Baroco Donates $500 to BCAC's Giving Tree

Janie McCormick of BCAC receives a check from Karen Wright and Jennifer Bisbee of Baroco.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — BCAC's Giving Tree program will help 25 more local children this Christmas with a $500 donation.

Baroco, which provides day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, donated proceeds from one its fundraisers.

"This donation comes from our annual craft fair," said Baroco Clinical Coordinator Karen Wright.

Berkshire Community Action Council's Giving Tree program connects donors with the names of children whose families are struggling financially. The donors then shop for warm clothing and gifts for those families.

BCAC already provides transportation for many of Baroco's clients and when the company's craft fair raised more money than before, it was decided to give back to BCAC. In previous years, the craft fair money had gone to various charities — including sponsoring a family through the Department of Social Services.

"The community and businesses have been wonderful," McCormick said.

But, McCormick said despite those donations, there is still a need for residents to sponsor some children. Volunteers are also welcome at the Giving Tree table at the Berkshire Mall.

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.