Pittsfield Education Foundation Gives Lessons In Wine Tasting

Lisa Green reports from Pittsfield. Rarely do we cover an occasion where guests arrive…and keep streaming in right through the event. On Friday, March 9, the number of supporters at a wine tasting benefitting the Pittsfield Education Foundation at the Berkshire Hills County Club exceeded the organizers’ expectations. But it validated the community’s support of the new organization’s mission: to improve the achievement and success of the children and teachers in the Pittsfield Public Schools. Local educators, their families and friends, as well as several city officials, roamed the room, wine glasses in hand, where representatives from George's Liquor Store offered tastings of wines and craft beers. Silent auction tables provided further evidence of support from Pittsfield businesses. “We want to ignite the passion for teaching and learning,” Kimberlee Chappell one of the founding members, remarked to the guests. [Above, Chappell, flanked by fellow founders Julie Pellerin and Elizabeth Trapani.]

Morningside Community School's Kim Pemble and Crosby's Dayle Bowler; Katherine Yon, chair of the Pittsfield School Committee, and John Pariseau.

PEF supporters Laura Farkas, Noel Henebury from Hotel on North, and Jesse Tobin McCauley, graphic designer for Main Street Hospitality.

Heidi Riello and Tony Riello, who works at Herberg Middle School; Mauricio Herrera and Christine Pellerin.

Teachers Erin Bassi from Capeless Elementary School and Karen Pearce from Conte Community School.

Michelle Curletti, who is a manager at the Department of Children & Families, with Michael DiCicco, who works at General Dynamics; Flying Cloud Institute's Ruth Dinerman and Maria Rundle.