Market 32 Customers Donate Over 50K Food Bags to Local Pantries

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 customers donated over 50,000 pre-packed food bags to local food banks and pantries between Nov. 10, 2024, and Jan. 4, 2025. 
 
A total of 50,902 $10 food bags filled with essential items such as elbow macaroni, peanut butter, canned tuna, and kidney beans were collected to support neighbors in need.
 
Each store selected a local organization to benefit from the donations, helping address nutrition insecurity in their communities. The initiative, part of the chain's ongoing commitment to community support, directly impacted individuals facing hunger during the holiday season.
 
"The holiday season brings our blessings to mind but also reminds us that there are alarming numbers of people close to home experiencing nutrition insecurity," said Pam Cerrone, Market 32/Price Chopper director of community relations. "Local food banks and pantries are on the front lines assisting and rely on the generosity of community members. Market 32 and Price Chopper guests are most generous, and we are pleased to have joined with them to support local organizations and make a tangible difference in the lives of the people they serve through this collection."
 
 
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Dalton Sale of Bardin Property Challenged

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The sale of the last parcel of the land known as the Bardin property is being challenged. 
 
The town received four bids on the property: $30,000, $31,500, $51,000, and $51,510. Dicken Crane of Holiday Farm was the highest bidder at $51,510 but was not awarded the parcel. The 9.15-acre property is located off Route 9, right on the town line of Windsor. 
 
During a Select Board meeting on Nov. 10, the board awarded the final parcel to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels that were under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction for $150,000. A fourth lot is in the town of Windsor. 
 
The Balardinis were the third highest bidder with at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded it to them in an effort to keep the property intact.
 
Board member John Boyle's reasoning for the decision included how the family has proposed an agricultural development project and will allow public access to their land, including for hunting, and his concerns about rights-of-way issues.
 
"The property up there has already been purchased from the town by the Balardini family. They have been great stewards of the land which is what the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture looks for," he said. 
 
The final parcel is not under an APR. 
 
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