News & Notes: Woman Hit with Bat; Parades Set in County
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A city woman reportedly hit on the head with a baseball bat on Saturday, May 16, is recovering at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and her alleged assailant is facing charges.
Commissioner of Public Safety E. John Morocco told the Berkshire News Network that Erika Rock, 27, was allegedly struck with an aluminum bat at a Greylock Avenue residence. She was transported to North Adams Regional Hospital then transferred to Baystate.
Rock had surgery performed on her head wound Sunday and was reported Tuesday to be in stable condition.
Patrick E. Wright, 27, of Isbell Street was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with intent to murder. Wright pled not guilty to the charges on Tuesday in Northern Berkshire District Court and was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Saturday's incident was the second violent episode in the Greylock neighborhood in as many weeks. On Friday, May 8, Janoi Bee Vilayvanh, 18, of Angeli Street was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and mayhem after an unidentified individual was taken to North Adams Regional Hospital with injuries.
Area Towns, Cities Prepare for Memorial Day Salutes
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's hard to believe but Memorial Day is right around the corner. Many cities and towns throughout the Berkshires — from North Adams to Great Barrington — are planning Memorial Day services. Some towns are planning simple gatherings and other communities, such as Pittsfield, are planning parades.
In Savoy, there is something special in store for this year's Memorial Day Parade as fire apparatus from 20 different departments will be featured in a parade beginning at 3:30 p.m. Fire apparatus for the parade will come from 17 nearby communities including Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Peru, Williamstown and Windsor and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and the state's Hazardous Materials Response Team. Kicking off the parade will be a fly over by the Army National Guard 104th Fighter Wing.
Jones Block Bids Over Budget
ADAMS, Mass. — The refurbishing of the Jones Block on Park Street is going back out to bid after all the general contractor bids that came in were roughly $400,000 over the available funding.
Community Development Director Donna Cesan, said the rehabilitation of the vacant building is being paid for by a $1 million Community Development Action Grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development. The town is working to modify the plans and cut costs to meet the $1 million targeted amount.
Cheshire Dog Licenses Due
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town of Cheshire is reminding residents that dog licenses for 2009 are due.
If you have a dog that is not licensed by June 1, a late fee of $15 will go into effect on top of the normal license fee. You can obtain a dog licenses at Town Hall on Tuesdays from 9 to noon and 5:30 to 9, and Thursdays, 9 to noon and 5:30 to 7:30. A current rabies certificate will also be required to get a license. Licenses are $10 for non-neutered animas; $4 for neutered ones. The license fees for 2010 will increase to $15 and $5 respectively.
