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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Old Williamstown Road Opened for Pedestrian UseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:06PM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass.— The state has removed hard barriers on Old Williamstown Road, allowing strictly pedestrian use.
"The limited use of that stretch with no motorized access is now allowed, according to the Department of Transportation," Town Administrator Gina Dario told the Select Board on Monday.
"With the strong stipulation that should there be any further movement by any community member of the blockades that are in place and motorized access on that stretch that they would resume the installation of the hard barriers that would prevent any public access whatsoever."
The road has been closed to vehicles for decades but used for pedestrians, horseback
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@theMarket: Markets Await the InaugurationBy Bill Schmick,
02:16PM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
"Day One" arrives on Monday and investors are waiting with bated breath to hear what and how the new administration will handle the myriad problems that beset the nation. No one knows how that day will go, and the stock market reflects that. Stocks are up since the beginning of the year but not by much. Granted the total gains for the first five days of January were positive and that is a good sign for those who take stock in those kinds of portents. Normally if the S&P 500 Index finishes with gains by the close of the fifth day of the year (and it did), the "rule of the first five days" says a gain for the entire year is likely. Over the last decade, 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter| 01:53PM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Friday, Jan. 17, Laquan M. Johnson, 29, of Pittsfield, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and seven charges connected to the April 4 killing of Stephan Curley. The Honorable Judge Agostini of Berkshire Superior Court sentenced Johnson to 12 to 15 years in state prison. The sentence exceeds sentencing guidelines, which recommend 9 to 13.5 years. The plea took place prior to the result of a jury verdict from a trial that began on Jan. 8. The Commonwealth requested a state prison sentence of 15 to 20 years, while the defense requested a sentence of 10 years to 10 years and one day. "My thoughts are with Mr. Curley's family during this 0 Comments
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Pittsfield First-Responders Recognized for Lifesaving Efforts on InfantBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:17PM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
Chief Thomas Sammons congratulates one of the EMTs who responded to the emergency involving an infant last fall. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Multiple first responders were recognized for performing lifesaving measures on an infant in November.
Tuesday's City Council meeting began with Lifesaving Awards to three paramedics, three firefighters, and four police officers. The first responders were recognized for their actions on Nov. 22 "where life-saving measures were performed on an infant."
While not much information can be released, Fire Chief Thomas Sammons said the incident was "one of those calls people will never forget." He described it as a
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Pittsfield Man Charged With Carjacking| 11:13AM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A Pittsfield man has been charged with carjacking following an incident Thursday in the Target parking lot at the Berkshire Mall. Police say Earl N. Kirchner, 64, was arrested at the scene and also faces charges of assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer. The carjacking is a felony and the assaults are misdemeanors. Kirchner was being held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections pending his arraignment. According to police, the carjacking attempt was called in at about 1:30 p.m. The victim told authorities that the suspect had punched and kicked him in attempting to steal his motor vehicle. The 0 Comments
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Holiday Hours: Martin Luther King Jr. Day| 10:58AM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
The Rev. King waves to the hundreds of thousands gathered on the Washington Mall in 1963 when he gave the 'I Have a Dream' speech. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is being celebrated Monday, Jan. 20. It is a federal holiday to commemorate the birthday of the civil rights activist born Jan. 15, 1929. It is observed on the third Monday in January.
King, a Baptist minister, led the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s by espousing nonviolent protest. His best-known address, the "I Have a Dream" speech, was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to a crowd of 250,000 who participated in the March on Washington. The 1964 Nobel Prize winner was
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Marchetti First State of City Speech Points to Successes, ChallengesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:54AM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
This was Mayor Peter Marchetti's first State of the City address in his four-year term. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Peter Marchetti invited residents to join "One Pittsfield" during his first State of the City address on Thursday. He used the slogan during his campaign and continue to as a term of collaboration and unity.
"The one thing that I know that Pittsfield is is that Pittsfield is resilient. Believe it or not, I love my job and the city of Pittsfield. Together, we can overcome the obstacles and change our challenges into opportunities," he said to a crowd of city staff, friends and family, and community members at Taconic High School. The
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The Retired Investor: Economic Growth Versus Government EfficiencyBy Bill Schmick,
04:13PM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
We grew up with tales of $500 toilet seats and bridges to nowhere when describing the abuses of government spending. In a few days, Americans will get our first taste of what it will mean to make our government efficient once again. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not an official government department. That would require an act of Congress. Since members of that august body have been the major contributors to decades of inefficient use of government funds, it probably was a good idea to bypass a vote on making DOGE "official." Instead, it will operate as an advisory body, run by two of President-elect Trump's closest allies with a direct line to 0 Comments
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Reimagine Dunham Mall Calls for Public Art| 10:33AM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Organizers of Reimagine Dunham Mall announced two calls for public art and a project update on Spring 2025 installations to support the use and beautification of Dunham Mall. Reimagine Dunham Mall aims to support area business, recreation, pedestrian networks, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield. In the Spring of 2025, Pittsfield residents can expect to see a new public art piece installed in Dunham Mall as part of the first of two installation phases. Also, as part of phase one, 8 large planters with Heritage Birch trees will be installed to provide shade and natural habitats, as well as smaller planters with 0 Comments
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Dalton Candidates Debate Infrastructure, Police Station at Candidate ForumBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:08AM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
Nearly 90 residents attended the forum at the Senior Center to hear from the candidates. DALTON, Mass. — Dalton voters will choose from four candidates at the Feb. 3 special election to decide who will fill the vacant Select Board seat. The four candidates on the ballot, Robert Collins, Rich Haley, Levi Renderer and Patrick Carsell appeared at a forum Wednesday night to highlight their perspectives on issues including transparency and collaboration, the condition of the police station, and roads and sidewalks. iBerkshires Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito asked the candidates questions curated by resident submissions in front of 88 attendees at the 0 Comments
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PCTV Welcomes New Digital Navigator To Empower Community| 03:40PM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) announced the hiring of Samuel Pascual, who will serve as the organization's new Digital Navigator. His role is a one-year, grant-funded position designed to promote digital equity through community media centers. In this role, Pascual will help bridge the digital divide in the Pittsfield area by providing hands-on assistance and education to community members seeking to enhance their digital literacy and access vital online resources. Funding to hire the Digital Navigator position at PCTV was provided by the Alliance for Digital Equity, which serves four western Massachusetts counties, facilitating solutions to ensure
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Pittsfield Toter System Reducing Waste, Increasing RecyclingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:15PM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
Mayor Peter Marchetti acknowledges the 'bumpy ride' in establishing the trash system but the numbers are proof it's working. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new toter system has significantly reduced trash and doubled recycling.
Pittsfield now throws away about 1,024 tons of trash per month, down from 1,388 tons, and recycles about 201 tons per month, compared to 148 tons. Since its implementation in the fall, the city has saved more than $367,000.
Mayor Peter Marchetti thinks the numbers speak for themselves.
"When we first implemented this program, I couldn't go anyplace without someone saying 'This program is a terrible idea,'" he told the City
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