Berkshire Bank’s Wealth Management Team Expanded

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Bank has expanded its Wealth Management team through appointments of Elizabeth Gore to SVP, Trust Operations and Compliance, and Janice Ward to SVP, Wealth Advisor and Senior Fiduciary Officer.

Gore is a graduate of New England School of Banking at Williams College with a degree in Trust Banking. She has more than 35 years of banking experience, 28 of which have been dedicated to Berkshire Bank.

Within her position as SVP Trust Operations and Compliance, Gore will oversee all aspects of operations and compliance for the Wealth Management Group and the department’s trust accounting system. She is also responsible for fiduciary and tax work, preparation of annual probate accountings, implementing disaster recovery policies and assisting auditors.

She currently manages the Lenox Wealth Management Office, assisting clients on a daily basis.



Ward received her juris doctor from Western New England University and is licensed to practice law in both Massachusetts and New York. She also obtained her designation as a certified financial planner in 2011.     

She began her career with Berkshire Bank in 2012 as a Wealth Advisor and Senior Fiduciary Officer. In her new role of SVP Wealth Advisor and Senior Fiduciary Officer, she will oversee various fiduciary activities including Executor and Trustee services and financial planning activities throughout the Berkshire Bank Wealth Management footprint. She will also continue to serve as wealth advisor to a select group of clients, and is now serving as President of the newly formed Berkshire County Estate Planning Council, took the place of the previous Estate Planning Council.

“Berkshire Bank is firmly committed to providing wealth management and fiduciary services in its growing markets but based here in Berkshire County,” said Thomas Barney, FVP Wealth Advisor. “Liz and Jan bring seasoned experience and exceptional skills to our clients and great leadership to our group. The wealth management team is proud of their accomplishments and pleased with their continued success.”

 


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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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