Community Legal Aid Kicks Off Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign

12:00PM / Friday, October 27, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community Legal Aid is kicking off its annual Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign, which seeks to bring legal help to residents in the county facing a variety of civil legal problems.

Over the last year, Community Legal Aid's staff of attorneys and paralegals helped more than 700 Berkshire County elderly and low-income clients last year, impacting an estimated 1,750 residents trying to avoid homelessness, seeking safety from violence, and others fighting for life's necessities. Through its subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center, it also helps refugees seeking humanitarian-based immigration relief.

For more than a decade, the legal community of Berkshire County has banded together through the Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign to raise funds and awareness to support Community Legal Aid. Last year, the campaign raised over $20,000. This year, the goal is to raise $25,000.

Jennifer Breen, Esq., an attorney with the North Adams law firm of Donovan, O'Connor & Dodig, LLP is this year's Berkshire County Access to Justice Committee Chair.

"I hope members of the legal community and others will join me in supporting the Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign for Community Legal Aid, our local civil legal aid provider," Attorney Breen said. "Community Legal Aid assures fairness for all in the justice system, regardless of how much money they have. The Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign embodies the principle that 'justice for all' applies to everyone, not just those who can afford it."

Anyone who wishes to support the work of Community Legal Aid can find more information or make a donation at www.communitylegal.org.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.

View Full Story