'Welcome Back Tourism' Pitch Contest

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the prospect of reinvigorated tourism in Berkshire County this summer, Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County is collaborating with 1Berkshire for a "Welcome Back Tourism" Pitch Contest on May 20.
 
Anyone with an idea for a consumer/tourist-facing business or service in the region are welcome to apply to pitch their idea.  Up to eight participants will be chosen to pitch their business or non-profit idea (2.5 minutes) to a panel of judges and the audience. At the end of the event,  EforAll will give away $2,750 in seed money to help launch ideas in the community. The first place finisher will win $1,000; second place $750; third place; $500 and audience favorite $500.
 
"This summer is sure to bring with it the return of many of our repeat visitors who will be here to take in our cultural delights which they had to forgo last year. Along with these visitors we will also see new travelers looking to take advantage of all the outdoor recreation opportunities we have," Lindsey Schmid,  vice president of tourism and marketing at 1Berkshire said. "With all this visitor activity, this is the perfect time to tap into our entrepreneurial community and shine a light on some new business ideas that will support this major economic driver in the Berkshires. We look forward to working with E for All on this timely pitch competition."
 
The public is welcome to attend this free virtual event and even vote on their favorite ideas.
 
The deadline to apply for the Pitch Contest is Thursday, May 6: http://bit.ly/tourismpitch
 
To attend the Pitch Contest: http://bit.ly/EFAattendpitch
 

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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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