Pittsfield Dentist Named Among '10 Under Ten'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dr. Neha Das, a pediatric dentist, practicing in Pittsfield, has been recognized by the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS) as one of the  "10 Under Ten" for 2022. 
 
Established in 2005 by the MDS, the annual recognition highlights the diversity of new dentists in Massachusetts and their impact on the dental profession. 
 
To qualify, dentists must have graduated from dental school within the past ten years, be an MDS member, and made significant contributions to the profession, their community, and organized dentistry. 
 
"When I was a junior in college, I went back to my parents' hometown in India to do some volunteer work in a medical van; however, when I got there, I found out the physician I was supposed to be shadowing was out on maternity leave. They put me in a dental van instead, and I was fascinated. I loved the combination of science and art, and there was a true sense of grati­fication whenever we could help someone. When I got back home, I knew my plans had changed. I didn't want to be a physician anymore—I was going to become a dentist," Dr. Das said.
 
An At-Large Trustee with the MDS, Dr. Das is inspired by the work of the dentists active in the society and dedicated to the profession.
 
Currently, a resident of Lenox, Dr. Das earned her Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) and did her residency in pediatric dentistry at the University of California in San Francisco. She credits her husband and her colleague dental practice owner Dr. Lisa Gamache with helping her maintain a healthy work-life balance.
 
The dentists are featured in the Spring 2022 issue of the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society, and they were honored earlier this year at Yankee Dental Congress 2022. Yankee is New England's largest dental meeting and is presented by the MDS in cooperation with the dental societies of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

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Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building. 

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said. 

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board. 

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries. 

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use. 

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application. 

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