| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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The Retired Investor: Cruises are in and not just for Baby BoomersBy Bill Schmick,
04:06PM / Thursday, December 04, 2025 | |
The COVID-19 pandemic was supposed to spell the end of the cruise line industry. These massive ships, crammed with sick passengers, were labeled "petri dishes" by the media, infectious disease experts, and politicians. Six years later, the sector is alive and growing. AAA projects that a record-breaking 21.7 million Americans are planning to hop aboard an ocean cruise in the coming year. If so, that would mark the fourth year in a row the cruise industry has experienced record passenger volume. This year, more than 20 million passengers flooded the gates to new King Kong-sized vessels, offering fixed-price packages and promising a wide variety of cruise options for every 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Sewer Lining Replacement Projects| 02:00PM / Thursday, December 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—; The City's Department of Public Services and Utilities sewer lining replacement project continues the week of Dec. 8. The sewer lining will be replaced in several locations as outlined in the schedule below. This work includes lining aging sewer pipes to help prevent future breaks within the sewer line. There should be minimal to no impact on residential sewer lines during this work. Dec. 8-10: Danforth Avenue (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) Dec. 11: Wahconah Street, between North Street and Seymour Street & Park Street between Wahconah Street and Seymour Street (Overnight work-6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.) During this time, Wahconah Street, from 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Snow Clearing During First Storm Went Well, DPW SaysBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:06PM / Thursday, December 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At least half a foot of snow was dumped on Pittsfield during Tuesday's storm, and plowing went fairly smoothly, according to the Department of Public Works commissioner.
There was a whiteout on Tuesday morning as the storm started, and snowfall continued throughout the day. The Pittsfield Public Schools, along with other local districts and Berkshire Community College, cancelled classes, and the Parks and Recreation department launched a snow sculpture contest to engage the community.
Pittsfield saw at least 6 inches of snow, and in-house employees and contractors worked through the night to clear roads.
"In general, our
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Pittsfield Announces New Energy Program Rates| 08:02AM / Thursday, December 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has signed a thirty-four month contract with a new supplier, First Point Power. Beginning with the January 2026 meter reads, the Pittsfield Community Choice Power Supply Program's standard product, which meets Massachusetts Renewable Energy Requirement (MA Req) of 69.1 percent, will have a new rate of $0.13042 per kWh. It will also continue to offer an optional product that uses 100 percent Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Certificates at a rate of $0.15740 per kWh. For Pittsfield residents and businesses who are enrolled in the City's standard product, the current rate of $0.13849 per kWh will 0 Comments
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Dalton Historical Seeks Participants for Oral History ProjectBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Thursday, December 04, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission is interested in participating in the Housatonic Oral History Program to collect, preserve and share the personal stories and memories of local residents. During a meeting last month, the commission heard from Judith Monachina, the director of the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center at Berkshire Community College. The center was established in May 2017 during the Oral History Symposium at BCC, because many organizations had legacy collections, such as old interviews on tapes, CDs, or other formats. The program is part of the national network of heritage areas, Monachina said. She outlined 0 Comments
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Berkshire Mall Owners Offer Lanesborough Money to Dissolve Baker Hill Road DistrictBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:08PM / Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Berkshire Mall owners have offered the town a $1.25 million loan to dissolve the Baker Hill Road District, while the road district wants to take the property by eminent domain and says Target is on board.
These proposals were put on the table during the Select Board's regular meeting on Nov. 24. The board agreed to meet with town counsel in executive session to discuss its path forward.
"We need to come to an understanding, an agreement as a Select Board before we can move further to ask the townspeople what they want to do," Chair Deborah Maynard said.
"All of this does depend on a town meeting vote, and we just
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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County Online Auction | 11:21AM / Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County is holding their Online Auction Fundraiser on Bidding Owl for the holiday season. The auction will be held online from Dec. 1, through Dec. 12. People can access the bidding site by going to https://new.biddingowl.com/LiteracyVolunteersofBerk There are over 20 items available for bidding thanks to the generosity of local businesses. Items include restaurant and clothing store gift cards or certificates, and much more. All funds raised will help LVBC continue its 45-year mission of providing adults in the community free tutoring in basic reading and writing and in 0 Comments
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Carr Hardware Customers Raise Money for Thanksgiving Angels| 11:12AM / Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. Carr Hardware announce that its customers in Lenox and Pittsfield have raised a total of $2,486.99 through the company's round-up initiative, directly benefiting the local Thanksgiving Angels program. This generosity helped provide Thanksgiving meals for over 2,500 families in Berkshire County who signed up to receive a traditional holiday dinner through the program. Throughout the month of October, Carr Hardware hosted a round-up campaign at its Lenox and Pittsfield locations, encouraging customers to round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar. The funds collected through this initiative were donated to the South Congregational 0 Comments
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BCArc Announced Supervisor Promotion| 07:34AM / Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. &mdash Berkshire County Arc (BCArc) named Maryellen Lassalle as the newest Brain Injury Residential Supervisor. Previously she was Site Manager at program in Russell for six years. Lassalle will oversee programs in Westfield, Southwick, Southampton, and Russell. "She has been a wonderful asset since starting with BCArc nearly 10 years ago," said Maryann Hyatt, President & CEO. "She has brought a high level of compassion and expertise to her program, and we look forward to her leadership as a Supervisor." Born and raised in Holyoke, Maryellen lives in Westfield. Before joining BCArc, she worked in nursing homes in a 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council OKs $1M in Economic Development Funds for BIC, MyriasBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Wednesday, December 03, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council unanimously approved a total of $1 million in Pittsfield Economic Development Funds to expand the Berkshire Innovation Center and add a new company.
Last week, councilors OKed the BIC's request for $500,000 to expand by 7,000 square feet and Myrias Optics Inc.'s request for the same amount to establish a manufacturing laboratory at the BIC. Myrias expects to hire at least 55 people by 2028 with average salaries between $110,000 to $120,000 per year.
Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi recognized that $1 million from what had been the GE Fund is a lot of money, but pointed to the other support this project has garnered. The BIC was
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Pittsfield Queries Community Before Master Plan UpdateBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Tuesday, December 02, 2025 | |
The session had stakeholders writing down the important areas that the plan should address. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — What should the city look like in the next 15 years?
That is what community members weighed in on during the first master plan workshop, held on Nov. 18 at City Hall.
The Pittsfield Master Plan is the policy guide for physical development, covering land use, infrastructure, sustainability, and more. The plan was last updated in 2009, and Pittsfield has engaged VHB engineering firm for a yearlong process of bringing it to the 2020s and beyond.
Director of Community Development Justine Dodds explained, "It's basically a roadmap for where
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Eviction Sealing Information Session at the Pittsfield Athenaeum| 11:00AM / Tuesday, December 02, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community Legal Aid will be holding an information session on Eviction Sealing to help eligible residents of Berkshire County learn how to seal their eviction records. Community Legal Aid is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services annually to over 700 low- income and elderly residents of Berkshire County. The information session will be led by Community Legal Aid Housing Law Attorney Angelina Morisi and is open to the public. It will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at the Berkshire Athenaeum, located at 1 Wendell Ave., in the Athenaeum Room. As rental prices soar in Massachusetts, 0 Comments
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