Hancock Shaker Village: Thanksgiving on the Farm

• Turkey Walk & Talk - Looking for a great way to get out of the house or an activity for visiting guests and family? Gobble up nature and escape the hectic pace of the holiday with a peaceful guided walk on our one-mile Farm & Forest Trail. The walk ends in the barnyard where you can visit the iconic Round Stone Barn and say hello to the farm animals. Included in admission and FREE to members.
  • Friday, Nov. 29, 11am
  • Saturday, Nov. 30, 11am
• Shop & Sip – Avoid the crowds on Black Friday, enjoy a sip of wine or cider, and the experience the ease of shopping at the Shaker Mercantile, a unique store celebrating the region's best artisan makers and handcrafted gifts, including items made at the Village by our own blacksmiths and woodworkers. (Admission to the Village is NOT required to shop at the store.)
  • Friday, November 29, 11am – 4pm
• Member Discount Days - Members enjoy a DOUBLE discount (20 percent instead of 10 percent) in the Shaker Mercantile. It's a great time to shop for gifts! (Some exclusions may apply). Included in admission and FREE to members.
  • Friday, Nov. 29 - Sunday, Dec. 1, 11am – 4pm
• Grateful Shaker Supper – Experience a memorable communal meal in the historical 1830 Brick Dwelling and dine where the Shakers ate their daily meals for over 100 years. Savor a delicious fall harvest meal prepared by Woodlife Kitchen chef Peter Belmonte and soak up the history of the iconic building. Prior to dinner, enjoy a cocktail and a special Shaker music program performed in the Meeting Room of the Brick Dwelling. More information on the menu and tickets can be found at hancockshakervillage.org/events.
  • Saturday, Nov. 30, 6pm

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.