Eforall Berkshire County Announces Spring Accelerator Cohort

08:14AM / Tuesday, February 16, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County announced the 13 business ideas chosen to participate in the Spring 2021 Business Accelerator program.

The program begins the week of February 22 and will be held completely virtually.

"I continue to be amazed by the ideas, energy and passion each entrepreneur brings to the table when applying to the Accelerator Program," Jay Anderson, president of the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC) and a member of the EforAll Berkshire Leadership Advisory Committee said. "It takes a lot of courage to start a business. The confidence, clarity and connections that EforAll provides to these entrepreneurs is invaluable as they advance their goals and dreams of starting or growing a business. This program is a retention tool for our community and dovetails with the creativity and sustainability in the Berkshires."

These businesses represent a wide array of ideas and come from a broad swath of the region:

Amy Musante/Musante Farm, Dalton
Ava Garrett & Lauren Scapin/Camp Coco, Marlborough
Brandon Williams/Stem and Crown, Pittsfield
Brian Barde/Kindlewood Camping, Pittsfield
Charlotte Semmes/Penelope Prints, Hudson, NY
Clemente Sajquiy/Green River Property Care, Great Barrington
Jim Schultz/Red Shirt Farms, Lanesboro
Luis Hoose/LH Fitness, Pittsfield
Melinda & Kyle Cruzen/Berkshire Worms, Lanesboro
Michelle Daly/Daly Art Consulting, North Adams
Samuel Abora/Boras' World, Pittsfield
Tara Jacobsen/Be Full, Pittsfield
Victoria Fiorini/ Sworn Handmade, Pittsfield

This will be the third class for EforAll's Berkshire County site. Applicants went through an application process including volunteer readers and interviewers.

The public will be invited in June to the Gala and Showcase at the conclusion of the 12-week intensive program.

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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.

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