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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Licensing Board OKs Pittsfield Businesses Alterations

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board OK'd alterations for several local businesses during its last meeting of the year on Monday.

This includes an amendment to the Berkshire Museum's entertainment license in advance of its reopening after capital improvements, a change of license category for Hot Plate Brewing Co., and a change of catering company for Berkshire Hills Country Club. 

It's been a good year for Hot Plate, as they were nominated No. 3 in USA Today's list of  "Best New Brewery," and can now serve all alcoholic beverages. Because of a new state law, businesses can trade an existing beer and wine license for an all-alcohol license. 

"The state saw this as an opportunity to enhance businesses all across the commonwealth of Massachusetts," Chair Thomas Campoli explained. 

The Berkshire Museum was granted an entertainment license that runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. as it works on a $12 million renovation of its 1903 structure

Executive Director Kimberley Bush Tomio explained that there are no proposed changes in entertainment from the former license, and board members suggested moving the license's hours later than 5 p.m. in case of an event at the museum. 

"It's going to be phenomenal when we get open," she said. "And we do hope to help support the museum through rentals and things like that, so it's helpful to have this license in place." 

Berkshire Hills Country Club will have a new in-house food provider, as the board approved a management agreement with Berkshire Hospitality Group, which operates the restaurant at Shire Breu-Haus in Dalton.

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