| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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OLLI at BCC Announces Winter 2026 Semester| 07:15AM / Monday, December 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College (OLLI at BCC) announced its Winter 2026 class catalogue, offering hundreds of courses, lectures, and events — online and in person — for adults seeking enrichment, connection, and community. Online registration is open at berkshireolli.org/winter2026. Each winter, OLLI brings together a learning community from across the Berkshires. In Winter 2026, members may choose from a variety of classes, spanning literature, history, science, arts, current events and even practical topics such as self-defense and hiking. Some highlights of the Winter 2026 0 Comments
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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Wahconah Park Demo, Ice RinkBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:26AM / Monday, December 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission has OKed the demolition of Wahconah Park and and the installation of a temporary ice rink on the property.
The property at 105 Wahconah St. has drawn attention for several years after the grandstand was deemed unsafe in 2022. Planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option, and the park's front lawn is seen as a great place to site the new pop-up ice skating rink while baseball is paused.
"From a higher level, the project's really two phases, and our goal is that phase one is this demolition phase, and we have a few goals that we want to meet as part of this step, and then the
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Berkshires Marks the Start of Hanukkah, Mourns Shooting VictimsBy Stephen Dravis & Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Monday, December 15, 2025 | |
Rabbi Rachel Barenblat and her son, Drew Zuckerman, prepare to light the menorah in North Adams. The brief ceremony can be watched here. LENOX, Mass. — At a community Hanukkah celebration at The Mount, Jewish Federation of the Berkshires President Arlene Schiff opened the festivities with a recognition of the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Australia and praise for a hero who helped stop the killing. Watch the lighting here. "We stand in solidarity with the Jews of Australia and other Jewish communities around the world who are lighting candles tonight, continuing Jewish life and tradition, standing proud in the face of hate," Schiff said. "And we 0 Comments
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Governor Announces Federal Heating Assistance Funding is Now Available| 04:20PM / Sunday, December 14, 2025 | |
BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey announced that the Trump Administration has released federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). After more than a month's delay, the federal funding was released, and all applications can now be processed, stated a press release. "For more than a month, President Trump has forced American families to wait in the cold," said Governor Healey. "As we hit cold winter weather, we are relieved that funds are finally flowing now, and families can apply for help heating their homes. Our team has worked to make this funding available immediately, because our families cannot afford to wait. 0 Comments
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BCC Announces Staff Members, Title Changes | 11:02AM / Sunday, December 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the addition of five new staff members and three title changes. New faculty/staff Meghan Bone joins BCC as Special Programs Coordinator, Bridge to College, bringing over a decade of experience leading college readiness programs for high school and first-year college students. Before joining the BCC team, she worked as the Eureka! Director at Girls Inc. of the Valley and as the STEM Starter Academy Director at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Outside of work, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, digging in her garden and making joyful drumming music. Andrew Liebenow 0 Comments
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Governor Launches Program to Support Students Returning to College | 07:54AM / Sunday, December 14, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a new pilot program to re-engage students who previously began, but did not complete, degrees and certificates at the state's public colleges and universities. There are more than 766,000 Massachusetts residents in the "Some College, No Credential" (SCNC) population. The effort is designed to bring greater economic opportunities to Massachusetts residents while boosting the state's workforce and competitiveness. The learner re-engagement initiative will include direct student outreach and coaching provided by ReUp Education during a one-year pilot. The six institutions taking part include
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Berkshire Humane Society Welcomes Two New Board Members| 03:57PM / Saturday, December 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lisa Sihvonen-Binder and Susan Tremblay joined the board of directors for Berkshire Humane Society at the nonprofit's annual meeting. Sihvonen-Binder brings management and grant-writing expertise to the board. She's operated a grant consulting practice since 2007, taught Grant Writing for Corporations & Foundations for Bay Path University for 13 years and is a member of the Grant Professionals Association. Her 34 years of professional experience also includes roles in communications and program management in nonprofit and corporate sectors. Sihvonen-Binder has edited several books for CharityChannel Press on nonprofit management and 0 Comments
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Most of Pittsfield School Committee Bids Farewell By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:02PM / Saturday, December 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will look much different after inauguration day, as Daniel Elias is the only member who will return.
On Wednesday, during the last meeting of the term, departing School Committee members shared their thanks and reflections on the state of education in Pittsfield. Sara Hathaway unsuccessfully ran for councilor at large, and Chair William Cameron, William Garrity, Diana Belair, and Dominick Sacco did not seek re-election.
"I always like to take this opportunity to say goodbye to the other members. Usually it's one or maybe two, never this many," Elias said.
He, Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Katherine Yon, Heather
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Eversource shares holiday efficiency and safety tips| 11:09AM / Saturday, December 13, 2025 | |
BOSTON — As homes and neighborhoods across Massachusetts light up for the holidays, Eversource is sharing simple ways customers can create a festive atmosphere while managing energy use, saving money and staying safe throughout the season. "From holiday lights and family gatherings to extra time spent cooking, this is a busy and joyful time of year," said Eversource Energy Efficiency Manager Bill Stack. "We want our customers to enjoy every bit of it without worrying about higher energy use or safety risks. A few easy steps—like using LEDs, setting timers and being mindful of how and when appliances are used—can help reduce energy usage, make bills more
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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of AmenitiesBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:20PM / Friday, December 12, 2025 | |
LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you. Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors. The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound. We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's. What do you
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Roots of Stories: A Bilingual Exhibition of Oral Histories| 03:59PM / Friday, December 12, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Manos Unidas Multicultural Educational Cooperative is announced the public unveiling of a new bilingual exhibit developed through a 2024 Mass Humanities "Expanding Stories: Advancing Equity" grant. Created in collaboration with the World and Eye Arts Center, a nonprofit based in the Pioneer Valley, this project brings to light narratives from Pittsfield residents whose voices are too often overlooked. Under the leadership of Creative Directors Jean Minuchin and Anaelisa Jacobson, a community-based team conducted interviews and creative workshops to gather authentic, lived experiences from diverse members of the Pittsfield community. 0 Comments
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Letter: Dalton Public Safety FacilityLetter to the Editor,
03:00PM / Friday, December 12, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
I must respond to the article: "Dalton Consultant to Assess Police Station" on 12/11/2025. I do not know why the town has never pursued the option of renovating Town Hall to accommodate the needs of the Police Department and improve access to town offices. There was $82,000 in ARP funds that could have already jump-started the process.
The following is my letter that iBerkshires published on 9/29/2025. This viable plan that I presented was tabled without any further discussion or consideration by the Select Board or by the Advisory Committee.
I would like to present a practical suggestion for the new Dalton Police Facility
as follows: Purchase the bank 0 Comments
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