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,

Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:55AM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.

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