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George Wallace and his mom prepare to walk with George's Buddies on Saturday morning.

Buddy Walk of the Berkshires Returns in Force to Streets of Dalton

iBerkshires.com StaffPrint Story | Email Story

The Buddy Walk of the Berkshires heads out from Dalton's Craneville Elementary on Saturday.
DALTON, Mass. — Members of the Berkshire County Down Syndrome Family Group have supported one another for years, including right through the pandemic years.
 
But Saturday's 16th Buddy Walk of the Berkshires had the feel of a long overdue family reunion as the broader community had a chance to come together and celebrate those families and individuals who make up the support group.
 
"I've been coming for 12 years," George Wallace said. "It's amazing because everyone is so supportive."
 
Wallace, who attends Monument Mountain Regional High School, said he was happy to see some of his teachers and other friends at the annual event as he waited for the walk to take off from Craneville Elementary School.
 
Organizer Christine Ferrari, a family advocate at Berkshire County Arc, explained that while COVID-19 prevented the family group from having a full-scale event like Saturday's, it did not completely stop the event.
 
"The last few years, during COVID, we did the walk virtually, so wherever they wanted to walk, they walked," Ferrari said. "So we still did a great job of raising money. But they were so excited this year that we were going to be allowed to do this.
 
"There was a lot of momentum this year. We had over 700 people register. … There are still people who are a little leery, but it's outside."
 
Fund-raising is a big part of the event, which has the support of 20 sponsoring businesses and agencies. In addition to the donations received from registered walkers, the walk also raises money through a penny auction at the school on walk day.
 
"Over the years, this has really brought this community together," Berkshire County Arc President and CEO Ken Singer said. "The families are amazing. They use the money that we raise to do things for Down Syndrome families. All that money goes straight to them. They can do all kinds of projects and trainings and activities and picnics and fun excursions."
 
The walk itself has changed a little over the years. Participants used to march from the school to Main Street (Route 8) and go up and down the town's main drag, making a U-turn to return to Craneville. In recent years, organizers routed the walk with a left turn on Carson Avenue for a return to the school grounds.
 
Both before and after the main event, families congregate at the school, enjoy its playground, enjoy music and refreshments and hear brief remarks from the organizers and officials like Rep. Paul Mark, who has served Dalton on Beacon Hill for years and who hopes to represent all of Berkshire County in the State Senate after November's election.
 
"It's great to be back in person after a two-year hiatus," Mark said. "This is my 13th Buddy Walk in a row and my 12th as a sponsor, and, somehow, every year we have a different colored shirt. This is great.
 
"It's great to see everyone. This is such an important cause, such important work. And it's great to see the community come together."
 
iBerkshires.com reporters Brittany Polito and Stephen Dravis contributed to this report.
 

Tags: BC Arc,   benefit walk,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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