BHS Implements Visitor Changes Due to Influenza Spread

12:29PM / Wednesday, January 03, 2018Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In the wake of widespread influenza reported across Massachusetts, Berkshire Health Systems has implemented visitor changes to help reduce the potential spread of the flu.

The visitor restrictions apply to Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital and the Hillcrest and North Adams campuses of BMC.

Individuals should not visit patients at any of these facilities if they are under 18 years of age or they are ill or are experiencing flu or flu-like symptoms. These symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, cough or fatigue.

These visitor restrictions will be in place until the flu season wanes, and are meant to protect the patients, loved ones and staff of all of these facilities.

For more information about influenza, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website, which can be found here.

Tags: BHS, flu, influenza,

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Dalton Officials Talk Meters Amidst Rate Increases

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Tuesday, February 03, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — The anticipated rise in the water and sewer rates has sparked discussion on whether implementing meters could help mitigate the costs for residents

The single-family water rate has been $160 since 2011, however, because of the need to improve the town's water main infrastructure, prices are anticipated to increase.

"The infrastructure in town is aged … we have a bunch of old mains in town that need to be changed out," said Water Superintendent Robert Benlien during a joint meeting with the Select Board.

The district had contracted Tighe and Bond to conduct an asset management study in 2022, where it was recommended that the district increase its water rates by 5 percent a year over five years, he said.

This should raise enough funds to take on the needed infrastructure projects, Benlien said, cautioning that the projections are a few years old so the cost estimates have increased since then.

"The AC mains, which were put in the '60s and '70s, have just about reached the end of their life expectancy. We've had a lot of problems down in Greenridge Park," which had an anticipated $4 million price tag, he said.

The main on Main Street, that goes from the Pittsfield/town line to North Street, and up through woods to the tank, was priced at $7.6 million in 2022, he said.

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