|
| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Governor Declares Fire Prevention Week in Massachusetts| 03:11PM / Wednesday, October 09, 2024 | |
STOW, Mass. —Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has declared Oct. 6-12 as Fire Prevention Week in Massachusetts, joining in the nation's longest-running public health observance and urging residents to install, test, and maintain smoke alarms on every level of their homes. Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871. This year's theme is "Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You." "Smoke alarms are your first line of defense against a fire at home," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, who noted that only about half of the 31 residential fire deaths in
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Council Rejects 5-Minute Public CommentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:17PM / Wednesday, October 09, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Public comment will remain limited to three minutes.
The City Council on Tuesday rejected Daniel Miraglia's request to change the open-mic public comment period at council meetings from three to five minutes when 20 or fewer speakers sign up.
It failed 0-8, with two councilors absent and one who left before the vote. The councilors urged constituents to contact them instead so that matters could be dealt with outside of the podium in council chambers, where conversation is one-sided.
"I think it's a much better way to communicate with us through a phone call or an email or even if you see us out somewhere to talk about an issue on a deeper level
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Ambulance Committee Evaluates Vehicle OptionsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Wednesday, October 09, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District ambulance committee is evaluating different options and timelines to determine the most feasible way of replacing its ambulances. The station has two ambulances — a 2016 International and a 2019 Ford 50. In September, it was reported that the International had been out of service for the last month because of brake issues. The International is back and running; however, the new Ambulance Director Morgan McDonough decided to have it operate as a Basic Life Support ambulance to save money on narcotics and staffing, interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat said during last week's Board of Water Commissioners 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Berkshire Schools Awarded CPPI Grants | 10:45AM / Tuesday, October 08, 2024 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that 30 school districts in partnership with community-based preschool programs are receiving $20.3 million in Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grants to support their continued efforts to expand access to high-quality affordable preschool. In Berkshire County: Pittsfield Public Schools was awarded $250,000 North Adams Public Schools was awarded $316,000 Hoosac Valley Regional School District was awarded $1,000,000 Universal access to preschool is part of Governor Maura Healey's Gateway to Pre-k agenda to make early education and child care more affordable and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Nursing Graduates Achieve Perfect Pass Rate for Licensure Exam | 08:07AM / Tuesday, October 08, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports that all 28 of its May 2024 Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) graduates had a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) exam. NCLEX uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology to deliver the exam, ensuring a valid and reliable measurement of nursing competence. The passing standard for the NCLEX is the cut point at which the minimum ability is determined to require safe and effective practice nursing at the entry level. BCC's Practical Nurse (PN) program was recently ranked number one in Massachusetts and number one in the United States for its 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Special Town Meeting Set WednesdayBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Tuesday, October 08, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — A special town meeting will be held at Nessacus Regional Middle School this Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. to vote on four articles. The first article requests that voters approve decreasing the fiscal year debt exclusion line item by $48,668. Article 2 requests the transfer of $350,000 from capital stabilization to cover the cost of the final engineering and construction of the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system for the Town Hall's main floor and the police station in its basement. "We don't have an actual preliminary cost for this [yet.] We're still waiting for some assessments and some information from the 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Holiday Inn Express Seeks Further TIF ExtensionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13AM / Tuesday, October 08, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The COVID-19 pandemic's effect on construction costs continues to delay an upcoming Holiday Inn Express.
On Tuesday's City Council agenda is a request to amend a tax increment financing agreement between the city and Somnath LLC, initially approved in 2021. The company is seeking a second two-year extension because of higher construction costs, supply chain disruptions, and the need to secure additional financing.
"Remember, all these businesses that get a TIF pay taxes and in the case of this hotel, once they're open there will be hotel, motel taxes that the city will be receiving as well," Mayor Peter Marchetti said on his biweekly
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Schools See Fewer Cell Phone ViolationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Monday, October 07, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The updated cell phone regulations continue to show progress at Pittsfield schools. There were 416 log entries for violations towards the end of September while in September 2023, there were almost 1,000. This is attributed to a recently updated policy that imposes clear consequences for unauthorized cell phone use.
"Unless something really bad happens in the next four days with cell phone Armageddon, we're probably going to be well under, in terms of log entries, where we were last year at this time," Matthew Bishop, interim assistant superintendent of instruction, assessment, education, and engagement, said.
"Which is just
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Public Health Advisory for Pontoosuc Lake| 10:40AM / Monday, October 07, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Recent observations on Oct. 4 results have confirmed the presence of a blue-green algae bloom at Pontoosuc Lake that may present harmful health effects for users of the lake. Accordingly, and as recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a public health advisory is being issued. Waterbody poses risk for people and pets. • Do not swim. • Do not swallow water. • Keep animals away. • Rinse off after contact with water. Warning signs are being posted around the lake. Blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, occur naturally in lakes and ponds throughout Massachusetts. These microscopic organisms 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Bulky Waste Collection Updates| 07:53AM / Monday, October 07, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield participates in a bulky waste collection program for items that are not collected in regular trash pickup. With the new toter system in place, the bulky waste collection program continues with a change in when items are picked up. Starting this month, pick up of bulky waste items, that have a paid sticker, will occur during the first full week of the month for January, February, March, April, September, October and November. For the months of May, June, July and December, bulky waste pick up will occur during the first full week and third full week of the month. Pickup occurs during the designated weeks on your 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Water Board Eyes EMS Regionalization StudyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Monday, October 07, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Water Commissioners will consider participating in a Central Berkshire and the Hill Towns Emergency Medical Services regionalization study during a future meeting. During last week's meeting, resident Thomas Irwin presented the board with an opportunity to participate in an EMS regionalization study, which would be fully funded by the state and would not commit the district to any future changes, he said. The study would provide information and be a "very helpful guide" to the future of EMS services. "There's a push statewide to support regionalization of EMS services because it's not financially 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Governor Announces Firefighter Safety Grant Opportunity| 11:50AM / Sunday, October 06, 2024 | |
STOW, Mass.—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that up to $5 million in grant funding is available to support the purchase of firefighter turnout gear, fire suppression equipment, and related items through the FY25 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program. The competitive grant program, which is administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety & Security and the Department of Fire Services, reimburses local fire departments for the purchase of qualifying safety equipment. Departments of every city, town, fire district, and eligible state authority may apply for a grant. Maximum funding amounts are based on the size of the population the department 0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
MEMBER SIGN IN
