Guest Column: Thank You for Supporting BHS

By Darlene RodowiczGuest Column
01:31PM / Wednesday, December 27, 2023Print Story | Email Story

As we approach the close of 2023, I would like to share my sincere thanks with all of you — our patients, people, and community — for your ongoing support of Berkshire Health Systems as we strive to advance our mission of health and wellness for everyone in the Berkshires.

Reflecting on the past year, I am proud of the broad range of achievements that were made possible by the combined efforts of the BHS family — from adopting our Community Code of Conduct to provide a safe and healing care environment for all, to expanding access to care in working to reopen North Adams Regional Hospital, to being named Employer of the Year by the Massachusetts Business Roundtable/Workforce Solutions Group for our efforts to build the health-care workforce of the future.

These milestones are a testament to the incredible dedication of our employees and the importance of partnering with residents and organizations across the region to achieve shared goals for community well-being.

We know that our journey to advancing a healthier community is ongoing and that there are always ways we can improve. In the year ahead, I'm looking forward to tackling more projects that will support positive patient experiences at all of our facilities, continuing to develop a skilled local workforce, and partnering even more closely with our patients and our community organizations to help identify health-related social needs and reduce barriers to wellness.

On behalf of Berkshire Health Systems leadership, I would like to share our heartfelt gratitude to our BHS team for all that they do to advance the well-being of our community day after day, and our warmest wishes to the whole Berkshire community for a safe holiday season and a healthy new year.

Darlene Rodowicz is president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems.

Tags: BHS, BMC, guest column,

Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:41AM / Thursday, November 21, 2024

DALTON, Mass. — The town's engineers say there is still time to work through the Dalton Division Road project’s design and permitting process.

In December, the Select Board voted to advocate for Concept A, which would have sidewalks on both sides, a 5-foot bike lane in the road on both sides with a buffer, and a 2-foot painted buffer between the vehicle lane and in the bike lane. They also recommended the two-way stop control option.

Since that decision, there have been sentiments to revisit this decision to reduce the cost and improve safety at the intersection off Williams Street, Washington Mountain Road, and Mountain Road.

The original vote would have been the most expensive and "certainly not" the engineer or the state's "preferred design," Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a meeting in November.

During last week's Select Board meeting, Fuss & O'Neil project manager and senior traffic engineer Steve Savaria represented the options, explained potential obstacles, and demonstrated the next steps. Present board members have yet to vote on their final choice.

The project is still in the pre-25 percent design stage and is currently on the fiscal year 2029 Transportation Improvement Program list, so there is "plenty of time" to work out the details.

Since the original vote, some board members have shifted their opinion toward advocating for the most feasible and timely option with a "path of least resistance to get this project done."

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