Letter: February is American Heart Health Month

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To the Editor:

February is American Heart Month — a great time to quit vaping, smoking or other nicotine products. Smoking can lead to narrowing blood vessels and high blood pressure; it is a leading cause of heart disease. Less is known about vaping's effect on the heart so quitting any nicotine use is a wise choice for your heart.

When you're ready to take the first step, 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), the Massachusetts Quitline for tobacco/nicotine, is available for FREE support 24 hours each day, seven days a week to support you through quitting. No lectures. No judgments. Just support. You can connect with the Quitline online, too, at mass.gov/quitting.

1-800-QUIT-NOW offers you a FREE coach who is ready to support you. They'll help you develop a quit plan that works for you, identify triggers, plan out your day without nicotine and manage withdrawals. They'll offer email and text support to help you stay on track. In addition, 1-800-QUIT-NOW has a dedicated Spanish line (1-855-DEJELO-YA) and interpreter services available for 200 other languages so language doesn't need to be a barrier to getting support.


1-800-QUIT-NOW also offers FREE medicine to help you quit like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges, and advises on the best way to use them.

So, for American Heart Month, make a resolution for a healthier life for you and your family. If you vape, smoke or use other nicotine products, quitting is an important step to take to protect your heart.

For more information, visit mass.gov/quitting or contact the Berkshire Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Program Manager Joyce Brewer at 413-842-5160 or jbrewer@berkshireahec.org. Take the first step of your journey to quit for good during American Heart Month.

Joyce Brewer
Brewer manages the Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Program for the Berkshire Area Health Education Center.

 

 

 


Tags: smoking awareness,   

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the  POST Commission. 

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission. 

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted.  On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April. 

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday. 

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.  

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads. 

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline." 

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