Hillcrest to Honor House Speaker With Award

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House Speaker Robert DeLeo will receive Hillcrest's Irish Person of the Year Award on March 28.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Massachusetts speaker of the House Robert DeLeo will receive the Irish Person of the Year Award from Hillcrest Educational Centers Inc. during its 12th annual Robert "Bees" Prendergast St. Patrick's Reception on Thursday, March 28, at the Country Club of Pittsfield. 

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor Speaker DeLeo for his tireless advocacy of special education on behalf of children and our state," said Hillcrest President and CEO Gerard Burke. "I’m looking forward to introducing him to our friends and supporters in Berkshire County. He completely understands Hillcrest's mission and the important work we do to ensure all our children are given a solid foundation."
 
Since 1991, DeLeo has represented the 19th Suffolk District in the House of Representatives and became speaker of the House in 2009. During his political tenure, he has been a supporter of education, economic development and transportation as well as ethics and pension reform. 
 
Additionally, Hillcrest will present the Judge John A. Barry Community Service Award to the Berkshire Young Professionals. Founded in 2003, BYP is a program of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce that serves as a professional and personal resource for young professionals living and working in Berkshire County.
 
The 6 to 9 p.m. reception features hors d'oeuvres, buffet selections, auctions, raffle prizes and live music. Tickets are $50 per person. To register visit hillcrestec.org or contact Sheila Mason, director of development and community outreach, at smason@hillcrestec.org or 413-499-7924, Ext. 133.

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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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