Nominations Open For BCC's 40 Under Forty Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces nominations are now open for its annual 40 Under Forty awards, which will be held Thursday, March 26, 2026.  
 
To make a nomination, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/40-under-forty. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
 
40 Under Forty is an annual celebration of talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. 
 
Nominees are eligible for this award through:  
  • Their professional work and how it makes a difference; or 
  • Their personal commitment to their community; or 
  • Other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires. 
Mill Town Foundation will provide each 40 Under Forty Award winner with the opportunity to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization.
 
The event is made possible by sponsorships from 1Berkshire, Mill Town Foundation, and Berkshire Community College Foundation. All proceeds from this year's 40 Under Forty event support workforce programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment. 
 
For more information, email 40under40@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2185. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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