Berkshire YMCA Honoring Those 'Changing Lives After 55'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Family YMCA's inaugural Changing Lives After 55 awards will celebrate and recognize community members over the age of 55 who have made significant contributions and achievements in Berkshire County. 
 
The awards night, slated for Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Berkshire Hills in Pittsfield, will salute honorees in the areas of education, arts and culture, business, nonprofit, youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
 
Tickets to the event are $35 and can be purchased at bfymca.org/changinglives55.
 
Those being honored are:
  • C. Jeffrey Cook, a principal of the law firm Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook as "overall changemaker" 
  • Berkshire Community College President Ellen Kennedy and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts history professor Frances Jones-Sneed for education
  • North Adams Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Malkas and Williams College biochemistry professor Charles "Chip" Lovett for youth development
  • Berkshire Theatre Group director Kate Maguire and Barrington Stage Company director Julianne Boyd for arts and culture
  • Pittsfield Family YMCA's water aerobics instructor and volunteer Theresa Tracy and swimming instructor and coach Dan Rogacki for healthy living
  • Berkshire Money Management President and COO Barbara Schmick and Devanny Funeral Home owner John Bresnahan for business
  • State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, Pittsfield Public Schools cultural proficiency coach and community activist Shirley Edgerton, and retired Berkshire Bank Foundation director and community development consultant for Peter Lafayette for social responsibility
  • Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity director Carolyn Valli and West Side Neighborhood Initiative Chairwoman Linda Kelley for nonprofits
The nominations were made community members. 
 
The event, which aims to be an annual tradition, is a major fundraiser for Berkshire Family YMCA. Proceeds will support the YMCA financial assistance program: the Y's promise to the community that no one is ever turned away because of an inability to pay. Berkshire Money Management is the event's title sponsor; iBerkshires.com and The Berkshire Eagle are the media sponsors.
 
The event will include a reception with hors d'oeuvres and light fare. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Kinnas at rkinnas@bfymca.org.

Tags: recognition event,   YMCA,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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