PreviousNext

Berkshire Athenaeum Recognizes Short Story Winners

The Berkshire Athenaeum and publisher Ty Allen Jackson recognized the writing efforts of local youngsters on Friday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The winners of the 35th annual Short Story Contest were awarded their prizes in a reception held on Friday at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Ty Allan Jackson, local author and founder of local publishing company Big Head Books, was speaker at the event that is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

The contest is open to children and youth ages 5 to 18. Stories were judged on originality, appeal and writing style. The winning entries, honorable mentions and works of merit will be bound and added to the collection of the Berkshire Athenaeum, so community members may read and enjoy them. The full list of winners is also posted in the Children's Library.

Children's Division

Age Group 5-6
First: Sandhya Ganesh, "A Week of Specialists at School"
Second: Simma Krantz, "Squrrl and Dog"

Age Group 7-8
First: Ian Corbett, "Letters from the War"
Second: Holden Loverin, "The Kidnapper"
Honorable Mention: Sydney Lalime, "Finding a Friend"

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.