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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire Organizations Awarded Tourism Grants| 08:16AM / Thursday, August 29, 2024 | |
BOSTON—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $5.9 million in grants to 61 cultural and tourism projects through the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's Destination Development Capital (DDC) grant program, which supports projects that expand, construct, restore, or renovate Massachusetts tourism destinations and attractions. "Massachusetts is a world-class destination thanks to our rich culture and iconic landmarks," said Governor Maura Healey. "With these grants, we are supporting small businesses, driving job creation, and investing in local and regional economies across the state. Many of the destinations we are supporting with these grants 0 Comments
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Former NFL Player Shares Message on Overcoming AdversityBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires.com Sports
06:20AM / Thursday, August 29, 2024 | |
 DALTON, Mass. – By any reasonable measure, Keith Willis has been a success in sports and in life. And the former NFL tight end probably inspired a little awe among the Wahconah High School student-athletes who filled the Nessacus Middle School auditorium on Wednesday evening. But he did not come to show off. He came to show those students how to be winners themselves. “How many think it’s cool that I played for five different NFL teams?” Willis said, asking for a show of hands from the youngsters. “It’s pretty cool, right? “You know what people don’t think about? That means I was cut five different 0 Comments
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Overtime, Wages Caused $165K Deficit in Dalton Fire DistrictBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Thursday, August 29, 2024 | |
The Board of Water Commissioners say the deficit was caused by failing to budget for overtime and higher wages when the ambulance service began hiring paramedics. DALTON, Mass. — An audit of the Fire District's expenses has found a $165,000 deficit caused mainly by overtime for firefighters and emergency medical technicians. When the Board of Water Commissioners suspended Fire Chief Christian Tobin earlier this month following allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending, and "employee concerns," Tobin shot back with claims of "unlawful departmental practices" that included misuse of credit cards and illegal wage and hour 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Housing Trust Has End of Year ARPA DeadlineBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Thursday, August 29, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Affordable Housing Trust has four months to commit a half-million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Community Development Director Justine Dodds delivered this "somewhat surprising" news to the panel last week. It was previously believed that they had a couple more years to decide which housing projects would receive support.
"As compressed as it may seem, I feel like we are really in kind of a good spot," Dodds said, explaining that the panel has letters of interest, an overview of interested applicants, and a full application that will allow them to make an informed decision.
What this means, she said, is that the board
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CBRSD Says Improved Reporting System Explains Increase in Student OffensesBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:30PM / Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Bullying allegations reported have increased, but that is likely due to Central Berkshire Regional School District's improved reporting system, the administration says. There was a presentation on the district's discipline and bullying data during the School Committee meeting last week. According to the presentation, the total number of student offenses in the 2023-2024 school year was 280, whereas in the 2022-2023 school year, there were only 212 student offenses. "I would have anticipated [the increase], to be perfectly honest with you, because I think our systems are better. I think our systems are more sensitive, 0 Comments
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Pittsfield City Hall Parking Unavailable Due to Construction| 10:12AM / Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Due to repairs underway at the rear entrance of City Hall, the parking lot behind the building is currently not available for use and will remain unavailable through Friday, Aug. 30. Residents and visitors are asked to park on Fenn Street, Federal Street or in the First Street parking lot from now through Friday if they need to visit City Hall. City Hall asks that residents utilize the accessible ramp entrance located on the Allen Street side of the building. For voters that are returning their absentee or early voting ballots, you can either place them in the ballot box, located near the exit of the back parking lot, Fenn Street side of 0 Comments
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A Rare Bird: Koperniak Stands Out in Triple-ABy Frank Murtaugh, The Memphis (Tenn.) Flyer
06:00AM / Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | |
 MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- I’ve interviewed professional baseball players for more than two decades. There are talented players who, honestly, aren’t that interesting away from the diamond. They’re good ballplayers, and baseball is what they know. There are also very interesting baseball players who aren’t all that talented. Now and then, though, you find yourself in the home team’s dugout at AutoZone Park with a very good baseball player who has a very interesting story to share. Like the Memphis Redbirds’ top hitter this season, outfielder Matt Koperniak. That story? It began on Feb. 8, 1998, when Koperniak was born in London. (Koperniak played for 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Licensing Board Reduces Panchos' Hours AgainBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:55PM / Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Panchos' hours have been dialed back again after several reported late-night incidents.
The Licensing Board has reduced the eatery and bar's closing time from 1 a.m. to midnight with the last call at 11:30 p.m.
At the end of 2023, Panchos Mexican Restaurant was slapped with a seven-day liquor license suspension and reduced hours after police came forward with more than 10 disturbances on site since August, including projectile vomiting and talk of a gun.
Police Capt. Matthew Hill came to the board on Monday with five incidents gathered by officers this summer. Staff members say they have done their due diligence inside and cannot control the
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Millers, Thunder Win Berkshire Adult Baseball League Titles| 07:13AM / Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | |
 The Berkshire Thunder and GB Millers each swept their way to Berkshire Adult Baseball League titles over the weekend. At Wahconah Park on Sunday, the Thunder edged the Dalton Moneymakers, 6-5, to wrap up their best-of-three championship series in the 33-and-over division of the BABL. The Thunder, which won the opener, 6-1, on Saturday, got a strong pitching performance from three different players in Game 2. Joe Bateman, Cory Hillard and Seamus Morrison combined to allow just two earned runs in the title clincher. Hillard got the win with four innings of work in relief, scattering four hits and allowing all five runs -- three unearned as the Thunder committed 0 Comments
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Dalton Planners Need More Information on Tiny Home TaxingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — There are too many questions that need to be answered before the Planning Board can vote on amending its accessory dwelling unit bylaw to include movable tiny homes. Unanswered concerns surround the tax implications of changing the bylaw to include them as vehicles or as real estate. Town Planner Janko Tomasic said he had contacted the town assessor for feedback but has not yet received a response. Douglas Smith, the founder of Beechwood Tiny Homes in New Hampshire, attended the meeting last week to answer any questions the board may have had. "I know on our planning board, we do not have anything to do with 0 Comments
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Pricier Pontoosuc Lake Park Improvements Bid This WeekBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Cost estimates for Pontoosuc Lake Park improvements are higher than expected but the project is being bid this week. American Rescue Plan Act funds are expected fill the gap.
Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath reported this to the Parks Commission last week. Once bidding is complete, the city plans to get right to construction.
"The cost estimate for the project came back higher than was anticipated when the final designs were completed. We got the estimate and it was several hundred thousand over budget," he said.
"So there was an appeal made to the city's American Rescue Plan and some additional
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Abutters Say Proprietor's Lodge Dock Proposal is UnsafeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:36PM / Monday, August 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents continue to speak against a proposed dock at Proprietor's Lodge, citing the project as a public safety issue.
The Conservation Commission again continued a notice of intent application for a 12-slip private, seasonal dock at the lakefront restaurant. A NOI for an identical project was denied by the commission in 2019 and the applicant appealed it with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which then issued a superseding order of conditions.
That order has now expired.
Robert Pensivy said abutters reached out at least five times to mediate the size and location of the marina since "it's basically right on top of a
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