BCC Honors Vaccine Collaborative Volunteers, Staff, Supporters

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After six months of work delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to tens of thousands of residents of Berkshire County and beyond, the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative was given a much-needed break. 
 
On Thursday, Aug. 5, Berkshire Community College welcomed volunteers, staff and supporters of the collaborative at a celebration held at the Paterson Field House on BCC's campus. 
 
The celebration honored those who administered vaccines at BCC, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Center in North Adams, and the W.E.B. Dubois Middle School in Great Barrington, which often handled hundreds and even thousands of vaccinations per day in the initial phases of the vaccine rollout. 
 
"We're so proud to have worked with the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative in this critical public health initiative," said Andrea Wadsworth, BCC Vice President of Administration and Finance. "We could not have done it without the assistance of the countless people who stepped up to help, often volunteering to work long hours and weekends to get as many people vaccinated as possible. This was a small way of saying thank you." 
 
The event was sponsored by Berkshire Bank, with additional support from Greylock Federal Credit Union. 
 
The Berkshire Vaccination Collaborative is a partnership of the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association, Berkshire Health Systems, Community Health Programs, Northern Berkshire EMS, and public health nurses. For more information, visit www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org

Tags: BCC,   COVID-19,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

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.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories