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Gov. Deval Patrick taking questions at Onota Lake in Pittsfield in 2009.

Patrick Hosting 'Summer Conversation' in Lenox

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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LENOX, Mass. — Gov. Deval Patrick's series of "Summer Conversations" alights in Lilac Park on Main Street on Friday, July 15, at 5 p.m. The town-hall type meetings return after a year's absence.

The Lenox stop is the only one the governor will be making in the Berkshires out of the 10 scheduled across the state by him and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray. Murray will be holding a conversation on the same day at Northampton City Hall Annex on Main Street, also at 5 p.m.

The governor, who has a home in Richmond, made some campaign stops in the region last year but the last time he hosted a town-hall type meeting here was at Onota Lake in Pittsfield in 2009. He launched the summer meetings in 2008 and held one in Great Barrington.

Both events drew large crowds that peppered the governor with questions about the economy, social services and health care.

"This is an opportunity to engage with government and make your voices heard," said Patrick in a statement. "Talking about the issues that are out there in the community – that affect your everyday life – helps us make well-informed decisions that build a better, stronger commonwealth."

In case of rain, the meeting will be held at Lenox Town Hall. The governor and his wife, Diane, will later host an early birthday party and fundraiser for the governor at their Sweet P Farm home. Patrick turns 55 on July 31.

The press release and full schedule for the "Summer Conversations" can be found here.


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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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