Mosquito Tests Positive for West Nile Virus In Pittsfield

• When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Use a mosquito repellent (follow manufacturer instructions).
• Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
• Remove areas of standing water around your home. Here are some suggestions:
  • Look around outside your house for containers and other things that might collect water and turn them over, regularly empty them, or dispose of them.
  • Clean clogged roof gutters: remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  • Change the water in birdbaths every few days; aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
  • Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.

Dalton Library Holds Adult Reading Challenge

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Monday, February 02, 2026

DALTON, Mass. — The library is making book enthusiasts nostalgic thanks to its adult reading challenge that encourages people to expand their horizons in the literature world. 

 

Many may remember, from their school years, being challenged to read for a chance to win a pizza or, for this writer, a school trip to the cinema to watch their book come alive on screen. 

 

The Dalton Free Public Library has reawakened that experience for its patrons 18 and older until March 27 at 1 p.m. 

 

Visit the library to get your game board and after reading a book let library staff know to get your raffle ticket or track your progress online. 

 

Readers can choose any book they like as long as it aligns with one of the options in the three categories: Who, With What, and Where. 

 

Every book that fits a subcategory earns you a raffle ticket, and if you complete all the subcategories within a section, you’ll score a bonus ticket. 

 

The more you read and explore, the better your chances of winning one of the three raffle baskets, each a $100 value. The cost of the baskets were donated by the Friends of the Dalton Library.