BMC Career Awareness Day March 29

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Pittsfield – The Human Resources Department at Berkshire Medical Center will host its annual Career Awareness Day for anyone wishing to enter the fields of nursing, diagnostic radiology technology, pharmacy, laboratory and physical, occupational and speech therapy. The event is also for current health care professionals who desire to further their education and qualifications. The career awareness will be held on Thursday, March 29th from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Berkshire Medical Center in the Private Dining Rooms, adjacent to the cafeteria. The open house is designed to promote awareness of careers in healthcare where job opportunities are increasing. In light of nationwide shortages in many areas of health care, there are ample opportunities for Registered Nurses to enhance their education and for those who want to enter the fields of nursing, diagnostic radiology technology, pharmacy, laboratory and physical, occupational and speech therapy. There are several highly respected college programs in these fields in and around Berkshire County. As part of the program, participants can learn more about degree programs at the University of Massachusetts, Berkshire Community College, Springfield Technical Community College, American International, Elms, Holyoke and Maria Colleges and McCann Technical School. Representatives from the schools will be available at the Career Awareness Day to discuss their programs. In addition, attendees can learn more about financial assistance programs and other financial aid resources. Information will also be available about tuition reimbursement programs for nurses who wish to pursue higher degrees of education in nursing while employed by either Berkshire Health Systems or its long-term care associate Berkshire Health Care Systems. The career awareness day is open to all and targeted to high school students and their parents, guidance counselors, current Registered Nurses wishing to seek a bachelor’s or master’s degree and all employees of Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Healthcare Systems wishing to further their training and careers. Refreshments will be provided and there will be prize drawings for participants. For more information, contact the BHS Human Resources Department at 413-447-2784.
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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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