|
| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Weekend Outlook: Farmers' Markets, Polish DinnersBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:56PM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
 Berkshire County will be offering a variety of indoor and outdoor events this warm cloudy weekends including a dance party, comedy night, festivals, play reading, and museum activities. Williamstown Farmers Market Spring Street, Williamstown A sure sign of warmer days ahead is the opening of local farmers' markets. Williamstown's opens Saturday from 9 to 1 in the parking lot on the lower end of Spring Street. This year the market will feature new and returning vendors, including a fish monger, knife sharpener, baker, chef, and much more. Along with vendors, many new and returning musicians will perform and there will be 0 Comments
Read More >> |
@theMarket: Look Out for a Bounce in the Stock MarketBy Bill Schmick,
03:37PM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
 The bears are prowling the corroders of Wall Street. No one questions that, but rallies in downtrends can be breath-taking. Look for one of those short covering relief rallies in the coming week. Do I know that will happen? Of course not, but when we get as oversold as we are now, the chances are high. If we do bounce in a relief rally it would trace out the first up to the center of my "W" pattern. The bounce won't last long, maybe for a few days or, at best, next week. And then down again. For those readers who may be hoping that at some point we will resume the bull markets of the last decade, give up that notion. I fully expect another low that may match or 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Flushing of Pittsfield's Water System Week 4| 02:10PM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Monday, May 16 marks the final week for the flushing of the city of Pittsfield's water system. Water mains throughout the city will be flushed to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The upcoming flushing for this week may be expected to affect the following areas: Cascade and Churchill streets. West Street from Fort Hill west including Meadow Ridge Drive, Lillybrook Road, and Westbrook Terrace. Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Three-Plus Alarm Dalton Structure Fire Destroys Unoccupied HomeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:29PM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — A three-plus alarm structure fire at 92 Central Ave. nearly burnt an unoccupied single-family home that was under renovation down to its frame. It also spread to two surrounding homes. The flames were contained in a couple of hours with the help of other fire departments and responders are still on the scene in the overhaul stage.
There were no reported injuries and the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal. There is currently no cause or origin. The Fire Department received the call at 5:15 a.m. on Friday reporting smoke coming from the building. Fire Chief James Peltier arrived on the scene and observed heavy fire showing from the righthand
0 Comments
Read More >> |
1Berkshire Launches Facade Improvement Micro-Grant Program| 08:10AM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire announced the launch of a pilot micro-grant program to support downtown business facade improvements throughout the region going into the summer season of 2022. Funded through a one-time grant received by 1Berkshire, at least 30 micro-grants ranging from between $500 and $1,000 will be made available to small for-profit and non-profit businesses and organizations located in downtown business districts across the Berkshires. "When we think of ways to help our small business community shine, and how to make our downtowns more attractive to the thousands of visitors coming to the region, these types of micro-capital injections 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Taxicab Commission Reconvenes to Address Taxi OrdinanceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The re-constituted Taxicab Commission met Wednesday for the first time in more than a decade. The panel elected Senior Center Director James Clark as chair and Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky as vice chair and outlined its immediate priorities: to address a rate increase request from County Rainbow Taxi and take a look at the city's ordinance for taxis and other vehicles for hire.
The ordinance states that the commission regulates the operation of taxis in the city and annually on Dec. 1, it should recommend to the City Council and mayor changes in authorized fees and rates established by the ordinance. The taxicab rate is capped at $2.50 and at 30 cents
1 Comment
Read More >> |
The Retired Investor: Roe v. Wade Versus Corporate AmericaBy Bill Schmick,
04:21PM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
 The impending Supreme Court decision to strike down Roe v. Wade will have enormous ramifications for American corporations. Legal issues, user data privacy practices, and workforce challenges will prove impossible to ignore. Businesses of all kinds face the following facts: most Americans (53 percent), according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, believe the Supreme Court is wrong and that the court should uphold the landmark ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. Only 28 percent believe it should be overturned. Nonetheless, if the Supreme Court hands down its expected decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, 13 states have trigger laws banning abortion 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Berkshire County Under Normal Drought Conditions| 11:55AM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
 BOSTON — During the past several months, the Commonwealth has experienced irregular rainfall events, contributing to less than average spring precipitation numbers; however, the southeastern of the state has been most impacted. This has not substantially impacted the rest of the state and all other regions of the state (Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Western, Cape Cod regions) remain in Level 0-Normal conditions. "With forecasts showing below normal rainfalls with elevated temperatures, it's important that we all administer water conservation practices early in the year to minimize stress on our water supply systems and natural 16 Comments
Read More >> |
Tyer Proposes $189M Pittsfield Budget, Up $10MBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The mayor is proposing a nearly $189 million budget for fiscal 2023 that is about $10 million higher than the this year's $179 million budget. Mayor Linda Tyer's request to raise and appropriate $188,589,144 for the FY23 operating budget was referred to the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.
Departmental deliberations will begin next week on Tuesday, May 17, with a public hearing on the budget and five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which was made available to the public on Tuesday.
The budget proposal includes $242,784 for the mayor's office, $109,262 for the City Council, $9,138,800 for the Fire Department, $11,927,437 for the Police Department,
1 Comment
Read More >> |
Making the Loop | We had some free time this week to walk the 2-mile loop through the downtown. Here's a few of things that caught our eye. (In between taking photos, we were heel-toeing and arm-pumping as prescribed.)
 |
>> Read More |
Let's Go Paperless | This is from Ward 6 Councilor John Krol's eblast today. His switch to digital immediately caught our attention. With the associated costs - nearly $4,000 a year for paper alone! - zipping councilors "the packet" (as we in the know like to call it) over the ether makes loads of sense.
Digital also means the average citizen gets far better access to these public documents than ever before. The city clerk's office has been diligent about posting meeting agendas and, where possible, relevant documents. So in terms of saving money and time and getting information out efficiently, digital is the way to go.
I would like to thank City Clerk Linda Tyer for agreeing to print out one less city council packet, as I have officially gone paperless for council meetings - which I hope will be a trend that can be extended throughout city government.
 The bulky (and often, very bulky) city council packet that councilors use for a reference costs an average of $170 per meeting for paper alone. Add the additional costs of ink/toner, wear and tear on city hall copiers, and the time and energy of staff who put it all together - and a simple transition away from paper benefits everyone.
With the packet now fully digital in pdf form, all councilors, and everyone with an internet
|
>> Read More |
Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
.jpg)
January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
>> Read More |
|
|
MEMBER SIGN IN
