Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Receives National Award

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living recently announced the selection of Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as a recipient of the 2017 Silver-Achievement in Quality award for its outstanding performance in the health care profession.

Hillcrest Commons is one of only nine facilities in Massachusetts, and one of 191 facilities in the nation, selected to receive the silver award in 2017. The competitive award program highlights select centers across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long term care.

"We are proud to have received the Silver Award and we’re pleased that an independent panel of examiners saw the high value we place on quality care and service excellence," said Delores Duncan, administrator at Hillcrest Commons, which is an affiliate of Berkshire Healthcare. "Our focus at Hillcrest has always been on people. We want to continue to evolve our quality care and service to even greater heights."

"We congratulate the entire Hillcrest team on this achievement," added Bill Jones, president of Berkshire Healthcare. "It's a great example of how we are advancing quality across our affiliates with more and more Berkshire facilities earning recognition for quality care."

Fifteen of Berkshire’s skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have earned the Bronze award from AHCA/NCAL; 13 have also reached the Silver level; and two hold the distinction of the Gold award, the highest level in the program.

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.