Free Community Day at Hancock Shaker Village

08:00AM / Wednesday, November 08, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village announces its annual Community Day will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 am to 4 pm.

Admission is free all day.

Fun activities for all ages include craft demonstrations, wood working and blacksmithing, interpreter led tours and Shaker talks, plus kids' activities and farm animals. All buildings in the historic village are open for exploration and several special exhibitions including Handled With Care: The Function of Form in Shaker Craft and Stillness and Light by John Mancia.

The accessible, one-mile Farm and Forest Trail, including the South Family Trail, is also open for everyone to explore. Food and beverages will be available in our Café and the Mercantile is open.

Community Day at Hancock Shaker Village is made possible by the support of Mill Town.

Hancock Shaker Village is located at 1843 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield Mass.

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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.

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