'No Kings 2.0' Will Likely Draw Thousands to Berkshire County

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Rallies are planned across the nation on Oct. 18 to protest actions by the Trump administration. 

In Pittsfield, the No Kings 2.0 rally will be held at The Common from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and in North Adams City Hall from noon to 2. There will also be No Kings rallies on the same day in Dalton, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Lee, and Adams, and around the nation. 

The Parks Commission recently gave local organizer Robin O'Herin, of StandUp Berkshires! approval for the event at The Common. She explained that organizers are "totally committed to peaceful, joyful protest, and we won't tolerate anything else." 

"The last one that we did, we had at least 5,000 people, and The Common is the only place big enough," she explained. 

The event will include speakers, chants, and musical performances. O'Herin reported that U.S. Sen. Ed Markey's team said they would check his schedule to see if he can attend the event. 

There will also be a food drive and informational tables. 

"We want to reach people and create unity as opposed to divisiveness," O'Herin explained. 

The No Kings movement is protesting cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, health insurance costs, actions against higher education, science and health research, and the use of masked federal agents to conduct violent raids and deportations.

• Adams: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Common
• Bennington, Vt.: 10:30 to noon, Vermont State Office Building
• Dalton: 1 to 2 p.m., Dalton CRA sidewalk
• Lee: 9 to 11 a.m. at the library
• North Adams: noon to 2, City Hall
• Pittsfield: 2:30 to 5 p.m., the Common
• Stockbridge: 10 to 11:30 a.m., town offices
• West Stockbridge: noon to 1:30, Village Congregational Church

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.