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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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The Retired Investor: Auto Insurance Premiums Keep RisingBy Bill Schmick,
04:36PM / Thursday, February 15, 2024 | |
Forget fuel and food, auto insurance leads the way in areas where inflation is ramping higher. The rise in premiums has far outpaced the overall inflation rate and we could see further gains in 2024. Auto premiums are up 43 percent in the past three years and there is no sign the rate increases are over. In 2023 alone, auto insurance prices rose 19.2 percent, as registered by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The January 2024 CPI data just released this week shows a 20.6 percent increase from last year. It is one of the greatest contributors to the inflation rate and exceeded the price gains in almost every other spending category. Industry analysts' best guess is that 0 Comments
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Dalton Town Hall Lift Out of Order, ADA Picnic TablesBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
03:48PM / Thursday, February 15, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Town Hall lift is still out of order so public meetings are only being held when the library is open. ADA coordinator Alyssa Maschino told the Americans with Disabilities Committee this week that although someone from Garaventa Lift came out to repair it, during a test ride it stopped working again. The committee is still waiting to hear back from Garaventa Lift on a quote for the cost of a new lift requested last fall. The committee intends on applying for a Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Improvement grant to cover the cost of the replacement. However, the project was delayed because 0 Comments
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Berkshire Fire Departments Awarded Safety Equipment Grants| 10:39AM / Thursday, February 15, 2024 | |
STOW, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $5 million in awards to 321 Massachusetts fire departments through the state’s Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program. "Every single day, firefighters across Massachusetts put themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities," said Governor Maura Healey. "They deserve our thanks and our support. The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program is just one way we can express our appreciation for that selfless dedication." Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on 0 Comments
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BCC to Hold Open House| 08:03AM / Thursday, February 15, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Learn more about Berkshire Community College (BCC) on Saturday, March 9 from 9-11 am, including a financial aid workshop at 10 am. The event takes place in the Connector on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Prospective students and their guests are invited to meet one-on-one with BCC representatives from various offices. Participants can speak with faculty about the programs that interest them, take a campus tour and learn about paying for college, transferring to a four-year school, internships and career opportunities. All attendees will receive a breakfast, a discount at the BCC 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Has Allocated Almost All ARPA FundsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Thursday, February 15, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has allocated $40.4 million of its $40.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and the rest must be committed by the end of the year.
More than $24 million of the funds went toward addressing the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes housing initiatives, assistance to small businesses, work on Site 9 in the William Stanley Business Park, a three-year marketing campaign, and funding to 37 nonprofit organizations.
"You'll see that we really focus in on those four areas to stabilize local government operations, households, small businesses, and economic sectors, particularly in local tourism and cultural
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Lanesborough Police See 3-5 Years In 'Temporary' StationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:29PM / Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Police Department will likely be in its "temporary" location for three to five years and now wishes to expand the space. The Select Board voted on Monday to give Chief Robert Derksen and Town Administrator Gina Dario the authority to have conversations with the 545 South Main St. landlord about renting an abutting space if it becomes available.
"It's a good location while the town decides if they're going to build or not," Derksen said.
"I mean, even if the town were to approve a building today, you're still talking two years out so realistic projection is still three to five years we're going to probably be at
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Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Paint Stewardship EffortsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:06AM / Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The discussion of paint stewardship has reached the City Council.
On Monday, the Public Works and Utilities subcommittee voted to draft a letter in support of paint stewardship legislation that diverts unwanted paint from waste streams. Paint stewardship is part of the product stewardship approach, in which manufacturers take responsibility for the end life of their products.
Tom Irwin, a member of Dalton's Green Committee, has gotten a number of the county's communities on board and the bill is co-sponsored by Berkshire legislators.
"Why is product stewardship or paint stewardship important? In 2022, Massachusetts generated 6 million tons of
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Searchers Recover Human Remains on Lenox MountainStaff Reports,
11:38PM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
LENOX, Mass. — Human remains recovered on Lenox Mountain are being investigated in the disappearance of Susan Lockwood. The District Attorney Timothy Shugrue's office on Tuesday confirmed the discovery of the remains and said the State Police Detective Unit was in the process of identifying them. Communications Director Julia Sabourin said the office had contacted Lockwood's husband to update him but that "no positive identification has been made." Lockwood, 66, of Richmond has been missing since Oct. 30. Her car was found on Reservoir Road near some trails she frequently hiked. An intensive search of that area was undertaken 0 Comments
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Fire Truck Vote Sparks OML Complaint, Dalton Board RejectionBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:18PM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — The decision by the Board of Water Commissioners to renegotiate the ladder truck contract is at risk of being invalidated as a result of an Open Meeting Law violation filed against it. The complaint was filed by Select Board Chair Joseph Diver following the Jan. 23 meeting, when the Water Commissioners discussed and voted on the matter. The topic of the ladder truck was not included on the agenda. "Over the last year multiple requests have been made to the board to improve the agenda to make the topics sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting." the complaint 0 Comments
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Dalton Select Board OKs Nonresident Board PolicyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
03:12PM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted last week to allow nonresidents to volunteer on town committees. The town does not currently have a policy restricting non-residents from serving. Nonresidents have been serving on some of board and committees because they have been able to provide certain expertise, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. Other towns have restricted nonresidents from serving in an effort to add "guardrails" and prevent volunteers from giving advice in bad faith, he said. Although he does not believe that any of the nonresidents currently serving on town committees are acting in bad faith, he said the board can 0 Comments
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BHS Receives Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award| 02:54PM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) announced that it has been recognized as a 2024 Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award recipient by Healthgrades, the leading resource consumers use to find a hospital or doctor. According to a press release, this achievement, along with being a 5-Star recipient for Outpatient Total Knee Replacement for 2 consecutive years (2023-2024), reflects the organization's dedication to clinical excellence and distinguishes Berkshire Medical Center as one of the nation's leading hospitals for outpatient joint replacement. BMC is one of 152 hospitals nationwide to receive the Joint Replacement Excellence 0 Comments
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BCC Students in Nursing Programs Maintain High Pass Rate for Licensure Exam | 08:16AM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass —?Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports that its Practical Nursing (PN) students had a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) licensure exam in the 2023 calendar year, while Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students had a 91.43 percent pass rate for first-time test takers. All 17 PN students passed, and 64 out of 70 ADN students passed. NCLEX uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) technology to deliver the exam, ensuring a valid and reliable measurement of nursing competence. The passing standard for the NCLEX is the cut point at which the minimum ability is determined to require 0 Comments
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