Lanesborough Board OKS New Site Exploration for Police Station

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen has given the Police Station Building Committee the authority to look for other potential sites for the new police station. 

The committee will now be able to explore other properties and work with landowners on potentially selling or gifting land for the purpose. Committee Chair Kristen Tool had initially asked the board for permission to look at other sites last month after voicing concerns over the proposed site at 8 Prospect St. 

Board Chair John Goerlach was initially against the group looking at other sites but said the opportunity for additional grants changed his mind. The committee had discussed possibly including the town's ambulance services as part of the project at its last meeting, which could allow for new grant opportunities. 

"The ambulance service may need a location to go to in the near future," he said, noting he discussed the issue with new board member Timothy Sorrell. "That should, Kristen, if I'm not mistaken, make us eligible for different funds, grant-wise." 

The board also discussed insurance for 8 Prospect St., which will become vacant once the Police Department finishes moving out of the property sometime in August. 

"It's approximately $5,000 annual insurance to insure the vacant building," Town Administrator Joshua Lang said. 

Tool also requested the citizen interest form be reopened for the committee, as former member Timothy Sorrell decided to step down to focus on the Select Board. The Select Board will make the appointment at its next meeting on July 26. 

In other business, the board voted for Goerlach to remain chair of the Select Board as part of reorganization after the election. 

Board member Michael Murphy thanked Sorrell for becoming a member of the board. He also thanked former member Gordon Hubbard for his service the last three years. 

"We didn't always agree, but I, truthfully, did enjoy working with Gordon," he said. "And I hope he'll continue to serve the town in some capacity." 

• The board approved a $94,661.08 bid from Diversify Construction for various Town Hall renovations to be paid from free cash. Planned improvements include exterior painting, windows and carpeting. 

Diversify's bid, according to Lang, was the only bid on the project. He said he plans to provide updates to the community if part or all of town hall will need to close when work is ongoing. 

"I hate closing for any reason, because residents need that, but that might be something we have to consider ... We will have to do this so it's going to be as limited of a distraction as possible," Lang said. 

• The board $352,354 waited to vote on a bid from J.H. Maxymillian Inc. for sidewalk replacement on Summer Street, to be paid from free cash. The group wanted to discuss with Public Works Director William Decelles before approving the bid. 

• The board discussed grading concerns on 32 Aqua St. and voted to have the highway department fix the problem. Goerlach said the current grading is causing drainage problems. 

"In all the years that I was there, we always graded and put water bars there to send the water off the road as quick as it could be, so it didn't tear out or send sand and silt down to the lake," he said. "For whatever reason, the current operator is not doing so." 

• The board discussed a request from EMS Automotive of Pittsfield to be added to the town's tow list and was unsure of the rules surrounding the list. Town Counsel Jeff Blake of KP Law suggested that the board wait to take action on the request until it can review its policies for the tow list. 

"I totally agree with town counsel; this is what I was gonna suggest, is that we table that request until we have the opportunity to do some research," said board member Michael Murphy. "And if we can't find [a policy], then we create it going forward, and then we address any requests that might come in." 

• The board discussed letting businesses in town do outdoor dining. The board had authorized outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The board approved the move of emergency medical technicians Sarah Cullison and Nico Amuso from part time to full time. 

• The board approved the installation of new street poles on North Main Street, to be installed by Eversource. The work will primarily be upgrading existing polls. 

Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."