Hancock Shaker Village Appoints Director and CEO

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Trustees of Hancock Shaker Village announced that Carrie Holland has been appointed Director and CEO, following a 2- 2-month term as Interim Director. 
 
Prior to serving as Interim Director, Holland served on the board of Hancock Shaker Village since 2020 and most recently served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
 
"We are thrilled Carrie has agreed to stay on as the Director for the next couple of years to continue providing leadership for the operation of the Village as well as shepherding the plans for the new Visitor Center from the current design development phase to completion," said Bob Plotz, Chairman of the Board at Hancock Shaker Village. "Carrie brings a great amount of leadership, enthusiasm, a fresh perspective, and diversity of professional experience to the role which is uniquely well-suited to guide the organization through this particular chapter at the Village."
 
Holland, a Pittsfield native, returned to the Berkshires in 2015 following time spent in the Washington D.C. area focused on a career path in the National Security field. In 2017, Holland joined Mill Town Capital as a Managing Director and was part of the leadership team responsible for designing strategy, executing investments, and successfully operating several non-profit and for-profit community development projects throughout the Berkshires region.
 
Holland became more involved with programming at Hancock Shaker Village through her leadership at Mill Town Foundation where the two organizations collaborated on several high-impact projects from 2019-2023. She joined the Village's Board of Trustees in 2020, and has served on several committees over her tenure, affording her a more robust familiarization of both the strategic and operational functions of the historic museum.
 
"Since returning home to the Berkshires, I have been so impressed with the expansive scope of programming at Hancock Shaker Village," said Holland. "The exciting points of engagement with both the local community and visitors here in the Berkshires continues to place the Village at a very compelling point of intrigue for local, national, and international audiences. The three-year vision for our campus and programming is very exciting with real potential to elevate our ability to authentically connect with a broad range of audiences. In addition, we currently have so much momentum across several critical areas of development at the Village and I am eager to help see these phases through."

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

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.
 
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