| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Health Board Upholds Berkshire Pipe License RevocationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Thursday, January 08, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has lost another tobacco permit, and Berkshire Pipe and Tobacco was advised to find a different product to sell.
On Wednesday, the Board of Health reaffirmed its Dec. 3 decision to revoke the 17-year-old business's tobacco license, which has been suspended since March. While the shop owners were apologetic, the board upheld its decision because of repeated violations and a citation from the Department of Revenue for untaxed tobacco products.
"Unfortunately, you're in a situation where, having been given a number of chances to get off suspension, get off fines, you've gotten to the point where you're selling an
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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County Information Sessions| 11:11AM / Thursday, January 08, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County will be holding information sessions at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield on how to become a volunteer tutor for LVBC. Attend one of the sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at either 10:30 a.m. or 6:30 p .m. to learn more about the program and the steps to take to become a volunteer tutor. At the conclusion of the information session, interested parties can sign up for the next available tutor training, which starts on Feb. 2. 0 Comments
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State Fire Marshal Reminds Bars and Clubs of Sparkler Hazard| 10:39AM / Thursday, January 08, 2026 | |
STOW, Mass. — State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine today sent a notice to Massachusetts bars and restaurants regarding the fire hazard posed by sparklers, which are believed to have contributed to the tragic New Year's Eve fire that claimed dozens of lives in a Switzerland bar. "Please be advised that sparklers and other pyrotechnic devices, including so-called 'cold spark' pyrotechnics, are illegal for possession, sale, and use in Massachusetts without professional licensing, certification, and permitting," State Fire Marshal Davine wrote in a notice to proprietors of restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and discotheques. "This includes small sparklers that 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Launches A Public Survey| 08:05AM / Thursday, January 08, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield is seeking public input through a new community survey focused on community interaction and the use of technology specifically related to the Department of Public Works (DPW). The city is currently engaged in a project with the Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston designed to review DPW's current organizational structure and operations. Part of this process includes a review of the use of technology, especially public-facing tools such as PittSMART and the city's website www.pittsfieldma.gov. The project also focuses on overall communications and information sharing by DPW with members of 0 Comments
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Police, Civilian Injured in Hinsdale ShootingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:30PM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
HINSDALE, Mass. — Two police officers were injured and a civilian is in critical condition after a shooting late Wednesday morning not far from the police station. The civilian was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield; the officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries from what police describe as an isolated incident that poses no threat to the public. The Cheshire Police Department indicated the injured officers were Police Chief Shawn Boyne and Sgt. Dom Crupi in a post on Facebook stating "Our thoughts are with the Chief and Sergeant from Hinsdale and hoping for a speedy recovery." The investigation is being led by the State 0 Comments
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BHS Upgrades Respiratory Illness Alert to Moderate Level| 02:01PM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – As the Berkshire region experiences a heightened level of respiratory illnesses, Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has raised its Respiratory Illness Alert level to Yellow, or Moderate, triggering updated masking and visitation requirements, effective Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at 7 am. Respiratory illnesses are impacting a significant number of BHS patients, and the changes are being implemented to enhance safety for BHS staff, patients and visitors. Yellow signifies moderate activity and now requires masking for all BHS staff when in direct contact with patients. Any patients with symptoms should mask, and BHS asks that visitors who have any respiratory illness
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Pittsfield Begins Search for OPM to Lead Crosby/Conte ProjectBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:40PM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wheels are moving on the Crosby/Conte proposal.
On Tuesday, the School Building Needs Commission created a seven-member selection committee for an owner's project manager.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority, from which the district is seeking an 80 percent reimbursement, has invited Pittsfield Public Schools to a feasibility study phase, along with five other districts. On the table is a proposal to rebuild and consolidate the outdated John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.
Potential solutions will be studied, and a cost estimate and schedule will be laid out. According to a schedule
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Domestic Flock| 10:44AM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
DUKES COUNTY, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and its partner agencies safely depopulated and disposed of a backyard flock of chickens in Dukes County due to the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The affected birds exhibited clinical signs consistent with HPAI and tested positive for the disease. MDAR officials did not find any evidence of contaminated products that were distributed. MDAR is advising backyard and commercial poultry owners to practice strong biosecurity measures to prevent domestic poultry from having contact with wild birds since the HPAI virus is continuing to circulate in the wild bird population.
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BCC Respiratory Care Student Wins Brad Leidich Memorial Scholarship | 07:40AM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) student Marlena Pellon has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Brad Leidich Memorial Scholarship, with an award of $1,500. She is the first BCC student and the first in New England to win the prestigious award. The scholarship is presented to a first-generation student enrolled in an associate degree program in respiratory therapy. The winner has shown exemplary academic performance and has demonstrated a commitment to his or her career goals, as well as scholarly and community activities in respiratory care. "I am so humbled that I was chosen. It really made me reflect on my 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Mayor Reflects on Economic Development in 2025By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city welcomed more than a dozen new businesses in 2025 and granted support for further economic development.
During his State of the City Address on Monday, Mayor Peter Marchetti touted the professionals Pittsfield welcomed in 2025 and incentives for growing companies, including the allocation of $1.7 million in Pittsfield Economic Development Funds to four businesses.
"Attracting and remaining businesses has been the top priority in my administration, and we have been hard at work since the beginning. 2025 has been no exception," he said.
"Fourteen new businesses opened in 2025, including a new hotel, a coffee and gathering
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Marchetti Talks New Housing, New Approaches for 2026By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:27AM / Tuesday, January 06, 2026 | |
The mayor, halfway through his four-year term, is applauded after giving his State of the City address at Monday's reorganization of government. PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Housing insecurity sparked passionate conversations at City Hall in 2025. In 2026, some of that insecurity may be alleviated as Mayor Peter Marchetti expects new housing units to come online, along with partnerships to reach people in need. By 2027, 255 new housing units are anticipated from various developers. Pittsfield has supported several projects through tax incentives, grant funding, and American Rescue Plan Act monies. This includes 41 affordable units at 0 Comments
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BCC Invites Community Input on Library Renaming| 07:35AM / Tuesday, January 06, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is inviting students, alumni, employees, and community members to take part in the College's ongoing library renaming process. As a community-centered institution, BCC values broad input and encourages the public to help shape the future identity of this important campus space. As part of the process, BCC will host a virtual feedback session to gather community perspectives on a short list of proposed library names. Virtual Community Feedback Session Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026 Time: 5:00–6:00 p.m. Location: Zoom (registration 0 Comments
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