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 Council Appoints Department Heads, Requests Meetings on Gun Violence

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday appointed new department heads and requested that community mobilization meetings be held to address recent gun violence. 

Mark Pompi was appointed director of Veterans Services, and Rian Dowd was as the new building commissioner. They will begin work on July 27. 

"She is going to be an extremely resident- and business-friendly building commissioner," Mayor Peter Marchetti said about Dowd. 

"… It was one of the questions in the interview: how do we get people to know that we have a friendlier environment? And she's already working on it." 

A petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi requesting that 18 Degrees Inc. organize and host at least two community mobilization meetings was sent to the community-based organization. 

"The recent gun violence that occurred in the city has left many residents feeling concerned, and also like they would just like to have more information about what we, as a city, and our partner is doing to help interrupt gun violence," Lampiasi said. 

Last month, 29-year-old Pittsfield resident Justin Crawford was fatally shot near the intersection of Pleasure Avenue and Tyler Street. 

18 Degrees has received a total of $1,391,170 in grants from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Gun Violence Prevention Program since fiscal year 2019; $394,780 in FY23 for outreach and engagement with youth and young adults ages 17-24 who have been impacted by trauma and violence. 

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