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UNICO Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame Inductions Set for Nov. 18

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- UNICO will induct five athletes in its Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame on Friday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.
 
The 21st induction dinner and ceremony will be held at Berkshire Hills Country Club. Past recipients are encouraged to attend. The five 2016 recipients will join 112 other Berkshire County coaches and players (amateur and professional) who have been inducted over the past 20 years.
 
These five individuals not only exhibited exceptional athletic skills that were developed through various Berkshire County youth programs, but also have given back to their communities.
 
The 2016 UNICO Hall of Fame recipients are:
 
MIKE GLADU
Gladu played four years at Hoosac Valley Regional High School, where he was named to the all-Berkshire County and all-Western Mass teams. He Went on to play at AIC where after his freshman year he signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs.
 
He has coached at the Little League, Babe Ruth and collegiate level and presently is serving as head coach at MCLA.
 
LOUIS ORAZIO
Orazio competed in the Pittsfield baseball programs from elementary school through high school.
 
He coached for 15 years in the Pittsfield Babe Ruth program, winning 13 titles. His teams won 65 consecutive games setting the national Babe Ruth League record and won two state titles. He currently directs the Berkshire Adult Baseball League.
 
TOM PIA
Pia was a member of the Pittsfield Babe Ruth All-Stars who won two state championships, At Pittsfield High School, he was named to the all-Berkshire, all-Western Mass and all-State teams. He went on to play college ball at the University of Massachusetts.
 
Pia volunteers as coach in his Connecticut community.
 
WILLIAM STUMPEK
Stumpek played on the Pittsfield High School 1949 team, batting .316 on a squad that won the state championship.
He went on to play on various amateur and semi-pro Pittsfield teams, one of which won the American Amateur Championship, and he was given a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
 
Stumpek coached little League and Babe Ruth  teams for 10 years and is very active in the Monday Morning Quarterback Club
 
MADELINE TOMICH
Tomich played softball at Mount  Everett for six years, helping the team win the Southern Berkshire League five of those six years.
 
At Westfield University, she played all four years. Her freshman year, she earned the MASCAC Rookie of the Year Award, and she was named Pitcher of the Year in both her sophomore and junior years.
 
In her junior year, Tomich ranked 17th nationally among NCAA Division III pitchers, and in her senior year she was selected to the MASCAC all conference team, was ranked eighth nationally in Division III for strikeouts, and set the Westfield State records for most victories and strikeouts.
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Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 
 
"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 
 
The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 
 
The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 
 
Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center
 
The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 
 
The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.
 
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