Women of Color Giving Circle, Berkshire County Chapter of NAACP Graduates Recognition Event

03:08PM / Thursday, May 29, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires, in collaboration with the NAACP – Berkshire County Branch will host the 23rd annual Graduates Recognition Event at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at Berkshire Community College.

The event will be held in the Connector building.

The event, which is free and open to the public, recognizes Berkshire County high school graduates of African descent. Each student will receive a financial gift toward their academic pursuits. Additionally, graduates in attendance who are pursuing higher education and vocational/technical training will be eligible to receive additional stipend and scholarships from the sponsoring organizations.

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, Mayor Peter Marchetti of the city of Pittsfield, and Dennis Powell, president of the Berkshire County NAACP, will deliver greetings. The event emcee will be Mirabai Dyson, district legislative aide with the Office of Rep. Farley-Bouvier.

The event will feature a selection by Abby Percy, an alumna of the Rites of Passage and Empowerment (R.O.P.E.) Program, a dance performance by Youth Alive Dance Coach, Serina Saunders, and a poem recitation by Iyrielle Spratling-Keele, an ambassador in R.O.P.E.

The keynote speaker will be Shanique Rodriguez, Executive Director, Massachusetts Voter Table.

The Women of Color Giving Circle of the Berkshires works to build community, encourage youth development and educational success.

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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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