BCC's EMT Training Course Fills Need in Berkshire County

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports that of the 13 students who completed its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, nine took the required psychomotor test, and all nine passed the exam. 
 
Once they pass the written exam, they will be ready for immediate employment as EMTs in Berkshire County, filling an urgent workforce need. 
 
EMTs work alongside paramedics to help assess injuries, provide emergency medical care and transfer patients to medical facilities. A psychomotor test measures proficiency in hands-on skills, including patient assessment and management, ventilatory assistance, oxygen administration, cardiac arrest management and spinal immobilization. 
 
Christine Isca, a paramedic with 25 years of experience who is the training supervisor and instructor coordinator for County Ambulance Service, noted that if all nine students complete the certification process, it would be enough to supply north, south and central Berkshire with three new EMTs each. Isca is the instructor for BCC's EMT training courses. 
 
The EMT program, part of BCC's Workforce Development and Community Education department, conducts both in-person training in Pittsfield and virtual training in Great Barrington and North Adams. The program prepares students for the National Registry of Medical Technicians practical and cognitive testing. Upon completion of the program and successful certification with the National Registry of EMTs, students can apply for certification by the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services. 
 
Tiffany Moreno, Instructional Program Manager: Health & Social Services at BCC, said the EMT program is "a great reflection of community partnership and BCC's ability to meet the needs of the community as a whole." This success, Moreno said, directly aligns with 1Berkshire's Berkshire Blueprint 2.0, which aims to support economic development across the region — specifically, the healthcare cluster, which employs more than 11,000 people and represents a substantial portion of the county's jobs. 
 

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Dalton Division Road Project in Pre-25 Percent Design Stage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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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