Dr. Peter Chien Reminds Berkshire Residents February is Heart Month

08:44AM / Wednesday, February 09, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — February is Heart Month, and Dr. Peter Chien, the Division Chief of Cardiology at Berkshire Medical Center, reminds Berkshire area residents to take their cardiovascular health to heart.

Dr. Chien, a board-certified and fellowship-trained Cardiologist, joined the BMC medical staff and the physician staff of Cardiology Professional Services of BMC in 2020. He is partnered with Drs. Stephen Phlaum, Andrew Potash, Jialin Su, Georgianne Valli-Harwood and Shyama Wickramaaratchi at Cardiology Professional Services of BMC.

Dr. Chien says the keys to keeping your heart healthy are adherence to a heart-healthy diet, attempting to maintain a normal weight, monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and following up regularly with your primary care provider. Also, refrain from cigarette use and excessive alcohol consumption.

Dr. Chien has previously held leadership roles in several organizations and before joining BMC practiced as a non-invasive Cardiologist at York Hospital in York, Maine.

He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and was fellowship-trained in Cardiovascular Disease at Hartford Hospital, Conn. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. He later earned an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Connecticut, where he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for business school programs.

He enjoys exercising, international travel and trying out restaurants and coffee shops around the

Berkshires.

Cardiology Professional Services of BMC has three locations, in Pittsfield, North Adams and Great Barrington. For an appointment with Dr. Chien or one of his colleagues, ask your primary care physician for a referral or for more information call Cardiology Professional Services of BMC at 413-395-7580.

Tags: BHS, BMC,

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.

View Full Story