Letter: Walker Prioritizes Building Better Lives

To the editor:

We don't get a Corey Walker every generation.

This Pittsfield native shows that she springs back up when she gets knocked down and hits the ground running! Opportunity was scarce for her before affordable Berkshire Community College: she continues to tirelessly make and share lemonade with it. She makes the Dean's list every single semester. She juggles college, two jobs, and activism so that those after her won't have to.

She has the proven record of fighting for our neighbors' rights. Having worked at the city's Water Department has already taught her how to work with people to get things done.

She brings something to the council that we need! A mental health professional in this crisis. A college student when our students lack representation. Someone involved in the conversations around affordable housing. Someone whose means are reflective of Ward 2's median income, when all of our other council and candidates have wealth or dual incomes.

Ephraim Schwartz
Pittsfield, Mass.

Ephraim Alexander Schwartz is chairman of the Campaign to Elect Corey Walker.

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.