PreviousNext

Froio Center Volunteers Pack Monthly Brown Bags for Seniors

The volunteers enjoy coffee after preparing nearly 200 bags for pickup and delivery.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An assembly line of volunteers quickly and efficiently packed nearly 200 bags of food at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center last week.

This is done on the fourth Friday of each month through the Council on Aging's Brown Bag Grocery Program, which provides eligible seniors with a bag of groceries through curbside pickup and van delivery.

"It helps a lot of people," longtime volunteer Ann Menard said. "I think it's a great program."

Various nonperishables and refrigerator staples are provided by the Food Bank of Western Mass in Hatfield. On this day, the bags included items such as peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, and a popular choice: boxed macaroni and cheese.  

"It's our way of giving back, helping out," COA Director James Clark said. "And we know it's going to seniors, not just to anybody, and deserving seniors that need it."

He added that it is also beneficial for the volunteers who put their best foot forward and genuinely enjoy doing it. There are a handful of volunteers that have been participating for more than a decade.

Volunteers either come in through the center or through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

"The applications for the people that get the brown bag is like a federal program, so they have to meet certain criteria for income eligibility guidelines. Once they complete the application form, it goes back to our Hatfield office at the food pantry and then they send us a master list every month," said the council's outreach coordinator Danielle Raimer.

"We partnered with Door Dash last year to help us deliver some of these to the seniors that can't get here. Along with delivery, we have our vans and our van drivers that also deliver to the housing: Providence Court, Berkshire Town, and Columbia Arms."

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.