| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Public Safety Advisory Committee Down to 3By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:53PM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Advisory Committee is down to three members. The five-member committee was established last June to examine all the options for a new police station or combined public safety facility, with the goal to have a recommendation to the Select Board by this December. The committee was established after Police Chief Deanna Strout demonstrated to the board the dire condition of the facility that is unable to meet state requirements. The condition of the facility has been worsening as the town explores its options. During a recent Select Board meeting, the deadline was pushed to April, following recent confusion on next 0 Comments
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Local Experts to Host Forum on Artificial Intelligence at BCC| 08:50AM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape how we live, work, and learn, many are left wondering what these changes actually mean for their daily lives. To address these questions, Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host "AI: Benefits, Challenges, and Possibilities" on Jan. 21, 2026, at 6:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public. This in-person event, held on campus in the Koussevitzky Arts Center in room K-111, brings together two distinct voices in the field of AI and communication for an open, informative discussion designed for the "curious and the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield 2025 Year in ReviewBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:37AM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city continued to grapple with homelessness in 2025 while seeing a glimmer of hope in upcoming supportive housing projects. The Berkshire Carousel also began spinning again over the summer with a new patio and volunteer effort behind it. The ride has been closed since 2018. Founders James Shulman and his wife, Jackie, offered it to the city through a conveyance and donation of property, which was met with some hesitation before it was withdrawn. Now, a group of more than 50 volunteers learned everything from running the ride to detailing the horses, and it is run by nonprofit Berkshire Carousel Inc., with the Shulmans supporting
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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective HopeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city. The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.
"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared
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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources| 10:15AM / Monday, December 29, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures. Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC). "Our seasonal communities are a vital 0 Comments
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Bill Sturgeon's 'Morning Drive' Finale Set for Jan. 6| 07:54AM / Monday, December 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — WTBR-FM, Pittsfield Community Radio, will broadcast a special live "Morning Drive" radio program on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 a.m. to celebrate seven years on the air at the Pittsfield Community Television facility. The station moved to PCTV from Taconic High School in 2018 and had its inaugural broadcast from the new studios in January 2019. The special broadcast will also mark the retirement of the morning program's longtime host, Bill Sturgeon. Sturgeon, a broadcast veteran and well-known personality in the community, has volunteered his time hosting the hour-long weekdays broadcast prior to the station's move, and continued
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Central Berkshire Navigating AI in Education By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:59AM / Monday, December 29, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is researching artificial intelligence in education to inform future policy and practice. "Our ultimate goal is to at least to have some common expectations that we can rally around first," Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said at December's School Committee meeting. In September, Robb established an AI ad hoc committee made up of teachers, a student, the IT director, and a School Committee member. The committee has been trying to meet twice a month, he said. It is charged with researching the challenges and opportunities AI presents in education to help the district 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Commission OKs Demo of MultifamiliesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:05PM / Saturday, December 27, 2025 | |
The city was hoping to have this blighted house on Fourth Street demolished by year's end. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Disrepaired houses at 154 Francis Ave. and 224 Fourth St. will be demolished as part of the city's yearly efforts to address condemned properties.
The Historical Commission earlier this month OK'd the demolition of the two multifamily homes built in the 1800s, and continued the decision to raze the former home of Fannie Cooper, Price Memorial A.M.E Zion Church's founder.
"If we can pause and see the inside to see if it's really too far gone, but also to let people be a little more aware that it belonged to a legend," Chair
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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction By Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025 | |
Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children. Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own. "I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I 0 Comments
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Sunny, Charming Home in PittsfieldBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
04:54PM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for a charming home with sun-filled rooms and curb appeal? Then this might be the home for you. Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Northumberland Road. This house was built in 1900 and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It is 3,008 square feet on 0.44 acres, and is on the market for $549,000. It sits on a quiet, tree-lined avenue and has plenty of curb appeal with its welcoming front porch. It boasts a grand fireplace in the formal living room, a sunlit dining room, updated bathrooms and a third-floor common space between two of the bedrooms. The
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@theMarket: Santa Is on the RoofBy Bill Schmick,
02:57PM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
For those who have been wondering whether the Santa Claus Rally would occur this year, it appears that Santa is already on the roof. The stock market gained almost all of this holiday-shortened week on lighter volume. Can we expect the same next week? Normally, investors can expect gains of 1-2 percent between now and the end of the first week in January. Markets were closed early on Wednesday and reopened on Friday. Six straight days of gains were a good start with the S&P 500 Index hitting a new record high. I have advised readers not to put too much credence in these gains. The upward pressure on stocks stems more from global fund flows than from anything specific to 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans DispensaryBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:57PM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway.
The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building.
"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board
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