| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield's DPW Czar Talks Snow PlowingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Staffing shortages continue to stretch Pittsfield’s public works employees thin during winter storm events.
On Monday, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales updated the Public Works Committee on snow operations. Last winter, snow maintenance and winter overtime were overspent by nearly $1.2 million, and Pittsfield saw a total of 4.77 feet of snow.
"We place safety over everything else when we do the work we do, and one of those main things is to ensure that we have safe access for emergency vehicles. Then we consider equity, efficiency, and cost control," Morales explained.
"… We have to do the
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Taconic High Closed Wednesday for Cleanup| 07:16PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A sewer backup forced the closure of Taconic High School on Tuesday afternoon and canceled all afternoon activities and classes on Wednesday. According to a message sent to the school community by Principal Matthew Bishop, plumbers working at the school removed a drain cap at about 1:50 p.m., which allowed sewage to spill into the Career Technical Education hallway. Students were taken to the gym and auditorium, and then released from the building at about 2:25 p.m., a few minutes earlier than normal. The girls basketball team did meet at the school to take the bus to the game at Putnam Vocational in Springfield. Bishop had 0 Comments
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Lenox Facing Lawsuit Over Bullying ClaimsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:28PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
LENOX, Mass. — The town is being sued by a parent over bullying allegations at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School. A lawsuit filed Feb. 2 in U.S. District Court outlines why Matthew Lenehan claims he had to withdraw his daughter from the school because of ongoing bullying by another student, as well as the school nurse and a soccer coach. Leneham demands a trial by jury on three counts of negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the 14th Amendment (equal protection), in addition to one count against then Principal Jeremiah Ames, also for violation of the 14th Amendment. Ames was recently promoted to assistant 0 Comments
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Berkshire Museum: Ten Days of Play| 03:48PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ten Days of Play, Berkshire Museum's winter-break series, returns to Pittsfield in 2026 with a lineup of off-site activities hosted at community venues. This year's programs will take place at the Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire Community College, and Hancock Shaker Village, offering families from the Berkshires and beyond programming during winter break. This year's series will run Feb. 14–21. Berkshire Museum Programs Manager Sophia Holmes shared the following:
"Providing fun, educational experiences for young learners in our community is incredibly important to us while we're under renovation, and we're thrilled to 0 Comments
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Lanesborough Settles With Mall Owners to Dissolve Baker Hill Road DistrictBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:10PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board has decided it is time to say goodbye to the Baker Hill Road Road District.
On Monday, the Select Board unanimously approved a settlement with the Berkshire Mall's owners that pays the town $1.1 million for the dissolution of the district through a home-rule petition. This will require approval at town meeting and a special act of the Legislature. Owners JMJ Holdings will have to provide a signed development and purchase agreement 30 days before the town meeting.
"I think it's time. There's been a lot of controversy around this, and I think that we're at a point in time where the town needs this to be
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Berkshire Planning Expects to Hire New Director in MarchBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:22PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission received 10 interested applicants for the executive director position.
Thomas Matuszko plans to retire in March after decades of working with the organization. A search committee was established late last year to find his successor.
Lee delegate Buck Donovan reported on Thursday that the committee is working on time to get Matuszko enjoying his retirement and to be replaced by a "very qualified replacement."
"I think we're doing very well," he said.
BRPC received nine qualified applications so far for the position, which requires at least a decade of relevant planning
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BCArc Pilot Employment Program Receives State GrantBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A state grant will provide hands-on training in health care for a dozen Berkshire County Arc clients. The pilot employment program, the Health Care Initiative, is getting $80,000 through the state's Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities. The nonprofit is one of six organizations across the state to receive some $900,000 to help young adults with disabilities prepare for employment. The disability services and support organization has partnered with Sugar Hill and Craneville Place in Dalton to guide the trainees through a structured pathway to employment in the healthcare sector that is transferable to other healthcare 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Health Board Advises Outreach ProgramBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
10:20AM / Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health is advising against a public camping ordinance. Instead, it recommends an alternative community response program that connects unhoused individuals with resources.
On Wednesday, the board approved its recommendations for addressing housing insecurity in the city, which will go to the City Council on Tuesday. The controversial camping ordinance was sent to the health officials in September 2025, and they have determined it is not the best approach for Pittsfield.
After months of consideration and a visit to the Northampton Division of Community Care, they recommend piloting an alternative community response program with two
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Habitat for Humanity Selling Pittsfield Condos for $1,700/MonthBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:21PM / Monday, February 09, 2026 | |
The homes are being offered as condominiums with a homeowners association fee. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is selling two homes to income-eligible families who can afford about $1,700 per month.
On Friday, an open house was held for the newly built condominiums at 21 and 23 Murphy Place, and another will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 to noon. The each of the homes offers three bedrooms and one bathroom over 1,200 square feet.
Homebuyers services representative Chris LaPatin reported that there have been "quite a few" applications that are being reviewed.
The condos will be sold to families earning between 50 percent
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Local Production Workers Sought for Crewdson PhotoshootBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:05PM / Monday, February 09, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local talent is being sought for a production by world-renowned photographer Gregory Crewdson this spring.
On Friday, the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative of Western Massachusetts announced that Crewdson's team is seeking production assistants and production coordinators for a project in Pittsfield and North Adams in March and April.
The photographer is well known for his cinematic, staged photographs in post-industrial settings such as Berkshire County. Crewdson last shot in Pittsfield and Adams in 2021.
A posting from the film and media collaborative describes the project as a "large-scale, professional photography
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Berkshire Athenaeum Hires Social WorkerBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:22PM / Monday, February 09, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum now has a full-time social worker to meet community members' needs that go beyond books.
A few months ago, Gabriela Leon was hired as the first library social worker in Berkshire County. The position was created to address service gaps for unhoused people who frequent the library, located centrally on Wendell Avenue.
"I'm here to really just connect people with resources, be available," Leon told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
"My door is open to not just the unhoused population, to anyone in this library that may have a need, or a concern, or just need a space to talk and
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Pittsfield Plans School Transition Activities Ahead of RestructuringBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:23AM / Monday, February 09, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the district prepares to restructure its middle schools in the fall, administrators are considering transition activities that will best meet the needs of Pittsfield students.
Last week, the School Committee saw an update on the Pittsfield Public Schools' move to an upper elementary and junior high school model in September, with Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School.
Initial negotiation meetings were held with the Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association and the United Educators of Pittsfield, and the strategic scheduling process is underway. A scheduling consultant is
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