Letter: Thank You for Supporting 'Get BArT Smart'

To the Editor:

On Saturday, April 6, Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School hosted our annual "Get BART Smart" fundraiser — and raised $29,769 (net) for the school's college preparatory and extra-curricular programs! Over 110 people attended and participated in our signature team trivia game. A huge "thank you" to all who attended and made it a great evening!

This night would not have been possible without the support of over a hundred local organizations and businesses.

We are extremely thankful to our Salutation Sponsor, Adams Community Bank! Thank you for being the Head of the Class.

Our High Honor Roll sponsors: MountainOne Bank, Aladco Linen Services, Cord Master Engineering, Haddad Auto Group, and Nocher Realty all played an important part in the evening's success.

The list above doesn't include 90-plus additional local businesses that generously donated goods and services to the event for auction items and prizes, or supported the event at the "Sponsor" level.

BART serves over 365 students in Grades 6-12 from all over Berkshire County. Businesses from all corners of the Berkshires helped support our students through their generous sponsorships and donations.

Finally, many thanks to the trustees, faculty, staff, volunteers and others who contributed their time, money, and effort to make this event happen. Their dedication to the BART community, most importantly our students, is truly inspiring.

Sincerely,

Catherine McKeen
Williamstown, Mass. 

McKeen is a member of the school's board of trustees. 

Anahata Schoolhouse is Offering a New Program for the Community

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Monday, April 28, 2025

Howard Rosenberg opened the yoga studio in 2018 in the old school house at 201 North Summer St. 

ADAMS, Mass. — The Anahata Schoolhouse on North Summer Street is offer a new service to its yoga patrons — ayurveda.

 

"Ayurveda means the science of life or longevity and it's a 5,000-year-old traditional system of medicine originating in India. It's a universal system of medicine that applies to anybody, anywhere," said certified ayurveda practitioner Hilary Garivaltis. 

 

"It's based on nature, natural laws, and rhythms and principles of nature and understanding that we're all a part of it so learning how we fit into the world around us is so important in ayurveda."

 

Garivaltis has been a leader in ayurveda for 25 years and taught for 12 years at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Strockbridge. 

 

She continues to give workshops and courses, and helps set up programs, including now at the Anahata yoga and healing arts center. This includes offering personal consultations to create customized recommendations on diet, lifestyle and habits.

 

"Ayurveda is really body care, yoga is taking care of the mind, ayurveda is taking care of the body," said Aly Sprague, Anahata's director of ayurveda and yoga programs.

 

"It's extremely individualized, so no one that comes in is going to walk away with the same recommendations, not one person, because we are all made up of varying degrees."