| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Prepares for Challenging Budget SeasonBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Friday, January 16, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — As the town embarks on a challenging budget season, the new town manager has already put forth cost mitigation options. It has been demonstrated by both the Finance Committee and Town Manager Eric Anderson that this budget season will be full of obstacles and tough decisions. During the Select Board meeting on Monday night, Anderson explained that the town is going to be very close to its levy limit with the increases in the school district budget, health-care costs, and cost-of-living increase for employees. Health insurance costs are projected to increase roughly 16 to 18 percent for next year, which will be a "big hit" to 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Accepts Grant for Domestic Violence ServicesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43PM / Thursday, January 15, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department received more than $66,000 from the state to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in collaboration with the Elizabeth Freeman Center.
On Tuesday, the City Council accepted a $66,826.52 Violence Against Women's Act STOP Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The longtime Civilian Advocate Program is described as "the critical bridge between victims and law enforcement."
"The Civilian Advocate Program brings law enforcement and victim services together to reach survivors sooner and respond more effectively to domestic violence, sexual assault,
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Wahconah Park Grandstand Cost Halved to $15MBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, January 15, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The price tag for Wahconah Park's new grandstand has been cut in half, and planners are looking at a "less is more" approach that is sustainable for the future.
In 2023, the park's restoration committee recommended a $30.2 million overhaul of the historic grandstand that was condemned the previous year. Now, the city is considering an approximately $15 million, smaller design within the same footprint, along with a staged approach that allows baseball to be played before the project is complete.
"There's some real, practical changes that we're making, which we think will still meet the spirit and intent of what
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Holiday Hours: Martin Luther King Jr. Day| 10:58AM / Thursday, January 15, 2026 | |
The Rev. King waves to the hundreds of thousands gathered on the Washington Mall in 1963 when he gave the 'I Have a Dream' speech. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is being celebrated Monday, Jan. 19. It is a federal holiday to commemorate the birthday of the civil rights activist born Jan. 15, 1929. It is observed on the third Monday in January.
King, a Baptist minister, led the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s by espousing nonviolent protest. His best-known address, the "I Have a Dream" speech, was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to a crowd of 250,000 who participated in the March on Washington. The 1964 Nobel Prize winner was
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No Drought Conditions in Berkshire County| 10:37AM / Thursday, January 15, 2026 | |
BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Central and Northeast Regions have worsened to a Level 2–Significant Drought while normal conditions remain unchanged in the Western, Connecticut River Valley, and Cape Cod Regions. Conditions also declined in nearly all other regions, moving the Southeast Region to a Level–1 Mild Drought and the Millers River Basin to a Level 3-Critical Drought. In the Islands Region, Dukes County has returned to Normal Conditions, and Nantucket County has moved to a Level 3–Critical Drought. Drought is a look back at conditions over a period of time. The Drought 0 Comments
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Pittsfield ARPA Funds Have Year-End Expiration DateBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:20AM / Thursday, January 15, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — American Rescue Fund Act monies must be spent by the end of the year, and Pittsfield is already close.
In 2021, the city was awarded a historic amount of money — $40,602,779 — in federal remediation funds for the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the end of September 2025, more than $37 million had been expended, and 90 percent of the 84 awarded projects were complete.
Special Project Manager Gina Armstrong updated the City Council on the ARPA funds during its first meeting of the new term on Tuesday.
As of September 2025, the $4.7 million allocated for public health and COVID-19 response has been fully expended. Additionally,
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Lanesborough Winterfest Returns, Work Planned for Route 7By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town's winter festival will return, and the state plans to repave more than half mile of Route 7.
Town Administrator Gina Dario delivered several town updates during Monday's Select Board meeting. The second annual Winter Fun Fest hosted by the Community Development Committee is on Sunday, Feb. 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at The Venue at Skyline.
There will be food, kids' activities, a coffee and hot cocoa bar, a cash bar, and music by Lance Entertainment. The Community Development Committee launched the winter festival last year as a way to get people together the snow season. It is a smaller version of Lanesborough Day, which is held
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Pittsfield Man Facing Drug, Assault Charges| 11:47AM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was taken into custody on Tuesday evening after allegedly threatening others in his North Street apartment. Ixander Pereira, 22, was arrested after police say they discovered bags of material "consistent" with heroin on his person. Pereira was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm) and possession of a class A substance (heroin) and is expected to be arraigned in Pittsfield District Court today. No firearm was recovered. Police responded a call about an "unwanted subject" in the 500 block of North Street at approximately 6:34 p.m. The responding officers were told 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation Elects New Leadership | 10:58AM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC) elected a new President and Vice President at its Annual Meeting on Dec. 12. Longtime President, Jay Anderson stepped down after more than 20 years of service. PERC Board members elected former Vice President Mark McKenna as his replacement, and elected Mike Willson as the new Vice President. PERC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community development corporation that assists small businesses in Pittsfield. Leveraging State and Federal funds, PERC offers Technical Assistance Grants, Small Business Loans, Consulting, and access to other resources throughout Berkshire County. Its Board of 0 Comments
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BMC Awarded Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement| 07:55AM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization's commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. "Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care," said Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and 0 Comments
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Lanesborough Farm Appealing Short-Term Rental ProhibitionBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Are short-term rentals permitted in Lanesborough? That question has sparked debate following a cease-and-desist sent to Second Drop Farm, the new keepers of the historic Bradley Farm, for using its farmhouse as on Airbnb. The farm's owners have appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which is holding a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Town Hall. The Airbnb is an important part of the farm's services, especially in the winter season, because it helps keep the farm sustainable, said Samantha Phillips, one of the farm's owners. "We're not growing anything other than 0 Comments
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2026 Point in Time Count on Jan. 25By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:52PM / Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Point in Time count, which measures people experiencing homelessness, will occur on Sunday, Jan. 25, and the Three County Continuum of Care stresses that every survey matters. Earlier this month, the CoC's data and evaluations manager Michele LaFleur and compliance manager Natalie Burtzos reviewed past data with the Homelessness Advisory Committee and discussed planning for this year's count. LaFleur described the PIT count as "our attempt to try and determine how many people are experiencing homelessness on a single night." Each year, it has to be conducted within the last 10 days of January. In January 0 Comments
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