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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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CBRSD Eyes Nearly 2M Increase in FY25 Operating BudgetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is now anticipating a nearly $2 million increase to its operating budget for fiscal 2025. This year's budget is $33,561,243, and next year is forecast at $35,391,797, a difference of $1,839,554 or 5.45 percent. District Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis told the School Committee that administrators are trying to design a fiscally responsible budget for the seven member towns while "supporting high-quality instruction" that aligns with "district resources" including "time, funding sources, human resources, and property." "We feel it is important to 0 Comments
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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Testing for Bel Air Dam RemovalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:49PM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ahead of its demolition, the state will begin to test soils at the problematic Bel Air dam next week.
The Conservation Commission on Thursday approved a request from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation for sediment core sampling at the dam impoundment off Wahconah Street. These activities occur within land under waterbodies, the inland bank, bordering vegetated wetlands, and bordering land subject to flooding.
Beginning next week, geotechnical sampling and testing will be done at 18 locations for a stream bank restoration stability analysis. Similar sampling was issued a negative RDA in 2021.
This is part of a state-funded $20 million
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Pittsfield Asks for Info on Vandalism, Ransacking in ParksBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:49PM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is asking that community members report suspicious activity after two parks were vandalized and ransacked.
On Friday, it was reported that Clapp Park, located on West Housatonic Street, and the Common on First Street experienced recent acts of vandalism that included destruction of the bathroom fixtures and the control room.
Copper was taken from both locations. The metal is commonly stolen and sold for profit.
"Both parks are vital resources to our community. We are devastated that this activity has taken place and are going to try our best to have things repaired in time for spring," the city posted on its Facebook
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Taconic Grad Gittens Racks Up More Honors at MCLAMCLA Sports Information,
04:35PM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— MCLA senior guard and Taconic High School graduate Quentin Gittens has been named the MASCAC Player of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Gittens averaged 30.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, four assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in a 2-0 week for the Trailblazers. He Posted a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds, adding six assists, two blocks, and a steal in a 73-72 road victory at Salem State, where he sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to secure the win. And he followed that up with a career-high 36-point performance in a 67-59 at Framingham State, adding five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal, leading the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council to Tackle Small-Business Funding, Committee ChangeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:53PM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council will tackle requests for a small-business fund allocation and a reassignment of the finance subcommittee chair on Tuesday.
Mayor Peter Marchetti requested that $500,000 be transferred from the city's Economic Development Fund to the Small Business Fund, established in 2012.
The fund supports small businesses that "serve as the backbone of Pittsfield's economy," Marchetti wrote, by providing loans to existing small businesses that are unable to get funding from commercial sources or where commercial funding does not meet needs.
In its 12 years it has assisted seven businesses, created 34 jobs, and preserved 84 jobs, the
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National Grid Prepared for February Winter Storm| 01:42PM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
WALTHAM, Mass. — National Grid is prepared for a powerful winter storm to impact Massachusetts Monday evening through Tuesday, bringing significant snow, strong winds, and possible coastal flooding into the region. Some areas across the state have the potential for snow accumulations of up to 18 inches. The primary concerns associated with this storm include heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding from high tides, with the majority of the state experiencing potential snow accumulations of 8-12 inches, and some areas in Central and Western Massachusetts could experience accumulations of up to 18 inches. In addition, the storm is expected to bring gusting 0 Comments
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Dalton Green Committee Wants to Help Residents Track Heat LossBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
11:46AM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee on Wednesday voted to request that the town invest in two thermal cameras. The committee could rent them out to residents so they can find where there is heat loss in their homes and be able to make improvements in a targeted and cost-effective manner, committee member Todd Logan said. The thermal camera attaches to smartphones and costs approximately $230. The committee is interested in buying one for IOS devices and another one for android users. The committee will coordinate with Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson so he can obtain clarification from the town counsel on any liabilities issues. If this 0 Comments
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Berkshire 'Point In Time' Count on Homelessness Likely to IncreaseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Monday, February 12, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The count that gauges local homelessness was taken on Jan. 31 this year and the number is expected to increase over last year based on city and nationwide trends.
On the day of last year's Point In Time count, Jan. 25, there were at least 221 homeless people: 180 in shelters, 31 unsheltered, and 10 who were couch surfing or in other temporary shelters.
On Wednesday, Director of Community Development Justine Dodds told the Homelessness Advisory Committee that generally, the city has noticed an upward trend that is likely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic that disproportionately affected the most vulnerable populations.
In 2021, the PIT count
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Veteran Spotlight: Lt. Col. Brent FinemoreBy Wayne Soares, Special to iBerkshires
05:40PM / Sunday, February 11, 2024 | |
 FALMOUTH, Mass. — Brent Finemore served his country in the Army from 1982 to 2002, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Born in Oakland, Maine, he attended the University of Maine at Orono and joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps in his junior year. ROTC basic training brought him to Fort Knox, Ky., in the summer of 1980. "It was great, got me indoctrinated into the Army. I won a scholarship out of basic and did really well on my leadership skills," he remembered. He volunteered for expert marksmanship and with a class of 800, shot 48 out of 50 targets, attributing it to hunting all his life and was an expert in grenade throwing, attributing that 0 Comments
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Market 32 Announces Salvation Army Holiday Kettle Donation Program Results| 04:14PM / Sunday, February 11, 2024 | |
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Salvation Army bellringers at Price Chopper/Market 32 stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire raised nearly $580,000 through its six week "Red Kettle" holiday campaign. The money raised, a full $81,000 more than last year, will directly benefit those in need throughout the communities where the funds were collected. "The annual Red Kettle campaign has become an integral part of the holiday season – both in our stores and our communities," said Pam Cerrone, Price Chopper/Market 32 director of community relations. "Being able to extend ourselves and welcome our 0 Comments
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Governor Names West-East Rail Director| 11:59AM / Sunday, February 11, 2024 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration is naming a director to move forward with the West-East Rail initiative. Andy Koziol, current director of rail and transit, is expected to lead the charge to extend passenger rail service from Boston to Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield. In her first budget, Gov. Maura Healey worked with the Legislature to secure funding for staff support for the project, including creating the director position. The state Department of Transportation recently received a $108 million federal grant toward undertaking the necessary trackwork to enable two daily Amtrak round trips between Boston and New 0 Comments
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Six People Displaced, Kitten Rescued After Pittsfield Fire| 11:50AM / Sunday, February 11, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Six people are homeless after a first-floor fire in their apartment building Saturday on South Atlantic Avenue. No one was injured and the cause of the blaze is under investigation. Firefighters were called at about 4:11 a.m. on Saturday for a reported structure fire at 17-19 South Atlantic. They found heavy fire was showing from the first floor, according to Deputy Chief Matthew Noyes. A second alarm was called and, in all, in Engines 1, 3, 5 and 6 responded. Crews performed primary and secondary searches of the building and a kitten was located and transferred to a medic crew for care. The fire was brought under control in 0 Comments
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