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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Sales of Nip Bottles Could Be Banned in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:52AM / Wednesday, May 04, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City officials are considering nixing nip bottles. The 50 millilitre bottles of alcohol are not returnable and often can't be recycled because of their tiny size. And they are a frequent component of litter along the streets. Local attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo III, who successfully initiated the single-use plastic bag ban, is petitioning the City Council to ban the sale of nips. The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee on Monday referred the petition to City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta so that he can review it and give feedback at next month’s meeting.
"I hereby petition the Pittsfield City Council to ban the sale of alcoholic
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Democratic Primary Will Determine Race for DA| 08:50PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
LEE, Mass. — The Democratic primary will determine the next district attorney after the lone candidate running independently dropped out on Tuesday. Robert D. Sullivan Jr., a former assistant district attorney, did not file to run by Tuesday's deadline. Instead, he posted on his campaign Facebook page his decision to withdraw and back Timothy Shugrue. "From day one, I have made it clear that this campaign is not about me," the Lee attorney wrote in his statement. "It isn't about a headline, my resume, politics or power. It was about ending the failed experiment that currently exists and restoring skill and training to the chief 0 Comments
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Dalton Votes to Endorse Fair Share Amendment By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:45PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Thirty-four voters made the decision Monday night for the town to endorse the Fair Share Amendment, a statewide November ballot initiative that would add a surtax of 4 percent on earned income above $1 million. The article, which passed 34-13, came at near the end of a 3 1/2 hour town meeting that attracted fewer than 100 voters. The amendment is projected to bring in $2 billion annually to fund education and transportation needs. Dalton became the latest community to support the amendment, which was recommended by the Select Board. Both Pittsfield and North Adams City Councils and School Committees have voted to endorse it and it's 0 Comments
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Jewish Federation of the Berkshires' Dignity Drive| 04:02PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will accept new, Packaged menstrual and incontinence products from May 5 through May 31. Volunteers from the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will be collecting the donations on a weekly basis and organizing them to be distributed through local food banks and social services organizations across the region. Products will be given to neighbors in need and can be donated here: The Berkshire Food Co-op (34 Bridge Street, Great Barrington) Concepts of Art (65 Church Street, Lenox) Jewish Federation of the Berkshires (196 South Street, Pittsfield) Williams College Bookstore (81 Spring Street, 0 Comments
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Women's Run, Community 5K Returns on Mother's DayCommunity submission,
01:55PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Berkshire Running Center and MountainOne are sponsoring the 45th running of the Women’s Running Race and Community 5K on Sunday at BCC. Historically held on Mother’s Day, this event makes the claim of being the longest held all female running event in the country. The event will be returning in person after a long hiatus with three races, all of which will raise funds for the Elizabeth Freeman Center. “MountainOne is pleased to support the amazing work of both the Berkshire Running Center and the Elizabeth Freeman Center, not to mention honoring all of the wonderful women in our community,” MountainOne Vice President of 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Education Foundation's 'Food for Thought' Features BBQBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:29PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
PEF volunteers will continue the curbside delivery offered last year during the 'Food for Thought' fundraiser. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Education Foundation is again offering "Food for Thought" as a way to raise funds to expand educational opportunities in the Pittsfield Public Schools. The foundation hopes to exceed last year's goal of $10,000. The non-profit has partnered with Smokey Diva's at 239 Onota St. creating dinners that cost $46 to $54 per box. Participants will have a choice of a BBQ Box and a Vegetarian Box prepared by the Smokey Diva's owner Lorraine Jones. All orders have to be placed 0 Comments
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Community Bancorp of the Berkshires Announces a Year of Strong Financial Performance| 12:04PM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
 ADAMS, Mass. — The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the newly formed parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 13, 2022, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams. The meeting included a review of the 2021 financial statements for the Bank, highlighting record-breaking growth in assets, loans, deposits, and net income. Charles O'Brien, President and CEO of Adams Community Bank, presented an overview of the year's strong results during his remarks. "Adams Community Bank reached record levels in many key areas including growth in assets, loans, and deposits to $891 million, $663 million, 1 Comment
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Pittsfield Council Subcommittee Supports Police Body CamerasBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:03AM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The subcommittee on Ordinances and Rules is in support of body cameras on the city's police officers. On Monday, the panel unanimously voted to endorse the Pittsfield Police Department obtaining and implementing body and dashboard cameras with appropriate policy, recognizing the role that such equipment can play in accountability.
The motion was made on a petition from local attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo III that he created after Miguel Estrella was shot and killed by police in late March.
A preliminary investigation by the Pittsfield Police Department has found the responding officers to have been in compliance with established guidelines for use of
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Dalton Passes Budgets, ADU Bylaw But Rejects Drive-ThroughsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:41AM / Tuesday, May 03, 2022 | |
The 3 1/2-hour town meeting was sparsely attended, with barely 100 voters showing up. DALTON, Mass. — An amended accessory dwelling bylaw passed narrowly at Monday's town meeting but a measure to allow more drive-throughs failed. Fewer than 100 voters attended the nearly 3 1/2 hour annual town meeting at Wahconah Regional High School. Approved with little discussion was a town budget of $19,963,774, an increase of 2.2 percent over this year, and an assessment to the Central Berkshire Regional School District of $10,183,947, up 2.3 percent, that includes operating costs of $8,521,913, transportation at $363,721, and capital costs of 21 Comments
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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.)
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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
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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.
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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 |
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