MassHousing Hosting First Time Homeowner Event

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BOSTON — The office of State Senator Paul Mark, working closely in association with MassHousing, will be hosting a virtual event for first-time homeowners on: April 23, 2024, from 6:00pm-6:45pm. 
 
The event will be an informational session for first-time homeowners, meant to provide resources and materials for next steps, mortgages, and first-time buyer educational courses.
 
The link to sign up for this event can be found here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvdO-qqDwjHdw9sSf928HDPJYwJdw2DtHB
 
Senator Mark's Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District consists of 57 municipalities in western Massachusetts. He is the chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development; the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets; and the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation.
 
MassHousing is an independent, quasi-public agency charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Ex-Miss Hall's Teacher Indicted on Rape Charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A former Miss Hall's School teacher accused of sexually assaulting students at the girls' school has been indicted by a Berkshire grand jury.
 
Matthew Rutledge, 63, was indicted on Tuesday on three counts of rape following testimony provided by Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon, former students.
 
Pittsfield Police opened an investigation into Rutledge in 2024. Rutledge was alleged to have sexually assaulted students while serving as a teacher at Miss Hall's School dating back to the 1990s. In October 2024, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office announced that there were no charges able to be brought forward at that time; however, the office kept the investigation open. 
 
In late fall 2024, Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue took over the investigation, then tasked a team of special prosecutors and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit, including resources from the Unresolved Cases Unit, to continue investigating the allegations.
 
In 2025, a summary of a report authored by Aleta Law Firm was released to the public. The report, which was commissioned by the Miss Hall's Board of Trustees, consisted of numerous interviews examining the school's culture. The report detailed a pervasive and chronic pattern of inappropriate staff conduct.
 
Using information gathered by both the DA's Office and the Aleta report, the team of special prosecutors say they found Rutledge to have violated state law. 
 
"It took a long time to get to Tuesday's indictment. I commend the prosecutors and detectives who worked tirelessly to bring this case forward," said Shugrue in a statement. "Most of all, I would like to recognize and commend Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon for their bravery and continued cooperation throughout this long, arduous process. 
 
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