Rachel Louchen reports from Great Barrington. Tin is traditionally associated with a 10-year anniversary, but for BerkShares, it was all about the paper. Berkshire County's own local currency celebrated a decade of circulation and success at Prairie Whale on Friday, Sept. 23. In the fall of 2006, local banks began accepting federal currency and exchanging them for BerkShares, which can now be used at 400 participating businesses. The circulation encourages money to be spent in the region, boosting the economy and supporting local enterprises, while nurturing customers' relationships with the business owners. Remarked Susan Witt, executive director of the Schumacher Center for a New Economics, in her toast, "BerkShares speaks to the independent spirit, creativity and character of the Berkshires." [Above, board member Sierra Watson, with Rachel Moriarty, program assistant at Schumacher Center For New Economics, and BerkShares executive director Alice Maggio.]
Eliza Maggio, Ellen Maggio, arborist Ron Yaple and Will Ketchum; Sheffield residents Jane Nye and Chris Nye, who was an early supporter of BerkShares.
Former board member and current accountant for Berkshares Alan Glackman with Benes Glackman and Mark DeCelle; Anne MacDonald, director at the Schumacher Center, with the center's librarian, Amelia Holmes.
Adam Hinds, the Democratic nominee for state senate from Western Mass., with BerkShares board member Catherine Chester and Alice Maggio.
Kathleen Larkin, who uses BerkShares, with board member Jon Green and photographer Cheryl Luft, who accepts BerkShares at her business; Chris and Stephanie Graham.
Dan Seitz, president of the Berkshire Co-Op board of directors, with Bill Nappo; ceramicist Dan Bellow is on the board of BerkShares, here with Jo Valens.
Written by
Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
