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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Eying Chicken Keeping OrdinanceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:18PM / Friday, September 23, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee is looking at a process to make the keeping of chickens more affordable. The councilors heard a petition on Monday from Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky requesting to amend the city ordinance for keeping chickens. City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta and Director of Community Development Justine Dodds were asked to weigh in. Resident Melissa Corbett contacted Kalinowsky and proposed a permitting process for the raising of six chickens that goes through the Board of Health instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals and has an initial fee of $25. The current application fee, legal announcement fee, and 2 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Festivals, Concerts, and MoreBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:42PM / Friday, September 23, 2022 | |
 Berkshire County has a variety of events this weekend including festivals, car shows, concerts, and more. Lenox Apple Squeeze Downtown Lenox Lenox Apple Squeeze returns this Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 until 5 p.m. throughout downtown Lenox. This free event will feature live music, magic, kids carnival with hayrides, and more. Complete line up of events and locations found here. Freshgrass Festival 2022 Mass MoCA, North Adams The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art will be hosting its annual Fresh Grass Festival this weekend from Friday through Sunday. Thousands are expected to be in the 0 Comments
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Fall Seniors Golf Tour Tees Off at Berkshire HillsCommunity submission,
11:39AM / Friday, September 23, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Ralph Distoli and Bob Linn had the low gross score at Berkshire Hills Country Club in the inaugural Berkshire County Fall Seniors Golf event. The pair carded a 62 on their home course to edge runners-up Matt Ortega and George Candelet, who finished at 65. The event on Wednesday was the first of a five-week series for golfers 50 and up to raise funds to support Berkshire County Junior Golf. Each year, the organization awards scholarships to young golfers to support junior memberships at their home club. Dastoli and Linn won for gross score in the Blue Division, one of two groups based on the combined ages of the pairs. In the Green Division, 0 Comments
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Hancock Shaker Village Announces Plans to Reimagine Visitor CenterBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:19AM / Friday, September 23, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village is embarking on a journey to reimagine its visitor center. New Executive Director and CEO Nathaniel Silver and his predecessor, Jennifer Trainer Thompson, announced Thursday that TSKP x IKD Architects — based in Boston and San Francisco — has been hired for the task.
Silver said the firm will work with the museum on a master plan and make the center "transformative for the visitor experience."
"It will allow us to give visitors the kind of introduction and backgrounds that they need and that they deserve," he explained. "And will allow us to enhance our unparalleled collection that we have
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The Retired Investor: The Dishwasher DebatesBy Bill Schmick,
04:12PM / Thursday, September 22, 2022 | |
 In most new homes there is a litany of appliances that buyers almost automatically purchase, one of which is the dishwasher. While ovens, refrigerators, washers, and dryers are used almost daily, the dishwasher is among the least-used appliances in American homes. The global dishwasher market is well over $7 billion and projected to grow by 7.5 percent to $10 billion by 2025. Much of that future growth is due to smaller-sized food service organizations. This list includes companies, businesses, institutions, and organizations that prepare meals and serve them to consumers and other customers. Of course, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, and catering businesses are included in this 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Community Members Celebrate the Dog Park's Anniversary By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:49AM / Thursday, September 22, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass — Dog enthusiasts, volunteers, and Parks and Recreation employees gathered at the Pittsfield Dog Park on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate it being open for one year.
Dogs play off leash in the gated area. The dog park ensures dogs can exercise and socialize safely. The gated area has two sections: one side is for dogs that weigh less than 30 pounds and the other is for large dogs. The fenced area for off-leash dogs features a grassy layout for pooches to roam, a walking path, benches, complimentary waste bags, and even a dog-sized water fountain. Over the past year, the park has grown in popularity with many visitors praising it and 15 Comments
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Pittsfield Community Development Board OKs Permanent Supportive Housing ProjectBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:25PM / Wednesday, September 21, 2022 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Tuesday's Community Development Board meeting was busier than usual due to a proposal that aims to address one of the city's most prominent challenges. The board unanimously passed a special permit request from Berkshire Housing Development Corp. to build a three-story, 28-unit building at 107-111 West Housatonic St. for homeless individuals.
It is designated as permanent supportive housing, which combines affordable housing and support services to build independent living skills and connect people with health, treatment, and employment resources.
"I think the important thing to know about this project is that it is part of a comprehensive
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Pittsfield Council Subcommittee Supports Two New PositionsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:54AM / Wednesday, September 21, 2022 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee on Monday approved the classification of social worker and emergency co-responder positions within the city. The unanimous vote comes after an uptick in homelessness and mental health distress and the police killing of Miguel Estrella in March.
One social worker will work with the Health Department and the other with the Police Department. The social workers' pay will range from about $68,100 to $88,500 and the emergency co-responders' will be paid about $52,800 to $68,900.
Though he supported the positions, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that some residents have called for alternatives to
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Making the Loop | We had some free time this week to walk the 2-mile loop through the downtown. Here's a few of things that caught our eye. (In between taking photos, we were heel-toeing and arm-pumping as prescribed.)
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Let's Go Paperless | This is from Ward 6 Councilor John Krol's eblast today. His switch to digital immediately caught our attention. With the associated costs - nearly $4,000 a year for paper alone! - zipping councilors "the packet" (as we in the know like to call it) over the ether makes loads of sense.
Digital also means the average citizen gets far better access to these public documents than ever before. The city clerk's office has been diligent about posting meeting agendas and, where possible, relevant documents. So in terms of saving money and time and getting information out efficiently, digital is the way to go.
I would like to thank City Clerk Linda Tyer for agreeing to print out one less city council packet, as I have officially gone paperless for council meetings - which I hope will be a trend that can be extended throughout city government.
 The bulky (and often, very bulky) city council packet that councilors use for a reference costs an average of $170 per meeting for paper alone. Add the additional costs of ink/toner, wear and tear on city hall copiers, and the time and energy of staff who put it all together - and a simple transition away from paper benefits everyone.
With the packet now fully digital in pdf form, all councilors, and everyone with an internet
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Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
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January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
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