Berkshire Green Drinks: Twenty Years of Protecting the Environment for Wildlife

08:00AM / Thursday, December 07, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for their final Green Drinks presentation of 2023, where BEAT staff will talk about the organization's work of this past year and explore what comes next as the new year approaches.

The virtual gathering will take place by Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6:00 to 7:15 PM.

According to a press release:

Be part of the discussion and hear about BEAT's new Breathe Easy Berkshires program that is monitoring air quality in Pittsfield; the organization's continued work in improving aquatic and terrestrial wildlife connectivity and how volunteers can help; its efforts to eliminate plastic bags from local grocery stores, plus other Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative projects; the first phase of completed renovations at its Environmental Leadership & Education Center and what they have planned for this community space; and its fight to prevent the construction of the Enbridge Project Maple pipeline and the expansion of private jet services in Massachusetts.

Pre-registration is required to attend this free event. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/Dec2023-Berks-Green-Drinks

Berkshire Environmental Action Team was established in 2003 when a vernal pool at Berkshire Community College (BCC) was being threatened by the development of soccer fields on the campus. Over the past two decades, BEAT has taken on many fights and projects — often leading them and creating a path for environmental change and progress. BEAT’s mission has remained the same: To protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all. However, the organization's vision and goals have continuously expanded and evolved.

Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering that takes place once a month. A guest speaker talks for about 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM, and the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. These nights are free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren't green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT).

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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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