| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Interviews Prospective Interim SuperintendentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:10PM / Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | |
The School Committee is expected to make a decision on Wednesday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee is set to appoint an interim superintendent at Wednesday's regular meeting.
They have a choice between three candidates: Roland Joyal Jr., Latifah Phillips, and Robert Putnam. Outgoing Superintendent Joseph Curtis will step down from his position on July 1 after 30 years with the district. Mary Jane Rickson, superintendent of the Granby Public Schools, withdrew from consideration shortly after her name was announced. During 70-minute interviews on Wednesday and Thursday at Reid Middle School, the three finalists were asked to detail how they would approach the
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Berkshire County Historical Opens Arrowhead on May 17| 04:29PM / Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society (BCHS)will open Herman Melville's historic home, Arrowhead, for guided tours beginning May 17. Melville lived at Arrowhead from 1850-1863 and there wrote his masterpiece "Moby-Dick" inspired by the view of Mount Greylock outside his study window. Tours are offered Thursday through Monday on the hour with the first tour beginning at 10 am and the last at 3 pm. Rates for guided tours are: adults $20, students $10, children 12 and under free. Reservations are not required but can be made by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org. Group tours are available by appointment for 0 Comments
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Community Shred Day Nets 8,000 Pounds of Shredded, Recycled Paper| 10:45AM / Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Eight thousand pounds of paper were shredded and recycled at this year's Community Shred Day held on Saturday, May 3. The annual event was hosted by Greylock Federal Credit Union, in collaboration with Berkshire United Way, to benefit the United Way's local initiatives. The event, which was open to the public, allowed community members to securely dispose of personal printed documents on-site courtesy of VitalShred at the United Way headquarters in Pittsfield. "We love organizing this event for our community. It's a great way to securely dispose of personal documents while also supporting our friends at Berkshire 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Writers Recognized On The 2025 Mass Book Awards Longlists| 07:30AM / Tuesday, May 13, 2025 | |
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — The longlisted titles for the 25th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards, announced by the Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB), include recognition for authors from Berkshire County. The MCB, a nonprofit established in 2000, is dedicated to fostering a love of reading, celebrating the Commonwealth's literary heritage, ensuring open access to books and libraries, and promoting literacy and learning across Massachusetts. Among the recognized authors are: Eden Robins of North Adams, longlisted in Fiction for "Remember You Will Die." Elizabeth Kolbert of Williamstown, longlisted in Nonfiction for "H is 0 Comments
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Pagliarulo, Strout Win Seats on Dalton Select BoardBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
08:56PM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
The election saw about a 20 percent turnout of registered voters. DALTON, Mass. — Voters returned one of two incumbents to the Select Board and one newcomer on Tuesday. Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo won one of the two seats in the four-way race with 577 votes for the board, outpolling the other three candidates by 107 votes. Coming up second was incumbent Marc Strout with 486. William Drosehn, chair of the Finance Committee, was 13 votes behind at 473. Robert Collins, who won a seat by 13 votes in February's special election found himself out of the running this time with 459 votes. Pagliarulo expressed his
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Nearly 5% Budget Increase Proposed For PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:56PM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's operating budget and water/sewer rates are on Tuesday's City Council meeting agenda.
Mayor Peter Marchetti has submitted an order to raise and appropriate $226,246,942 for the fiscal year 2026 budget, a nearly 4.8 percent increase from the previous year. It includes $86,450,361 for the school department, $11,202,345 for the department of public services, and $15,468,750 for the Pittsfield police.
Marchetti has also asked that $2 million in free cash be applied to offset the FY26 tax rate.
While these items are on the agenda for Tuesday, they are typically referred to the Committee of the Whole, and departments are deliberated on a
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BeatNest Celebrates Grand Opening in New SpaceBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:36PM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
The space has private recording areas and room for group classes. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — BeatNest, an electronic music program, celebrated its grand opening at 163 North St. on Saturday. This new space is about 10 times bigger than its former space, owner Geoffrey Carter said, and being on North Street provides more visibility. "The street visibility has been great because people just walk by and they can see my sign," he said. "I've always been looking for an upgrade to teach bigger groups of classes where I can do group events and expand my offerings." Carter says the number of classes and the number of students have grown, prompting 0 Comments
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Temporary Closure Announced for Section of Ashuwillticook Rail Trail| 12:22PM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
CHESHIRE, Mass.— The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced a temporary closure of a section of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Beginning on Monday, May 12, 2025, and continuing through Wednesday, May 14, 2025, the trail will be closed between Nobody’s Road North and Harbor Road in the Town of Cheshire. The closure will be in effect daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to allow for hazard tree removal work. 0 Comments
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Greylock Federal Webinar: Navigating Financial Uncertainty| 10:21AM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union, in partnership with GreenPath Financial Wellness, will be offering the upcoming webinar, "Navigating Financial Uncertainty," on Wednesday, May 14. The free webinar will be held from 2-2:45 p.m. and will discuss initial steps to take during financial uncertainty; community resources to access during a financial transition; and ways to prepare for the future. Those interested can attend the live session or register and receive a recording. To register, visit greylock.org/CEC. 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Committee Approves Long-Anticipated Teacher ContractBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Monday, May 12, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee last week formally approved a three-year contract with the United Educators of Pittsfield after more than a year of negotiations.
Under the contract, teachers will make between about $65,000 at Step 1 with a bachelor's degree and about $128,500 at Step 18 with a doctorate in fiscal year 2027. It also reduces the number of half days scheduled for professional development. The UEP represents classroom teachers, guidance counselors, department heads, and other specialists.
"UEP started looking at what we wanted to present for the contract back in October of 2023," President Jeanne Lemmond said after the vote was made at Reid
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