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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Berkshire Vietnam Veterans Receive Long-Awaited Welcome Home

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds gathered at the fence of Pittsfield Municipal Airport to give Berkshire County Vietnam veterans the warm welcome home they did not receive nearly 60 years ago.
 

As the sun rose high over the Berkshire Mountains, nearly a dozen veterans hopped on a small chartered jet to Washington, D.C., where they were able to visit their fallen comrades at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. 
 
The daylong trip, organized by former state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, marked the first Honor Flight for veterans departing from Pittsfield Municipal Airport. 
 
"It was very emotional because we have friends on the wall that we had a chance to go back and do a little bit more closure," Air Force veteran Lenwood "Woody" Vaspra said. 
 
As the veterans returned home after the "emotional trip" they were greeted with patriotic tunes performed by Lenox High School Band, and a wave of community members, including some family members, clapping and screaming out their names. For some, the sight brought tears to their eyes. 
 
The evening ended with a moment of unity as Laurie Schiff performed "God Bless America" a cappella. Community members joined hands and added their voices to hers, bringing the homecoming ceremony to a close.
 
The day was filled with several phases of surprises, Pignatelli said, from being greeted by Congressman Richard Neal at the memorial wall to being gifted tribute bags at the welcome home ceremony. 
 
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