News at New England Security Center

September 15, 2006
Pretty Paws Saved From Fire
By Benning W. De La Mater, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Berkshire Eagle

PITTSFIELD — A private alarm company is being credited with saving a pet grooming business from burning to the ground, fire officials say.

The Pittsfield Fire Department received a call at 5:12 a.m. yesterday from New England Security alerting firefighters to a smoke alarm at Pretty Paws at 370 Pecks Road.

When firefighters arrived, they saw smoke seeping out of the eaves, said Deputy Chief Keith Phillips.

“They found the fire burning in the back of the building,” he said. “It took some work to get at it, though.”

Firefighters had to cut up the floors and walls to find the fire’s origin. It took several minutes to locate it, and they eventually discovered flames in a back bathroom area.

The building, located next to Porter Plaza, is owned by Christopher Porter. The flames spread to Porter’s storage area next to the grooming business, and both units suffered smoke damage.

Kathy Kazura and her husband, Al, rent from Porter and have owned Pretty Paws for 10 years. Kazura said when they moved into the building, the previous tenant was using New England Security, so they decided to stick with it.

“We owe it to them,” Kazura said. “We’re very thankful.”

Pretty Paws grooms between 10 and 15 dogs each day, and Kazura said she is hopeful the business can be up and running within a few days.

Phillips said he believes if it hadn’t been for the alarm company, the building might have burned to the ground.

“At that time in the morning, no one would’ve seen it,” he said. “They made a good save.”

February 15, 2005
Exclusive Closed Closed Cuicuit Television System (CCTV) Offered
New England Dynamark Security Center, protecting the Berkshires for 27 years, would like to offer you an exclusive Closed Circuit Television System designed specifically for the Hotel/Motel industry. ...more

April 16, 2004
Kathryn Mickle of New England Security Center As Panelist in Berkshire County Women's Conference

PITTSFIELD — Tina Packer, founder and president of Shakespeare & Company, will be the keynote speaker for this year’s Berkshire County Business Women’s Conference, ‘Women and Power,’ at the Country Club of Pittsfield on Friday, April 16, from 9 to noon.

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, the conference will explore the manner in which today’s women assume and exert power and authority. In her address, Packer will discuss her ambivalence with the concept of power as she rose from the ranks of performer in England to become one of the leading experts on Shakespeare and theater arts.

Following the address, a panel of area business and civic leaders will lead a discussion outlining their attitudes and observations on women and the use of power. Panelists will include Ruth P. Blodgett, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Kathryn Mickle and Susan Mongue.

Blodgett is the senior vice president of system planning and program development for Berkshire Health Systems in Pittsfield. Prior to assuming this position, she served as chief operating officer and senior vice president at Berkshire Medical Center and held various positions with Boston area hospitals. She serves on numerous community boards and committees including Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Community College, Hancock Shaker Village and the Colonial Theatre restoration project.

Farley-Bouvier, co-founder of WHEN (Women Helping Empower Neighborhoods), is a councilor-at-large for Pittsfield. Elected in 2003, she serves on the ordinance and rules, finance and public buildings subcommittees and is the liaison to the School Committee. Most recently she was the regional coordinator for the Young Adults with Learning disabilities project.

Mickle is founder and owner of New England Dynamark Security Center of Pittsfield, which provides security equipment and monitoring to area homes and businesses. She served on the national advisory board of the franchise before establishing an independent operation in 1977. She is secretary for the board of the Mass Systems Contractors Association. She is a past chairwoman of the board for the Central Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Mongue, senior management counselor for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, will facilitate the discussion and networking sessions. The program is co-sponsored by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Banknorth Massachusetts, Berkshire Bank, Hoosac Bank and Legacy Banks.