Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity offers Free Tax Assistance

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For more than a dozen years, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) has provided free income tax preparation to qualifying households through the IRS-supported Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
 
Services are available to households earning $69,000 or less, as well as individuals with disabilities and older adults.
 
All VITA volunteers complete extensive training and are IRS-certified. According to CBHFH CEO Carolyn Valli, the program's success is rooted in both volunteer commitment and community trust.
 
"Most of our volunteers return year after year to support this essential service for underserved residents of Berkshire County," said Valli. "More than 85 percent of our clients are returning clients, and much of the remaining 15 percent are new clients from South County whom we've recently been able to reach."
 
VITA services will begin Monday, January 26, with both drop-off options and scheduled appointments available to assist residents with their tax paperwork.
 
"Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we're fully prepared to support our clients throughout tax season," said Lynne Newton, CBHFH Community Navigator and VITA Program Coordinator. "We're here to help in whatever way best meets their needs."
 
CBHFH also offers language support, including Spanish interpretation by appointment, to ensure residents feel comfortable navigating IRS requirements.
 
"Tax time can be stressful," Newton added. "Having documents explained in your native language can make a meaningful difference and help ease anxiety."
 
Service Locations & Hours
 
Pittsfield –Appointments available at 314 Columbus Avenue and Federal Credit Union Community Space, 75
Kellogg St.
  • Mondays through Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
South County – Mason Library 231 Main Street, Great Barrington
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
MCLA - VITA tax preparation is also available by appointment only.
 
To schedule an appointment, call 413.442.3184.
 
For more information or to make an appointment at any location, residents can call 413.442.3184 or visit www.berkshirehabitat.org/VITA.
 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Crane Drops Challenge to Dalton Land Sale

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The sale of the land known as the Bardin property is no longer being challenged. 
 
Dicken Crane of Holiday Farm, the highest bidder on the property, withdrew his lawsuit and a citizen petition requesting the board award him the sale, recognizing that a reversal was unlikely after the deed had already been signed.
 
The Select Board's decision in December to sell the last 9.15 acres of land to Thomas and Esther Balardini, the third highest bidder, sparked outrage from several residents resulting in a heated meeting to sign the quitclaim deed. Crane was the highest bidder by $20,000.
 
The board swiftly had the deed signed on Dec. 22, following its initial vote on Nov. 10 to award the parcel to the Balardinis, despite citizen outcry against the decision during a meeting on Nov. 23.  
 
Crane claimed he wrote a letter to the board of his intention to appeal its decision. However, once the deed was signed a month later, it was too late for him to do anything. 
 
"My question is, why were they in such a hurry to push this through, even though there were many people asking, 'explain to us why this is in the best interest in the town,' when they really had no explanation," Crane said on Wednesday.
 
Litigation is expensive and the likelihood of success to get it changed once the deed was signed is minimal, he said. 
 
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