Hinds: Free COVID-19 Testing Important Tool to Stop County Spread

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Sen. Adam Hinds applauded the expansion of the state's Stop the Spread COVID-19 testing program to the Berkshires.

The program was created in July as a way to provide cost-free surveillance testing to areas with high transmission rates of the novel coronavirus. 

Hinds said when it was announced over the summer, the Berkshire delegation was upset to see that there were not any sites in Berkshire County. The closest site for asymptomatic testing for some time was Springfield.

"We felt it was important to make sure we had this type of a tool for the region," Hinds said.

Berkshire Health Systems, in partnership with the state Department of Public Health, began offering the free testing of asymptomatic individuals this week at three locations. 

Testing will also continue to be conducted at BHS's three centers for those who are symptomatic or had close contact with someone who has tested COVID-19 positive with the cost being covered by the individual's insurer. In all cases, the testing is by appointment.

The testing is being done at the existing locations  at 98 Church St. in North Adams, 505 East St. in Pittsfield, and 10 Maple Ave, in Great Barrington.

There has always been testing available through Berkshire Health Systems, but the difference between these new sites and previously available testing is that there is no cost and they are open to anyone wishing to be tested. Residents do not need to be demonstrating symptoms or have health insurance to be tested at Stop The Spread sites.

The Berkshire delegation collectively wrote letters to bring this program to Berkshire County and have been pushing this for quite some time. That combined with the uptick of cases in the county, with Pittsfield, in particular experiencing a surge, seemed to push this to the point of implementation, Hinds said.

The senator said numerous employers have spoken to him expressing the need for free accessible testing to make employees feel confident in going to work.

With this expanded testing, the hope is to create a system that is functioning well and responsive to public health.

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.