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Matt Keator, Lori Gazzillo, Mike Ferry, Michael DeLeo, Charlie O'Brien, state Rep. William 'Smitty' Pignatelli, and Eugene Dellea.

Pete Townshend Helps Raise $18K for Hillcrest Cancer Center

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Dr. Michael DeLeo accepted the check from state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Last month before Pete Townshend hit the stage at Tanglewood to perform "Quadrophenia," he held a small fundraiser at Highwood Manor House on the campus.
 
The group had dinner with the Who singer, Billy Idol, and Alfie Boe. The money was to be donated to Townshend's Teen Cancer America Foundation and the Hillcrest Cancer Center at Berkshire Medical Center.
 
"He wanted no more than 30 people. It was a small, intimate group. He talked to everyone. We all got commemorative autographed posters. We had dinner together," Pignatelli said.
 
Together the group raised $18,000, which was to be split between the two organizations. But on Monday, state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, who helped organize the fundraiser, announced that Townshend opted to donate his half to the Hillcrest Cancer Center.
 
"What is special about this check of $18,000 is that we thought we'd be splitting $18,000 with Pete Townshend's organization. Pete Townshend after the performance said 'you guys treated me so well, I loved the people you brought to this reception, I'm willing to forego my Teen Cancer Fund and give it all to the folks in the Berkshires,'" Pignatelli said. 
 
Pignatelli presented that check to Dr. Michael DeLeo on Monday afternoon. 
 
The Lenox representative said the management team of Townshend contacted Allyce Najimy, of Foundation To Be Named Later, about doing something. She then contacted Pignatelli, who agreed to help but only if some of the money would stay in the Berkshires. Townshend agreed to split the money.
 
Pignatelli then rallied his friends.
 
He first called Charlie O'Brien from Adams Community Bank. O'Brien couldn't make the concert, but purchased tickets anyway and sent a team of employees. Lori Gazzillo, from Berkshire Bank, couldn't make it either. But Senior Vice President Mike Ferry happened to be a big fan of the Who, so he took the ticket. Matt Keator from the Keator Group and officials from Walmart joined in. 
 
Keator said it was easy for him to get involved because it was a "worthwhile cause." Gazzillo echoed the same sentiment. 
 
President of the Hillcrest Campus Eugene Dellea said he was grateful that when the opportunity presented itself, Pignatelli thought about helping the campus. 

Tags: cancer center,   cancer support,   celebrity,   fundraiser,   Tanglewood,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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