Dalton Election Results Are Accurate

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The results of the annual election are not in question, Town Clerk Heather Hunt told iBerkshires, following rumors of nonresidents voting on May 12. 
 
"There's so many checks and balances that that would just never happen. I don't think that that happened. I'm not questioning the results of this election, not at all," Hunt said. 
 
The well-attended election resulted in Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo winning one of the two seats in the four-way race with 577 votes for the board, outpolling the other three candidates by 107 votes, and incumbent Marc Strout retaining his seat with 486. 
 
Hunt did confirm that a "handful" of non-Dalton residents attempted to vote during the election, believing that they were permitted to because they own a business in town, which did "feel a little bit unusual." 
 
However, immediately after entering the voting center, they were stopped by the experienced election workers, either in Precinct One or Precinct Two, who verified their names and addresses.
 
If a voter was not on the list, they were referred to the town clerk, warden, or assistant warden, who explained that one must vote where they reside. 
 
Hunt said the situations involving non-Dalton residents attempting to vote were resolved without incident following clarification.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street.  The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First. 

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said. 

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers. 

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center.  It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said. 

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it." 

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County. 

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle.  The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said. 

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