Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Announces New Staff Hires

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Hackett and Robertson
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) announced the hiring of two staff members: Kallie Robertson, who joins BAV as Finance Manager, and Audrey Hackett, who steps into the role of Communications & Development Associate.
 
The new hires expand BAV's staff team to nine, adding capacity to the nonprofit's service to local farmers and food producers in the Berkshire-Taconic region of Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut.
 
Robertson comes to BAV with a diverse background in farming, nonprofit financial management, and design experience. For over a decade, Robertson and her husband have owned and managed Sawkill Farm, a diverse pasture-based livestock farm in the Hudson Valley. They currently raise sheep and make yarn from the fiber. Most recently, Robertson worked as the Finance & Administrative Director of NOFA/Mass, managing the budget and financial health of the organization whose mission is to promote organic agriculture and food access in Massachusetts.
 
Hackett joins BAV with over two decades of diverse experience in writing, editing, nonprofit communications, and community journalism. Most recently, she worked for a regenerative agriculture nonprofit in Ohio as editor and writer. Hackett is relocating back to the Berkshires, where she previously was editor of The Women's Times and worked on staff and as an independent consultant for Norman Rockwell Museum, The Mount, and other organizations. Prior to accepting this position, Hackett served BAV as a communications consultant beginning in early 2024.
 
"BAV is thrilled to welcome these two passionate and talented professionals to our team. Kallie adds new depth and expertise to our organizational financial management and grants management, as well as bringing valuable firsthand farming knowledge and experience. This newly created role will support BAV's growth and enable us to serve more farmers," Executive Director Rebecca Busansky said.
 
"BAV is also delighted to deepen our work with Audrey, who has been BAV's communications consultant since February. In her staff position, Audrey will work closely with BAV's leadership, program staff, and Board to increase public awareness of BAV and expand our community of supporters and friends," Busansky continued.
 
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Triplex Special Screening 'A Book By Their Cover'

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Triplex Cinema announces a special screening of local filmmaker John Tedeschi's fictional narrative film "A Book By Their Cover," inspired by local events in Berkshire County, as well as  events around the country including book bans connected with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. 
 
The film was shot entirely in the Berkshires.
 
The film will screen on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 pm and will be followed by a conversation with the director as well as members of the cast and crew. Tickets are available for purchase at the Triplex website, thetriplex.org.
 
According to a press release:
 
"A Book By Their Cover" tells the story of Samantha, a 12-year-old girl who discovers a book while staying at her grandparents' house. The book, a medical journal written in 1962, piques Samantha's curiosity about sexuality. After discussing it, Samantha's parents give her another book, "The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families," written in 2020 by Rachel Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni. "The Every Body Book" is widely considered to be a valuable and groundbreaking resource for parents navigating early conversations with children about puberty, consent, sex and gender.
 
Samantha brings the book with her to school, where the school janitor sees the book, is upset, and confiscates it. The book is turned over by the school administration to the police and an investigation ensues. The film deals with the aftermath of these events, which play out during a town meeting where opinions about the book and the police investigation that followed are played out.
 
A similar situation occurred last year at W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School over the well-known book "Gender Queer," an incident which serves as inspiration for the film. In a statement provided to the "Berkshire Edge" Tedeschi said, "the film is not a true story, it is not a film that uses the words ‘based on true and actual events,' and the characters are not intended to appear as any actual person. The film was inspired by many things, it is a mirror, as you say, of events but it is not the actual likeness."
 
 
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