Dalton Advisory Panels Nixes Fire Station Add

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:15AM / Friday, August 23, 2024Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee eliminated the possibility of including a fire station in a public safety building.

Committee members highlighted several reasons, including the Fire District's separation from the town, its disinterest in purchasing a station, and its "house [being in] disorder."

The Board of Water Commissioners oversees the Fire District and the Fire Department.

The district had reconsidered the prospect of purchasing a former automotive garage, located at 385 Main St., to turn it into a fire station.

The advisory committee members alluded to how this prospect has stalled because of issues that have arisen in the district, including the suspension of the fire chief and his counter allegations and confusion surrounding the roles of the Prudential Committee and the Board of Water Commissioners.

Thomas Irwin, a town Finance Committee member and engineer, in July proposed the district could renovate the current fire station, purchase and modify the Dalton Garage, or renovate and build an addition to the Dalton Garage to address its space issues.

Advisory Committee co-Chair Don Davis said the Board of Water Commissioners recently shut down this prospect for the second time.

"The narrative from the commissioners were a fire department is done. Do not talk about it. It's over. Do not bring it up again," Davis said.

"So if they're the entity that's going to be paying for it, as it stands right now, they shut us down again."

If things change in the future, the committee said it is willing to revisit including the fire station in a public safety facility discussion, but at the moment, it is not feasible.

Tags: fire station, public safety committee,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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