image description — Superintendent of Schools Leslie Blake-Davis presents the award to Logan Kunde at last week's School Committee meeting.

Wahconah Senior Presented 2024 Superintendents Award

05:32PM / Tuesday, December 17, 2024Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Wahconah Regional High School senior Logan Kunde has been presented with the Superintendents' Award.

Central Berkshire Regional Superintendent of Schools Leslie Blake-Davis made the award at last week's School Committee meeting.

Kunde earned the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence Award for achieving high academic standing at Wahconah.

"I am so very proud of Logan's achievements and it is an honor to present him with this award," said Blake-Davis, adding he has consistently demonstrated high academic performance, as exemplified by his grade average of 101.42.

Kunde was inducted into the National Honor Society during his junior year due to his high academic standing and commitment to the National Honor Society's pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. His favorite subjects are science and math, and as such, he plans to pursue a degree in chemical engineering.

He has applied to Rensselaer (N.Y.) Polytechnic Institute and the University of Connecticut.

He has volunteered in delivering town reports for Dalton, setting up flags for Memorial Day, assisting with the May Day Races, installing a ramp at St. Agnes' Church, and renovating a gazebo on the high school's grounds as part of his Eagle Scout criteria. He's also held several leadership positions in the Boy Scouts organization, including patrol leader and assistant patrol leader. Kunde has been an active member of the school's swim and cross-country teams. He also participates in the quiz team, particularly enjoying its pizza dinners, and the Cultural Connections Club.

Kunde has received several awards and recognition including the Evening of Excellence Awards in mock trial, music, physical education, French, science, social studies, math, and English, and the Harvard Book Award.

Tags: academic award, Wahconah,

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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.

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