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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Three-Plus Alarm Dalton Structure Fire Destroys Unoccupied HomeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:29PM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — A three-plus alarm structure fire at 92 Central Ave. nearly burnt an unoccupied single-family home that was under renovation down to its frame. It also spread to two surrounding homes. The flames were contained in a couple of hours with the help of other fire departments and responders are still on the scene in the overhaul stage.
There were no reported injuries and the fire is under investigation by the state fire marshal. There is currently no cause or origin. The Fire Department received the call at 5:15 a.m. on Friday reporting smoke coming from the building. Fire Chief James Peltier arrived on the scene and observed heavy fire showing from the righthand
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1Berkshire Launches Facade Improvement Micro-Grant Program| 08:10AM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire announced the launch of a pilot micro-grant program to support downtown business facade improvements throughout the region going into the summer season of 2022. Funded through a one-time grant received by 1Berkshire, at least 30 micro-grants ranging from between $500 and $1,000 will be made available to small for-profit and non-profit businesses and organizations located in downtown business districts across the Berkshires. "When we think of ways to help our small business community shine, and how to make our downtowns more attractive to the thousands of visitors coming to the region, these types of micro-capital injections 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Taxicab Commission Reconvenes to Address Taxi OrdinanceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Friday, May 13, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The re-constituted Taxicab Commission met Wednesday for the first time in more than a decade. The panel elected Senior Center Director James Clark as chair and Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky as vice chair and outlined its immediate priorities: to address a rate increase request from County Rainbow Taxi and take a look at the city's ordinance for taxis and other vehicles for hire.
The ordinance states that the commission regulates the operation of taxis in the city and annually on Dec. 1, it should recommend to the City Council and mayor changes in authorized fees and rates established by the ordinance. The taxicab rate is capped at $2.50 and at 30 cents
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The Retired Investor: Roe v. Wade Versus Corporate AmericaBy Bill Schmick,
04:21PM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
 The impending Supreme Court decision to strike down Roe v. Wade will have enormous ramifications for American corporations. Legal issues, user data privacy practices, and workforce challenges will prove impossible to ignore. Businesses of all kinds face the following facts: most Americans (53 percent), according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, believe the Supreme Court is wrong and that the court should uphold the landmark ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. Only 28 percent believe it should be overturned. Nonetheless, if the Supreme Court hands down its expected decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, 13 states have trigger laws banning abortion 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Under Normal Drought Conditions| 11:55AM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
 BOSTON — During the past several months, the Commonwealth has experienced irregular rainfall events, contributing to less than average spring precipitation numbers; however, the southeastern of the state has been most impacted. This has not substantially impacted the rest of the state and all other regions of the state (Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Western, Cape Cod regions) remain in Level 0-Normal conditions. "With forecasts showing below normal rainfalls with elevated temperatures, it's important that we all administer water conservation practices early in the year to minimize stress on our water supply systems and natural 16 Comments
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Tyer Proposes $189M Pittsfield Budget, Up $10MBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Thursday, May 12, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The mayor is proposing a nearly $189 million budget for fiscal 2023 that is about $10 million higher than the this year's $179 million budget. Mayor Linda Tyer's request to raise and appropriate $188,589,144 for the FY23 operating budget was referred to the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday.
Departmental deliberations will begin next week on Tuesday, May 17, with a public hearing on the budget and five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which was made available to the public on Tuesday.
The budget proposal includes $242,784 for the mayor's office, $109,262 for the City Council, $9,138,800 for the Fire Department, $11,927,437 for the Police Department,
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Berkshire Music School Benefit Concert at Wheatleigh| 04:00PM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
 LENOX, Mass. — Vienna-based fortepianist Daniel Adam Maltz will perform at a benefit cocktail party for the Berkshire Music School on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Wheatleigh. Drawing on Mr. Maltz’s training at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at Vienna’s University for Music and Performing Arts, the afternoon will feature the work of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert on a historic fortepiano in Wheatleigh’s Great Hall. All proceeds will go towards the Berkshire Music School need-based financial aid program. "We are excited to host Daniel's performance at Wheatleigh," Executive Director Natalie Johnsonius 0 Comments
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Two Convicted in $300K Fraud Scheme| 03:53PM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two area residents were found guilty this week of scamming people across multiple states out of $300,000. Ajaykumar Chaudhari, 26, of Pownal, Vt., and Jitendra Chaudhari, 29, of Williamstown pled guilty on Monday to single counts of larceny more than $1,200 by single scheme and attempt to commit a crime to wit: larceny more than $1,200. In December, a third defendant, Parth Chaudhari, pled guilty to the same charges. Combined, the three defendants will pay $212,924 in restitution to the victims of the nationwide fraud scheme in a resolution of the Berkshire Superior Court case. "The victims in this case overwhelmingly supported a 0 Comments
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BMC Nationally Recognized with an 'A' Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade| 01:32PM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center received an "A" Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes BMC's achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. Berkshire Medical Center has achieved an "A" grade for four successive ranking periods – Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021 and Fall 2020. "The staff of Berkshire Medical Center places the highest priority on the safety of our patients," said Darlene Rodowicz, President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. "We are committed to providing the best care for every patient, every encounter, every 0 Comments
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Berkshire Wine & Liquor Holding Three Day Tasting EventJack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
11:04AM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Wine & Liquor owner Jigar Sinroza is hosting an event that he hopes will help you find your new favorite drink. "This is the first time we have done a three-day-long event," he said. "I can't think of anyone else who has done anything like this for a straight three days." Sinroza, who also owns George's Liquor Store on Elm Street, said he has hosted one-day tastings at George's, but he wanted to do something bigger for Berkshire Wine & Liquor, which he has owned for just about five months. Berkshire Wine & Liquor is located at 711 Tyler St. The tasting will take place Thursday, 0 Comments
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Tech Impact Collaborative Advances Effort to Grow Digital Economy of the Berkshires| 08:07AM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Tech Impact Collaborative, an ongoing collaboration of 1Berkshire, the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at BCC, completed their initial two phases of work to grow a more inclusive digital and tech-enabled economy in the Berkshires. This collaborative of three organizations, initially formed in 2020, has held over a dozen classes, workshops, webinars and panels through the OLLI platform, engaging more than 1,000 individuals across the Berkshires and beyond. In September 2021 this collaborative, through staff capacity of 1Berkshire and the BIC, and volunteer capacity from OLLI, began 6 Comments
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Pittsfield City Council Endorses Body Cameras for PoliceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | |
Police Chief Michael Wynn takes questions from Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky, a former police officer, on the timing for implementing body cameras. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has voted to support body cameras on Pittsfield Police officers. Councilors on Tuesday endorsed two petitions pertaining to the equipment and referred them to local and state officials.
There have been calls to implement body cameras, as residents have taken to open microphone at council meeting to advocate for them after Miguel Estrella was shot and killed by police in late March.
Councilor at Large Earl Persip III said this is probably one of the easier votes he
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