Plastic Surgeon Joins BMC; New Physician Practice Opening

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has appointed Dr. Zachary Long, a fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center. 

Dr. Long will serve with Berkshire Plastic Surgery of BMC, a new surgical practice, opening on August 10 at the BMC Medical Arts Complex, 6th floor, 777 North St., Pittsfield.

Long is accepting new patients in need of reconstructive surgery and provides care for the following: craniofacial reconstruction, eyelid/nose/ear reconstruction, breast reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, hand surgeries, post-bariatric surgeries, skin cancer reconstruction; and injectable therapies.

Long earned his medical degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in general surgery at St. Barnabas Hospital Health System, Bronx, N.Y. He was fellowship-trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at St. Barnabas Hospital Health System, with rotations at other institutions, including Jacobi Medical Center, Montefiore Medical Center and Westchester Medical Center in New York.

For an appointment with Dr. Long, ask your primary care physician for a referral, or call Berkshire Plastic Surgery of BMC at 413-881-5473.

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.