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Pittsfield's Renewable Energy Work HighlightedBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
02:20AM / Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | |
Ben Lamb from 1Berkshire said renewable energy is not only good for the environment but it is good economic development. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is still looking at what it would take to create a new micro-grid for energy in the city's downtown. Supported by a $75,000 states grant, a feasibility study has been ongoing to create the grid that would connect key buildings, including the Fire Department, Berkshire Medical Center, the senior center and senior housing units, and downtown businesses to power in case of an emergency. And, it will increase the capacity for renewable energy sources. But that is only one step the city has taken in recent years 0 Comments
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Outdoor Marijuana Grow Moves One Step Further In Pittsfield PermittingBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
01:04AM / Wednesday, July 10, 2019 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — EOS Farms LLC. is one step closer toward creating a large outdoor grow operation for marijuana products. The company, headed by Suehiko Ono, is planning to lease 12 acres of farmland near 973 Barker Road to grow the plant. The company has already received local permits to transform the former Royal Cleaners on Tyler Street into a marijuana retailer and manufacturing operation. The growing will provide the product to that operation. EOS received a blessing from the Community Development Board Monday night for the operations. According to Engineer Brent White, the location is already mostly hidden from public view and will be using the existing tree 1 Comment
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Restoration of Springside Pond Plan Moves To Permitting ProcessBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
03:57AM / Wednesday, June 19, 2019 | |
The section colored in red, closer to Springside Avenue, is where the work will be focused. The section colored in blue will be left mostly the same to avoid removing a lot of sediment. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The design efforts to restore Springside Pond is entering the permitting phase. Parks and Open Spaces Manager Jim McGrath updated the Parks Commission on Tuesday about the progress and said the city will be seeking permits from the Conservation Commission in the coming weeks. However, the project itself is going to be costly and a funding source has not been identified. "It is an expensive project, no question about it, but this is the 2 Comments
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Farley-Bouvier, Hinds Chat Environmental Issues At Pittsfield ForumBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
01:22AM / Tuesday, June 18, 2019 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state hopes to see more renewable energy from solar so it's incentivizing development. However, the way the programs are currently established, solar often comes at the expense of cutting trees. "We have perverse incentives for solar. It is cheaper for a developer to come in and cut down a whole bunch of trees to do something for the environment," state Rep. Farley-Bouvier said. The Pittsfield Democrat would like to see a shift in the way the projects are located. She said there are acres of rooftops available without solar but yet large scale projects go into wooded areas. Even in her neighborhood, there is a large 1 Comment
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Historic Lanesborough Elm Tree Receives Maintenance, InspectionBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
05:26PM / Monday, April 22, 2019 | |
The Tree and Forest Committee believes the tree may be the most recognized elm tree in all of Berkshire County. It had previously been the largest in the entire state. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Towering more than an estimated 107 feet tall with a wide spanning canopy, King Elmer is in the running for the biggest American elm tree in the state. On Monday, Race Mountain Tree Service arborists were climbing high into the Summer Street tree for some ongoing maintenance. The company was trimming to remove dead branches and assessing the health of the tree to allow it to continue to grow. "We're going to be looking at all of the places there are openings in 0 Comments
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MassWildlife Offers Tips for Dealing With Aggressive TurkeysStaff Reports,
11:53AM / Thursday, April 18, 2019 | |
 BOSTON — The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is offering some tips for dealing with aggressive wild turkeys. A woman in Cambridge was recently injured when a flock of turkeys began pecking at her legs; aggressive turkeys have also been reported and recorded in in Foxboro and Brookline. There's more room for humans and turkeys to co-exist in the Berkshires but residents should still be aware of turkey behavior if there's an encounter. MassWildlife says: March through May is breeding season for wild turkeys and as a result, there is an increase in turkey activity all across the commonwealth. Some turkeys may be seen acting 0 Comments
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Pittsfield City Council Passes Plastic Bag BanBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
04:03AM / Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | |
Rinaldo Del Gallo first petitioned for the ban in 2013. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After close to six years of debate, the city finally passed a ban on single-use plastic bags Tuesday night. The ban had been proposed in 2013 and has been working its way through the City Council process since. It was first coupled with a ban on Styrofoam, which was later passed in 2015 separate from the bag ban and restricted polystyrene food containers. The bag ban went before the Green Commission and to City Council subcommittee meetings, the latter of which had left it unaddressed for a time. Earlier this year, it made its way to the full council will a full 6 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Ordains New Solar RegulationsBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
04:03AM / Friday, March 15, 2019 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council unanimously backed an effort to reduce the number of commercial solar arrays being installed in residential neighborhoods. The Zoning Board of Appeals petitioned the council to adopt new rules guiding where solar arrays can be installed. The new ordinance breaks photovoltaic arrays into three sizes and guides the medium and large scale ones to commercial and industrial land. "Commercial arrays have different impacts and don't belong in residential areas," Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer said. The hope is to reverse a trend in which 11 out of 14 commercial solar facilities have been approved 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Stalls Plastic Bag Ban VoteBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
03:56AM / Wednesday, February 27, 2019 | |
Attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo first filed the petition nearly six years ago. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A potential ban on single-use plastic bags was again delayed Tuesday night after the City Council appeared gridlocked on a few details. The proposal to eliminate the bags primarily used at the grocery store checkout has been nearly six years in the making since attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo first petitioned for it in conjunction with a ban on styrofoam. The two were uncoupled and in 2015 the City Council passed a ban on Styrofoam food containers. The bag ban, meanwhile, worked its way through the Green Commission and council subcommittee meetings -- including sitting 2 Comments
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'Tanglewood In The City' Coming To Pittsfield This SummerStaff Reports,
01:00PM / Sunday, February 24, 2019 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Boston Symphony Orchestra will be broadcast live to the Common on July 19. Mill Town Capital and the BSO are launching Tanglewood in the City in downtown Pittsfield this summer. The event will be free and the event will feature some food vendors and a beer garden, operated by Barrington Brewery. "This is a very similar event that the BSOP already holds in the Boston Common," said Caroline Holland of Mill Town Capital. "It will be broadcast live at the Boston Common and the Pittsfield Common." The jumbo screen measuring 15-feet by 27-feet will be erected in front of the pavilion and if there is rain, the First United 0 Comments
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