Berkshire Carousel Reopening June 14

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Wednesday, May 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Carousel will spin again this summer, powered by a nonprofit organization.

Last week, Berkshire Carousel Inc. announced the ride's grand opening on June 14th at noon. The carousel, located at 50 Center St., has not operated since 2018 was picked up by volunteers earlier this year.

Aside from carousel rides, the grand opening will feature games, food, and the unveiling of some renovations.

"Operating hours for the 2025 season are 12-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays," Janet Crawford of Berkshire Carousel Inc. wrote in a press release.

"A newly renovated patio will be open featuring food vendors, picnic tables and yard games. The
Carousel Cart will feature brand new t-shirt designs for children and adults."

On May 24, sponsors and supporters can get early access during a preview party.

The Berkshire Carousel opened to enthusiastic fans in 2016 but has not operated since 2018 after leadership and funding fell apart.

For more than a decade, hundreds of volunteers hand-carved and painted each element of the carousel. The horses and carriages feature images of people from the community as well as areas and scenery of the county, and other unique designs.

Late last year, James Shulman and his wife, Jackie, started an effort to gift it back to his hometown. It was offered to the city through a conveyance and donation of property, estimated to cost about $61,000 annually to run and bring in the same amount of money.

The City Council decided that the proposal needed more community input, with mixed reviews from officials and residents. Concerns included possible financial liabilities if the city took it on and the carousel's location but supporters argued that the city needs more recreational activities to bring people in.

Based on a recommendation from the finance subcommittee, the council then voted to form a committee to study the proposal, but that became null when the offer was withdrawn early this year.

Shulman worked with the friends of the carousel group on other operational plans, as when volunteers learned that the ride could be revived, they began working with the Berkshire Carousel Inc., a 501c3 not for profit organization., to offer an opportunity for it to be run "By the people who love it most.

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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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