PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Community College Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for students who will begin their studies at BCC in the fall. Current high school seniors, non-traditional students, and those currently attending BCC who have earned less than 12 credits are eligible to apply.

Eligible students must be admitted to a certificate or degree program at BCC. Scholarship awards are not transferable to another institution. Students must complete the application form, obtain a recommendation, and write a personal statement. The deadline for submitting the application package is Monday, April 12. Applications are available in high school guidance offices, www.berkshirecc.edu, or by contacting Ann Phillips at BCC at 413-236-2185 or aphillips@berkshirecc.edu.

The BCC Foundation is a non-profit corporation established to encourage and receive gifts in support of the mission of the college. The Foundation provides between 30 to 40 scholarships ranging from $250 to $1,600 to deserving incoming students to assist them in the pursuit of their academic goals. Scholarships are awarded for academic promise, community service, leadership, and specific fields of study. All students planning on attending BCC in the fall are encouraged to apply.
 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Barrington Stage is seeking budding actors for its summer production of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods," a play featuring familiar characters from children's fairy tales.

High school students age 13 to 19 are eligible for the 18 roles up for grabs, and must be able to act, sing and move well. Those auditioning should prepare two songs – one ballad and one up-tempo number. (Songs from the musical are welcome). There will be an accompanist on site, but those auditioning should bring sheet music in the appropriate key

Audtions will take place at Barrington Stage's Mainstage, 30 Union St., on the following dates: Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 21, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Callbacks: April 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The production begins rehearsals on June 23, and the play will run from July 14 through Aug. 8 at St. Joseph's Central High School, Pittsfield, and from Aug. 10-15 at Pete’s Motors, Great Barrington.

Performers must commit to the rehearsal and performance schedule, must sign a contract, and will be paid a weekly stipend.

For more information or to schedule an audition call 413-997-6100 or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.

Something fishy is about to happen. The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is dumping 540,000 "feisty" brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout in pounds and streams statewide.

"We'll be putting out 320,000 rainbow trout that will average 12 inches or longer, and about 78 percent of these rainbows will be 14 inches or larger," Chief Fish Culturist Ken Simmons wrote in the latest MassWildlife reprot. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices."

Stocking will begin as soon as ice, snow and mud conditions allow the trucks access to the waterways. Anglers are advised to contact their district office for updates on when stocking will begin in the area.

What's going into the water? About 47,000 brown trout averaging more a foot long will be stocked along with another 115,000 browns in the 9-to-11-inch range. Not surprisingly, the bigger fish will land in the larger water bodies, while most of the smaller fish will be releaseed in the streams and brooks.

Brook trout will be stocked in a similar fashion with approximately 11,500 fish measuring a foot or better, and more than 66,000 in the 6-to-11-inch class.

Simmons said he is particular excited about the quality of this year's crop of 2-year-old brook trout, which he puts down to a "combination of hard work by hatchery staff and good growing conditions at the hatcheries where they are produced." 

Some 6,000 tiger trout are set to be released as well, all topping the 14-inch mark. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, have become popular with folks lucky enough to hook and land one, say Wildlife officials. 

To find out the status of trout stocking here or call the Western District office at 413-684-1646.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The League of Women Voters of Williamstown (LWV-W) is seeking nominations for its 2010 Williamstown town employee award.

Nominees should be employees of the Town of Williamstown who have provided outstanding service to the Williamstown community – duty above and beyond what is expected of them. This service can have been performed during the past year or in previous years. It can have been a single exceptional act or have been spread over several years.

To show appreciation for the work required to keep the town running smoothly, in 2001 LWV-W established the award to recognize an outstanding town employee. The award is presented at a League event, and the name of the recipient is announced at the annual Williamstown Town Meeting.

All employees of the Town of Williamstown are eligible, from snowplow drivers to librarians, cemetery workers, policemen and women, town department heads, custodians, teachers, transfer station workers and firefighters to the town manager – anyone on the town payroll.

Nomination forms are available at the Milne Library and at Town Hall, or nominations can be sent to the League of Women Voters of Williamstown, P.O. Box 392, Williamstown, by April 7, 2010. Nominations should include a description of the exceptional service provided and the name and telephone number or email address of the person submitting the nomination. The name of winner will be announced at the annual Williamstown Town Meeting.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is having a team captain's kick-off luncheon for NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, and it's inviting the public to join.

The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 24, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza, to begin planning the affiliate's participation in NAMI's nationwide fundraising and mental health awareness program. The Berkshire County affiliate's walk will take place on Saturday, May 15, at Burbank Park at Onota Lake.

At the luncheon, NAMI will provide supporters with the instructions and materials needed to organize a team to take part in the walk. The organization is seeking local residents to serve as committee members, team captains and volunteers for the event.

According to NAMI, one in four American adults—approximately 57.7 people — experience a mental health disorder in a given year. One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, and about one in 10 children have a serious mental or emotional disorder.

Companies, organizations and families are encouraged to organize teams of walkers made up of employees, organization members, relatives and friends. Proceeds of the walk will be used to help NAMI fund support, education and advocacy programs for people whose lives are affected by mental illness in Berkshire County.

If you are interested in participating in the walk, call 413-443-1666, or email namibc@namibc.org