Bank names Vermont region manager

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Berkshire Bank has welcomed Nicole Scribner as vice president, regional branch manager in Vermont.

In her new role, she will oversee the management of the bank's eight branches in the Vermont region, which includes one branch in Whitehall, N.Y. In this capacity, she will work to build and expand customer relationships while providing ongoing support and guidance for sales, service and operations of the branches.

Scribner previously worked at TD Bank since 2004, most recently serving as vice president, regional operations officer for 19 branches in Southern Vermont and the Empire Region of New York.

She also served as an assistant branch manager for Charter One Bank in Rutland.

"We are excited to welcome Nicole to lead our Vermont team," said Tami Gunsch, senior vice president of retail banking. "Nicole's experience in this market will serve us well as we continue on our path of growth and meet the evolving financial needs of customers in and around Vermont."

Scribner attended Castleton State College and is currently enrolled in Adirondack Community College pursuing a degree in business administration. She resides in Granville, NY.

Berkshire Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp. The company has $4.5 billion in assets and 68 full-service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut.

Maplebrook Farm wins honors in cheese competition

BENNINGTON -- Maplebrook Farm, makers of Vermont fine cheese, recently won first place in the Feta Cheese Category and third place in the Hand Dipped Whole Milk Ricotta category at the largest national competition that the American Cheese Society has ever held with over 254 companies competing for awards.

The honors were awarded at the annual American Cheese Society Conference, held during the first week in August in Raleigh, N.C.

This is the third time that Maplebrook Farm has been recognized by the ACS. In 2009 and 2007 their smoked mozzarella also received national recognition, winning a third in 2007, followed by a second in 2009.

Johann Englert and Michael Scheps, owners of Maplebrook Farm, have built a following by using all-natural ingredients and always old-world techniques for all of their fresh cheeses, which also include an wide assortment of original and smoked handmade fresh mozzarellas, burrata, burratini, scamorza, and stracciatella.

Englert and Scheps joined forces in 2003, producing small batches of mozzarella for gourmet shops in Boston. They purchased the current plant in Bennington in 2005. Their products can now be found in cheese shops, co-ops and supermarkets throughout the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and as far west as Salt Lake City. For more information, visit the website at www.maplebrookvt.com.

Contractors sought for recreation project

MANCHESTER -- Manchester officials and Bread Loaf Corp. -- the general contractor chosen to build the Park House at the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department -- are seeking bids from subcontractors. Subcontractors in the site, concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, insulation, gypsum, flooring, painting, mechanical and electrical trades are among those sought.

Manchester Town Manager John O'Keefe said that while price would be the overall determining factor in a choosing a bidder, the town was looking for local contractors.

"There will be some preference given to local contractors, but it won't be the tail wagging the dog. The goal is build a new building down there (at the Manchester Parks and Rec Department) at a reasonable price," O'Keefe said. "We've been very clear with Bread Loaf that we want a local preference and we've pushed them to solicit bids from local contractors."

O'Keefe said "local" means a business located in Manchester or whose owner lives in Manchester.

The town wants contractors that are in close proximity to Manchester, but that contractors outside Manchester were also encouraged to submit bids O'Keefe said Bread Loaf will solicit all bids, which the town would review.

Demolition of the existing pool house is scheduled for September. O'Keefe said it is anticipated that the park house would be completed in February.

-- Manchester Journal