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Veterans Richard Kurek, left, Ron Rousseau, Skip Hoskeer, and master of ceremonies Tyrone Belanger participate in Saturday's Pearl Harbor observances at South Street Memorial Park.
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The memorial included a tree lighting at the park.
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Pittsfield Remembers Pearl Harbor on Snowy Saturday

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Skip Hoskeer, left, and master of ceremonies Tyrone Belanger salute at Saturday's Pearl Harbor observances.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Veterans and community members paid tribute during Saturday's snowfall to those lost at Pearl Harbor.

Eighty-three years ago on Dec. 7, Japanese planes struck the naval base and airfield at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and sparked the nation's entrance into World War II. Every year, the Berkshire Veterans Coalition and the city remember those who lost their lives during the attack with a ceremony and tree lighting at the Veterans Memorial Park.

Master of ceremonies Tyrone Belanger thanked the crowd of more than 30 people for coming out in the weather.  

"Today, observance is for those men and women who made the supreme sacrifice on fateful Sunday, December 7, 1941," veteran Ron Rousseau said.

"Approximately 80 service personnel from Berkshire County were stationed at Pearl Harbor on that day. During this horrific battle, two men from Berkshire County were killed."

The attack claimed the lives of more than 2,400 Americans including two Pittsfield residents: Petty Officer 3rd Class Roman Sadlowski and Army Air Forces 1st Sgt. Edward Burns.

The 18-year-old Sadlowski was an electrician's mate when he died on the USS Oklahoma, which was struck by multiple Japanese torpedoes and sunk. He is immortalized with an honorary plaque at the South Street park.

His unidentified remains were interred for decades in the Punchbowl, which is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, until four years ago when they were identified through DNA comparisons with extended family members. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia in 2022. 

Burns, also a Pittsfield native, was 24 years old when he was severely wounded in the attack and died several days later. He was attached to a squadron that had arrived in Hawaii only two days before the attack and was the first soldier killed from his station at Wheeler Field on Oahu. He is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Skip Hoskeer read President Franklin D. Roosevelt's request for a declaration of war given at the Capitol on Dec. 8, 1941; Richard Kurek gave the opening prayer, and Joseph DiFilippo played taps. All the men are veterans.

Veteran Robert "Doc" Miller illuminated the park's tree and the Dalton American Legion Post 155 Honor Guard conducted the rifle volley.

Below are the names of county residents who were present or killed at Pearl Harbor.

Michael Baranuk
Louis D. Barnes
Joseph Baroli
Harold Bence
Gladys Beniel
Charles Berry
John J. Bilodeau
Joseph Bulwinkle
Edward Burns (killed)
Robert C. Burt
Woodford R. Chapman
John Curley
Charles Curone
Francis Deambrogio


James W. Drain
George F. Drosehn
Charles Filkins
William S. Fitch
Phillip Gallant
Roger Hall
Benjamin Handerek
James Houldsworth
Ronald Hunter
George Kiligas
Joseph Kozak
John W. Kross
Richard D. Lassor
Robert Mickle
Francis Moore
Paul L. Moran
Thomas O'neil
Joseph Phillips
George Pike
Raymond Przpelski
Hugh Quirk
Leo O. Rondeau
Roman Sadlowski (killed)
Lauriele I. St. Jacoues
Louis J. Scully Jr.
Edward F. Shea
Edward Siwik
Chester Stocklosa
John Temple
Raymond Trczinka
Frank Winne
Willis Worth


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Friday Front Porch Feature: Allendale Pines North

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for an inexpensive home to raise your family in? Then this might be the home for you. And if not, there's a couple other options.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week we are showcasing model homes at Allendale Pines North.

Teton Management is opening its new manufactured housing development next Allendale Pines at 395 Cheshire Road, and has three different model homes to choose from.

The Monroe with a full porch and with a half-porch, and The Aspire are available to move into in March. 

All the models have three bedrooms and two baths in 1,280 square feet, and include two parking spaces. The Monroe full-porch is on the market for $194,900, Monroe half-porch $189,900, and The Aspire for $204,900. View a video tour here.

The lot rent is $550 a month and it includes trash removal and recycling, as well as water and sewer. Tenants are responsible for their own utilities and lawn care/snow removal. Dogs and cats are allowed, for up to two pets.

We spoke with Val Whaling from Teton Management about the new homes.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

The three models — Monroe Full- Porch, Monroe Half -Porch, and The Aspire — are Titan Home products manufactured by Champion Homes and stand out in the current market because:

  • The purchase price of these homes is well below current market rate single-family homes in Berkshire County.

  • The 5 Star Energy-Efficient rating (featuring energy-efficient windows and high- performance insulation) and one-year warranty on the home, sets these homes apart from older, stick-built homes.

  • These homes are built to strict HUD standards and include structural integrity in order to meet federal standards for durability, safety and wind resistance.

Are there any stand-out design features? 

Stand out features include: open concept floorplan, covered porches, stainless steel appliances, large laundry room /mudrooms, and large glass walk-in showers.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

First time homebuyers/ professionals preferring home ownership vs. renting, empty nesters wanting to downsize, and cost-conscious individuals preferring the affordability of these homes.

What's the neighborhood like? 

Allendale Pines North will be comprised of 22 brand-new homes, on individual lots, set on beautiful property, neighboring the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The property is located at 395 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, offering proximity to retail shopping and dining. Additionally, Allendale Pines North property is well managed by a reputable owner/operator. (All adult community residents are approved via community application approval process.).

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space? 

"Imagine the cost savings of owning a brand-new, energy-efficient home, easy to maintain and allowing the convenience of modern day and easy living, in a quiet, well-managed community."

What does the home come with? 

Included are: Stainless steel Whirlpool appliances (refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, and gas stove/oven), and closets equipped with shelf/hanging rod. Plus an 8-by-10-foot Amish built shed, two wooden entrance stairs with wooden handrails and black wrought iron spindles, two-car driveway, sidewalks and brand-new water/sewer infrastructure.

You can find out more about these homes on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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