Berkshire Workforce Board Presents FY25 Workforce Impact Awards

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — MassHire's Berkshire Workforce Board recapped successes of FY25 and honored workforce professionals

The Board of Directors of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board (BWB) highlighted its FY25 successes and presented their FY25 Annual Workforce Awards on June 5. 

The BWB recognized the following individuals for their tireless commitment toward enhancing the region's skilled workforce:

• Community Health Programs, Inc./CHP Berkshires – Employer of the Year -  Celebrating 50 years of serving Berkshire County residents, CHP Berkshires provides medical, dental and nutrition services throughout the region and is essential in supporting the region's health. CHP has been actively engaged in career readiness programs, and is a new partner in MassHire's Healthcare Hubs grant, CHP embraced the pay-to-train model and is aiming to onboard 15 certified medical assistant through this three-year training grant.
• Heather Boyko & Chris D'Aniello – Educators of the Year. Heather has transformed Monument's internship model to allow all seniors to participate and has worked to engage a wide array of businesses in South County in providing these vital work-based-learning experiences. She has also instituted a portfolio project that allows students to document and showcase all of the knowledge and skills gained through their internship – and she does all of this while dually serving as a Math teacher. Chris has served as the driving force to enhance Monument's Automotive Technology CTE Pathway and has always been at the table for many years working to elevate career readiness and career-technical skill development as a priority for all students.
• McCann Technical & Taconic High School – Workforce Professionals of the Year.  McCann & Taconic implemented the first Career Technical Initiative (CTI) training grant for adults to address the persistent demand for skilled labor in Berkshire County.  Partnering with MassHire, CTI programs develop talent pipelines to meet the skill needs of businesses in high-demand occupations. Partnering with MassHire, McCann & Taconic implemented adult training in advanced manufacturing, welding, and auto technician.

In FY25, the BWB provided more than 40 career awareness, exploration and immersion experiences to 2,800 youth in grades 6-12.  Career Teams continued in all 11 school districts, two additional Innovation Pathways were established, and 350 internships were hosted in the region's critical industry sectors. 

Together with its regional partners and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center, BWB worked with 800 Berkshire County businesses in supporting their workforce needs, ignited the CTI initiative, provided 14 on-the-job training opportunities for the manufacturing sector, and implemented fifteen healthcare training programs for 142 individuals embarking on a career in the Healthcare sector. Additional programs, services and accomplishments can be found at www.masshireberkshire.com.   

Mayor Marchetti reappointed the following individuals to the Board & Youth Council for 2-year terms:

• Deni Evans, Dept. of Transitional Assistance
• Paul Gage, Adult Learning Center
• Tammy Gage, Pittsfield Public Schools
• Doug McNally, Frost Hollow Associates
• David Moresi, Moresi & Associates
• Brian Morrison, Central Berkshire Labor Council
• Beth Petropulos, MountainOne
• Eva Sheridan, CHP Berkshire

Youth Council

• Bryan House, 18 Degrees
• Kathy Yon, Pittsfield Public Schools liaison
• Doug McNally, Frost Hollow Associates
• Rebecca Lilley, Bliss Crumbs and Coffee

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.