On Saturday, August 17^th at 10:30 in the morning, a group of civic-minded cyclists will converge on Plaine’s Bike Ski Snowboard at 55 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield to raise money for local healthcare non-profits.  The beneficiaries of the ride include Pittsfield-based organizations: The Brien Center, HospiceCare in The Berkshires and Moments House.  

The ride seeks to bring together members of the therapeutic community and fitness industry for a fun day of recreation, friends and community spirit.  THE RIDE IS OPEN TO EVERYONE!  Riders will follow scenic Route 7 North, turn right onto Route 43 in Williamstown, then turn right onto Route 2 taking the fork right to 67 Main Street North Adams—Mediterra Bistro & Restaurant.  Owner Fahri Karakaya will donate 15% of the proceeds from lunch sales generated by the cyclists to the cause plus offer a $20 gift card for raffle. 

 Co-chairs Todd Fiorentino of Energy Rising Massage Therapy and Jim Czarnecki of Taking Shape via Indoor/Outdoor Fitness decided to organize this event to help local non-profits within the wellness industry in Berkshire County.  “It’s also a great way to meet new people while improving your overall fitness level,” said Fiorentino of Energy Rising.

Participants are asked to register to ride directly with Todd Fiorentino (todd@energyrising.net).  A registration sheet will be emailed to cyclists; it is $25 to register to ride.  (All riders are automatically entered in the raffle.)  The ride is expected to run 28 miles.  Companies with items to donate for the raffle are asked to contact Jim Czarnecki at jim@taking-shape.com.

If a cyclist needs a ride back to Pittsfield, s/he can include this in the registration email to Fiorentino and the biker will be put on a carpool list.  One week prior to the ride, participants will be asked to email their completed pledge sheets back to Fiorentino.  The owner of Plaine’s, Mitch Plaine, has kindly offered to provide technical assistance for riders en route in case of flat tires or mechanical issues.  Bike rental, helmets, etc. are also available.

Energy Rising and Taking Shape invite you to get involved!  Take steps to improve your health and that of the community by riding for a cause!  It’s a great way to close out the summer, have some fun and get inspired.  Not only that, it’s a fantastic way to train for the Josh Billings Run A Ground Triathlon.  We look forward to seeing you out on those rolling hills passing by the glistening waters of picturesque Pontoosuc Lake and the lush Greylock forest.  (Rain date is the following day, Sunday, August 18th.)

The Brien Center Annual “UNICO” dinner will take place on Thursday, May 2nd at the ITAM Lodge in Pittsfield at 5:30pm. 

The fundraiser is in support of the programs and services at The Brien Center.  All meals for this event will be prepared by UNICO.

This year the Brien Center will present the first annual Volunteer Recognition Award to Robert Quattrochi, to acknowledge his commitment to helping the Brien Center reach its fundraising goals  for the Mt. Carmel Campus. Bob has been volunteering his time and talent to many Berkshire organizations over the years and the Brien Center is extremely grateful for his many hours of service toward our campaign and our mission.

Adult tickets are $30.00 for a Chicken Parmesan Dinner. Children tickets are $10.00 for Pasta & Meatballs. Tickets are available by calling Mary Murphy at 629-1271 or by email at mary.murphy@briencenter.org.

 A Lottery Tree Raffle will be held – A CHANCE TO WIN $1,000,000!!

 and 

A Table Raffle of  terrific prizes from many local businesses!!

followed by

A Live Auction featuring gifts from Paul Rich & Sons, Zabian’s Jewelers, Pittsfield Furniture, Lyon Aviation, Simmons Furniture and more!

See you there!

The Brien Center’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to confirm M. Christine Macbeth, ACSW, LICSW as their Chief Executive Officer at their October meeting. Ms. Macbeth has been serving as Interim CEO since January of this year. 

Board President Thomas Stokes stated, “This was the best outcome we could have hoped for. Ms. Macbeth has done an outstanding job as Interim CEO and previously as Assistant Executive Officer. We are confident that her exemplary leadership, dedication and skills will continue to serve the Brien Center.”

Ms. Macbeth pledged to “remain as committed as ever to the Agency’s mission and the clinical excellence of the services provided.”  She is determined to “maintain the Agency’s status as the largest and most comprehensive provider of mental health and substance abuse services in the county.” 

In 2010, Ms. Macbeth joined The Brien Center as the Assistant Executive Officer and had direct responsibility for human resources, programmatic and clinical operations, liaising with funding sources and quality management. 

In December 2011, Ms. Macbeth was asked by the Board to assume the role of Interim CEO. 

Ms. Macbeth has a long record of leadership for both social service and health care agencies and brings a wealth of experience to her position as CEO.   She has a combination of administrative, clinical and fiscal expertise that will help The Brien Center continue to provide the most effective mental health and substance abuse services. 

Ms. Macbeth most recently served as Regional Director of Provider Relations for the Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, a managed care organization providing affordable, high quality health coverage to low and moderate income Massachusetts residents, where she became expert in managing contracts and reimbursement for providers. 

Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of Valleyhead, Inc. in Lenox, MA, a private residential school for at risk girls with significant emotional and learning challenges. During her tenure there she developed and implemented significant program and operational changes and broadened the school’s continuum of care.

Christine Macbeth has a strong commitment to the community and its residents. She has resided in Berkshire County for over 20 years and currently lives in Lee.

District Attorney David F. Capeless today announced the donation of $2,000 to the Patrick Miller Youth Substance Abuse Program of the Brien Center.  The Program was founded in 2005 by Miller’s family as a response to their son’s overdose death. The donation is the sixth in a series of annual contributions totaling $13,000. The money comes from illegal proceeds seized from drug dealers by the county-wide Drug Task Force and forfeited by the courts for law enforcement investigations and community education and prevention efforts aimed at reducing substance abuse.  

District Attorney Capeless said, “The Patrick Miller Program serves a much needed role in our community.  Substance abuse among our youth, whether underage drinking or the abuse of illicit or prescription drugs, is a serious problem and, while we in law enforcement are fully prepared to fight against those who profit from it, institutions such as the Brien Center and their Patrick Miller Program are necessary to provide the counseling and support that will prevent many young people from getting involved, or getting too far involved, with these substances that can destroy their lives.  The Miller family should be remembered and thanked for the generosity that came from their loss, and I am proud to assist their efforts.  It is wholly appropriate that these monies, now to be used to help our young people build a clear and sober future for themselves, are taken from the efforts of a few who set out to destroy that future before it had begun.” 

 M. Christine Macbeth, Interim CEO of the Brien Center says, “The Brien Center sincerely appreciates its collaborative relationship with District Attorney Capeless and his team. The Brien Center and the DA’s office are jointly committed to investing in early intervention and the prevention of substance abuse among Berkshire County youth. The DA’s office’s contribution of $2000 to our Patrick Miller Youth Substance Abuse Program will be used to educate our young people about the dangers of substance use and the very negative impact it can have on their lives. ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ sounds so cliché, but it makes absolute sense in this case. The more we invest in our youth, the better prepared they are to successfully navigate the challenges that confront them daily. They’ll have a better opportunity to realize their potential and most importantly their dreams.”

 Ms. Macbeth adds, “we are very thankful for the generosity of Mr. Capeless and the DA’s office and look forward to continuing our affiliation and shared goals to stop underage substance use and protect the young people of our community.  This contribution helps us to continue our mission of education and prevention in Berkshire County”.

The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has been awarded $5,000 on behalf of Big Y Foods, Inc.!  For 31 years the Big Y has held its Paul and Gerald D’Amour Memorial Charity Golf Outing to help raise money, in part, for local charities and this year the Brien Center was one of its lucky recipients.  The money will be used to help support the Agency’s many mental health and addiction treatment programs that serve the residents of Berkshire County.

The Brien Center is a community based, non profit agency with a long history of providing services for children, adolescents, adults and families.  Their services are responsive to preferences and needs and focus on rehabilitation, resiliency and recovery. Last year, the Brien Center served more than 10,000 clients, 40,00 of whom are children.

M. Christine Macbeth, Interim CEO, was extremely grateful to accept the check on behalf of the Brien Center from Kevin Grise, General Manger of Big Y’s West Street store in Pittsfield.

 OPEN HOUSE

 The Brien Center for Mental Health

 and Substance Abuse Services

Thursday, June 28

4-5:30 p.m.

 at our NEW location!

124 American Legion Drive, North Adams

formerly the Transcript Building

Please join us for a tour of our newly renovated building and learn about the comprehensive mental health and addiction services we provide to Northern Berkshire County residents

Here to Listen. Here to Help.

The Brien Center has moved from 25 Marshall Street to 124 American Legion Drive in North Adams.  The former North Adams Transcript building has been renovated and staff are ready to offer a variety of comprehensive services to the residents of North County.

In addition, the Adult Day Health Program formerly at 420 Curran Highway, will move to the new building as of April 1.

We have consolidated several existing services into one facility; Adult Outpatient Services, Child & Adolescent Services, Community Based Flexible Support Services, Acute Care Services and Adult Day Health.

This new location allows us to continue providing ever-expanding levels of care and services to the local community in a more up to date, private setting.

 The Brien Center Annual Fundraiser will take place on Thursday, May 3^rd at The ITAM in Pittsfield at 6:30pm. 

The fundraiser is in support of the programs and services at The Brien Center.  All meals for this event will be prepared by UNICO.

 Adult tickets are $25.00 for a Chicken Parmesan Dinner. Children tickets are $10.00 for Spaghetti & Meatballs.

 A Lottery Tree Raffle will be held – A CHANCE TO WIN $1,000,000!! and 

A Table Raffle –   terrific prizes from many local businesses!!

Tickets are available at 5 convenient locations:

Bardwell Bowley & Karam at 87 East Street

Ditore Motors at 526 East Street

Elm Street Hardware at 129 Elm Street

Friends Grille at 17 Seymour Street

George’s Liquor Store at 19 Elm Street

 Or call The Brien Center at 413-629-1272

We are pleased to announce that Phase I of the Brien Center Campus (the former Mt. Carmel Parish) in Pittsfield, is nearing completion.

Phase I has included the renovation of our new administration building on 359 Fenn Street in Pittsfield. The administrative team moved in March and has settled into their new home nicely.

Phase I also includes the completion of the site and ground work for the entire campus. Newly paved parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, grass planting, and signage are a few changes that can be seen so far. Many items cannot be seen, such as new electrical lines, plumbing and information technology cabeling that have been buried underground.  

Please use the link below to view the Brien Center Campus Map and get an overall idea of this project.

Brien Center Campus Map

We still need your support to make this dream a reality. Please use the green “Donate Now” button and make an online contribution to our Capital Campaign today.