Berkshire Briefs: Carousel Horse Unveiled, Mall Road Prepped

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Berkshire Carousel Reveals First Pony

By Larry Kratka

Berkshire News Network


Photo by Larry Kratka
Kali was modeled after 1910 creation by master carver John Zalar.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first completed handcarved horse for the Berkshire Carousel was unveiled during an open house Saturday night. The nonprofit group is working to build an old-fashioned, wooden carousel and matching museum in the city.

The painted and bejeweled pony is one of 11 currently being carved in the Whipple Street workshop.  Berkshire Carousel Director Maria Caccaviello said there was a lot of research put into the creation of "Kali," adding that hundreds of hours were spent on carving and preparing it for painting. 

Kali is a beautifully appointed Coney Island-style pony that was worked on by many volunteers over the past year. Each horse is sponsored and Kali was sponsored by former Pittsfield resident Mrs. Milton Linder of Phoenix. Kali was modeled after a horse carved by famed carver John Zalar in 1910. 

Zalar was a carousel builder at New York's Coney Island and the original figure was on a carousel that operated in Ocean Beach Park in New London, Conn., for many years. More sponsors and volunteers are needed for the project. Interested parties may call 413-499-0342.



Mall Road Work to Begin

By Al Hartheimer

Lanesborough News

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The contract is signed. The signs are up. The surveyors are at work. There is no work started on the Partridge Road detour yet.

Mark Ringee of the state Highway Department, District 1 in Lenox, said Friday that preparatory work on Partridge Road, clearing brush and widening at some places will start soon. Shortly after the asphalt plants open on April 1, Partridge Road will be repaved. The temporary road from the underpass to the mall will also be built at this time.

Then the two-mile mall road will be closed and the major work will begin. The contract specifies that the reconstruction of the mall road from Route 7 to the mall be completed and reopened by Nov. 15. The section of the road from the mall to Route 8 will be done in 2011. Some $10 million in stimulus funds is being used for the long-delayed project.
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Dalton Elects Incumbents, Write-in for Planning Board

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

The last-minute write-in campaigns for Planning Board resulted in higher than normal write-in votes  306  for Monday's election. 
DALTON, Mass. — The unofficial results for the town's annual election indicate that Planning Board registered candidate William Striebel III and write-in candidate Richard Hall have secured the two seats.
 
Some 413 voters cast their ballots at the Senior Center on Monday. There were 82 mail-in ballots.
 
The Planning Board race began with just one candidate for the two available positions, leaving one vacancy initially unfilled, but as Election Day approached, two additional candidates launched write-in campaigns, transforming it into a competitive contest.
 
The Planning Board saw a significant number of write-in votes, totaling 306. Striebel secured 238 votes, Hall 163, and Mary Tresa Devereaux with 133. 
 
Both Hall and Devereaux have been endorsed by the Dalton Clear Air Coalition, of which Hall is a member, and Democratic Town Committee. 
 
Hall decided to run for Planning Board last Monday inspired by the Berkshire Concrete situation wanting to ensure that the company follows the town's zoning bylaws. 
 
"Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I look forward to helping the town. It's a privilege being on the Planning Board," he said. 
 
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