| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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@theMarket: New Highs for First Half of the YearBy Bill Schmick,
03:42PM / Friday, June 27, 2025 | |
Mission accomplished. After a tumultuous six months in 2025, equities managed to overcome every obstacle and closed in on new highs. What does that mean for the second half of the year? The short answer is nothing. We start again. Investors need to take each day as it comes. It is a world where governments have more weight and influence in determining the outcomes of both the economy and the markets than ever before. I hope you read last week's column, "Regional Conflicts Present Buying Opportunities." I reminded investors that recent skirmishes, such as the one between Iran and Israel, usually do not last long and have little bearing on markets three to six 0 Comments
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Dottie's Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield is For SaleStaff Reports,
12:17PM / Friday, June 27, 2025 | |
Dottie's owner Jessica Rufo poses in this iBerkshires file photo. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dottie's Coffee Lounge is listed for sale after nearly two decades in business.
The business announced the news on social media on Thursday. Listed by Carrie Lobovits Wright of William Pitt Sotheby's Lenox office, the business at 438/444 North St. is for sale for $550,000 and includes the coffee shop as well as Dorothy's Estaminet in the former Mission Bar and Tapas.
It stipulates that the sale is for the business and fixtures only and does not include real estate. The coffeeshop had expanded into abutting spaces over the years.
"Seeking someone
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Pittsfield: Notification of Aquatic Treatment at Onota Lake| 11:04AM / Friday, June 27, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Onota Lake will be chemically treated with aquatic herbicides on Monday, June 30 to control invasive Eurasian watermilfoil. The lake will be closed to all water uses including swimming, fishing and boating on the morning of the treatment through noon. Use of the lake water for irrigation (watering lawns, gardens or plants of any kind) is prohibited for 3 days post treatment. Printed posters with these restrictions will be posted around the lake shoreline in advance of the treatment. For more information, please call Jim McGrath at (413) 499-9344. 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Announces FY26 Street Paving Schedule| 07:51AM / Friday, June 27, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has announced a list of roads scheduled for paving as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Street Improvement Program. The work is set to begin in the summer. The following roads are included in the paving schedule: Alcove Street, Allengate Avenue, Auburn Street, Beacon Avenue, Bradford Street (from Center Street to Francis Avenue), Brunswick Street, Charisma Drive, Churchill Street (from #364 to #650), Crane Avenue (from #567 to Unkamet Park Drive), Darlene Avenue, Fairfield Street, Jones Avenue, Kenwood Street, Meleca Avenue, Scalise Drive, Taconic Park Drive, Tamie Way, Tennyson Avenue, and Vista Street. These improvements are funded through
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Pittsfield Superintendent Bids Farewell to District After 32 YearsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:23AM / Friday, June 27, 2025 | |
Superintendent Joseph Curtis at his last School Committee meeting on Wednesday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Superintendent Joseph Curtis bid farewell to the School Committee on Wednesday, as he enters retirement on Monday.
He shared a heartfelt summary of the 32 years spent in the Pittsfield Public Schools, with roles ranging from teacher to leading the district.
But before Curtis said his goodbyes, he thanked the City Council for moving forward with the proposed rebuild of John C. Crosby Elementary School.
The night before, the council passed a $2 million borrowing for a feasibility study on the proposed rebuild of Silvio O. Conte Community School and
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Dalton Police Budget Passes on Second TryBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
10:06PM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Voters approved all six articles on the special town meeting warrant on Thursday, including a contentious police budget. The special town meeting drew 275 voters, a large number of whom shuffled out following the passage of the Police Department's fiscal 2026 spending plan. The budget had been separated from the operating budget and then rejected at the two-night annual town meeting. The figure presented to voters on Thursday had been reduced by $33,841 during meetings of the Select Board and Finance Committee. The $1,631,083 budget's passage followed debate with an at times rowdy crowd. Many voters in favor said 0 Comments
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Lenco Donates Ballistic Shields to Pittsfield PoliceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13PM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lenco Armored Vehicles has donated more than $16,600 in protective shields to the Police Department for use during an active shooter situation.
The level 3 ballistic shields were accepted during Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"We don't want an officer to hesitate at all," Police Lt. Marc Maddalena said.
"So you're prepared, go in there, again, it gives you some confidence that you're going to be able to get through this successfully and survive it." The Buffalo Armory shields are made of steel and polyethylene and offer level 3 protection. Councilor at Large Alisa Costa asked
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The Retired Investor: What Is Stablecoin, and Why Should You Care?By Bill Schmick,
04:29PM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
Stablecoins have become a hot topic lately. The supply of this digital currency has grown from $2 billion to $200 billion, and it is beginning to transition from the digital to the conventional world of finance. The Senate's passage of the GENIUS Act this month sets the stage for stablecoins to further integrate into the global economy. A stablecoin, for those who have yet to dip their toes into the digital world is a cryptocurrency without the notorious volatility typically associated with that asset class. Their value is generally pegged or tied to that of another currency, such as the U.S. dollar, a commodity like gold, or another financial asset, such as a U.S. Treasury bond 0 Comments
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Two Educators Charged in 2024 Drowning of Herberg StudentBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:01PM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
EarlGiver Essien died 10 days before her 13th birthday during a school-sponsored field trip last year. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two educators have been charged with "preventable and reckless oversights" that preceded the drowning of a Pittsfield Public School student last summer.
On July 17, 2024, 12-year-old EarlGiver Essien was unaccounted for 70 minutes while on a field trip with Herberg Middle School's 21st Century Program to Beartown State Forest. Despite alarms raised by peers, she was not identified as missing until the group boarded the bus to leave, and was then found deceased when a teacher grid-searched the lake.
Meghan Braley, 29, and Linda
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Lanesborough Public Safety Committee Plans Informational OutreachBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:13AM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Planners of the public safety building proposal continue to grapple with how to achieve an affirmative vote from taxpayers.
In the next couple of weeks, they will work to create a frequently asked questions fact sheet and pitch the $7.3 million project to legislators. Earlier this year, the Select Board voted to advance a combined police/emergency medical services facility, discarding the option for a $6.5 million separate build.
The same design, then priced at $5.9 million, was shot down in 2023.
On Tuesday, members of the Public Safety Complex Information and Outreach Committee discussed how other Berkshire towns have been able to
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BHS July 4th 5K Road Race Still Going After 40 Years | 10:48AM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It has been forty years since the first running of the Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) July 4th 5K kicked off in front of the parade spectators on Wahconah Street in Pittsfield. The upcoming event sponsored by BHS and under the direction of Berkshire Running Foundation's Shiobbean Lemme for the third year. In 1985 just under 200 runners took part in the race which last year registered just over 1100, bringing the attendance back to more than pre pandemic numbers. Changes have been made to the event, including the support of BHS to register all students' grades K-12 for free, which Berkshire Running Foundation offers 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Committee OKs Middle Grade Restructuring By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:53AM / Thursday, June 26, 2025 | |
Vice Chair Daniel Elias said restructuring is 'never popular' but necessary in this case. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee has decided that now is the time to move forward with restructuring the city's middle schools.
They made a historic vote on Wednesday night to create an upper elementary school for Grades 5-6 and a junior high school for Grades 7-8 by the 2026-2027 academic year. A stipulation was added that if goals in the Middle School Restructuring Committee's timeline are not met by the December meeting, it will be delayed one year.
"I think for equity purposes, getting all of the kids in the city of the same grades
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