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Dalton Holds Community Sessions on Public Safety Building

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — Since last August, public officials said the basement of the Town Hall is inadequate to house its police station, and now the town will demonstrate why through several community outreach initiatives. 
 

QR Code to Public Safety Facility Survey. More information at the bottom of the article. 
From tours of the deteriorating precinct, information sessions with the Public Safety Facility Committee, the development of a Facebook page, to a survey, the town is engaging the community to keep them informed of the situation and develop a solution. 
 
During numerous meetings, Police Chief Deanna Strout demonstrated the decaying condition of the current location of the department including mold, mice, water damage, plumbing issues, damage to cells, and more. 
 
For the last year, the committee has been coordinating the department, communication center, and town to determine the future of the department and communication center.  
 
Listed on the town website is a timeline and links to several documents including the indoor air quality report, air quality assessment, sewage backup, and the draft space needs assessment by the town’s consultant Jacunski Humes Architects LLC. 
 
Throughout August, the Public Safety Facility Committee will hold information sessions to provide community members with an update on its progress thus far. The first was held last Wednesday and the next on Monday at 1 p.m.
 
These sessions will include presentations on the current state of the department, a question-and-answer session, and a review of prior assessments of the station and possibilities for the future. 
 
Dates for the information sessions are as follows: 
  • Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Dalton Senior Center
  • Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Dalton Library
  • Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Dalton Senior Center

Community members can see first hand the state of the police station during tours of the precinct which will take place on: Tuesday, Aug. 19, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 23, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m

Additionally, citizens are asked to complete a survey, which will help the town understand residents’ priorities surrounding the proposed facility. 

The brief survey includes questions that rate the department and communication center’s level of service and explores residents' understanding of the station's needs. 
 
It also requests what information they require to make an informed decision about the proposed facility, their level of support for the facility, and the reasons behind their opinions.


Tags: community forum,   Dalton Police,   police station,   

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Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Holds Awards Banquet

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday honored outstanding contributors to the Berkshire County sports scene at its third annual Awards Dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
 
The foundation supports youth sports throughout the county each year.
 
In 2025-26, those donations totaled more than $30,000 to groups ranging from youth football and cheerleading programs, Pittsfield Little League, Northern Berkshire Softball and the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club Recreation Therapy Program, to name a few.
 
Funds raised by the foundation also go to support its annual Vera Barborotta Memorial Sportsman Scholarship, which this year went to Lee High School graduate Joey Abderhalden and Taconic grad Madeline Harrington.
 
Two other recently graduated high school standout athletes were recognized as winners of the Al Bianchi Memorial Athletes of the Year: Madison McCarthy and Cooper Calvert, both of Wahconah Regional High School.
 
Pittsfield High School girls basketball coach Kristy Conyers and Hoosac Valley boys basketball coach Matt Larabee received the foundation's Coach of the Year Awards.
 
John Castonguay received the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legend Award. A.J. Ziter took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. And Mark Moulton rounded out the honorees with the foundation's Volunteer of the Year Award.
 
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