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 Seeks OPM for Crosby/Conte Proposal

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Building Needs Commission met with some new members under a new defining ordinance on Tuesday. 

"You're joining at a very exciting time for our district," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said. 

The Pittsfield Public Schools are seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts Schools Building Authority to rebuild and consolidate the outdated John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.

Last week, the City Council approved an ordinance for a 19-member School Building Needs Commission.  The mayor appoints seven members, the superintendent appoints five, and seven are city officials. 

The council also OK'd the appointment of Frank Laragione, Brendan Sheran, Judy Gitelson, Tonya Frazier, Jared LaBeau Sr., Cristina Duhamel, and William Cameron to the commission for terms between one and five years. Duhamel and LaBeau introduced themselves as new members on Tuesday. 

The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager.  This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest. 

Duhamel, Pittsfield's deputy purchasing agent, reported that the OPM listing will be advertised on Wednesday and on Monday, and there will be a pre-bid walk-through at Crosby. Proposals are due by Feb. 18 under this timeline, and the top three will be brought forward for interviews. 

Purchasing Agent Colleen Hunter-Mullett believes that the interviews will be open to the public, but said she will confirm that information. 

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