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A color run is part of the annual fundraising race for Berkshire County Kids' Place. This year's event is set for April 7.

Kids Place Holds Annual Benefit Race on Saturday

By Ashlyn MarciliBerkshires.com
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The 5K race to benefit Kids' Place begins at 10 a.m.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Kids' Place will hold its annual Champions Against Child Abuse 5k and 1 Mile Color Fun Run on Saturday, April 7.

The 5K race begins at 10 a.m. at the Kids' Place offices at 63 Wendell Ave. Registration for the 5K is $25 for adults and $20 for children 15 and under. The 1 Mile Color Fun Run kicks off at 11 a.m. Registration for that event is $20 for adults and $15 for children between the ages of 5 and 15. Runners that want to participate in both events receive a $5 discount of both races combined ($40 for adults/$30 for children).

Laura Baran, the Development and Special Events coordinator for Berkshire County Kids' Place, said the event has evolved over the years.

"The 1-mile color run piece was added on to the 5k race put on 13 years ago," she said. "A lot of kids would come to watch the race and we added that component to expand the pool of participants."



A color run is where participants wear white t-shirts and are doused with color as they run through the course. The first year was the most successful, Baran said, though the weather in the past few years hasn't been as cooperative. Saturday's event will go on rain or shine - or snow. Baran said they typically have between 160 and 260 runners for the 5K and between 100 and 200 for the color run.

Organizers hope to raise $12,000 in this event. All of the proceeds go toward supporting the Berkshire County Kids' Place, an official children's advocacy center, which is a nationally accredited organization in helping children who have experienced abuse. The organization has helped over 400 children this past year, providing services like therapy, a simplified intake processes, a forensic interview, and more. The center offers their services to any child experiencing abuse from their Wendell Avenue offices.

The fundraising event is timed to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

"It's a fun event and is a great way for the community to get together," Baran said.

For more information, contact Berkshire County Kids' Place at 413-499-2800, ext. 114, or find Berkshire County Kids' Place on Facebook.


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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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