| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources| 10:54AM / 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). The Affordable Homes 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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Pittsfield Christmas Tree Pickup Schedule| 11:15AM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Sure, it's only the day after Christmas, but you do have to figure out how long to keep that tree up. If you have an artificial one, take your time. If you have a real one, you can have it hauled away in the New Year if you live in Pittsfield. Casella will be picking up Christmas trees until the week of Jan. 26. Residents are asked to place their tree at the curbside for their designated pickup day, and Casella will collect them based on the schedule below: • Week of Jan. 5: trees will be collected for Monday and Friday routes • Week of Jan. 12: trees will be collected for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday routes • 0 Comments
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Dalton Officials Work to Improve E-Bike SafetyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:59AM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The warmer months have come to an end but town officials are exploring how to ensure safety with the rise of electric bikes for next season. According to an incident breakdown provided by the Police Department, between the beginning of July and the end of November, there were 33 complaints regarding e-bike usage; these included one accident, one motor vehicle stop, and nine conversations. Police Chief Deanna Strout explained that a majority of the incidents are with youth who do not have a driver's license, which makes enforcement difficult because citations have to be tied to a license. "We're just worried that there's going 0 Comments
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Westside Legends Detail Underway Housing ProjectsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Friday, December 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Westside Legends has several housing projects underway through a home ownership program that aims to buy back the neighborhood.
The nonprofit's President Tony Jackson and Treasurer Marvin Purry detailed its attainable housing efforts that were partially funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. The nonprofit has a mortgage program and buy-back program for refurbished West Side homes, as well as other initiatives in the pipeline.
"We intend to sell, with all our houses, under market so somebody can get in there and enjoy the perks of home ownership," Perry told the Affordable Housing Trust recently.
"Our little
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The Retired Investor: Auto IRAs Can Help Workers Save More Money for RetirementBy Bill Schmick,
04:12PM / Thursday, December 25, 2025 | |
In 2025, more than 1 million workers saved $2 billion-plus toward retirement through state-sponsored automated savings plans. Now, legislation introduced by a Massachusetts congressman would expand this program nationwide. Could this help solve the American savings crisis? It is well known that American workers are not saving enough for retirement. Almost half of Americans have no retirement savings at all, according to recent surveys by AARP and Gallup. Low-income and older households are most at risk. Dependence on a bankrupt Social Security system is not the answer. Congressman Richard Neal, a Democrat and a ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, reintroduced the 0 Comments
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