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Mike Marron met with the 16-year-old Devon — his arms still in casts from his fall — for lunch on Wednesday.

Pittsfield Firefighter Befriends Teen Rescued From Springside Park

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — When a teenager fell some 25 feet into an abandoned cistern at Springside Park, firefighter Mike Marran was the first one down the hole to reach him.
 
He kept Devon Goewey calm and talked sports as he took care of the boy's wounds and secured him into a halfback so other first-responders could pull him out through a tripod set up. It is what Marran is trained to do as a member of the Western Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team.
 
"The kid was amazing," Marran said.
 
But, the job didn't end just then. The Pittsfield Fire Department's B Group got in touch with 16-year-old Devon shortly after to see how he was doing.
 
"We invited him up to headquarters and had lunch with him. We served him all of kinds of food," Marran said.
 
Devon left with a full stomach and some Pittsfield Fire Department swag. Marran wasn't there for it though. He had technical rescue training that day. It was disappointing but the two still wanted to get in touch and eventually connected over the phone.
 
"We've been in contact several times, just chatting back and forth," Marran said.
 
The two share a lot in common. They both share a love for sports, particularly football. Devon played on the Pittsfield High team and Marran on the McCann Technical School team when he was younger. Devon is a Giants fan while Marran is a Patriots fan, which makes for some humorous jabs back and forth. 
 
On Wednesday, Marron had the afternoon off and got to meet Devon face to face in an environment much different than down in a 25-foot hole or in a hospital room.
 
The two met for lunch at the Hot Dog Ranch and forged a new bond over wings and mozzarella sticks.
 
It isn't often first-responders reconnect with the people they helped but Marran is glad that in this case they did.
 
"This is the reason I became a firefighter," Marran said.

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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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