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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Fines, Appeals, Lawsuit Collide in Berkshire Concrete Dispute

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Resident Ron Griffin speaking at Tuesday's Board of Health meeting, thinks the fight with Berkshire Concrete has resulted in some public officials leaving. He is one of the first abutters to speak against Berkshire Concrete. 
DALTON, Mass. — The building inspector's ticket book is running thin as the town starts to issue daily fines to Berkshire Concrete for its failure to submit a revised remediation plan for the unauthorized dig site. 
 
Petricca Industries, the parent company of Berkshire Concrete, was issued a $50 fine on Saturday, April 25; $100 on Sunday, and $300 daily fines continuing thereafter until a detailed restoration plan is received, Building Inspector Brian Duval said. 
 
As of Wednesday afternoon, no resubmission of the plan has happened, he said. 
 
Almost a year ago, both the Select Board and Planning Board expressed that they wanted parcel No. 105-16 fully mitigated to abide by the town's bylaws. 
 
This vote was supported by the Zoning Board of Appeals, which ruled that Berkshire Concrete had violated zoning bylaw 350-61 Section E. Restoration. 
 
Petricca Industries appealed this decision, however, ZBA upheld its initial vote and ordered the company to fully remediate or cover the dig site to abide by town bylaws.
 
During Monday's Select Board meeting, Town Manager Eric Anderson said Berkshire Concrete claimed it did not believe that the board's directive to remediate the unauthorized dig site included parcel 105-16.
 
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