Greylock Supports Food Pantries With 'Lend a Helping Hand Campaign'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union and Greylock Insurance Agency will match community and member donations dollar for dollar up to $2,500, which could possibly add up to $5,000 in support of local food pantries.

“The Lend a Helping Hand - Together We Can - Holiday Mitten Campaign” will run until Dec. 19 with all proceeds providing cash supplements to sparsely stocked food pantries and to help countless families keep food on the table.

“Economic constraints have touched everyone's lives, especially our most vulnerable populations," Greylock President Marilyn L. Sperling said. "I am pleased Greylock can help people in need with ‘The Lend a Helping Hand Campaign.’ We know our members and the community will step up to support this worthy campaign and our food pantries.”


Colorful Mittens will be available for purchase for $1 at all Greylock locations. Each mitten will reflect the name of the person who donated and will be on display in the Greylock locations.

Local food pantry recipients will include: Friendship Center Food Pantry, North Adams; Berkshire Community Action Council, Pittsfield; and The People's Pantry, Great Barrington.

Greylock invites credit union members and the community to join in supporting this campaign.  For additional information or to donate please visit a Greylock location or call 413-236-4105.

 

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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