| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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The Retired Investor: Fed's $40 Billion-per-Month Purchase of Treasuries Is ImportantBy Bill Schmick,
03:55PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
Last week's half-point interest rate cut by the Federal Open Market Committee, overshadowed what I believe is an even more important development. The Fed has kicked off a series of what they called "reserve management purchases" by committing to buy $40 billion per month in short-term Treasury bills and notes. In essence, the Fed is expanding its balance sheet by buying these securities. They were quick to point out that this was not the beginning of a quantitative easing program, which is aimed at explicitly stimulating economic activity, although it has the same impact on financial markets. In essence, the Fed is providing a steady stream of additional liquidity to 0 Comments
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PEDA Site 9 Preparation, Member RetirementBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
03:40PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The redevelopment of Site 9 for mixed-use in the William Stanley Business Park is set to take off. Edward Weagle, principal geologist at Roux Associates, gave an update on the yearlong work to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority last week. "It's been a real pleasure for me to work on a project like this," he said. "This is kind of like a project of a career of a lifetime for me, and I'm very pleased to see that we're just at the finish line right now. My understanding is that all the documents are in front of the commissioner, waiting for her to sign off." Mill Town Capital is planning to develop a mixed-use
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BCC Welcomes Applicants to Culinary Apprenticeship Program | 03:19PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is accepting applications to its culinary apprenticeship program. Successful program graduates are awarded the industry-recognized ServSafe Food Handler Certificate and are job-ready for a wide range of food service employment opportunities, from school cafeterias and hospital kitchens to restaurants and private households. Student apprentices are paid, and students of all ages may qualify for free tuition and fees. To apply to BCC, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/apply. The 15-week culinary arts apprenticeship program blends hands-on, practical training with systematic accompanying education, 0 Comments
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MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board Early Childhood Educator Grant| 11:53AM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $1.8 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to eight organizations to train and place more than 300 apprentices in early childhood education careers across the state. "Our administration has been committed to expanding the Registered Apprenticeship model into industries like early childhood education so we can strength the talent pipeline," said Governor Maura Healey. "Through the GROW grants, we're creating real pathways for educators to learn, earn and advance their careers, while helping providers attract and retain the talent they need. These investments are 0 Comments
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BCC Awarded Grant from Commonwealth for Commercial Driver's License Training | 07:42AM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $132,825 grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration, part of a total of $1.5 million awarded to community colleges to train more than 500 students across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. BCC's grant is earmarked for commercial driver's license (CDL) training. Trained CDL drivers are in high demand in the Berkshires and beyond. According to an American Trucking Association survey, more than 400,000 new truck drivers are needed in the United States every year. The Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants provide essential training opportunities to unemployed and 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Signs Negotiating Rights Agreement With Suns Baseball TeamBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Thursday, December 18, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Suns will call Wahconah Park home again.
On Tuesday, the Parks Commission accepted a negotiating rights agreement between the city and longtime summer collegiate baseball team, the Pittsfield Suns. It solidifies that the two will work together when the historic ballpark is renovated.
It remains in effect until the end of 2027, or when a license or lease agreement is signed. Terms will be automatically extended to the end of 2028 if it appears the facility won't be complete by then.
"It certainly looks like it lays out kind of both what the Suns and Pittsfield would like to see over the next year or so during this construction
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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane SocietyBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society. Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old. Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two. "They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said. The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs. "Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of
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Lanesborough Considers Bylaw Against LitterBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:30AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town is considering a bylaw against littering after reports of people dumping trash on the roadside.
Last week, Police Chief Robert Derksen and Department of Public Works Director Nate Fenwick reported the need for a formal regulation to the Select Board. Fenwick said his department has picked up whole truckloads of trash next to roadways, and while sometimes the litterer can be located from their contents, the town's hands are tied when it comes to enforcement.
"With not having any bylaw for this, it just makes it really difficult for us to get a handle on this," he said.
Derksen said Lanesborough would be better off
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Roots Rising Awarded Urban Agriculture Program Grant| 10:38AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $779,458 in funding to improve food access in underserved communities throughout Massachusetts by increasing local food production. The funding will directly support the growth of urban farms, community gardens, and food business operations, targeting areas that struggle with food insecurity. "With President Trump repeatedly attacking the programs that help Massachusetts families afford food, programs like these will increase the supply of locally grown healthy, affordable food," said Governor Maura Healey. "These awards are supporting local jobs, farmers and small food businesses that keep money 0 Comments
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1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program Accepting Applications | 08:17AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program, open to all current sophomores in the Berkshires, selects a cohort of up to 30 students from all backgrounds for this ten-month experience that will allow them to explore the regional economy and develop their leadership skills. Once selected, students will begin the program with a 3-day, 3-night retreat in June near the end of their sophomore year. At the retreat, students will meet for the first time, begin to build connections, and learn about their individual leadership styles. Over the following ten months, students will reconvene for eight full-day sessions, held at various locations across the Berkshires (or
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Pittsfield Extends Interim School Superintendent ContractBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips' employment has been extended to 2027.
Last week, the School Committee approved an employment contract that runs through June 30, 2027. Phillips was originally appointed to a one-year position that began on July 1 and runs through the end of the fiscal year in June 2026.
"You didn't ask me simply to endure challenges or struggle to prove myself. Instead, you believe in me, you've given me the space to grow, the encouragement to stretch, and the expectation that I can truly soar," she said earlier in last Wednesday's meeting when addressing outgoing School Committee
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New BRTA Administrator Keen on Getting People Where They Need to GoBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | |
Kathleen Lambert has decades of experience in transportation and planning and has some ideas on how improve service at BRTA. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new Berkshire Regional Transit Authority administrator has officially started work alongside outing Administrator Robert Malnati. Kathleen Lambert was chosen as the new administrator back in September to replace the retiring Malnati. Lambert was the administrator of Haverhill's $37.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Previously, she was deputy administrator at the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, and was in transportation planning and administration in Arkansas and community development in Philadelphia. She has
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