CHP To Receive Grants To Assist Area Residents

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Community Health Programs (CHP) Family Services to recieve a series of new grants to help area residents financial challenges, including troubles caused by COVID-19.
 
Awards from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Gilson Family Foundation will help CHP Family Services answer a range of client needs.
 
"Even before Covid, the economic challenges facing some of our area families were quite tough, and COVID-19 has only made life harder for many who have lost jobs, fallen behind on rent, or had trouble keeping the refrigerator stocked," said Michelle Derr, director of CHP Family Services. "These donations and grants help us to help others through this period of stress and financial hardship."
 
Funding includes a $40,000 cash award from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (through the state's Community Foundations Grant Program for COVID-19 Relief). This money will help CHP clientele with rent, utilities, food access, emergency childcare, technology needs for work and school, transportation and other day to day expenses that can't be covered.
 
A $10,000 grant from the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts will support Family Services outreach to women and girls in need of assistance and support.
 
A grant of nearly $2,000 from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will pay for a new freezer for Family Services, which collects food donations and distributes hundreds of grocery bags each month to individuals and families. And a $10,000 gift from the Gilson Family Foundation will also support CHP's response to food insecurity.

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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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