Fairview Hospital Receives $1.5 Million Bequest

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C. Bernard and Irene Shea had been involved with the Fairview community while in the Berkshires.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Fairview Hospital has received a $1.5 million bequest from the estate of C. Bernard and Irene Shea, former residents of Sheffield.

The gift is the second from the C. Bernard and Irene Shea Trust. Fairview received an initial gift of $667,000 from the trust in 1998. Mrs. Shea died at age 99 in November 2012. Mr. Shea died in 1961.

The Sheas were part-time resident of the Berkshires between 1942 and 1986.

C. Bernard Shea was a World War I veteran and a prominent businessman in Pittsburgh. They first came to the area for three months of fresh air and bed rest when he was ill. They loved the Berkshires and found it a special place where there was united support for the community hospital. Both became very active members of the Fairview community. The Sheas were also members of Wyantenuck Country Club.


Both were involved with Fairview and Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. C. Bernard Shea served on Fairview's board of trustees and Irene Ciemnolonski Shea, who was trained as a nurse, was a volunteer and director of the Fairview Auxiliary, often working 12-hour days to lead volunteers serving the hospital staff and patients. She was active in many fundraising efforts and spearheaded the initiative to build the Physicians Office Building on the Fairview campus.

Fairview President Eugene Dellea expressed his gratitude for the many contributions of the Sheas.

"This gift was made in recognition of the importance that access to high quality health care has on the well-being of a community," he wrote. "Through their own health issues, the Shea's knew the value of having a hospital nearby and they appreciated the special nature of Fairview. Their legacy will help sustain their belief that a hospital is critical to the southern Berkshire community."

Dellea said the bequest would be used for future projects at the 25-bed Critical Access Hospital.


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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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