| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Announces 3rd Annual Winter Festival at Clapp Park| 03:01PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program has announced its third annual Winter Festival for Monday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clapp Park. As a kickoff to winter break for local Pittsfield schools, this year's festival will include a variety of outdoor activities for children and their families including: Cardboard Sled Design Contest & Races Prior to the day of Winter Festival, all children and families are asked to construct their own cardboard sled at home using glue, tape, paint, and decorations. No plastic or purchased sleds are allowed. Awards will be given for Best Use of Materials, Most Creative 0 Comments
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BCArc Names New Chief Operating Officer| 11:46AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc has named Sonja Haecker the new Chief Operating Officer. Haecker has been serving as the Agency's Executive Vice President, overseeing a wide range of programs for BCArc. "Sonja continues to show incredible leadership," said Maryann Hyatt, President & CEO. "She is a great motivator, demands high standards, and has great energy for advancing this agency forward. The staff and families are well-served with her as the new Chief Operating Officer." Haecker's responsibilities, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, cover the Agency's program operations and strategic planning, along 0 Comments
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Lenox Applying for Housing Rehab ProgramBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
11:35AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
LENOX, Mass. — The town is applying for a federal Housing Rehabilitation Program to help low- and moderate-income residents fix their homes. The Select Board last Wednesday voted to authorize Bailey Boyd Associates to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal 2026. The grant is up to $1,150,000 and will help with the renovation of 13 homes with zero-percent interest, deferred-payment forgivable loans. Cassie Boyd Marsh, president of Bailey Boyd Associates, a community development consultant, explained how the program will work. "The program prioritizes health and safety, including weather, vacant and other 0 Comments
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The First's Housing Resource Center Opens in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
Tenants for the nine studio apartments will be moving in over the next few days. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The First's housing resource center opened its doors on Tuesday, drawing about a dozen people.
"I was hoping to do a soft open yesterday at The First. It became a little louder, which is fine," ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
"But we are open Tuesday through Saturday for the next few weeks, and that is really due to just onboarding staff and training."
The housing resource center is funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act
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BCC 40 Under 40 Winners to be Honored| 01:24PM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Wednesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street. Tickets are $40 per person (free for award winners and one guest per winner) and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce and Community Education programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting 0 Comments
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Dalton Budget 'Worse-Case Scenario' Could Mean Staffing CutsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:18PM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — In the worst-case scenario, the town could be forced to reduce staff if projected increases in the school budget, health insurance, and other uncontrollable costs occur. Town Manager Eric Anderson presented the "grim" budget to the Select Board on Monday, showcasing the anticipated major driver in the fiscal year 2027 budget. "The first thing I want to say is the first cut of the budget always looks hopeless. I mean it always does. This is, in many ways, what we should probably think of as the worst case scenario," Anderson said. "The goal here has got to be to make this budget better and more reasonable overall 0 Comments
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BCC Names Fall Dean's List Students| 11:14AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced it has named 681 students to the fall 2025 dean's list. To be eligible for the dean's list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.750 to 4.000 to earn high honors, while students with a GPA of 3.250 to 3.749 earn an honors designation. All dean's list students must be matriculated in a certificate or degree program; complete a minimum of six traditionally graded credit hours, and achieve grades of C or higher in all classes during a semester 0 Comments
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Berkshire Schools Awarded Early College Grants | 07:00AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Public Schools, Berkshire Community College, Southern Berkshire Public Schools, and Lee Public Schools were awarded funds to support partnerships between high schools and institutions of higher education. Governor Maura Healey announced the goal of enrolling 100,000 Early College students by 2036, the administration today is awarding $8.2 million in designated Early College grants that will support an additional 44 new partnerships between high schools and institutions of higher education. Early College allows high school students to take college classes and earn college credit at no cost to them or their families. In 0 Comments
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Dalton Officials Talk Meters Amidst Rate Increases By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Tuesday, February 03, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The anticipated rise in the water and sewer rates has sparked discussion on whether implementing meters could help mitigate the costs for residents The single-family water rate has been $160 since 2011, however, because of the need to improve the town's water main infrastructure, prices are anticipated to increase. "The infrastructure in town is aged … we have a bunch of old mains in town that need to be changed out," said Water Superintendent Robert Benlien during a joint meeting with the Select Board. The district had contracted Tighe and Bond to conduct an asset management study in 2022, where it was recommended 0 Comments
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Former Country Club Reopens as The Venue at SkylineBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
The new Patty Barnaby's name is all over the venue. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A new but familiar space is opening for event rentals as The Venue at Skyline. Patty Barnaby recently leased the former Skyline Country Club building at 405 South Main St. Barnaby used to attend events there, including holding her own "Jack and Jill" wedding shower. "I've been to the golf tournaments. We've been to fundraisers. We've been to benefits. Actually, sports banquets for our girls, my oldest daughter. We had quite a few of her sports banquets here, just town events, truly, but our Jack and Jill was here," she said. "I had my stepfather's retirement
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Pittsfield Resident Given OK to Distribute DoughnutsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has clarified that a charitable resident can continue distributing cider and doughnuts to people, as long as parking regulations are followed.
"So it is my understanding now, throughout this meeting, that there is no longer any threat of fine for feeding the homeless," Ward 7 Councilor Moody said to Robert Ball, who has distributed sweets and hot beverages around the city for months.
A couple of weeks ago, Ball told News10 that he ran into issues with the city about his charitable food distributions. Moody saw the story and filed a request that the city stand down on penalties against good Samaritans feeding unhoused community 0 Comments
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Saturday Night Fire in Pittsfield Turns FatalStaff Reports ,
10:29AM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Saturday night structure fire turned fatal when the sole occupant was pronounced dead at Berkshire Medical Center. The Fire Department responded to 7 Virginia Ave. just after 11:20 on Saturday night following a report of a fire. On arrival, firefighters observed flames coming from the first floor of the small one-story Cape and immediately made entry to attack the fire and search for occupants. They located the sole resident, a woman in her 70s, and rescued her. Action Ambulance transported her to BMC. According to the State Fire Marshal's Office, the woman later passed away. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine 0 Comments
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