We wish long-time Assistant Director Cathy Talarico a long and fruitful retirement. She is leaving Rural Lands at the end of February after sixteen years managing the Rural Lands administration, overseeing the annual burn pile, chasing beavers from the outflow, and welcoming countless WRL members and visitors to Sheep Hill. And so much more. She served with three executive directors, essentially training two of us. Cathy’s dedication to our mission of conserving land and the rural landscapes in Williamstown is well appreciated. Rural Lands couldn’t be more fortunate to have had Cathy on the staff team for a long, rich period. May your retirement be everything you need it to be.
WRL members, staff. and visitors will be in good hands, still, as we welcome highly affable Kas Maroney to the position. She comes to us with years of experience with nonprofit organizations in the cultural and social service sectors in central Berkshire County. Kas’ personable style, intuitive listening, and problem-solving skills will be a wonderful match for our team and community. As Kas joins us, she looks “forward to getting to know the staff, board, and Rural Lands members and donors and learning how to share my dedication to having a positive impact on the planet. I have a strong connection and love for the outdoors and believe in the inherent dignity and worth of all beings.”
Kas is a mentor at 18 Degrees, a Berkshire nonprofit supporting children and families, through the Pittsfield Community Connection Program, and chair of the Pittsfield Cultural Council. An artist herself, she makes mixed media and fabric creations, often with found or repurposed materials. She’s physically active, too: “When not writing, reading or cooking, I can be found hiking, bicycling, or kayaking, camera in tow.”
Please join us in welcoming Kas to the community.