selling Mossy-Cauldron candles and oils online shortly after. For the time being, Rosario will run the store by herself. Rosario explained that the design and intention behind The Mossy Cauldron are very personal to her as a friendly witch. “Everything you see here is my heart,” Rosario said. “This store is an extension of who I am.”

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

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Berkshire voices

Developing the founder behind the venture Several years ago, one of our members, Justin McKennon of Electro Magnetic Applications (EMA), was asked to establish a new division here in the Berkshires. At the beginning, it was essentially a one-person operation. Over time, I had the opportunity to watch that division grow, adding talented people from across the country while maintaining remarkably little turnBen Sosne over. The leader who News once spent much of his from the BIC day solving technical problems gradually found his responsibilities changing. Today, he spends more time with customers, strategic partners, and opportunities outside the office than he does sitting behind a desk. Yet every time I visit, I am reminded that his leadership is evident throughout the organization, even when he isn’t there. Watching that transformation unfold caused me to think differently about what it really means to build an innovative company. When we talk about entrepreneurship, we naturally focus on ideas, technologies, products and investment. Those are all essential ingredients, but at some point the challenge becomes something much larger. A founder, or any entrepreneurial leader, eventually realizes that success is no longer determined solely by what they can accomplish themselves. It depends on what they can accomplish through other people. As a company grows from two people to four, it has doubled in size. That may seem like a small milestone, but it fundamentally changes the nature of the organization. Every new hire introduces another personality, another perspective, another set of

strengths, and another set of expectations. At the very same time, the pressures facing the business continue to mount. Customers are waiting. Cash remains tight. Deadlines matter. The leader’s responsibility is no longer just to build a product or solve a technical problem. It is to build a team capable of accomplishing something that no individual could accomplish alone. Over the past several years, our entrepreneurship programming has given us the opportunity to work alongside dozens of founders. Every entrepreneur’s journey is different, but one thing has become increasingly clear to our team. While successful companies often begin with innovative technologies or compelling ideas, their long-term success depends just as much on the people leading them through each stage of growth. That realization led us to ask a simple question. As the Massachusetts innovation ecosystem continues to mature, where can the Berkshire Innovation Center make its greatest contribution? We believe one answer is by investing in founders. This fall, we will launch the BIC Founders Accelerator, a six-month program designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the increasingly complex challenge of leading a growing company. Participants will continue advancing their ventures, but the program recognizes that founders must continue developing alongside their companies. Leadership, communication, decision-making, self-awareness, and organizational effectiveness all become more important as companies grow, and they deserve the same intentional attention that founders give to developing their products and technologies. The program will be led by Dennis Rebelo, the Berkshire Innovation Center’s

chief learning officer. Dennis brings decades of experience in organizational learning, executive coaching, and leadership development, and his Orienting Intelligence framework provides the educational foundation for the accelerator. His work explores how leaders develop the judgment necessary to navigate complexity, uncertainty and change — the very conditions entrepreneurs encounter every day. Plans get interrupted. Power dynamics shift. Teams grow. Customer expectations evolve. Founders who can adapt without losing sight of their mission are better equipped to guide their organizations through those moments. Those are skills that can be developed, and they are central to the work of the Founders Accelerator. One of the insights that has emerged from Dennis’s work is that founders and their teams often possess more capability than they are able to demonstrate under pressure. Complexity has a way of narrowing our thinking just when organizations need their best judgment. Helping leaders recognize those moments — and respond more effectively — is an important part of the accelerator’s approach. That work reflects something that has always been central to the Berkshire Innovation Center. Our programs are shaped by the people we work with and the relationships we build. We are continually learning alongside our members, our partners, and the entrepreneurs who walk through our doors. Sometimes that learning leads to a new partnership. Sometimes it leads to a new facility or a new technology initiative. This year, it has led us to invest more intentionally in the people building innovative companies. The technologies these founders are developing will undoubtedly shape the

future of our economy. Just as important, however, are the organizations they build around those technologies. Lasting innovation depends not only on breakthrough ideas, but on healthy organizations capable of sustaining them. Strong teams create resilient companies. Healthy cultures attract exceptional talent. Thoughtful leadership enables innovation to flourish over the long term. Applications for the first cohort open Aug. 8 and close Sept. 15. The program is designed for founders scaling companies, with preference to those in the sectors that the BIC is most active in — clean energy, life sciences, advanced optics, robotics, applied AI, quantum and aerospace / defense. Additional information and application materials are available at berkshireinnovationcenter.com, and our team is always happy to speak with founders who would like to learn more. I often think back to that one-person division and what it has become. The technology is impressive, but what stands out even more is the organization that has been built around it. That experience reminds me that the most enduring companies are built not only through innovation, but through leadership. In the end, the most successful entrepreneurs build far more than companies. They build organizations that create opportunity for others, strengthen our communities, and inspire the next generation of innovators. If the Berkshire Innovation Center can help support founders on that journey, then we will have made a meaningful contribution not only to their success, but to the future of innovation across the Berkshires and throughout Massachusetts. Ben Sosne is executive director of the Berkshire Innovation Center.

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August 2026

Cannabis businesses: Just vote no

You have probably read by now that Massachusetts could become the first state in the nation to repeal legal cannabis. It is a striking line, repeated everywhere. It is also only half true. Here is the accurate version. This November, Massachusetts will become the first state in the country to put recreational cannabis legalization up for repeal at the ballot Meg Sanders box. Whether Cannabis we actually go Corner through with it is a separate question, and the answer has not been written yet. It will be written by voters on Nov. 3. This is a fight that every operator in cannabis from the Berkshires to Boston needs to enter, as both sides are playing to win but only one is playing with the livelihoods, entrepreneurial dreams, and safe access to a plant Commonwealth voters legalized in 2016. I do not say this to split hairs. I have spent 17 years in legal cannabis, built a business here in Western Massachusetts, and sat at the tables where this policy gets shaped. I know what language does. Tell people something has already happened and they stop showing up. We can still look this well-funded, out-of-state prohibition campaign in the eye and tell it no.

ALISON KUZNITZ — STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Tito Jackson, former Boston city councilor and owner of Apex Noire dispensary, speaks during a June press conference launching Stop the Repeal, a new opposition campaign to the marijuana repeal ballot initiative. On July 9, the repeal measure officially qualified for the November ballot, and it cleared the final signature hurdle by just 122 names. That margin is the entire distance between this threat reaching your ballot and never getting there at all. We now have roughly three months before November to make sure voters strike it down for good.

If the repeal question passes, it would dismantle the adultuse cannabis market that Massachusetts voters created in 2016, with the changes taking effect Jan. 1, 2028. Medical marijuana would survive. Everything else would not: the licensed stores, the regulated products, the tax revenue, the jobs. Legal possession would be cut from 2 ounces to 1. Growing

a few plants at home would once again be against the law. Now consider who is behind it. The repeal is being driven by a group called the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts. It sounds homegrown. It is not. It has been funded almost entirely, roughly $1.55 million, by SAM Action, the political arm of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a Virginia-based

group whose purpose is opposing legal cannabis. This is not a grassroots uprising of concerned Massachusetts neighbors. It is a national prohibition effort that picked our state as its test case, and it is betting we are not paying attention. It is also worth remembering how they got here. During the signature drive that put this question on the ballot, petitioners were accused of telling voters the measure would do things it plainly would not: help get fentanyl off the streets, fund affordable housing, or even pay for public parks. Formal objections were filed with Secretary of State William Galvin’s office. The Attorney General’s Office fielded complaints. A state representative noted that the allegations were “pretty consistent across the state.” I will let the process play out and the facts speak for themselves. But I would ask a simple question. Which is: if a campaign believed it had an honest case for repeal, why would its paid, contracted petitioners reportedly need to dress it up as anything other than what it is? Here is what they would prefer voters not think too hard about. Since 2016, the legal cannabis industry in Massachusetts has generated nearly $2 billion in combined state and local revenue. It has produced more than $9

Back to school offers financial literacy lesson As students head back to It’s also a great opportunity to school the end of this month, introduce concepts like saving, families are busy shopping for setting financial goals, and unsupplies, adjusting schedules, derstanding taxes and payroll and preparing for another year deductions. of learning. While notebooks, Parents can also help children backpacks, and calculators are establish healthy saving habits essential classroom tools, one by encouraging them to set Ray Smith of the most valuable lessons aside a portion of any money Money Matters children can learn doesn’t they receive. Whether saving for come from a textbook — it a new bike, college, or a future comes from understanding purchase, watching those savings grow how to manage money. teaches patience, discipline and the Financial literacy is a life skill that rewards of planning ahead. grows over time. Just like reading and Technology has also changed the math, good money habits are built way young people interact with monthrough practice, conversation, and reey. Mobile payment apps, debit cards, al-life experiences. The earlier children and online shopping make spending begin learning these lessons, the more easier than ever. That’s why it’s imconfident they’ll be in making financial portant to teach children that digital decisions as adults. payments are still real money. MonOne of the best ways to teach financial itoring spending, avoiding impulse responsibility is to involve children in ev- purchases, and understanding the eryday financial conversations. Explain difference between available balance how you create a household budget, and future obligations are lessons that compare prices at the grocery store, or become increasingly important as save for a family vacation. Even simple children grow older. discussions help children understand As students prepare for college or that money is earned, saved, spent and begin their first careers, financial planned for with purpose. literacy becomes even more critical. Back-to-school shopping also provides Understanding how credit works, valuable teaching moments. Before avoiding unnecessary debt, creating heading to the store, set a budget togetha budget, and building an emergency er. Encourage your child to compare fund can have a lasting impact on prices, look for sales, and decide what’s their financial future. a need versus a want. These small This school year, challenge yourself decisions reinforce important lessons to make financial literacy part of your about planning, prioritizing and making family’s routine. A few simple conversathoughtful purchases. tions today can become lifelong lessons For older students, earning their that help the next generation make own money can be an important smart financial decisions and confidentstep toward financial independence. ly navigate their own financial path. Whether it’s babysitting, mowing lawns or working a part-time job, Ray E. Smith is the senior vice president, earning a paycheck helps young peomarketing and communications at Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. ple appreciate the value of hard work.

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August 2026

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August 2026

Mutual funds don’t love you back after six of its portfolio managers deI’ve noticed a funny thing recentparted over the last six years, includly with a few clients and prospects. ing the lead investment officer in JanThey’re loyal to a specific mutual uary 2025. The same parent company fund or fund family. and the same brand have completely One client told me that she only different research processes wants American Funds, which and personnel across its funds she was familiar with through — something that tends to be a previous financial advisor. true for all but the smallest Another claimed that he’d fund companies. never sell his T. Rowe Price No. 2: Strong returns often Blue Chip Growth Fund. And reflect the asset class, not a third always keeps a balance the manager. Take the T. in the Fidelity Contrafund Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth and believes she is immune Luke Fund mentioned above. Its to risk when it involves that Delorme benchmark is the Russell 1000 particular fund. Money Talk Growth Index. For some time, I understand the impulse. the largest holdings in that inYou get comfortable with a dex have been Nvidia, Apple, Google, certain brand, or you’ve had success Microsoft and other tech behemoths. with a particular strategy, and you These have been some of the bigwant to stick with what you know. gest stock-market winners of the last But this loyalty doesn’t really pay off. decade, so any fund managed tightly The problem is that a fund family’s to the Russell 1000 Growth Index has reputation, or even a fund’s track relikely posted strong returns. The T. cord, don’t necessarily mean that you Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth fund is can expect outperformance. no exception. Its 10-year annualized Here’s three reasons why the brand return is more than 15 percent per name typically has little to do with year, an outstanding return by nearly performance relative to a benchmark any measure. (something I’ll explain): But how does that compare with No. 1: Not all fund families are its benchmark? For comparison, look internally consistent. Take Amerat the passive iShares Russell 1000 ican Funds, run by Capital Group. Growth ETF or the Vanguard Growth Its funds use a “multiple manager ETF, which each have 10-year annusystem,” in which several indepenalized return of nearly 18 percent! dent managers each run a sleeve of Despite its excellent absolute return the same portfolio. That structure (that is, without any comparison to its produces wildly different outcomes benchmark), T. Rowe Price is lagging across the family. its benchmark significantly. This is American Funds New Perspective why it’s so important to evaluate perhas landed in the top 35 percent of its formance relative to the fund’s stated Morningstar category over trailing benchmark. 10-, 15-, and 20-year periods. That’s In plain terms, the fund’s strong repretty good. Meanwhile, American turns come from an extraordinary run Funds’ $88 billion Large-Cap Growth in large-cap growth, not from the manFund was downgraded to “neutral”

ager beating that trend. Crediting the manager mistakes a tailwind for skill. Fidelity Contrafund is a more interesting case because fund manager Will Danoff has actually earned some of his reputation. But Contrafund’s largest holdings also overlap heavily with the S&P 500 and his performance is roughly in line with a quality-focused index (quality can be measured by high profitability, low debt, and stable earnings). That’s an accomplishment for an active manager. But it also illustrates the point: even one of the most successful stock pickers of his generation is producing returns that closely track what a passive or other rulesbased index strategy captures. No. 3: Expense ratios have more explanatory power than the brand. According to recent data, the average actively managed equity mutual fund charges 0.64 percent a year compared with 0.05 percent for the average index equity fund. These expenses are near record lows historically, but the 0.59 percentage point gap between active and passive still erodes performance over time. Research has consistently shown that the odds are poor that the extra fee buys you outperformance. S&P’s SPIVA scorecard found that over the 15 years ending in 2025, in not one of 22 U.S. equity fund categories did a majority of active managers beat their benchmark. In most categories, over 90 percent of active managers underperformed over the long term. Last year (2025), 79 percent of actively managed funds underperformed the S&P 500 — the fourth-worst year in the history of the SPIVA scorecard. The expense ratios for the Fidelity Contrafund and T. Rowe Price Blue

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Chip Growth Funds are 0.74 and 0.70 percent. Those are high hurdles to beating a passive fund that charges less than 0.10 percent. And that hurdle is not usually cleared. None of this means active funds are worthless. Contrafund’s history argues otherwise. But it does mean the question, “Which fund family is best?” is the wrong question. The right questions are: What asset classes and index exposures does this fund actually give me? What is it charging me for that exposure? And does my overall portfolio hold a sensible mix of asset classes? The academic research has been consistent. The landmark Brinson, Hood and Beebower study, published in 1986, and reaffirmed in a 1991 follow-up, found that asset allocation explains more than 90 percent of the variability in a portfolio’s returns over time. Asset allocation far outweighs which specific securities or funds you pick within an asset class. Your mix of stocks, bonds, U.S. and international exposure does the heavy lifting. The fund family logo on the statement does not. If you’ve grown comfortable with a particular fund or fund family, it can be difficult to see that it may not actually be your best option. And I understand that. But try to look at what the fund is invested in, what is the cost, and whether it fits the diversified portfolio you want, regardless of whose name is on the label. Luke Delorme is director of financial planning at Tableaux Wealth in Stockbridge. Reach him at (413) 264-2404 or Luke@ TableauxWealth.com.

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August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

15

Coverage for nonprofit staff in sight Passion doesn’t pay the rent. Nonprofit workers around the country struggle to put gas in their cars, find decent housing, access basic healthcare, feed their families, and, as a result, maintain their financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Samantha These chalAnderson lenges are more Nonprofit severe for peoNotes ple of color and other groups who have historically experienced oppression. The potential exodus of these workers from the sector — and specifically from our region — destabilizes institutions, diminishes artistic expression, and threatens the creative economy for which this region is internationally known. For most nonprofits, the math simply doesn’t work. Small organizations face some of the highest health insurance premiums on the market precisely because they’re small with too few employees to spread risk and too little leverage to negotiate with carriers. Many end up offering no coverage at all, or plans so expensive that workers turn them down. That shortfall carries unusual weight in Berkshire County, where nonprofits generate close to a quarter of local GDP and employ about one in four residents. With a nonprofit for every six people, Berkshire County is among the 30 most nonprofit-dense in the country, so when the sector’s workers go without affordable health insurance, the whole local economy feels it. New funding announced by state Rep. Leigh Davis on July 9 could begin to change that. The House version of the Massachusetts Economic Development Bond Bill (H.5562) includes $100,000 for the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) to launch the Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative (CBC), a statewide pooled health insurance initiative for nonprofits. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 148–2 and

NONPROFIT CENTER OF THE BERKSHIRES

Nonprofit leaders from Berkshire County assembled together on July 15 at Norman Rockwell Museum to learn about the Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative. now moves to the Senate for consideration. “Nonprofits are essential to the economic and social fabric of our communities, but many struggle to offer competitive health benefits,” Davis said in a press release. “This investment helps level the playing field, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to support and retain their workforce while expanding access to quality, affordable care.” The concept is simple: by banding together, nonprofit organizations can pool their purchasing power to access more affordable premiums, stronger plan options, more predictable renewals, and streamlined administration benefits typically reserved for large employers. Insurance broker Acrisure will serve as the professional benefits aggregator, organizing the pool and negotiating with carriers, while each nonprofit retains the flexibility to decide whether participation is right for it. For the CBC to move forward, we first need to know how many employers are interested. The Nonprofit Center of

Cannabis FROM PAGE 12

billion in adult-use sales, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. It supports over 20,000 jobs. Roughly $50 million flows to cities and towns each year, money that pays for schools, transportation and public safety in communities that are already stretched thin. Repeal does not make the demand for cannabis disappear. We tried pretending demand would vanish once. It was called Prohibition, and all it did was hand a thriving business to people who answered to no one. Repeal would do exactly that again: take a market that tests its products, checks IDs, and pays its taxes, and give it back to the illicit trade, untested, untaxed and unaccountable. It would be a step backward dressed up as one claiming it’s a move being made in the spirit of progress and public safety. But the number that matters most to me is not on any balance sheet. It is the legions of entrepreneurs who mortgaged a home, drained a savings account, and poured years of their life into a small cannabis business that is finally (if barely) standing. Repeal does not just close a storefront; it

the Berkshires and the Pay Equity Coalition are urging nonprofit employers to complete a brief census — with no commitment required—by Sept. 1. You can find the census at npcberkshires.org//commonwealth-benefits-collaborative/ The census is not a commitment to join; it’s a way to measure demand. If enough employers express interest, the CBC can move from concept to reality — building a pool large enough to command the kind of pricing and plan options that individual nonprofits can’t reach alone. FROM WAGES TO HEALTH CARE: WHAT THE DATA SHOWS Affordable health insurance is the next frontier in a longer effort to make nonprofit work sustainable, and the clearest evidence of what’s at stake comes from workers’ wages. Across the nonprofit sector, workers face pressures that are often invisible yet existential, and arts and cultural organizations are one area where that impact comes into sharp focus. It is being actively tracked

wipes out a life’s investment. Cannabis is already a punishing legal business to run. Between federal tax code section 280E, which denies cannabis companies the ordinary deductions every other business takes for granted, and relentless price compression, the margins are thin to nonexistent and failures are common. (Just look at the businesses that have shuttered or gone into receivership in the last 18-24 months.) The billions in sales are real, for sure, but the consistent winners have not been the operators who took the risk. They have been tax collectors, state and federal. To turn around now and repeal the whole thing would punish the very people who built it in good faith in a state supporting a new industry by the will of its voters. A University of New Hampshire survey in April found 69 percent of likely voters opposed to repeal, against just 22 percent in favor. That is a comfortable margin. It is also a trap. A campaign willing to mislead voters to get on the ballot does not need to win the argument. It needs low turnout and a little confusion in November. A lead in the summer means nothing if the people who hold it stay home in the fall. So if you are an operator, or run a business that does business with

by the Berkshire/Columbia Counties Pay Equity Coalition, a group of 19 arts and culture organizations that formed in 2022 to better understand the experience of vulnerable workers and to develop structural solutions. Co-led by Aron Goldman and Kristen van Ginhoven, the coalition’s research points to promising progress: widespread adoption of its 14 employer policy recommendations, alongside meaningful improvements in organizational culture, morale, retention and overall effectiveness. Key recommendations include setting minimum pay based on MIT living-wage data, eliminating unpaid internships, offering paid time off and health insurance, extending prorated benefits to part-time employees, and investing in retirement plans and professional development. Among the roughly 15 organizations responding to the coalition’s spring 2026 survey: • Since 2022, minimum wages among original Coalition members have increased between 15

percent and 66 percent, with an average of 29 percent. • 93 percent (14 of 15) use the MIT Living Wage Calculator to set minimum pay rates. • 73 percent (11 of 15) now provide pro-rated benefits for part-time employees. In their own words, employers describe how pay-equity work changed their organizations’ finances and governance: • “The board and finance committee insisted on the $23.59 base starting rate in FY26.” • “We now have a board committee focused on pay equity and formal policies.” They describe the effect on culture and retention: • “There is more consistent compensation, pride in our efforts, and positive morale. • “Compensation has become a regular part of conversations with the board and donors.” •“It has helped with retention, improved trust, and contributed to an overall sense of community belonging.” WHAT COMES NEXT Wages have improved, but structural challenges remain — chief among them, access to affordable health insurance. That is exactly the gap the Commonwealth Benefits Collaborative is designed to close. If you are a nonprofit employee or serve on a nonprofit board, please share this information with your leadership so we can circulate it widely. It is available to nonprofit workers and their families throughout Massachusetts, so spread the news far and wide. We are grateful to Rep. Davis and the House members who backed this investment. As the bill moves to the Senate, we encourage you to let your state senator know that affordable health coverage for nonprofit workers matters to our community. Samantha Anderson is the executive director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. Reach her at samantha@ npcberkshires.org | npcberkshires. org. Aron Goldman is a co-lead of the Pay Equity Coalition, and he is a racial equity consultant and regular contributor to Nonprofit Quarterly. Reach him at linkedin.com/in/arongoldman/

Berkshires cannabis businesses, or savings, the small businesses, the revhave a family member, close personal enue our communities count on. friend, or neighbor in the industry, or Get involved with the Stop the Repeal moreover, have a family member who campaign and the Committee to Protect relies on safe and legal Cannabis Regulations. access to what for people to the some is a life-saving This is not a grassroots Point “Vote No” resources plant, when November from MassCann and uprising of concerned comes, show up and the Massachusetts vote no. That is the Massachusetts single most important Cannabis Coalition. thing any of us can do. Make sure everyone neighbors. It is a If you own a busiyou know underness or know someone national prohibition stands this is not who is in the orbit of settled, and their vote effort that picked our the industry, it affects is what settles it. all of them. ElecMassachusetts state as its test case, tricians, plumbers, led country into accountants, attorneys and it is betting we are legalthecannabis. We and all the concentric circles around the can lead again, not not paying attention. legal industry will by becoming the first feel the impact if this state to tear it down, ballot question passes. but by becoming the first to prove that If you are a brand or retail cannabis a dark-money prohibition campaign business, post signage, educate your cannot buy back a decision the voters staff on the issue at hand, and ask already made. That is still ours to decustomers to be a bullhorn of support cide, so let’s decide in November. if your business and the availability of safe and legal products is importVote no on No. 8. ant to them. Become the messenger. Talk to your family, your friends, your Meg Sanders is the CEO and co-founder customers, your neighbors. Tell them of Canna Provisions with locations in Lee, Pittsfield, and Holyoke. plainly what is at stake: the jobs, the

16

Berkshire Business Journal

August 2026

Market watch: Myriad stories to tell The first six months of 2026 perfectly illustrate why broad headlines about real estate rarely tell the whole story. While national trends provide context, the Berkshire market continues to be driven by local communities, local inventory, and local buyer demand. Some towns accelerated dramatically while neighboring communities slowed. Some Sanda J. property types gained moCarroll mentum while Real estate others paused. That’s exactly why it’s important to look beyond countywide numbers. Overall, the first half of 2026 produced encouraging results. After a slower start to the year, residential activity accelerated during the second quarter, bringing year-to-date residential sales up 8 percent over 2025 while dollar volume climbed 14 percent to nearly $257 million. Median residential sale prices also continued their gradual appreciation, reaching $360,000 countywide. RESIDENTIAL Residential homes remain the engine of Berkshire County real estate. The second quarter helped offset a softer first quarter, producing stronger year-todate numbers across much of the county. Middle Berkshire posted the strongest gains with residential sales increasing 13 percent and dollar volume rising 21 percent. South Berkshire followed closely with sales up 14 percent and dollar volume

increasing 24 percent. North Berkshire was the exception, with residential sales declining 5 percent and dollar volume falling 12 percent. Even there, however, several communities experienced strong activity while others slowed considerably, reinforcing that every local market deserves to be evaluated independently. CONDOMINIUMS The condominium market experienced a modest pullback during the first half of the year. Countywide condo transactions declined 4 percent, while dollar volume fell 23 percent. Activity softened in both North and Central Berkshire, although South County recorded increased sales and stronger median prices driven by higher-end transactions. Like many segments today, condominium performance remains highly localized. Inventory and pricing continue to vary significantly depending on community and price range. MULTIFAMILY Multifamily properties experienced the largest slowdown among the major property types. The market was particularly challenged in Central Berkshire, where sales fell substantially compared to last year. North Berkshire remained relatively stable, while South Berkshire’s small multifamily market held steady. Overall activity reflected a cautious investment environment during much of the first half of the year, although conditions may improve as uncertainty surrounding proposed rent control legislation

has now subsided. LAND After several difficult years, vacant land sales provided one of the brighter stories of 2026. Countywide parcel sales increased 24 percent, with total dollar volume also improving. While today’s activity remains well below the exceptionally strong land market experienced during the early pandemic years, the increase suggests renewed interest in development opportunities throughout the county. Long-term housing conversations continue to focus on encouraging additional development and expanding future housing supply throughout the Berkshires. COMMERCIAL Commercial activity remained relatively modest during the first six months of 2026. Overall sales declined 5 percent while dollar volume fell 24 percent. North and Central Berkshire both experienced slower activity than last year. Southern Berkshire showed statistical improvement, although that increase represented only a handful of additional transactions in what remains a relatively small market. It’s important to note these figures reflect only commercial properties sold through the MLS. MOBILE HOMES Although mobile homes represent a small segment of Berkshire housing, they continue to provide an important affordable housing option. Sales increased significantly

compared to last year across North and Central Berkshire, bringing countywide transactions back to levels more consistent with 2024. While modest in overall volume, this segment remains an important part of the region’s housing inventory. REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS North Berkshire experienced a mixed first half of the year. Residential sales declined modestly overall, but the region contained some of the county’s strongest individual success stories. Adams posted a significant increase in both sales and dollar volume, while Florida, Lanesborough, and North Adams also improved. Other communities, including Williamstown, Clarksburg, Hancock, and Windsor, experienced slower activity than a year ago. Middle Berkshire was the county’s strongest overall performer during the first six months. Residential sales increased 13 percent, with dollar volume rising an impressive 21 percent. Pittsfield continued to drive much of the market’s activity, while Lenox, Richmond, and Stockbridge also posted strong gains. Only a handful of communities, including Hinsdale and Lee, experienced notable declines. South Berkshire continued its strong performance with residential sales increasing 14 percent and dollar volume climbing 24 percent. Performance varied considerably among individual towns. New Marlborough, Sheffield, Sandisfield, and West Stockbridge recorded particularly strong gains, while Great Bar-

rington and Egremont experienced slower activity than last year. As throughout the county, the story wasn’t simply “up” or “down”—it was highly community specific. LOOKING AHEAD Inventory remains one of the most encouraging trends. While still well below historic norms, the number of homes available for sale continues to improve gradually, creating more opportunities for buyers while maintaining a relatively balanced environment for sellers. The report notes that Berkshire County remains well below the roughly seven-month absorption rate typically associated with a balanced market, but conditions continue to move in a positive direction. The first half of 2026 reminds us that Berkshire real estate cannot be summed up with a single headline. Markets differ by region, by town, and by property type. Whether you’re approaching the market as a homeowner, business owner, buyer, seller, investor, or simply following market conditions, local expertise remains more valuable than ever. Navigating the marketplace from experience in the field remains an important component. The full 2026 Q2 Market Watch Report with town-bytown residential data and regional data in all property types and price range reports can be found at berkshirerealtors.net/ marketwatch Sandra J. Carroll is the chief executive officer of the Berkshire County Board of Realtors and the Berkshire County Multiple Listing Service.

Real estate transactions Berkshire real estate transactions from June 1 to July 3 ADAMS

$170,000.

Michelle A. Ostrowski and Shana M. Snow sold property at 41 Willow St., Adams, to Dedominici Real Estate LLC, $160,000.

Lorin D. Richey sold property at 16 Albert St., Adams, to Gabriela Squassone Dearstyne, $225,000.

OBB LLC sold property at 10-12 Richmond St., Adams, to Menachem Greenbaum, $259,900.

BECKET

Town of Adams sold property at 62 Summer St., Adams, to Thomas C. Abate, $4,000.

Jeffrey D. Lamb and Daphne Jiang sold property at 313 Winter Drive, Becket, to Mark Blask, $440,000.

Mountain Road, Cheshire, to Robert H. Rindell, $349,000. Mark F. Warner sold property at 136-140 Church St., Cheshire, to Shayne Cahalan, $165,000. Thomas M. and Nancy L. Zappula sold property at 27-29 Richmond St., Cheshire, to Cynthia Dillon Payne and Dillon Fairfax Lazcano Payne, $417,500.

DNC Real Estate LLC sold property at 38 Fisk Road, Adams, to Geoffrey Alexander and Jacqulyne Cleo Sawicky, $320,000.

Denise B. Levinson, individually and as trustee of the Deerlybe Irrevocable Trust, and Eric L. Germaine sold property at 60 Donald Drive, Becket, to Stephen Levinson, $398,100.

Diane M. and William J. Spina sold property at 13 Water St., Adams, to Matthew Anderson-Hall, $225,000.

Daniel M. Evangelisto and Kacey K. Boos sold property at 674 Benton Hill Road, Becket, to Benjamin and Ashley Hopper, $450,000.

Michelle A. Carmell sold property at 86 Windsor Road, Cheshire, to Paul D. and Roberta B. Mansen as co-trustees of the Paul D. Mansen & Roberta B. Mansen RVT, $30,000.

Emily Sheridan sold property at 45 East St., Adams, to Gileade and Melissa Ribeiro, $270,000.

Victor Mulholland sold property at Stoney Brook Road, Becket, to Gary Peiffer, $20,000.

CLARKSBURG

Michael L. and Nathan Trong sold property at 2 Kittler Ave., Adams, to DNC Real Estate LLC, $119,500.

Robert A. and Mary C. Cohen, trustees of the Robert A. Cohen RVT and Mary C. Cohen RVT, sold property at Ronald Drive, Becket, to David M. Levenfeld and Deborah Rivel, trustees of the D&D Lakeside Trust, $200,000.

Jes W. and Tiffany M. Witto sold property at 99 North Summer St., Adams, to Cody Raymond and Casey Anne Alvarez, $249,900.

Stephen W. Petrie and Linda M. Conway sold property at 286 Lanesboro Road, Cheshire, to Grace Emma McGrath and Corbin Richardson, $525,000.

Corbin V. Richardson sold property at 475 West Road, Clarksburg, to Debbie Wegner, $259,900. Eugene E. and Donna M. Messenger sold property at 191 Hudson Brook Lane, Clarksburg, to Mitchell J. and Susan J. Bresett, $900,000.

Kathleen Millard, Joanne R. Dowling, J. Michael Rivers, Susan Licalzi, and Mary Rivers Cherry sold property at 30 School St., Dalton, to KNC Properties 2 LLC, $345,000. Carol L. Simisky sold property at 53 Burr Drive, Dalton, to Russell B. and Stephanie C. Sears, $370,000. Madeline Papirio sold property at 43 Eleanor Road, Dalton, to John Dearstyne and Samantha Goyette, $265,000. Ana Palacios and Tomasa Barahona sold property at 66 Dalton Division Road, Dalton, to Alexandra Temple and Dana Tarbox III, $300,000. Kevin C. Charlton sold property at 519 Kirchner Road, Dalton, to Dalton Hill LLC, $330,000. Harold and Beth Ann Scheid sold property at 488 East Housatonic St., Dalton, to Carol Lee Simisky, $269,000. Shaun V. and Tracy L. Cusson sold property at 48 Lindsay Drive, Dalton, to Brian Larange, $607,000.

DALTON

April E. and Michael J. Van Deusen sold property at 128 Hale St. Extension, Dalton, to Abby M. Jamros, $335,000.

Jonathan Gill sold property at 298 East Housatonic St., Dalton, to Dana Dufur and Lois Bouchard, $359,900.

Michael J. Stottle, personal rep. of the Estate of Kevin Richard Stottle, sold property at 170-172 North St., Dalton, to ISM Real Estate LLC, $357,500.

Joshua T. and Danielle Bradley sold property at 31 East Housatonic St., Dalton, to Kouadjo G. Behanzin, $290,000.

Shawn W. Fitzgerald sold property at 32 Marcella Way, Dalton, to Andrew P. and Ashley Y. Kelly, $542,000.

Susan Hovani sold property at 3 Bow North, Becket, to Erik Bue and Erica Hovani-Bue, $425,000.

James A. and Janet Zeltmann sold property at 60 North St., Dalton, to Melanie R. Davis, $205,000.

Patricia A. Yagmin sold property at 56-58 & 60 Columbia St., Adams, to Richview Properties LLC, $145,000.

Mark Boomsma sold property at Stoney Brook Road, Becket, to Dario J. Trujillo, $21,100.

Stacy Ann and Timothy W. Kitchell Jr. sold property at 108 North Summer St., Adams, to Brian F. and Danielle K. Bowe, $380,000.

CHESHIRE

Susan M. Jansen and William E. Jansen III sold property at 319 North St., Dalton, to Matthew R. Bartlett and Chloe N. Quatacker, $295,000.

John and Theresa Brosnan sold property at 55 Tower Road, Dalton, to Nery Abiud Gonzales and Delmy G. Sanabria, $300,000.

Tyler L. Meczywor sold property at 34 Upton St., Adams, to Erin Shea, $310,000. Jacqueline Wright, Elizabeth Reeves, and Roy J. and Virginia Thompson sold property at 18 Richmond Lane, Adams, to Matthew Griffin and Karla M. Gaetani, $243,500. Berkshire Family & Individual Resources Inc. sold property at 125 East Road, Adams, to Damian and Sarah Thompson, $340,000.

Thomas E. and Michael D. McGrath sold property at 37-39 Melrose St., Adams, to R&M Holdings LLC,

Lawrence M. Donahue and Mary C. Alioto sold property at Jacobs Hollow Road, Becket, to Becket Land Trust Inc., $140,000. Eogan C. O’Donnell, trustee of the Eogan C. O’Donnell Trust, and Kellie M. O’Donnell, trustee of the Kellie M. O’Donnell Trust, sold property at Stage Coach Road, Becket, to Susan Gerlach and Michael Keller, $75,000.

Deborah A. Gregory sold property at 268 Devonshire Drive, Cheshire, to Jes W. and Tiffany M. Witto, $506,000. Christopher A. Warner sold property at 18 West

John J. and Angela McDonough, trustees of the John and Angela McDonough RVT, sold property at 581 Red Barn Road, Dalton, to Shanmugar Rathinasamy Mariappan and Suriya Bala Shanmugar, $862,500.

EGREMONT Cynthia Dale Fiscina sold property at 76 Prospect Lake Road, Egremont, to Emilie Yolande Okie, $750,000. Robert Rumovicz and Robin Gundlach sold property REAL ESTATE, Page 17

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

17

Real estate

Plantain Pond Road Nominee Trust, $815,000. Thomas C. Badger and Wendy J. Gerstel, trustees of Thomas C. Badger and Wendy J. Gerstel 2022 Revocable Trust, sold property at 261 East St., Mount Washington, to Aron D. Rose and Stacey Rose, $510,900.

FROM PAGE 16

at 100 Hillsdale Road, Egremont, to Blue Sky Real Estate Group LLC, $210,000. Michael McCrum sold property at 18 Creamery Road, Egremont, to Joanna Bree, $890,000.

NEW MARLBOROUGH

Marc Bernstein and Sandra Bernstein, trustees of Bernstein Revocable Trust, sold property at 74 Prospect Lake Road, Egremont, to Matthew Fleischer-Black and Jessica Fleischer-Black, $575,000.

Laura Fleury and Alec Belman sold property at Sisson Hill Road, New Marlborough, to Jonathan B. James and Jamie S. Ostroff, $125,000. Marybeth Pettit sold property at Off Hartsville-New Marlborough Road, New Marlborough, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, $19,000.

FLORIDA Robert E. and Pamela K. Horner sold property at 31 Monroe Road, Florida, to Eileen T. and Michael Marran Jr., $555,000.

Matthew Wilson sold property at 0 & 17 Norfolk Road, New Marborough, to Evelyn Cass and Zachary Adams, $320,000.

Timothy C. Keating sold property at Route 2, Florida, to Mohawk Trail Holdings LLC, $220,000. Allen O. Canedy sold property at Off Blackstone Road and Off Daniels Road, Florida and Clarksburg, to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Conservation and Recreation, $49,500.

GREAT BARRINGTON Nancy A. Boden sold property at 416 Monterey Road, Great Barrington, to Michelle Mariash and Peter Alusitz, $645,000.

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION

HANCOCK

LENOX

Richard Larose Jr. sold property at 194 Canaan Southfield Road, New Marlborough, to Corey Lane and Jennifer Rogers, $300,000.

John J. and Jenifer M. Vancleave sold property at 2790 Hancock Road, Hancock, to Isaiah and Amanda Baker, $425,000.

Catherine R. May sold property at 46 Housatonic St., Lenox, to Elisabeth S. Chapman, $600,000.

AJB Mill River LLC sold property at Brewer Branch Road, New Marlborough, to Zachary F. Gagnon, $340,000.

Wendy and Matthew Greiner sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, to Kay Janice Reynolds, $192,500.

NORTH ADAMS

Kevin D. and Nancy L. Foote as co-trustees of the Kevin D. Foote RVT, sold property at 37 Corey Road, Hancock, to Duke Homes LLC, $165,000.

Sue A. Hoffman sold property at 15 Schermerhorn Park, Lenox, to Jane Farrell DeCoursey, $725,000.

Arnie W. Rubin, trustee of Trust Agreement of Arnie W. Rubin, sold property at 34 Bridge St., Unit 306, Great Barrington, to Nigel James Dalziel and Alexandra Vladimirovna Dalziel, $525,000.

HINSDALE Joseph G. and Jean A. Guerin, trustees of the Guerin FT, sold property at George Schnopp Road, Hinsdale, to Glenn Bayne Walter, $50,000.

Eugene E. Kalish and Anne Hutchinson, trustees of Eugene E. Kalish Revocable Trust and Anne Hutchinson Revocable Trust, sold property at 2 Lake Ave., Great Barrington, to Robert Du Bree and Kristin Dalaker Du Bree, $532,500.

Elena L. Green and John D. Dovydenas sold property at 319 Under Mountain Road, Lenox, to Lori A. Robbins, trustee of the Queusephitchelle NT, $4,000,000.

Kim A. and Patty M. Oakes sold property at Ethier Street, Hinsdale, to John A. and Robin S. Anastasio, $12,000.

Beverly A. Hathaway, trustee of the Beverly A. Hathaway RVT, sold property at 28 Old Barn Road, Lenox, to Susan Steben, $550,000.

C. H. W. Associates sold property at 995 Main St., Great Barrington, to CMB Properties LLC, $518,500.

Shannon L. Tarjick sold property at 11 Bena St., Lanesborough, to Grace M. Seely, $282,750.

Beacon Bank & Trust, trustee of Betty Jo Marek Irrevocable Special Needs Trust, sold property at 139 Hurlburt Road, Great Barrington, to Richard Malik, Tyler G. Malik and Margaret Malik, $170,000. Lynne R. Vadnais sold property at 21 Mechanic St., Great Barrington, to PITA Properties LLC, $425,000.

LANESBOROUGH

Joseph P. and Ruth A. Knysh sold property at 520 North Main St., Lanesborough, to Michael Benjamin and Jill Marie De Haan, $699,000. Walter Lutsch and Carole A. Stuart sold property at 8 Iroquois St., Lanesborough, to Daniel and Lauren Wehry, $475,000. Nathan G. Girard and Jeffrey M. Zocchi sold property at Partridge Road, Lanesborough, to Peter and Cynthia Haven, $134,900.

Rosalind Jaffe, trustee of the Phyllis Jaffe Trust, sold property at 16 Meadow Lane, Lenox, to Andy McMeekin and Robert J. Roy Jr., $277,000. James and Kristen McManus sold property at 31 St. Ann’s Ave., Lenox, to Holly Berlin and Michael Zunino, $495,000. Peter J. and Theodore H. Marcus, beneficiaries of the Estate of Beverle Reimann-Marcus, sold property at 34 Galway Court, Lenox, to Zoe Hagler and Peter J. Marcus, $200,000.

Joseph R. and Lisa A. Trybus sold property at 221 Bailey Road, Lanesborough, to Laura M. Moose, $1,125,000.

Charles L. Wichmann, individually and as trustee of the Charles L Wichmann 2000 RVT, and Margaret A. Wichmann, individually and as trustee of the Margaret A. Wichmann 2000 RVT, sold property at 392 Pittsfield Road and Routes 7 & 20, Lenox, to 600 Merrill Road LLC, $550,000.

BB&H Holding LLC sold property at 5 George St., Great Barrington, to Lucas Granucci, $200,000.

Adam R. Bowling sold property at 15 Sunrise St., Lanesborough, to Lesly J. Alvardo and Claudio M. Bermejo, $799,900.

Lynn Pandell, individually and as personal rep. of the Estate of Leo W. Mahoney, sold property at 113-115 Walker St., Lenox, to Elaine Dowgos, $328,000.

Eric T. Shore and Stacey Stern Shore sold property at 80 Taconic Ave., Unit 3, Great Barrington, to Stephen J. Mack and Elaine C. Mack, co-trustees of Stephen & Elaine Mack Revocable Trust, $675,000.

Rosemary Laston sold property at 668 North Main St., Lanesborough, to Travis Rodnie Nichols, $375,000.

Mildred M. Kirby sold property at 792 East St., Lenox, to Andy McMeekin and Robert Roy Jr., $355,000.

Estate of Richard J. Gardella sold property at 265 State St., Great Barrington, to Gordon Wisotzki and Christie Wisotzki, $575,000. Michael R. Spratt and Maria L. Spratt sold property at 15 Cone Ave., Unit 15B and Unit 15C, Great Barrington, to Fort River Real Estate LLC, $342,000.

Noreen T. Solimine sold property at 7 Lake Buel Road, Great Barrington, to Mark Siegel and Shana Siegel, $549,000. Cory Evangelisto and Julia Warner sold property at 16 Spruce St., Great Barrington, to Liza Roviaro Gennari, $389,900. Six Ten Manville Street LLC sold property at 4 Manville St., Great Barrington, to LAR Properties LLC, $1,100,000. Keith A. Pelletier and Christine L. Pelletier sold property at 28 Pearl St., Great Barrington, to Susan Martha Kahn, $95,000. Wilmington Trust NA, trustee of OSAT Series Trust 2025-RTL1, BHR Collective LLC, CV3 Financial Services LLC, and ServEase sold property at 97 Brush Hill Road, Great Barrington, to Wilmington Trust NA, trustee of OSAT Series Trust 2025-RTL1, $1,008,517.04. Carter Vanallen Forringer and James Matthew Earl sold property at 7 Brainard Ave., Great Barrington, to Joan Fitzgerald, trustee of JFG Trust, $1,800,000. Catherine E. Wheeler sold property at 360 Park St., Unit 4, Great Barrington, to Kookiet Seesangrit, Phannee Seesangrit and Parkpoon Seesangrit, $215,000. Hao Chen and Jinjin Song sold property at 73 Christian Hill Road, Great Barrington, to CLA 73 Christian Hill LLC, $520,000.

Lisa A. Grogan-McCulloch, personal rep. of David Michael Grogan, sold property at 9 Leslie Ave., Lanesborough, to Baeley X. Berry, $225,000.

LEE Thomas R. and Leslie Ganz Manisero sold property at 62 Stockbridge Terrace, Lee, to Joel B. and Nancy C. Hart, $1,200,000. Susan and Robert E. Turtz sold property at 880 East St., Lee, to Vinson J. and Judith Z. Friedman, $435,000. Cady Street LLC sold property at Highland Drive, Lee, to Karla G. and Gary L. Delair, trustees of the Karla G. Delair RVT, $100,000. Vitaly Nazarov and Elena Nazarova, trustees of the Vitaly Nazarov RVT, sold property at 85 Via Franco, Lee, to Eileen Hamilton and Erika Lebovitz, $700,000.

Terrance Clarke sold property at 12 Meadow Lane, Lenox, to Michael Nelkin, $302,000.

MONTEREY Edward Koenig, trustee of Koenig Family Nominee Realty Trust, sold property at 141 Stevens Way, Monterey, to Allan David Lederman, trustee of Allan David Lederman Revocable Trust, $1,900,000.

Namaproperties LLC sold property at 100 Autumn Drive, North Adams, to John Patrick Fischer, trustee of the John Patrick Fischer LVT, $345,000. Hannah Levi sold property at 35 Jackson St., North Adams, to Ernest Schwarzer, $185,000. Eriq Santos sold property at 99 Tremont St., North Adams, to Bruce Van Valkenburg and Craig Gardner, $174,000. Abishour Equities LLC sold property at 23 Murray Ave., North Adams, to Zia J. Meyer and Logan Platek, $259,218. OBB LLC dba OBB-Angsana LLC sold property at 67-69 East Quincy St., North Adams, to Thomas Rasmussen and Laura McBride, $68,000. David R. Vachereau sold property at 12-14 Orchard Terrace, North Adams, to JLS Nest LLC, $161,000. City of North Adams sold property at 135 East Quincy St., North Adams, to Yinhai Zhao and Xiaoqian Gong, $30,000. Bilal Warrith-Din Ansari and Colleen Marie Keyes sold property at 77 Natural Bridge Road, North Adams, to Frederick L. and Janet L. Fowler, $399,000. William J. St. Pierre and Michael L. Bedini sold property at 22 Roberts Drive, North Adams, to William J. St. Pierre, Michael L. Bedini and Roberts Drive Realty LLC, $250,000. Julie R. Reidy sold property at 757 East Main St., North Adams, to Molly Ann and William Bohl III, $205,000. Cynthia Saunders and Michael Joseph Quinones sold property at 81 Elmwood Ave., North Adams, to Lydia Jasper, $220,000. Sidney A. Rothstein and Luiza Geraldi Folegatti sold property at 93 North St., North Adams, to James Scott Moore Sr. and James Moore Jr., $280,000. Thomas R. Rostock and Nicholas Elton Dane sold property at 798 Mohawk Trail, North Adams, to Tylor Mandeville, $175,000.

Casolari Group LLC sold property at 10 & 0 Art School Road, Monterey, to Franklin Rimalovski and Ilysse Rimalovski, $280,000.

Debra Marlow and Corissa Bryant sold property at 62 Walker St., North Adams, to Jared and Jaydon Brian Lescarbeau-Mason, $212,000.

Charlene Pouliot and Dennis Nubile sold property at North Road, Monterey, to Spenser Gralla, $18,500.

Steven M. Dunn and Heather J. Bona sold property at 32 Notch Road, North Adams, to William Robert Wilson III, $255,000.

MOUNT WASHINGTON

Addison 14 Properties LLC sold property at 63 Addison Ave., North Adams, to Nicholas E. Mirante, $270,000.

Anita H. Garrett, trustee of Thomas C. Garrett Jr. Trust, sold property at 18 Plantain Pond Road, Mount Washington, to Gail E. Garrett, trustee of

REAL ESTATE, Page 18

Cady Street LLC sold property at 765 Fairview St., Lee, to Peter and Sandra Richel, $585,000. Good Shepard LLC sold property at 20 Forest St., Lee, to Andrew L. Freitas, $7,500. Edward J. Lynch, Susan M. Martino, Stephanie L. Burdick, and Stacey L. LaRock sold property at 115 Fairview St., Lee, to Kyle R. and Samantha L. Rochelo, $428,000. Oldcastle Lawn & Garden Inc. sold property at 110 Marble St., Lee, to Lawnlord (Multi) LLC, $8,425,161.

Y. Judd Shoval and Susan W. Shoval, trustees of Upper Land Nominee Trust, sold property at 166 Castle Hill Ave., Great Barrington, to Maureen K. Cohen, trustee of Maureen K. Cohen Trust, $730,000.

John C. Peron sold property at 31 Fox Run, Lee, to Jill and Matthew J. Svirida, trustees of the Jill Svirida 2024 RVT, and Matthew J. Svirida, trustee of the Matthew J. Svirida 2024 RVT, $825,000.

Estate of Melanie Perry sold property at 143 Bridge St., Great Barrington, to Brandon Davis, $467,500.

Jolene Bull sold property at 25 West Pine St., Lee, to Matthew and Mandie Somes, $380,000.

Paul Drake, Joan Fitzpatrick and Paul H. Drake Jr. sold property at 37 Kalliste Hill, Great Barrington, to Kenneth Herskowitz 2024 Family Trust LLC, $1,425,000.

Lee M. Bellaver sold property at 75 Paul Drive, Lee, to Joshua R. Allentuck, $200,000.

Nathaniel Ehrich and Victoria Ehrich sold property at 8 Oak St., Great Barrington, to Allison Lynne Denburg and Matthew Daniel Feldman, $1,450,000.

Diane E. Wespiser and Julia Hutton sold property at 309 West Park St., Lee, to Marc G. Membrinom, $393,000.

Alicia Asceves-Gaspar sold property at 82 Dublin St., Lee, to Mary Jane Fitzsimmons, $22,000.

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18

Real estate FROM PAGE 17

Mark D., Andrea C. and Alexander E. Blaisdell sold property at 34 Goodrich St., North Adams, to Dawn M. Braz and Emmalyn E. Aguiar, $255,000. Chickadee Properties LLC sold property at 100 Hospital Ave., North Adams, to Nicholas Fahey and Kate Merrigan, $364,000.

OTIS Dennis S. and Nancy M. Curtin sold property at Monterey Road, Route 23, Otis, to William Ziter and Charles Joseph Loring, $10,000. Ronald F. Duhaime and Michael Raymond, trustees of the Emilie P. Duhaime RVT Indenture, sold property at West Center Road, Otis, to Joshua Descoteaux, $40,000. John A. and Joyce E. Benvenuti sold property at Route 8, Otis, to Sean and Kathleen Diver, $143,000. Diane L. Dyer sold property at 93 South Main Road, Otis, to Aaron S. Cuevas, $300,000. Steven and Gillian Isabelle sold property at 140 High Rise Road, Otis, to Dylan Jacobus, $225,000. Jayson A. and Cara B. Goldberg sold property at 545 West Center Road, Otis, to Lara and Ronald Katzman Jr., $640,000. John M. and Karen G. Kaiser, trustees of the John and Karen Kaiser RVT, sold property at 12 South St., Otis, to Todd R. and Kelly A. Nemeth, $739,000. Daniel Ellis sold property at 213 Brookman Drive, Otis, to Peter J. Pappas, $675,000. Albert and Caryl S. Gabbay, trustees of the Gabbay FT, sold property at 236 Ridge Ave., Otis, to John R. and Erin A. Loveland, $799,000.

PERU Devin and Samantha Vaccaro sold property at 21 Kreutzer Road, Peru, to Joshua T. and Danielle L. Bradley, $444,900. Mark B. Bollman IV and Kathleen Walker sold property at 15 Stephanie Lane, Peru, to John S. and Sarah J. Cote, $684,700.

PITTSFIELD Theodore A. Dalzell Jr. and Debra A. Cusson, personal reps. of the Estate of Theodore A. Dalzell, sold property at 156 East New Lenox Road, Pittsfield, to Joseph Henry Kirchner, $360,000. Dennis W. and Michelle B. Teichert, trustees of the MBT NT, sold property at 434 Williams St., Pittsfield, to Amir H. Sadighi, $520,000. Lisa A. Ostellino sold property at 42 Lexington Parkway, Pittsfield, to Jason Blackwell and Amanda Morse, $449,000. Dominic Kirchner II, trustee of the Saklaa RT, sold property at 21 Ensign Ave., Pittsfield, to Jorge Gutierrez and Julissa Nathalia Diaz Sosa, $162,000. Caryn H. Francese sold property at 1 Colt Road, Pittsfield, to Sandra L. Zink, trustee of the Sandra L. Zink RVT, $301,500. Cavalier Dartmouth Properties LLC sold property at 77-79 Harvard St., 24-26 and 28-30 Dartmouth St., Pittsfield, to Ginley LLC, $1,480,000.

Berkshire Business Journal sold property at 110-112 Lenox Ave., Pittsfield, to ESP Realty Holdings LLC, $165,000. Ross G. and Cynthia Rae Comstock sold property at 63 Concord Parkway, Pittsfield, to Eric Noll and Kaitlyn Hoyt, $495,000. Pittsfield Economic Development Authority sold property at Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, to Anything Is Possible LLC, $164,000. JDRF Properties LLC sold property at 144 Madison Ave., Pittsfield, to Jonathan O. Antigua and Raysa Liz Hidalgo, $384,000. Brian Avery Sayers sold property at 25 Hopewell Drive, Pittsfield, to Krista Sayers, $92,000. Emily S. Silver sold property at 16 Kensington Ave., Pittsfield, to Martha Louise Lujan, $266,325.

Melissa H. Snyder sold property at 47 Onota St., Pittsfield, to Iron Men SL1 LLC, $330,000. Daniel and Elvira McGonagle sold property at 101-103 Lincoln St., Pittsfield, to Berkshire Multi Holdings LLC, $300,000. Michael and Eileen T. Marran sold property at 322 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, to Gabriel Riello, $285,000. Michael L. Kirchner, Leslie A. Philippe and Diane M. Koch sold property at 739 Williams St., Pittsfield, to Barbara Burke, trustee of the Barbara A. Burke RVT, $321,500.

David C. Dickhaus sold property at 276 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, to Peggy L. McIntyre, $200,000.

STOCKBRIDGE

Barbara Gerace sold property at 80 Calumet St., Pittsfield, to Fort River Real Estate LLC, $120,000.

Rodney B. McDaniel sold property at 22 Mahkeenac Heights Road, Stockbridge, to David Alan and Debra Golden Eichenbaum, $520,000.

Beacon Bank & Trust and Timothy M. and Tracy M. Spence sold property at 19 Draper Ave., Pittsfield, to Yellowbrick Property LLC, $150,000.

Alice Ehresman, personal rep. of the Estate of Rosemarie D. Goulet, sold property at 26 Partridge Road, Pittsfield, to Mary Ellen Clagett and Dorothy Jeanne Pratt, $396,000.

Andrew P. Kelly sold property at 22 Quirico Drive, Pittsfield, to Taryn and Keiland Cross, $355,000.

Daniel C. Righi and Kelsey Hanlon sold property at 20 Juliana Drive, Pittsfield, to Madeline and Mason Papirio, $555,000.

William J. Hotaling sold property at 24-26 Hamlin St., Pittsfield, to RC Investing LLC, $150,000.

Marcus J. Kearns and Erika Johnson sold property at 35 Prospect St., Pittsfield, to Danilo Mosquera Valencia and Ana Milena Murillo Mosquera, $230,000. Michael D. Dobson sold property at 40 Stearns Ave., Pittsfield, to Leslie Digby Rizza, $320,000. U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, sold property at 61-63 Circular Ave. and Dewey Avenue, Pittsfield, to WFA 61-63 Circular LLC, $169,050. Bruce W. Smith sold property at 156 Chapel St., Pittsfield, to Lorraine Karlin, $120,000. David A. Gibbs, personal rep. of the Estate of Lynn M. Johnson, sold property at 112 Sampson Parkway, Pittsfield, to Sheryl Duval, $340,000. Shanjun Helian and Yijing Ding sold property at 43 Baldwin Ave., Pittsfield, to Laura N. and Matthew K. Bailey and Lynn M. Bedard, $455,000. Gordan N. and Siobhan M. Kuhar sold property at 53 Walden Lane, Pittsfield, to LeRose M. Weikert, $465,000. Hazhen Talat Mama and Razhan Madhar sold property at 40 Baldwin Ave., Pittsfield, to Michael Dobson, $405,000. Melissa Miller sold property at 42 Bryant St., Pittsfield, to Erika Johnson and Marcus Kearns, $355,000. Sara Lustusky and Michael Evans sold property at 15 High St., Pittsfield, to Arlington Ramos Ramos, $247,000.

RC Investing LLC sold property at 24-26 Hamlin St., Pittsfield, to NAMV Holdings LLC, $230,000.

Janet M. Macht, trustee of the Janet M. Macht Trust, sold property at 36 Sadler Ave., Pittsfield, to Grace Legacy Properties LLC, $294,840. Jon A. Macht, trustee of the Jon A. Macht Trust, sold property at 62 Bossidy Drive, Pittsfield, to Grace Legacy Properties LLC, $305,000. Cheri R. and Paul F. Rodhouse Jr., trustees of the P&C Rodhouse NT, sold property at 100 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, to Joselyn Viviana Pillacela Calderon, $246,225.

Deborah Wiswesser sold property at 7 Yale Court, Stockbridge, to Tanis Clark and Jaime Palma, $590,000. Mark C. and Sheri L. Jenny sold property at 4 Fox Meadow Lane, Stockbridge, to Pamela Zagorski, $695,000. Donna McKenna sold property at 11 Sergeant St., Stockbridge, to Ronald Kevin and Bari Ackerman, $794,000. Jennifer M.W. Carmichael, trustee of the Unit 21 Carriage House Condominium NT, sold property at 57 Main St., Stockbridge, to Deborah Wiswesser, $250,000. Kenneth and Diane C. Fogarty, trustees of the Kenneth and Diane Fogarty RVT, sold property at 49 Church St., Stockbridge, to Michael and June C. Powell, $700,000. Eliane Lust sold property at 7 Church St., Stockbridge, to Rosemary Bitetti Orr, trustee of the Revocable Living Trust of Rosemary Bitetti Orr, $350,000.

TYRINGHAM

Alexis R. Brophy and Danny J. LaDouceur Jr. sold property at 46 Berkley St., Pittsfield, to Larry Weeks and Allyssa Johnson, $293,000.

Michael and June C. Powell sold property at 7 Stonebridge Way, Tyringham, to Scott and April Franqueza, $748,000.

Melissa Letalien sold property at 49 Crane Ave., Pittsfield, to Katie J. Hartnett, $265,000.

WASHINGTON

William P. and Margaret R. Grady sold property at 144 Brombach St., Pittsfield, to Alexis R. Brophy, $525,000. Georgia Wingblade sold property at 32 Lakeview St., Pittsfield, to Casey Bouchard, $264,900. John A. Fiorini sold property at 34 Parker St., Pittsfield, to Lefebvre Auto Repair LLC, $500,000. 247 Pecks Rd Pittsfield LLC sold property at 247 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, to Staged With Design LLC, $70,000. TMR Realty LLC sold property at 14 Cooper Parkway, Pittsfield, to Emma Whitney, $520,000. Brayton Lanoue sold property at 27 Morgan St., Pittsfield, to Sarah Witruk, $296,475.

David A. and Gail M. Ellis sold property at 507 Middlefield Road, Washington, to Cynthia Grippaldi, $425,000.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE Jarisse J. Sanborn and Alvin M. Sanborn, trustees of Alvin M. and Jarisse J. Sanborn Joint Revocable Trust, sold property at 30 Moscow Road, West Stockbridge, to Theodore M. Brown and Jonathan T. Brown, $290,000. William A. Korte and Lisa J. Korte sold property at State Line Road, West Stockbridge, to Rumplik Group LLC, $35,000. Alistair Black and Cameron Black sold property at 44 Main St., West Stockbridge, to Dominick Luchi Jr., $250,000.

Julie A. Wilson sold property at 62 Thomas Road, Pittsfield, to James and Suzanne Homan, $269,000.

Diana Lynne Glass sold property at 32 Chestnut St., Richmond, to Shane R. Tomashek, $350,000.

Martha A. Meier sold property at 25 Taylor St., Pittsfield, to Harry and Jennifer Dieuveuil, $400,000.

Morgan Quigley sold property at 2801 State Road, Richmond, to Alfredo de La Cruz and Aura Noemi Lopez Jimenez, $355,000.

Curtis L. Thierling and Michaela Thierling sold property at 3 Van Schaack Road, West Stockbridge, to Jesse Roy and Brittany Roy, $415,000.

SANDISFIELD

WILLIAMSTOWN

Fred P. Garner Jr. sold property at 459 Pomeroy Ave., Pittsfield, to Adam Troiano, $427,000.

Brian Warner, personal rep. of the Estate of Shirley Ann Warner, and Mark Warner sold property at 83 Fort Hill Ave., Pittsfield, to Donna Lee Coffin, $350,000. Juanita Allen Kingsley, trustee of the Credit Trust created under the Hildegard E. Wachob Trust, and Juanita Allen Kingsley, trustee of the Credit Trust created under the James R. Wachob Trust, sold property at 145 Connecticut Ave., Pittsfield, to Matthew Segatti, $300,000. John W. and Jane P. Bresnahan sold property at 18 Reed St., Pittsfield, to James M. Torra, trustee of the J.M.T. Family NT, $290,000. Darin L. and Lisa A. Torrey sold property at 22 Broadway St., Pittsfield, to Ricardo and Maria Almonte, $296,500.

RICHMOND

Cynthia Ann Pease Nienart sold property at 0 West St., Sandisfield, to Sandy Falk and Daniel Judson, $315,000. Bonnie A. Harbour sold property at 85 South Main St., Sandisfield, to Hattie White, $300,000. Estate of Margaret N. Hawley, Linda Nolau, John R. Haggarty, and Bruce M. Haggarty sold property at Off Town Hill Road, Sandisfield, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, $100,000.

SAVOY

Olivier and Laure Meslay sold property at 148 South St., Williamstown, to Eileen H. Downing, $1,130,000. The President & Trustees of Williams College sold property at 640 Pine Cobble Road, Williamstown, to Jeffrey A. Palmer, $672,276. Timothy R. and Natasha H. Andenmatten sold property at 20 Chestnut St., Williamstown, to Katherine S. McDonough, $318,000. Dennis Michael Kostyk and Caroline Alexander sold property at 17 Holly Lane, Williamstown, to Kelsey Wood, $495,000.

Mitchell J. and Susan J. Bresett sold property at 141 Griffin Hill Road, Savoy, to Griffin Rougeau and Emma Graham, $715,000.

David H. and Timothy G. Rickert sold property at 265 Cole Ave., Williamstown, to Timothy G. and Tamara M. Rickert, $133,800.

SHEFFIELD

Mika Hirai and Lisa Tennyson sold property at 1201 Green River Road, Williamstown, to Morgan R. Hanna and Briann G. Greenfield, $549,000.

Michael B. Peabody, trustee of Peabody Family Irrevocable Trust of 2023, sold property at 483 Home Road, Sheffield, to Kimm Andrea Bonner and Warren Joseph Offer, $638,500.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company sold property at 89 Turner Ave., Pittsfield, to Tim Zhang, $66,525.

Kenneth Kushi sold property at East Stahl Road, Sheffield, to Ronald Babcock and Nora Babcock, $95,000.

LND Investments LLC sold property at 14 Donovan St., Pittsfield, to Darin L. and Lisa A. Torrey, $385,000.

Michael Farrell sold property at 153 East Main St., Sheffield, to Jared Buckhiester and Colin Whitaker, $325,000.

Jordan M. Smith sold property at 94 Crane Ave., Pittsfield, to Bradley M. Johnson, $286,000.

Ryan Winters sold property at 49 McArthur St., Pittsfield, to Jackson T. Harnick, $225,000.

K. Lea Morgan sold property at 135 Allengate Ave., Pittsfield, to Joan Merritt Kraus, $340,650.

Steven David Bileca, Angela Alonso Bileca and Frasari Holdings LLC sold property at 142 Rote Hill Road, Sheffield, to Daniel J. Barrett and Julie A. Becker, $1,335,000.

Ann M. Grandbois sold property at 116 High St., Pittsfield, to Reobote Group USA Inc., $135,000.

Adelmo A. and Maureen C. Almeida sold property at 582 East New Lenox Road, Pittsfield, to Guidewire Inc., $485,000.

Matthew C. Cartier sold property at 1193 Rannapo Road, Sheffield, to Michael Cartier and Deborah Cartier, $321,274.52.

Midfirst Bank, Sasha M. Feliciano and Freddy Agudo

Bruce Cohen and Tova Mirvis sold property at 19 Hawthorne Road, Stockbridge, to Matthew Sheedy and Alice Greenberg-Sheedy, $530,000.

Kim H. Ruffing and Thomas C. Ruffing, trustees of KHR 2017 Revocable Trust, sold property at 15 Cross Road, West Stockbridge, to Mary J. Forfa, trustee of Forfa Revocable Trust, $569,000.

Raymond A. McGarrigle sold property at 103 Alpine Trail, Pittsfield, to John R. and Linda Kay Sims, trustees of the Sims FT Agreement, $800,000.

Cindy R. Cross and Scott Hinckley sold property at 51 Howe Road, Pittsfield, to Devin Mickle, $265,000.

Robert Bonenfant sold property at Beech Street, Sheffield, to Agassi Nakhapetian and Swagata Das, $2,500.

Elizabeth A. Bullard sold property at 170 East New Lenox Road, Pittsfield, to Timothy A. Kuper and Emma S. Adler, $640,000.

Mary F. Courtney, conservator for Gary A. Case, sold property at 57 Donna Ave., Pittsfield, to Cristian Camilo Hernandez Melchor and Natalia Andrea Trejos, $330,000.

Robert A. Pinsonneault and Gabriel R. Riello sold property at 134 East Park Terrace, Pittsfield, to Jonah M. and Bryce Smith, $125,000.

Rigonato Construction LLC sold property at 112-114 Union St., Pittsfield, to 555 East Street Realty LLC, $210,000.

Nelson R. Uribe Eivar and Jennifer Vazquez sold property at 4 Paula Ave., Pittsfield, to Bryan Orellana Cordova and Karen Amaya, $315,000.

Barton Raser sold property at 93 Gravesleigh Terrace, Pittsfield, to Daniel C. Righi and Kelsey E. Hanlon, $980,000.

Ryan Campagna, personal rep. of the Estate of James Joseph Campagna, sold property at 10 Marlboro Drive, Pittsfield, to Judith Seaman, $330,000.

Jill E. Schwartz, trustee of Harold M. Schwartz Revocable Trust, sold property at 856 Barnum St., Sheffield, to Thomas Yatsko, $875,000.

Chrysaetos Holdings LLC sold property at 56 Spring St., Pittsfield, to Ayman Amghar LLC, $475,000.

Philip V., Brian M. and Joseph E. Bastow sold property at 51 Bushey Road, Pittsfield, to Sefa Kilic, $280,000.

Barry J. Gerard sold property at 140 Cole Ave., Pittsfield, to Fort River Real Estate LLC, $130,000.

Benjamin H. Kaphan and Jill R. Dusseault sold property at 84 Elizabeth St., Pittsfield, to Jee Soo Shin, $375,000.

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency and Jamaul Warren sold property at 46 Longfellow Ave., Pittsfield, to Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, $238,653.41.

Sandra Bink and Brenda Wilbur sold property at 19 Dan Ave., Pittsfield, to Gerald A. Lyon and Sandra Bink, $280,000.

August 2026

WINDSOR Chadwick Michael Judge sold property at 515 Shaw Road, Windsor, to Robert Zaniboni, $65,000.

FT — Family Trust LLC — Limited Partnership LT — Life Trust NT — Nominee Trust RET — Real Estate Trust RT — Realty Trust RVT — Revocable Trust The real estate transactions are provided by the Middle Berkshire, North Berkshire and South Berkshire Registry of Deeds offices.

August 2026

Berkshire Business Journal

19

People in the Berkshires Lipton Energy, a regional provider of propane, heating oil and related services across Berkshire County and surrounding areas in Massachusetts, Vermont and New York, has appointed Bill Hines Jr. as director of sales and marketing. In this newly established leadership role, Hines will be responsible for coordinating and aligning the sales and marketing activities across Lipton Energy’s Hines three business divisions — fuel delivery, Lipton Markets and Lipton Car Washes. He will focus on accelerating customer acquisition, strengthening brand presence throughout the region, and ensuring a consistent customer experience across all lines of business. Hines brings a distinguished career in business leadership to his new role. He recently retired from Interprint after 29 years with the company, including 19 years as managing director. His deep operational background gives him a unique perspective on building efficient, customer-focused sales and marketing programs, a combination that positions Lipton Energy well for its next phase of growth. “We are excited to welcome Bill to the Lipton Energy team,” said Mike Lipton, CEO. “His proven leadership experience and hands-on operational knowledge make him ideally suited to bring our three business divisions together under a unified sales and marketing strategy. We look forward to the energy and direction he will bring to this role.” Hines’ appointment is effective immediately.

continued success. Mechanics Cooperative Bank is headquartered in Taunton.

MountainOne Financial has appointed Edward Alfieri as senior vice president of operations. Alfieri joins the organization as MountainOne Financial continues to build a unified operational foundation following the merger of MountainOne Financial, MHC, and Mechanics Bancorp, MHC. In this role, Alfieri will provide executive leadership for operational functions across the organization, supporting strategic initiatives, process improvements, technology integration, and longterm growth. “Ed brings a unique Alfieri combination of operational expertise, strategic leadership, and community banking experience,” said Joe Baptista, president and chief executive officer of MountainOne Financial, MHC. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to lead complex initiatives, develop strong teams, and drive meaningful organizational improvement. As we continue building for the future, his leadership will help strengthen our operational capabilities and support our commitment to delivering exceptional service across both institutions.” Alfieri brings nearly three decades of banking experience to the role. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of operations and transformation at HarborOne Bank, where he led enterprise-wide operational and transformation initiatives focused on scalability, efficiency, technology, and regulatory compliance. During his 28-year career with HarborOne, he held progressively senior leadership positions spanning branch operations, retail administration, banking administration, and enterprise operations. “I am excited to join MountainOne Bank and Mechanics Cooperative Bank during this important chapter in MountainOne Financial’s history,” Alfieri said. “The organizations have a strong reputation for community commitment, customer service, and long-term vision. I look forward to working with colleagues across MountainOne and Mechanics to strengthen operations, support growth, and help position the organization for

NBT Bank has promoted Joe Sergienko to senior vice president and chief risk officer. With this new role, Sergienko has also joined NBT’s executive management team. Sergienko joined NBT in 2024 as managing director of enterprise risk management and was promoted to deputy chief risk officer in December 2025. As chief risk officer, he will lead the company’s risk Sergienko management division, overseeing enterprise-wide risk strategy, governance and compliance. “Joe’s depth of expertise and forward-looking approach to enterprise risk management will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our risk culture and support long-term growth,” said NBT Bank CEO Scott Kingsley. “He has already made a meaningful impact since joining NBT and will continue supporting our long-term growth and risk management strategy.” Sergienko brings 25 years of experience as both an in-house practitioner and a professional services adviser to financial services and fintech organizations of varying sizes and complexity. His expertise includes designing and executing enterprise-wide risk management and compliance programs, helping institutions strengthen their risk frameworks and navigate evolving regulatory environments. Prior to joining NBT, Sergienko served as managing director of risk and compliance for Treliant Consulting. His career also includes leadership and advisory roles with Promontory Financial Group and State Street Corp. Sergienko earned his associate’s degree in accounting from New England College of Finance, his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Northeastern University and his master of business administration from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. In addition, he holds the Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and ProSight Financial Association, formerly the Risk Management Association. He is also active in the alumni associations for Boston University and Northeastern University.

Berkshire Hills Country Club, a privately owned, family-friendly golf and social club, is launching its 2026 season with two major enhancements: a new partnership with Berkshire Culinary Group and the hiring of Shiobbean Lemme as the club’s new member relations and event coordinator. Berkshire Culinary Group has been named the club’s exclusive catering partner for the 2026 season. Led by award-winning, classically trained chef Matt Mottor, the company provides full-service catering throughout Berkshire County and surrounding Western Massachusetts communities. The partnership will support weddings, tournaments, corporate Lemme events, and member functions. Lemme brings 25 years of hospitality and event leadership experience, along with extensive community connections across Berkshire County, expertise in municipal permitting and compliance, and a long-standing reputation as a trusted event organizer. Her role will focus on enhancing member engagement, coordinating club events and strengthening the club’s welcoming, community-oriented atmosphere. Founded in 1925, Berkshire Hills at 500 Benedict Road is home to Massachusetts’ only A.W. Tillinghast-designed 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course, offering a historic setting for recreation, dining and social connection.

MountainOne Bank has appointed Lisa Lotano as community banking officer for its Pittsfield branch at 111 Silver Lake Boulevard. Lotano brings 25 years of banking experience to the role, in which she will focus on growing deposits, providing personalized financial solutions and building relationships with customers and community organizations throughout the Berkshires. Throughout her career, Lotano has been active in the community, volunteering with Junior Lotano Achievement’s Reality Store program, mentoring adult learners through the Elizabeth Freeman Center, and teaching financial education to students in grades K through 12. “Lisa brings a proven track record of leadership, exceptional service, and strategic relationship management to her role as community banking officer,” said Jill Amato, senior vice president of marketing and community banking officer. “Her commitment to customer service, financial education, and the communities we serve makes her a valuable addition to our team and a trusted resource for the customers of our Pittsfield branch.” Lotano lives in Dalton with her husband, Joseph, and their two Boston terriers. The Berkshire County Development Alliance has named a new leadership team for the 2026-27 program year. Hannah Kogut and Kara Matthews will oversee programming and operations, succeeding outgoing chairs Kate Gigliotti, Jackie Kelly-Olson and Miranda Meyers. Kogut is a Berkshires-based arts and

nonprofit professional with nearly a decade of experience spanning development, digital communications and marketing. She serves as membership and stewardship coordinaKogut tor at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, a regional performing arts organization with a multistate donor base. Matthews is an experienced development professional with more than a decade of experience leading advancement efforts for arts, cultural and social sector organizations. She serves as director of institutional giving at Mass MoCA in North Adams. Founded over two Matthews decades ago, the Berkshire County Development Alliance is an informal group of 150+ development professionals who represent Berkshire area nonprofit organizations in a fundraising capacity. The group meets up to six times a year to share information and discuss advancement issues affecting the industry. Membership is free and open to anyone interested. The BCDA will host a networking meetup from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21, at Balderdash Cellars, 81 State Road, Richmond. RSVP to 413BCDA@gmail. com by Aug. 18. Drinks are pay-yourway and attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. Fall 2026 program planning is underway. Email 413BCDA@gmail.com to get involved or visit bit.ly/4cDsUjA to learn more and join the communications listserv.

Risk Tolerance

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nvestments carry risk. Are your portfolios allocated to help protect your assets? Several factors can impact the global markets. And now, risk management is more important then ever. It’s why we’re here. We’re here for you. Start a conversation with us. It just might be the least risky action you take.

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Berkshire Business Journal

August 2026