|
| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Dalton Zoning Board Adopts Conflict of Interest PolicyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
10:44AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Zoning Board voted to adopt a conflict of interest policy during its meeting last week. The policy prohibits board members who are invested in or are partners, directors, or officers in a business to vote on a zoning action that may affect that business. It would also require all members to disclose any investments or controlling positions they have that would affect Zoning Board action. The discussion to establish a conflict-of-interest policy was presented to the board in August when the town's insurer, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association reached out regarding the matter. Although board members 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Green Committee Discusses Getting Compost ProgramBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee is mulling the potential of a composting program at the transfer station. The program would allow residents to bring organic compost to the transfer station without charge. The compost station would have three sections separated by concrete cubes. Every six months to a year, the compost would be moved to a different section as it breaks down, committee member Antonio Pagliarulo said. Pagliarulo and committee member Thomas Irwin visited the Egremont Transfer Station to inform Dalton's proposed program. "It's gratis to the townspeople of Egremont. They leave their compost, and then 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Herberg Students Acknowledge Mohican Land with PlaqueBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Herberg Middle School students have collaborated to honor the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans in a long-lasting way.
Last week, a land acknowledgment plaque was installed on the school just in time for Indigenous Peoples' Day. The effort stemmed from an eighth-grade civics project and has spanned over a couple of years.
"When students are exposed to unjust history they really want to contribute to reparations. Additionally, our middle schoolers are civically minded and looking for opportunities to be involved in our local community," social studies teacher Jen Jaehnig said.
"Last year they collected money for Damar
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Commission Formed to Accelerate Siting and Permitting of Clean Energy Infrastructure | 04:00PM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (CEISP) and swore in Commission members. To meet the emissions limits outlined in the Clean Energy and Climate Plans (CECP), Massachusetts will need to site a significant amount of new energy infrastructure, including new solar and wind generation, storage, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. The CEISP brings together stakeholders to swiftly remove barriers to responsible clean energy infrastructure development.? "The clean energy transition can't wait," said Governor Healey. "This commission 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Cultural Council Accepting Applications for Cultural Initiatives| 10:04AM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Cultural Council is accepting applications for grant funding that supports annual, local cultural projects focusing on the arts, humanities and sciences. The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded the council $7,800 to distribute to groups or individuals to fund qualified projects. "We're looking for some unique ideas this year and hope that Dalton residents participate in this grant opportunity as they know our town best to bring forth the cultural projects our citizens want. And, that's what makes Dalton special," Cultural Council Treasurer Leslee Bassman said. Grant amounts vary. If interested, please complete 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Governor Healey Nominates Attorneys to Superior Court | 08:00AM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey today nominated Boston-based attorney Adam L. Sisitsky and Springfield-based attorney Tracy E. Duncan as Associate Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor's Council for confirmation. "I'm proud to nominate two experienced attorneys to the Superior Court. Adam Sisitsky and Tracy Duncan share our commitment to making Massachusetts stronger by upholding justice, equity and the rule of law," said Governor Maura Healey. "We thank the Governor's Council in advance for their diligent consideration of these two nominations." The 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Planners Present Possible Solutions for Pittsfield Public Schools RestructuringBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13PM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A decline in Pittsfield's population has planners reviewing the size and number of the city's elementary schools, their grade configurations and the curricular offerings of the middle and high schools.
Tuesday's update to the School Building Needs Commission from DRA architects on the restructuring study included information about demographics and enrollment; zoning and environmental mapping; Massachusetts School Building Authority guidelines; and grade span and alignment options. "It's a lot to think about," committee member Kathy Amuso said.
An online survey on the school's physical and educational needs garnered
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Residents Emphasize Need for Better CommunicationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:05PM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
The session was part of a review of the 2016 master plan's goals and how it aligns to changes in the community over the past seven years. DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board heard input from community members on ways it can improve the town's master plan during its strategy session on Monday night. The three-hour meeting was held in an effort to review the current status of the goals set in the 2016 master plan and to determine how the town can improve it to better serve its evolving community. A conversation between the residents and the Select Board regarding the plan has not been done before, Chair Joseph Diver 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Governor Announces Improvements to Child Care Financial Assistance| 11:55AM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced improvements to Child Care Financial Assistance?programs in Massachusetts. Updated regulations and policies will simplify the application process for parents, reduce paperwork for families and early education programs, and better support homeless families, families with disabilities and families facing domestic violence who take advantage of this program. With these changes, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is making it easier for young, working, low-income families to access the subsidies available for child care and "out of school time" education programs. "One of the top 0 Comments
Read More >> |
@theMarket: Are Stocks Close to a Bottom?By Bill Schmick,
10:05AM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
As the market enters October, there is both good and bad news. The sell-off that started in September is continuing. The good news is that we should be close to the bottom. Blame the waterfall decline in the price of the 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, the continuing gains in the U.S. dollar, and the seasonal pattern in the equity market. Throw in the absolute mess in Washington and the market's free fall can be understood. None of this should be new to readers because this is exactly what I predicted would happen back in August. I expected markets to correct into the second week of October and here we are with one week to go. The argument over government spending levels and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Councilors See Positives in Citywide Water MetersBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13PM / Friday, October 06, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Councilors are pushing for citywide water meters with considerations for cost savings and climate change.
On Tuesday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee agreed that requiring water meters on all new residential construction is the way to go but the language needs to be fleshed out. A petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren and Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey requesting to determine if the meters will be required was tabled in order to gather further feedback.
"I think we're all in agreement that we would like to see this get done," Kavey said.
"We need to have more discussion with (Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities
0 Comments
Read More >> |
The Retired Investor: Government Dysfunction Can Lead Debt-Rating Reduction By Bill Schmick,
03:01PM / Friday, October 06, 2023 | |
The ongoing partisan battles in Congress over a government shutdown are making daily headlines. However, whether a shutdown ultimately occurs or not may not be the most important outcome of this squabble. Over the weekend, at the 11th hour, Congress and the White House passed a continuing resolution to postpone a government shutdown until Nov. 14, 2023. Axing funding for Ukraine was the price Republicans demanded to kick this spending can down the road. This was somehow hailed as a bipartisan victory, one of the few in this deeply divided Congress. It seems to me that the only victor in this mess was Russia. Since then, a handful of radical right Republicans in the 0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
MEMBER SIGN IN
