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New Pittsfield Mural Unveiled in Reimagine Dunham Mall Effort

Emily Elizabeth Bunnel created at map of downtown Pittsfield displayed at Dunham Mall. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — During First Friday a new mosaic mural and Downtown Pittsfield map was unveiled with a ribbon cutting.

Artist Robert Markey designed three panels. The three different panels represent the river and mountains in Pittsfield, the second represents people dancing, and the third represents the center of the city.

Markey says he was shown photos of the city and also took photos himself before putting these together.

"The process is deciding what is important to show, and that's why those three panels, the river and the mountains behind and in the center of the city and the people, those were the three things that made sense," he said.

The murals were tasked to help beautify downtown Pittsfield, part of the Reimagine Dunham Mall effort. Markey hopes his murals make people happy.

"I want people to feel good. The whole point of art is to make people feel good. They'll see something, oh yeah, that's beautiful. They feel good when they see it," he said.

Since the murals were hung, Markey says the community has really liked it.

"When I finish something, you know, painting, sculpture, whatever, never quite know how people are going to respond to it, and people love it. And so that makes me feel so good that, oh, wow, they really like it,"  he said.

Right next to the murals, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. also unveiled a new Downtown Pittsfield map. The map was created by local artist Emily Elizabeth Bunnel. The map aims to highlight the walkability and major sites of the downtown area.

"I would hope that the map encourages more people to walk downtown Pittsfield and explore all of the sites and activities that are happening down here. I think pedestrian foot traffic really is the lifeblood of the town, and helps support local businesses," Bunnel said.

Both of these works are through the Reimagine Dunham Mall effort, which is aimed to support the area business, recreation, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield.  

This is made possible through a MassDevelopment grant, with a funding match by Pittsfield Beautiful and community donations.

Also added to help uplift Dunham Mall have been Heritage Birch trees to provide shade and natural habitats, smaller planters filled with colorful annuals, and seating.

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.