Pittsfield High School Students Unite Against Bullying

PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at Pittsfield High School, in collaboration with the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, wore orange as part of National Bullying Prevention Month to spread awareness on Unity Day on Oct. 22.

Unity Day represents a nationwide opportunity for both youth and adults to create awareness by standing up to bullying. On this day, SADD students, along with coordinators Courtney Shepard and Alison Charles, put up a poster that read “#Happy2bSadd Unity Day” and asked students and staff at PHS to sign their names in solidarity.

Earlier in the week, students were also given orange slips on which they wrote how they play their part to make PHS a safe and welcoming environment for all. These slips of orange paper were all linked together to represent the entire school standing up for a common, united cause.

Unity Day is more than just about bullying; it stands for living above the influence of drugs, of violence and of other negative forces, students said.

"This was a day where we could all come together to stand up against one of the biggest problems in high school," student Lauren Carnevale said.
 

This day of solidarity was not only an opportunity to rally against bullying, but also a moment which gave way to an educational environment where students and staff can support one another, and work towards creating a climate in which each and every student feels safe and protected.

"The student body at PHS really do want to work together for positive reasons," said Tony DeGregorio.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.