image description — The new Dalton ambulance has arrived and now has to be customized with decals and lettering.

Dalton Fire District Ambulance Arrives

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
12:22PM / Saturday, February 08, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's new ambulance has arrived and is anticipated to be in service by March 1 as an Advanced Life Support unit.

The new apparatus arrived in basic white so still needs its decals and lettering put on and to be outfitted with supplies.

In December, district voters approved borrowing up to $350,000 to purchase a new ambulance and any related costs.

The district contracted RSI Signs in Pittsfield to complete the 2024 Ford F450 Road Rescue Ambulance decals.

The department is still using its 2019 Ford Econoline for calls until the new apparatus is ready to be put in service.

The Fire Department has two ambulances: a 2019 Ford Econoline and a 2016 International. During several meetings, it was demonstrated that both vehicles needed to be replaced because of their deteriorating condition.

The district will be trading in both vehicles. According to previous comments from the district, the Ford has a trade-in value of $30,000 and the International $2,500.

All the paperwork to trade in the vehicles has been completed, District Clerk and Treasurer Melanie Roucoulet said.

The district got a loan from Greenfield Co-op with a 4.75 interest rate, which could go down in following years.

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Berkshire Health System Blood Program Helps Shield County From National Shortage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
04:38AM / Wednesday, August 05, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The American Red Cross declared its second national blood supply crisis in its history on Monday, but community members can breathe easy thanks to Berkshire Health System's blood donor program.

Berkshire Medical System has always had a stationary donor center for autologous donations, which is no longer common practice, and had some O-negative blood on hand that it purchased from the Red Cross prior to having its own blood donor program, said Christine Amuso, blood donor coordinator.

Today, Berkshire Health System's blood donor program collects about 2,300 to 2,400 units of blood annually, all of which stays within Berkshire County to help keep local blood supplies stocked.

In some years, the program has reached record collections of about 3,000 units.

"That [record has] only happened a couple of times since I've been employed with the program. So, we really have done wonders with the program," Amuso said.

Donating blood through Berkshire Health System's program is accessible, with a donor center at the main campus and a mobile blood unit that travels throughout Berkshire County, including select Saturdays.

While appointments for blood donations are strongly encouraged, staff also intentionally leave scheduling gaps to accommodate additional donors who walk in without an appointment.

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