Letter: February is American Heart Health Month

To the Editor:

February is American Heart Month — a great time to quit vaping, smoking or other nicotine products. Smoking can lead to narrowing blood vessels and high blood pressure; it is a leading cause of heart disease. Less is known about vaping's effect on the heart so quitting any nicotine use is a wise choice for your heart.

When you're ready to take the first step, 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669), the Massachusetts Quitline for tobacco/nicotine, is available for FREE support 24 hours each day, seven days a week to support you through quitting. No lectures. No judgments. Just support. You can connect with the Quitline online, too, at mass.gov/quitting.

1-800-QUIT-NOW offers you a FREE coach who is ready to support you. They'll help you develop a quit plan that works for you, identify triggers, plan out your day without nicotine and manage withdrawals. They'll offer email and text support to help you stay on track. In addition, 1-800-QUIT-NOW has a dedicated Spanish line (1-855-DEJELO-YA) and interpreter services available for 200 other languages so language doesn't need to be a barrier to getting support.

Joyce Brewer
Brewer manages the Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Program for the Berkshire Area Health Education Center.

One Injured in 4-Vehicle Crash on Dalton Avenue in Pittsfield

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
11:10PM / Saturday, May 18, 2024

The second car in the crash, a Subaru sedan, was also taken away by a wrecker. Two other vehicles were able to be driven away.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — One person was taken to Berkshire Medical Center following a multi-motor vehicle accident Saturday night at the Hubbard and Dalton avenues intersection. 

 

The crashes happened at 9:04 p.m. when a westbound Honda Accord on Dalton Avenue crossed the double yellow line, striking a Subaru sedan traveling east, causing it to spin out. 

 

An Audi sport utility vehicle collided with the Subaru, which was then rear-ended by a GMC Savana van. 

 

The operator of the Audi was taken to BMC with unknown injuries. The incident is still under investigation. 

 

The GMC Savana and Honda Accord were able to drive away from the scene and the Audi and the Subaru were towed away. 

 

The road was closed for about an hour.