Gabriel Abbott Memorial School Graduates Six Students

FLORIDA, Mass. — Gabriel Abbott Memorial School graduated six eighth-grade students on Monday, June 12.

"Pomp and Circumstance" played by the Abbott Ensemble welcomed the students followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner."  Tim Rougeau, the eighth-grade teacher, welcomed all to the ceremony and gave a speech recapping some favorite moments from the year.

After the "class will" was read by Sarah Fortini and the class gifts were read by Katelyn Haggerty, Emma Desormeaux honored Rougeau with a yearbook dedication. A slideshow of pictures, put together by Rougeau and Jenn Segala, capturing their time at Abbott, was shown, eliciting more than a few tears and laughs.

Karen Cooper then presented Fortini with the Charles Bruce Cooper Memorial Award and Jennifer Bean presented Allie Burdick with the PTA Award. Principal Heidi Dugal presented Fortini with the Kellie Boyce Award and the Principal’s Citizenship Award, Desormeaux with the Clement Dugal Award, Christopher Cornell and Zoe Oakes with the President's Achievement Awards, Christopher Cornell with the Good Attendance Award, and finally, Allie Burdick with the President's Excellence Award.  

Judy Oleson, School Committee chairwoman, then awarded diplomas to the Class of 2017: Allie Burdick, Christopher Cornell, Emma Desormeaux, Sarah Fortini, Katelyn Haggerty and Zoe Oakes.

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.