'Swatting' Call Evacuates PHS, Drury

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School and Drury High School in North Adams were evacuated late Tuesday morning because of false threats of violence.

The incident was identified as "swatting," in which a caller attempts to generate an emergency law enforcement response on a location under false pretenses. 

Earlier that morning, state law enforcement partners notified the department that several communities in eastern Massachusetts had received similar calls reporting critical incidents at schools. These incidents were from either one person or multiple people using the same name. 

Pittsfield Police received an anonymous report at about 10:40 a.m. of an active shooting at the high school on East Street. The call was immediately recognized as similar to the false calls received in other communities across the state.

For caution, police units responded to the school and worked with school and district staff, and administration to clear the building, and ensure the legitimacy of all occupants.

"Once the Pittsfield High School leadership received this information, the school was placed in lockdown, and immediate assistance from the Pittsfield Police Department arrived," Superintendent Joseph Curtis sent in a communication to district families following the incident.

"Based on the PPD’s knowledge of the swatting calls occurring throughout the state today, as notified by the Massachusetts State Fusion Center, an adjusted response was facilitated with members of the Pittsfield Police Department and PHS and district administration, clearing all areas of the building. Classes are resuming and this has been determined NOT to be a credible threat by the Pittsfield Police Department."

The units were cleared from the school at 11:50 a.m.

North Adams Superintendent Barbara Malkas said students and staff at Drury were evacuated for about a half hour will police searched the building; classes then resumed without incident. The school includes Grades 7 and 8.

There also were reports circulating about threats at Taconic High School and Reid Middle School on Tuesday but Curtis clarified that there were no threats at these schools.

"As always, we are grateful for the immediate assistance of the Pittsfield Police Department," Curtis wrote to families.

"Members of the PHS school staff and school adjustment counselors will be seeking students who need support, especially after yesterday's tragic school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee."

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.