Brien Center Sets Annual Fundraising Dinner

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Brien Center will celebrate the successful completion of its 2010-11 Capital Campaign during its annual fundraising dinner at Itam Lodge on Thursday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m.

The Brien Center has achieved 98 percent of its $500,000 campaign goal.

In 2010, it purchased the former Mount Carmel Parish and these funds supported the renovation of two of the four buildings, allowing more Berkshire County residents in need of mental health and/or addiction services to receive them in an accessible, pleasant location.

The first phase of the renovation, the former Rectory, allowed consolidation of administrative functions and reduced expenses. The completed Administration Building now houses the administrative, finance, billing, information technology, and human resources offices that support Brien services throughout the county. The new Dr. Stuart Bartle Library and Technology Center is also located in the Administration Building.

Another building, formerly the convent, was recently renovated and now provides services to families and children through the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative. The Brien Center served more than 4,000 children last year and expects to exceed that number in 2012. The building also houses Community Based Flexible Supports, which provides a wide range of support services to adults who suffer from chronic mental illness.


"This project would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of the Berkshire community. It allows us to make these services even more accessible to those who need them so we want to celebrate their generosity and the success of the campaign at the dinner," said Christine Macbeth, interim CEO of the Brien Center.

"In addition, the dinner is the kickoff of our 2012 annual Fund Drive. These funds will aid in the next phase of our Mount Carmel renovations as well as help raise awareness of Brien services and aid in the elimination the stigma attached to receiving help for mental illness or addiction. With the support of UNICO, our sponsors and friends, we know that we are off to a great start."

For information about tickets for the dinner contact the Brien Center at 413-629-1272 or go to www.briencenter.org.

Tags: fundraiser,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories