BCC Announces 40 under Forty Winners

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold its annual 40 Under Forty awards celebration on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on the BCC Main Campus, in the new One Stop Enrollment Center.

Tickets are $65 and are available at www.berkshirecc.edu/40underforty. 40 Under Forty honors talented millennials and Generation Z professionals in the Berkshires who have shown their support for the region through leadership, community service and a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in the community.  

Nick Delmolino, Executive Director of Advancement, said he is thrilled to participate in his first 40 Under Forty awards celebration.

"The BCC Foundation is honored to recognize and celebrate the commitment and accomplishments of this year's 40 Under Forty cohort. Hosting this event in the new One Stop Enrollment Center on campus — the first event ever to be held in this brand new, multi-million-dollar renovated space — will make the evening even more exciting," he said.  

The winners of the 2022 40 Under Forty awards are: 

• Leslie Appleget, North Adams Public Schools 
• Erica Barreto, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 
• Ashley Benson, Optimal Healing, LLC 
• Meg Bossong, Williams College 
• Laila Boucher, Adams Community Bank 
• Tim Butterworth, Berkshire Innovation Center 
• Marcus Coleman, Raymond James Financial Services
• Noah Cook-Dubin, KANOA Consulting 
• Michelle Decepida, General Dynamics Mission Systems 
• Mike Dell'Aquila, Hot Plate Brewing Co. 
• Lindsay DiCicco, The Department of Children and Families  
• Ian Downey, Motorhead Media 
• Auric Enchill, Elegant Stitches, Inc. 
• Emily Gabriel, Mill Town Capital 
• Carly Gaherty, William Stickney Pittsfield Adult Learning Center 
• Caroline Holland, Mill Town Capital 
• Aaron Johnson, Boxxa Vine 
• Patrick Kavey, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Barnbrook Realty and the City of Pittsfield 
• Lee Kohlenberger Jr., Berkshire Dogs Unleashed, Berkshire Poodles and Berkshire Comfort Dogs 
• Michelle Lopez, Berkshire Immigrant Center 
• Justin McKennon, Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. 
• Joshua Meczywor, McCann Technical School 
• Erin Milne, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 
• Michael Mongeon, KJ Nosh Catering Company 
• Stephen Murray, Boston Medical Center 
• Kelan O'Brien, Williams College 
• Ben O'Shaughnessy, Sunshine Group, P.M. LLC  
• Kevin Pink, 1Berkshire 
• Dan Sadlowski, AWE-MAZING Books; Pittsfield Public Schools 
• Justin Scaduto, General Dynamics Mission Systems 
• Corey Stall, Schellman 
• Kat Toomey, MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board 
• Stephanie VanBramer, Crosby Elementary, Pittsfield Public Schools 
• Jennifer Vrabel, Berkshire Health Systems 
• Candace Wall, 413 Theraworks, LLC 
• Chris Watford, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) 
• Niko White, Purple Dragon Games 
• Maryrose Williams, Berkshire Community College 
• Kristin Winsett, Berkshire Community College
• Leonid Yantovsky, Berkshire Bank 

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.