Berkshire Workforce Board Elects New Board Officers

• Monique Blake, Miraval Resort – Board Member of the Year. Monique has dedicated her time providing numerous career readiness opportunities for Berkshire County youth including hosting internships, summer work experiences and participating in career fairs. She is a member of the BWB's Youth Council and is committed to building the future workforce pipeline within the region's Hospitality sector.
• Kristina Farina, Monument Mt. Regional High School – Educator of the Year. Throughout the past five years serving as Principal, Kristi has led the development of an integrated career readiness system at Monument and has helped to enhance internship opportunities and career pathways to ensure all students have necessary career development upon graduating from high school. 
• Chelsea Tyer & Glen Reinhold, Mativ – Manufacturer of the Year. Mativ is committed to enhancing the current and future workforce pipelines in Manufacturing. This year, Mativ's employees volunteered their time at career fairs, hosted workplace tours, participated in career speaker series, attended job fairs, supported new hires with On-the-Job training funds and supported the BWB's efforts with Manufacturing Month.

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.