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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Healey Gives Municipalities Say on Data Centers, Pittsfield Eyes Moratorium

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Last week, Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say 'no' to data centers. 

Pittsfield is drafting a moratorium that bans the facilities until more research can be done.  Holyoke became the first in Massachusetts to ban new data centers in July. 

Healey, during a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, Sept. 8, announced that if a data center proposal doesn't have local approval, state permitting agencies will not advance it.  

"Unless a community says yes to a data center, we are saying no," she said. "We're giving communities a voice and laying out the rules for what needs to happen in Massachusetts. I'm also making sure these data centers use clean energy, and that we protect people from higher energy costs – including by returning money directly back to ratepayers."

The city's Community Development Board has agreed to go forward with a data center moratorium.  City Planner Kevin Rayner told the board in July that he has been working with the city solicitor on a proposed document, which said Pittsfield could allow a data center if it is proven self-sufficient with its own power source. 

Rayner is skeptical of the facilities' power and water usage, as well as heat generation. 

"In my opinion, the smart way to go is just to put a wall, moratorium, up and think about it," he said during the board's meeting on July 7. "We can always take the wall down."

Board member Gary Levante agreed. 

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