Mosquito Spray Application Scheduled in Pittsfield

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — To reduce the mosquito population and potential for infected mosquitoes which may carry diseases, truck-mounted mosquito spray application is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the following areas: Wahconah Park and  King Street; Yankee Orchard neighborhood; streets south of Williams Street between High Street and Holmes Road; Fred Garner Park; south side of Pomeroy Avenue from Brunswick Street to Holmes Road; Holmes Road neighborhoods from Pomeroy Avenue south; Lakewood neighborhood east of Longview Terrace; East New Lenox Road neighborhood from Anita Drive to Joseph Drive; Clapp Park, streets west of South Street from Boylston Street to South Mountain Road and Tamarack Road; Chapel Street, Melbourne Road, Daralyn Court, Cloverdale Street from Chapel Street to Barker Road.

A map of scheduled spray areas is available on the City of Pittsfield website at www.cityofpittsfield.org. All spray applications will take place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Spraying may be rescheduled for Thursday night due to rain. This application will not leave significant residue and is not persistent in the environment.

Residents may want to take the following steps to avoid unnecessary exposure to the product:

· Close windows and doors and turn off air conditioners on the street side of property

· Stay inside during application period

· Rinse produce with water



· Remove laundry from clotheslines

Mosquito breeding can be reduced around the home by monitoring the yard weekly and draining any standing water.  Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flower pots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.

To request no-spraying on your property you can call the BCMCP or send a request via email including name and property address, berkmc@bcn.net. For more information contact the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project at 413-447-9808.

Pittsfield residents are encouraged to register with the CodeRed Emergency Communications Network to receive notification of scheduled mosquito spray application or in the event of a serious weather or other emergency. Targeted phone, text and email messages can let residents in a neighborhood know of missing children, road closures, hydrant flushing, and other news that is specific to them. Go to the CodeRed link on the City of Pittsfield website to sign up for CodeRed notifications.

For more information about mosquito borne viruses call the Pittsfield Health Department at 499-9411 or visit The City of Pittsfield website at www.cityofpittsfield.org or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.

 

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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