Reading and Tea at Arrowhead

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society (BCHS) welcomes author Kevin O'Hara to Herman Melville's historic home on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 pm for a special afternoon benefitting BCHS restoration, education, and preservation programs. 
 
The afternoon begins in Melville's study—where he wrote Moby-Dick inspired by his view of Mount Greylock—where O'Hara will read selections from his writing. Following the reading, guests can interact with the author while enjoying tea, hot toddies and an array of sweets. 
 
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org and selecting the events tab. Tickets for a live, on-line presentation of the readings are available for $35.
 
Kevin O'Hara, a retired R.N. following a 30-year career at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield is also the proud recipient of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Award. In addition, Kevin is a longtime contributing columnist for The Berkshire Eagle, and was Writer-in-Residence at Herman Melville's farmhouse, Arrowhead, in 2020. His books include "A Lucky Irish Lad," "The Last of the Donkey Pilgrims," "The Ins and Outs of a Locked Ward," and "A Christmas Journey."

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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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