Wahconah Names Valedictorian and Salutatorian for 2025

03:10PM / Friday, May 30, 2025Print Story | Email Story

DALTON, Mass. — Logan D. Kunde and Thomas A. Celentano have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the 2025 graduating class at Wahconah Regional High School.

Both students will speak at graduation ceremonies on Sunday, June 1, at 1 p.m. in the school gymnasium.

Kunde is the son of Jeremiah and Amanda Kunde, both of Dalton. While at Wahconah, Logan's academic program included Honors and Advanced Placement coursework. He is active in Wahconah's athletic program, participating in the cross country running team and swim team, of which he was captain. He is a Boy Scout with Dalton's Troop 4 and a senior patrol leader. Through his work on multiple service projects, he earned the highest rank attainable — Eagle Scout — in 2025. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Quiz Team and the Cultural Connections Club, and plays percussionin the high school band.

He is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Music Award, the John and Abigail Adams Award, and the Superintendent's Academic Excellence Award.

Kunde also received the Rensselaer Medal from the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Polytechnic Institute, which he plans to attend in the fall to study chemical engineering.

Celentano is the son of David and Anna Celentano, both of Dalton. He pursued an Honors and Advanced Placement curriculum at Wahconah and has been active in the many service projects sponsored by the National Honor Society. He is the Class of 2025 treasurer, a member of the Wahconah Student Council and Quiz Team and the Dalton Youth Advisory Board, and serves as a lector for St. Agnes' Parish.

He also is a member of Boy Scouts Troop 4, earning his Eagle Scout rank in 2025, and was selected as a student representative to attend the 2024 Massachusetts American Legion Boys State Conference.

Celentano received the Clarkson University High School Leadership Award and the Cornell Club of the Berkshires Outstanding Junior Award. He has been recognized with several schoolwide awards including AP Scholar designation, and is a John and Abigail Adams Award recipient.

Celentano will attend the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in the fall and plans to major in physics.

Tags: graduation 2025, val & sal, WRHS,

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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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