More than 600 Participate in Steel Rail Races

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Matthew Ferraro was the first runner across the finish line at the MountainOne Steel Rail Marathon.
 
Ferraro clocked a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes flat on the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail course.
 
He finished a little more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Reid (2:46:15).
 
Simone Veale won the race's women's division in a time of 3:18:42. She beat out Jill Hussain, who covered the course in 3:27:23.
 
The fastest marathoner on Sunday was Stephen Gulley, a hand cyclist, who clocked a time of 2:15:03.
 
The 26.2-mile circuit was covered by 150 finishers ranging in age from 18 (William Hanley in 14th place) to 72 (Ric Nudell, who finished in 6:04:47).
 
The day also featured a half-marathon and an 8-kilometer race.
 
Mark Rabasco won the half-marathon in 1:18:41, edging Vincent Gauthier (1:22:38).
 
Kat Morrissey placed third overall in 1:23:43 and first among women in the half-marathon, which had 213 finishers.
 
Abigail Chaloux was the fastest woman in the 8K, crossing the finish line in 35:52, six seconds ahead of Caroline Kessler; the two women were ninth and 10th, respectively, overall in a field of 171 finishers.
 
Peter Hale had the fastest 8K time, 27:42. Erik Kessler was second in 30:32.
 
More than 600 people registered for Sunday's races, a record for the Berkshire Running Foundation event. Runners from 24 different states signed up to run.
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Pittsfield Conducting Housing Production Plan with BRPC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire Regional Planning Commission will conduct a Housing Production Plan for the city. 

Last week, the Affordable Housing Trust heard some points they are asked to consider in the infancy of this project.  This includes the types of housing missing from Pittsfield, where insufficient housing affects other efforts, and housing wins. 

A housing production plan helps create a pathway for municipalities to build housing through specific goals while contributing public input and a survey of community needs.  It also sets targets for the amount of housing to be produced. 

"We have worked with Berkshire Regional Planning before. I think you all remember where they did a housing needs assessment for us when we first convened," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reminded the board during its July 22 meeting. 

BRPC will kick off the project this month with data gathering, meeting with city staff to see the metrics, capacity, and what Pittsfield has undertaken so far. 

In December and January, additional chapters will be presented around demographics, housing conditions, and barriers to housing.  In February, they will work on goal setting and setting forth an action plan.

A big part of this, Dodds explained, is community outreach and engagement, which will occur in the spring 

A final plan will be submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in May. 

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