| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Housatonic Valley Association Awards Local Environmental Heroes | 08:12AM / Thursday, January 01, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Dec. 12, 2025, the nonprofit organization presented the Louis and Elaine Hecht Follow the Forest Award to Kathy Orlando of the Sheffield Land Trust and Grant Bogle of Tom's Hill and Miles Mountain at The Silo in New Milford, Conn. The award celebrates the legacy of longtime conservation leaders, HVA board member Lou Hecht and his wife Elaine. It recognizes individuals who embrace and advance a collaborative vision of protected, connected wildlife habitat in the spirit of HVA's model, which brings together diverse partners to accomplish a shared goal. A collaborative 0 Comments
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Licensing Board OKs Pittsfield Businesses AlterationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22PM / Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board OK'd alterations for several local businesses during its last meeting of the year on Monday.
This includes an amendment to the Berkshire Museum's entertainment license in advance of its reopening after capital improvements, a change of license category for Hot Plate Brewing Co., and a change of catering company for Berkshire Hills Country Club.
It's been a good year for Hot Plate, as they were nominated No. 3 in USA Today's list of "Best New Brewery," and can now serve all alcoholic beverages. Because of a new state law, businesses can trade an existing beer and wine license for an all-alcohol
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Berkshire Mall Owners Make New Offer to Dissolve Road DistrictBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:58PM / Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Berkshire Mall owners are now offering the town a $1.1 million payment to dissolve the Baker Hill Road District.
This was reported during last week's Select Board meeting, and a draft agreement is in the works that requires the board's approval to move forward. Chair Deborah Maynard explained that negotiations with JMJ Holdings have resulted in a revised proposal that drops the ask for a 10-year tax increment rebate.
"The town has engaged KP Law to draft a proposed settlement agreement that would require Select Board approval, but in order to protect the town, the Select Board would be looking for a certainty of a development
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Pittsfield Teachers Get Bereavement Leave for Pregnancy LossBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:12AM / Wednesday, December 31, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Public Schools educators can now use bereavement pay for a loss of pregnancy or a stillborn child.
On Dec. 10, the School Committee approved a memorandum of agreement with the United Educators of Pittsfield that allows the use of paid bereavement time for staff who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Teacher Emily Pink said educators had been denied the use of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss as a "qualifying loss," although the contract states that they are entitled to five days for the loss of an immediate family member, including children.
"I asked the School Committee to reconsider its interpretation
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Pittsfield Man Facing Charges in Hit-and-RunStaff Reports ,
07:57PM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man is facing charges in Vermont related to a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian. The Bennington (Vt.) Banner reports that Nelsin Martin, 21, is facing a felony charge in the May 8 incident. He could face up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty. The crash occurred on Route 7 near the intersection with Route 346 at about 6:38 a.m. A witness and video from a Pownal school bus indicated that two vehicles were driving south down the highway nearly side by side at an excessive speed. The witness said they appeared to be racing, according to the Banner. A third vehicle was mentioned by it was not clear if it was 0 Comments
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New Year's Eve Celebrations to Welcome 2026By Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
06:23PM / Tuesday, December 30, 2025 | |
 Welcome the New Year by celebrating with others at events marking the beginning of 2026, including live music, skiing, fireworks, and numerous parties. North Adams New Year's Eve Ball Drop
Center Street Parking Lot
Time: 8 p.m. North Adams rings in the New Year with its third annual ball drop, held earlier in the evening for the whole family to enjoy. Grab some of the swag and count down for the New Year at 8, then stay for refreshments. The ball is the creation of North Adams Sheet Metal. More information here. Steeple City Social New Year Party
5 Eagle St., North Adams
Time: 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Head over to Eagle Street after the ball drop in North Adams for cocktails,
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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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