Hillcrest Dental Care Receives Generous Support

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Hillcrest Dental Care, a division of Hillcrest Educational Centers, has received generous financial support from two Berkshire County financial institutions. The donations boosted Hillcrest towards its fundraising goal of $130,000 needed to construct and equip two new treatment operatories.

Greylock Federal Credit Union and Berkshire Bank, through the Berkshire Bank Foundation, have each donated $10,000 to the ‘Special Smiles for the Berkshires’ campaign.

Greylock President Angelo C. Stracuzzi said, “Greylock looks for opportunities to collaborate with local organizations and support community-based programs. We strongly believe in the good work Hillcrest Dental Care performs in our community.”

Peter J. Lafayette Executive Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation said, “One of our priorities is to build strong communities that provide for all of its citizens. Hillcrest’s Dental Care program helps meets the needs of the most vulnerable in our community and we applaud its expansion plans and commitment to the broader community. Supporting such a great cause is something we are proud to do.”

Hillcrest President Gerard Burke said, “Attaining these sizable donations moves Hillcrest Dental Care towards our goal of expanding oral health preventive and treatment services for people most in need.”

Hillcrest Dental Care is the largest provider of oral health services to the low income and special needs community in Western Massachusetts. Hillcrest Dental Care is the exclusive or primary provider to Soldier On, Berkshire County Arc, Riverbrook Residence for Women, Berkshire Meadows, Hillcrest, Kolburne and Eagleton schools and others. Nearly 2,000 of their patients are children under the age of 16.

Hillcrest Dental Care has raised nearly $90,000 in gifts and pledges. Reaching the $130,000 goal will enable Hillcrest Dental Care to meet the growing need for oral health services by adding two new treatment rooms to their six existing treatment rooms. It will also allow Hillcrest Dental Care to serve 2,000 additional patients and will create four new full time jobs, including two dentists.

Anyone interested in donating gifts can mail them to Hillcrest Dental Care, 788 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 or contact Steve Conroy at 499 7924 ext 133.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Man Indicted on Murder, Arson Charges

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Darius Hazard was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on Thursday on two counts of first-degree murder related to deaths of his parents last November. 
 
Hazard, 44, pleaded not guilty to the charges and to a third charge of arson of a dwelling house.
 
He is being held without bail at the Berkshire County House of Correction, where he has been housed since Nov. 25. 
 
Hazard is accused of assaulting his parents, Donald Hazard, 83, and Venture Hazard, 76, on Nov. 24, 2025, and setting fire to the family on Francis Street. 
 
The bodies of his parents were discovered in the home by firefighters. 
 
North Adams Police said Hazard allegedly confessed to the assaults and the arson when he was taken into custody that day.
 
Hazard was initially arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court on Nov. 26 and was to appear for a pretrial hearing on March 3. That hearing was postponed but he was indicted March 23 on the felony charges and his case removed to Berkshire Superior Court. 
 
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