1Berkshire Trendsetter Award Nominations Open

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 1Berkshire 2025 Berkshire Trendsetter Award nominations are now open. 
 
These Awards will be presented at the annual Celebrate the Berkshires event. In addition, the honorary Putting the Berkshires on the Map award winner will be announced at this event.
 
"We are happy to announce the Trendsetter Awards are back for the 12th year. These awards allow us to shine a light on the exceptional individuals and businesses in our community," said 1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler. "To date, 1Berkshires has given out over 65 of these Awards and we can not wait to give out six more this year." 
 
The six Trendsetter categories are: Driving Visitor Engagement, Advancing Our Economy, Nonprofit Collaborator, Under 40 Change-Maker, Visionary of the Year, and Breaking the Mold. 
 
1Berkshire encourages any and all businesses as well as individuals to self-nominate or to nominate others that are doing great work.
 
The deadline to nominate is Thursday, June 12, 2025. Nominees do not have to be members of 1Berkshire.

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Pittsfield Company Fined for Asbestos Violations

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has issued a $17,400 penalty to Pittsfield-based Barile Environmental Inc. for asbestos violations that occurred during abatement services at an office building located at 23 Lewis Ave. in Great Barrington.  
 
MassDEP discovered the violations during inspections of the office building in October 2025. Barile failed to follow appropriate asbestos work practices and controls during its asbestos abatement activities at the building site. MassDEP inspections of the facility revealed that Barile personnel were removing asbestos-containing siding in violation of state asbestos regulations.  
 
"MassDEP enforces asbestos regulations so that management of asbestos-containing materials is completed safely," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. "This consent order requires payment of a substantial penalty and could have been avoided if the proper work practices were followed." 
 
Following MassDEP's order, Barile has completed the required cleanup actions and must pay $14,000 of the $17,400 penalty to resolve the violations. The balance of the penalty is suspended pending compliance with the remaining administrative terms of the order.  
 
Property owners or contractors with questions about asbestos-containing materials, notification requirements, proper removal, handling, packaging, storage, and disposal procedures, or MassDEP asbestos regulations are encouraged to contact the appropriate MassDEP Regional Office for assistance.  
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