Carr Hardware Featured in International Publication

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Carr Hardware & Supply Co., with four locations in Berkshire County, has been featured in the November issue of Hardware Retailing Magazine.

Carr Hardware, one of the five independently owned hardware stores featured, is being recognized for its strong niche business operations. The focus of the article brought light to the success of the Carr’s MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) and rental businesses.

Carr’s MRO, doing business as “Carr Supply,” specializes in institutional, government, industrial and large contractor customers. Carr Rental, located at the Pittsfield, Lee and North Adams branches, offers rental of general tools, contractor equipment as well as party and tent rental.

The international industry publication interviewed Vice President and Co-Owner Bart Raser, who spoke about the various transitions of the business since Carr Hardware opened in 1928.


“We are extremely proud to be recognized by the leading publication in our industry for doing what we love to do everyday – sell hardware,” Raser said.

 Carr Hardware is a locally owned and operated hardware and industrial supplier that provides to homeowners, contractors, commercial customers, institutions and government agencies throughout the state of Massachusetts and the surrounding areas of New York state, Vermont and Connecticut. In addition, Carr is a major supplier for the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium and one of the select vendors that hold a statewide industrial contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Originally founded by Sam Carr in 1928, the company was purchased by the Raser family in 1962 and day-to-day operations are still handled by Marshall and his son, Bart. Carr Hardware has built a successful operation throughout Berkshire County and employs more than 80 career professionals within its four locations.


Tags: Business,   hardware,   

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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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