Berkshire Grown Sets Holiday Farmers Markets

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Grown will host its 5th annual Holiday Farmers Markets on two weekends this season in both Great Barrington and Williamstown.

The market runs from runs from 10 to 2 on Saturdays, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14,  at Monument Valley Middle School in Great Barrington and on Sundays, Nov. 24 and Dec. 15, at Williams College Towne Field House in Williamstown.

The events feature locally grown and produced foods, including fruits and vegetables, cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, bread, pies, pickles, jams and more. Admission is free.

"The 5th annual Berkshire Grown Holiday Farmers' Markets will be more festive than ever," said Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown. "This year, we'll have more than 65 vendors, including many new ones, and we've invited the farmers and food producers to share their favorite seasonal recipes with shoppers. We've also expanded the kids' activities to make the markets even more fun, and there will be live music and lunch food vendors. The markets are wonderful community events. We're so lucky to be able to celebrate the holidays with the delicious food of the Berkshires."


Food Adventures, a collaboration between the Nutrition Center and the Berkshire Co-op Market, will be on hand at the Great Barrington markets giving free, five-minute cooking classes to children for fare like "Squapple Crisp." Jisela Vasquez, an artist who works at Wild Oats Co-op Market, will lead face painting, seasonal arts and crafts, and a farmers' market treasure hunt for kids at the Williamstown markets.

Given the success of its first two markets in 2009, Berkshire Grown increased the number of markets to four in 2010, adding the weekend before Christmas as a second economic opportunity for the food and farming community. Last year, the four markets were attended by 5,300 people and generated more than $133,000 in revenue for local vendors, a 33 percent increase over the previous year's figures.

Major sponsors include the state Department of Agricultural Resources and Williams College. In addition, Berkshire Grown notes support from the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Green Pastures Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Berkshire Co-op Market, Berkshire Organics, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, Inn at Sweet Water Farm, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Sweet Brook Farm, and Wild Oats Market.

For more information or to become a member, see berkshiregrown.org or call 413-528-0041.

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.

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