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Brendan Klein and Arthur Errichetto have opened a tattoo parlor, Ink Asylum, on Main Street in Dalton.

Ink Asylum Creates Tattoos of Any Style or Design

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — In a small building on the busy Main Street sits a shop opened by two local tattoo artists who strive to create a comfortable, fun, and friendly experience whether it's your first tattoo or a returning customer. 
 
Brendan Klein and Arthur Errichetto opened the parlor, Ink Asylum located at  601 Main St,, in August after working together for many years. 
 
While on the search for a space they looked at several locations but the parking, traffic and visibility of the Main street location outshined the other spaces. They believe the visibility encourages curious customers to stop in and explore tattoo options. 
 
The duo say they bring customers designs to life at a fair price and don't specialize in one style. They do all kinds of designs from micro tattoos to full-sleeve realism designs.
 
"Our clients get what our clients want," they said. 
 
"The thing I like about tattooing is being able to take a client's thought-up design and make it a reality for that client," Errichetto said. "The stories behind the tattoos from each client, but most of all, the reaction the client has after the tattoo is finished is what makes everything worth it."
 
The artists say they developed an "impeccable" reputation from the surrounding towns. When it came time to venture on their own, this reputation followed them and helped them gain even more clients. 
 
They would not be as successful as they have been without the praise that their customers have spread, Klein said.
 
"We've been getting a lot of clients from the local Dalton area, which we didn't get in Pittsfield ….[Errichetto and I] both have our own clients and following that follow us to begin with so a lot of those people stayed with us," Klein said. 
 
"And then a lot of the locals, a lot of the hilltown area,  that we didn't have clients from before and a lot of good word of mouth. Every time we do great tattoos. All their friends and family are looking to get great tattoos also."
 
They want to continue to grow so they can stay in the business for many years to come. The path took a lot of determination and not giving up despite the obstacles that came their way. Take those obstacles and look at them as opportunities, Klein said.
 
"There's always a new obstacle to overcome and we just keep doing it. We just keep leaping hurdles and moving forward," Klein said. 
 
Errichetto is looking forward to becoming one of the best artists he can be with this business, he said. 
 
"To walk out in public and hear people talking about my work and how much they love the work that's being done and coming out of Ink Asylum," Errichetto said. 
 
Examples of their work can be found on their Facebook page. Make an appointment by calling 
413-300-0099. 
 
About the Artists
 
Klein has worked in drawing, painting, sculpting, and other mediums. He was 27 when he started to get serious about his art and tattooing seemed like the perfect career. 
 
"It's a career that I actually enjoy. I actually love coming to work every single day. So that's what makes it awesome," he said.
 
Errichetto was always into drawing whether it was animals, floral designs, or just random pictures from his mind, he said. 
 
He was introduced to a tattoo artist from Adams when he was in college. After showing the artist his portfolio, Errichetto immediately started an apprenticeship under him. 

Tags: new business,   tattoos,   

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PEDA Site 9 Preparation, Member Retirement

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The redevelopment of Site 9 for mixed-use in the William Stanley Business Park is set to take off. 

Edward Weagle, principal geologist at Roux Associates, gave an update on the yearlong work to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority last week.

"It's been a real pleasure for me to work on a project like this," he said. "This is kind of like a project of a career of a lifetime for me, and I'm very pleased to see that we're just at the finish line right now. My understanding is that all the documents are in front of the commissioner, waiting for her to sign off."

Mill Town Capital is planning to develop a mixed-use building that includes housing on the site. Roux, headquartered in Islandia, N.Y., was hired assist with obtaining grant financing, regulatory permitting, and regulatory approvals to aid in preparing the 16.5-acre site for redevelopment. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of concrete slabs, foundations, and pavements were removed from the former GE site. 

Once the documents are signed off, PEDA can begin the work of transferring 4.7 acres to Mill Town. Weagle said the closing on this project will make it easier to work on the other parcels and that he's looking forward to working on Sites 7 and 8.

PEDA received a $500,000 Site Readiness Program grant last year from MassDevelopment for Sites 7 and Site 8. The approximately 3-acre sites are across Woodlawn Avenue from Site 9 and border Kellogg Street. 

In other news, the state Department of Transportation has rented the east side of the parking lot for CDL (Commercial Driver's License) training. This is an annual lease that began in September and will bring in $37,200 in revenue.

Lastly, the meeting concluded with congratulations to Maurice "Mick" Callahan Jr. on his retirement.

Callahan is a former chair and a founding member of PEDA, dating back to when the board was established in the 1990s. He has also served on a number of civic and community boards and has volunteered for many organizations in the Berkshires. He is the president of M. Callahan Inc. 

"The one thing that's been a common denominator back is that you've always put others before yourself. You've served others well. You've been a mentor to two generations of Denmarks, and I'm sure many generations of other families and people within this city," said board Chair Jonathan Denmark. "We can never say thank you enough, but thank you for your services, for the creation of this board, your service to the city of Pittsfield, and to all the communities that you've represented and enjoy retirement." 

"It wasn't always easy to be in the position that you were in Mick, but you handled it with so much grace, always respecting this community, bringing pride to our community," member Linda Clairmont said. "I could not have accomplished many of the things I did, especially here for this business part, without you all of the Economic Development discussions that we had really informed my thinking, and I'm so grateful."

Callahan left the team with a message as this was his final meeting, but said he is always reachable if needed.

"I also have to say that a lot of great people sat around this table and other tables before the current board, and the time that I had with Pam [Green] and Mike [Filpi] sticking around, the leadership of this mayor [board member Linda Tyer], and it really, it was always great synergy," he said.

"So don't be afraid to embrace change. And you know, you got a business model. It's been around long time. Shake it up. Take a good look at it, figure out where it needs to go, and you're lucky to have leadership that you have here."

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