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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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State Launches Multilingual Enhancements to Paid Family and Medical Leave Program | 12:27PM / Friday, December 15, 2023 | |
 BOSTON — Recently, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched accessibility and equitability enhancements to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The new enhancements allow applicants for PFML benefits to now select Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole or Chinese, in addition to English, when applying for benefits, and further communication from the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) will also be in the individual's preferred language. "Massachusetts is proud of our strong Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, and we want all our residents to access information about the benefits available to them in their 0 Comments
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BArT Announces Upcoming Enrollment Deadlines| 08:08AM / Friday, December 15, 2023 | |
ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Arts and Technology (BArT) Charter Public School is currently accepting applications for students in grades 6 through 10 for the 2023-2024 school year and the 2024-2025 school year. The first enrollment deadline for the 2024-2025 school year is Thursday, Feb. 29 at noon. The easiest way to apply is to visit https://bartcharter.schoolmint.com/. Use the teal button in the top right corner of the webpage to toggle to 2024-2025 (it will then appear orange). Interested families should note that the best way to secure a seat or a desirable waitlist spot for the 2024-2025 school year is to apply before the Feb. 29 deadline. The final enrollment 0 Comments
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Dalton Uses Sewer Stabilization to Makeup Sewer Bill ShortfallBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Friday, December 15, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The last sewer bill that the town received from Pittsfield was $70,852.75 more than the originally estimated. According to Pittsfield's Finance Director Matthew Kerwood, Mayor-elect Peter Marchetti will look favorably on a new approach to rate increases that will make budgeting for Dalton more predictable, however there will still be some level of fluctuation from any estimate, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. Marchetti is proposing an "annual increase at some objectively defensible rate, perhaps the Consumer Price Index" rather than once every three years, Hutcheson said. During a special town meeting in August, 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Zero-Date Options Boost Market Risks| 06:07PM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
If you still think that fundamental variables such as earnings results, price/earnings ratios, and future sales prospects determine where the equity markets are going, you are living in Lala land. Today, the flows into the options markets determine the future direction of stocks and indexes. At the pinnacle of this market trend lies the zero-date option. But before we get into that subject, I think an option primer is in order. For those who don't know, options give traders the right to buy or sell a particular stock or index at a specific price by a stated date. Leverage is involved, since one contract allows you to control 100 shares of a stock at a fraction of the price 0 Comments
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2023 Toyota Truck Donated to Taconic Automotive ProgramBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31PM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High School's automotive program now has a "Thundra" pickup that students can train on.
The School Committee on Wednesday accepted the donation of the 2023 Toyota Tundra for the high school's auto technology program. The truck is valued at more than $37,300 and will increase students' knowledge of Toyota maintenance and repair as part of the Toyota TECS, or Technician Education College Support, elite training program. "I've affectionally named this the 'Thundra,' not the Tundra, that's how we refer to it," Principal Matthew said, thanking all involved with the donation. The nickname is a nod to
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Pittsfield to Pay Tribute to Fallen Airman Galliher| 02:23PM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield will be turning out to pay tribute to Air Force Staff. Sgt. Jacob Galliher as his remains are returned home on Friday. Galliher, 24, was killed when the Osprey aircraft he was on crashed off the coast of Japan along with seven other crew members. The Taconic High School graduate left behind his wife and 2-year-old and 6-week-old sons. Members of the Pittsfield Police and Fire departments, the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, State Police and the Dalton American Legion Riders will be escorting Galliher home from Westover Air Force Base along a route that will take them through Lee, Lenox and 0 Comments
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Market 32 Plush Chickens Support Double H Ranch| 11:05AM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three new plush chickens are available to purchase for $10 at local Price Choppers and Market 32 stores with proceeds supporting Double H Ranch. Double H Ranch provides specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Its purpose is to enrich the lives of those it serves and to provide camp experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe, and medically sound. The three newest members of the Price Chopper/Market 32 plush family, Alfredo, Noodle, and Nugget, each have unique backstories and personalities they bring to the table. According to a 0 Comments
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BIC Receives Collaborative Workspace Program Grant| 10:56AM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Fitchburg to celebrate awards through the state's Community One Stop for Growth, including $950,000 in grants from the Collaborative Workspace Program. In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state. "One of the things that makes Massachusetts special is our talent for innovation and entrepreneurship," said Governor Maura Healey. "These grants through the Collaborative Workspace Program will help turn that energy 0 Comments
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Dalton Special Town Meeting Approved Police Detail Fund Transfer By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
Both the Select Board and Finance Committee chairs addressed the issue. The special town meeting amended transfer request for $20,000 to $25,000. DALTON, Mass. — A special town meeting approved the transfer of $25,000 from General Stabilization to the Police Details Fund. The transfer was the only article on the warrant and was requested to ensure that officers can be paid for detail work in a timely manner. This special town meeting was one of the most well attended, especially considering the holidays coming up, Town Clerk Heather Hunt said. Normally special town meetings are poorly attended, drawing in an average of 25 to 30 voters, 0 Comments
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Departing Pittsfield School Officials, Mayor Thanked for ServiceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:06AM / Thursday, December 14, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Departing members were thanked for their service to local education during the last School Committee meeting of the term. Alison McGee, Vicky Smith, and Mark Brazeau did not seek re-election and will turn their seats over in the new year.
Superintendent Joseph Curtis said they have been strong advocates for children and families, acting as much more than overseers.
"Your unwavering commitment to the betterment of our schools during what we all agree has been an unprecedented time in education has made a lasting impact on the Pittsfield Public Schools. Collaborating with my superintendent peers statewide, I have consistently admired the exceptional
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Pittsfield Council Closes Term With Tax Rate ApprovalsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:14PM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
Councilors on Tuesday debate the tax shift differential for fiscal 2024 before voting 6-4 to approve as presented. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite the pain of raising taxes, a majority of the City Council members agreed that it is their responsibility to approve 2024 tax classification so that the city doesn't fall behind. The council approved during its last meeting of the term a residential shift factor of 0.8151 that will result in a residential rate of $18.45 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial rate of $39.61 per $1,000. This is a 13 cent, or 0.7 percent, increase from 2023 for residential and a 40 cent, or one percent, increase for commercial, industrial,
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Pittsfield Named One of Nation's Digital Inclusion Trailblazers| 03:58PM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) named the City of Pittsfield as a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer, recognizing the city's efforts to close the digital divide. "It is an honor for Pittsfield to be recognized for its digital inclusion efforts. This is more motivation to enhance what we have to continue to create access to the digital space for everyone," said Michael Obasohan, chief diversity officer. This year, Pittsfield joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, with 47 total awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the 0 Comments
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