Fundraiser For Local Family Awaiting Heart Transplant

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Running Foundation will be hosting a fundraiser on Friday, April 4th from 4pm-10pm to help support the family of AJ Riello, son of Tony and Heidi Riello of Pittsfield.  
 
AJ is currently at Boston Children's Hospital undergoing treatment for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that had only recently shown symptoms. AJ is now awaiting a heart transplant. 
 
The fundraiser will be open to the public in the Tavern at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, Benedict Rd in Pittsfield, MA from 4pm -10pm.  The event will have raffles with prizes from local businesses, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction; in addition to a sold-out Music Bingo game from 6pm-8pm in the ballroom.
 
Prizes can be donated for the raffle and donations can be made by contacting Shiobbean Lemme, the executive director of the Berkshire Running Foundation by emailing her at director@berkshirerun.org.  
 
Raffle tickets can also be purchased in person at Berkshire Running Center any time before the event. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win, prizes will be held for 30 days and then donated to the family.
 
Bracelets to support the family are also available for $5 each at Berkshire Running Center, Rocco's North End Barber Shop and Kileen, Quinn and Arace PC in Pittsfield
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Holiday Inn Remains Closed from Broken Elevator

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It has been almost three weeks since broken elevators temporarily closed the Holiday Inn & Suites, and the hotel is still working to meet code compliance. 

The hotel at 1 West Street has been closed since Sept. 25, after its last working elevator of three broke down. The 101 Restaurant & Bar, located within the Holiday Inn, also has temporarily shut its doors while repairs are ongoing. 

The day of the shutdown had emergency personnel carrying people who use mobility devices down stairs. 

“We were called there a couple of Fridays ago. There was no working elevator. There were EMTs and the fire department there, and they were getting over half a dozen people down the stairs that were in wheelchairs and walkers,” Building Commissioner Rian Dowd told iBerkshires on Wednesday. 

“So with the no working elevators, we shut the building down.”

The central downtown, 12-story hotel has nearly 180 guest rooms. Massachusetts requires public multi-level buildings and facilities to have elevator access. 

Dowd said the Holiday Inn is still working with the elevator company and state inspectors to be certified and reopen. They were told to provide the City of Pittsfield with a timeline, work orders, and contracts from repairs so that everyone can be on the same page and the hotel can open as quickly as possible, she said. 

“We have not heard anything from them yet this week,” she reported. 

iBerkshires’ attempts to reach a representative from the Holiday Inn were unsuccessful. 

There were no passengers in the elevator when it stopped working; how it broke was not disclosed. 

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