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Ghouls, Goblins Turn Out for Pittsfield Halloween Parade

Lisa Torrey, Darin Torrey and Jen Glockner were judges for the floats this year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ghouls, goblins, and pop culture icons lined Tyler Street on Friday night for the city's annual Halloween Parade.

The "Spooky Hollywood" theme brought characters from "Ghostbusters," the "Wizard of Oz," and slasher icons. This was the 78th Halloween parade in the city and the last one led by Special Events Coordinator Maddy Brown, who will vacate the position next month.

"It's bittersweet. I've loved my time with the city and I couldn't be more grateful to everybody here," Brown said. "This was the first big event I did last year, ironically, it's my last now but I'm glad to be able to see it through."

Parade planning began at the end of summer and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Executive Director Rebecca Brien was credited for helping to make it happen.

The event is a draw for Halloween lovers from all over the county, attracting about 5,000 people in 2022.

Participants included the City Council, Pittsfield Public Schools, some local businesses, and a group of local drag performers.  There were 25 units in the procession.

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.