| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Works to Update Open Space & Recreation PlanBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:44PM / Monday, March 24, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city's Open Space and Recreation Plan is due for an update to guide the next five years.
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath and Seth Jenkins, senior planner at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, have worked on the effort over the past year so that the city remains eligible for state grant funding. The last approved plan ran from 2019 to 2024.
"We want to make certain that our strategies are attainable and that we have a clear path of funding to get them implemented," McGrath told the Parks Commission on last week.
"Because there's nothing worse than sort of creating this excitement over something
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Bomb Threat Evacuates Fundraiser at Pittsfield's WanderBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:02PM / Monday, March 24, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An inclusive, sober cafe downtown had to be evacuated Saturday because of a bomb threat.
This interrupted a drag story hour fundraiser but organizers say they are standing strong against hate.
"To those who would attempt to sow fear — know this: you've only strengthened our resolve. Our joy is our resistance. Our love is our power. Our community will continue to rise louder, prouder, and more united," the owners of Wander (the venue), Berkshire Pride, and Drag Story Hour Berkshires wrote in a joint statement.
"We are here. And our revolution is unstoppable. Now more than ever, we call on our community and allies to take action: show up,
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Letter: Pittsfield's Potholes Are a Joke — But the Punchline Is UsLetter to the Editor,
02:00PM / Monday, March 24, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
Try driving down West Street without spilling your coffee or losing a tire. Our roads look like they've been shelled — and every spring, we pretend it's just part of "living in the Berkshires."
It's not. It's failure. Year after year, the same lazy patch jobs fall apart, using the same materials and the same contractors who benefit from doing it wrong. The city shrugs, blames the weather, and cuts another check. Rinse, repeat.
This isn't just a pothole problem. It's a leadership problem — and a collective amnesia. We keep pretending someone else will fix it, while handing control to the same officials and backroom deals that
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Disability Advocates Hope Lawmakers See the 'Light'By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Monday, March 24, 2025 | |
State Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, left, and Leigh Davis, Joann Shugrue from Congressman Neal's office and Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti attend the annual advocacy breakfast at the Country Club of Pittsfield on Friday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite the "chaos" of the current political and budgetary environment, advocates for the disabled reminded local lawmakers where the light is. During the 20th annual Berkshire Legislative Breakfast for disability advocacy, Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Leigh Davis, and state Sen. Paul Mark, attending remotely, listened to speakers who shared their stories and expertise on the 0 Comments
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Veteran Spotlight: Air Force Capt. Ralph Herbst By Wayne Soares, Special to iBerkshires
04:50PM / Sunday, March 23, 2025 | |
 FALMOUTH, Mass. — Ralph Herbst served his country in the Air Force from 1961 to 1968, separating as a captain. He would fly more than 200 missions during his military career. He grew up in Highland Park, Ill., and graduated from the University of Colorado, where he also played football, before joining the service Herbst did his basic training and attended Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. "They called us the 90-day wonders," he said. "We studied a great deal of military history, learned how to march, stuff like that." He was sent to Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and then to 0 Comments
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MassWildLife: Drivers Watch for amphibians| 04:00PM / Sunday, March 23, 2025 | |
For many Massachusetts residents, spring rain is a reminder of the changing seasons. For smaller Massachusetts natives, like amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites or disperse to new areas. Unfortunately, many of those animals will face the daunting task of having to cross roads to reach their destinations. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, blue-spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, American toads, spring peepers, four-toed salamanders, northern leopard frogs, and eastern red-backed salamanders are frequently encountered on roads during early spring rains. With little to no snow cover
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Girls Basketball Hall of Fame Welcomes 2025 ClassBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires.com Sports
03:32PM / Sunday, March 23, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – When seven former players were enshrined in the Berkshire County High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, their numerous accomplishments were chronicled. Not surprisingly, some of their crowning achievements – 1,000th career points, Berkshire County MVPs and all-Western Massachusetts recognitions – came in their junior and senior years of high school. Then, there was Pittsfield High graduate Dasen Woitkowski. “Desan played varsity her freshman and sophomore years, missing all of her junior year and half of her senior year with an ACL injury” Hall of Fame Board member John Vosburgh related. “Going 0 Comments
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MassRMV: REAL ID Compliance Becomes Effective on May 7 | 11:40AM / Sunday, March 23, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is reminding residents that, beginning May 7, anyone traveling by plane domestically or entering certain federal facilities will need a Registry-issued REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID, or a valid passport. The Registry is strongly encouraging everyone seeking a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card to go online now at Mass.Gov/REALID to learn what documents are needed for a required in-person appointment. With two months to go until May 7, Massachusetts is at 56 percent REAL ID adoption, with over 3 million credentials being REAL ID-compliant. To receive their credential in the mail, which can
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Market 32/Price Chopper Raises Funds For Red Cross Wildfire Relief| 08:01AM / Sunday, March 23, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32/Price Chopper customers donated $63,338.77 to the American Red Cross California Wildfire Fund. Market 32/Price Chopper contributed an additional $10,000, bringing the total donation to $73,338.77. According to CAL FIRE, wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in January burned 58 square miles and destroyed over 16,000 structures. The wildfires resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and 29 deaths. The American Red Cross is providing disaster recovery centers, emergency shelter, meals, emotional support, and financial assistance. Customers were invited to round up their change to support these efforts from 0 Comments
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Community Hero: Reina Mercado-AntunezBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Saturday, March 22, 2025 | |
Reina Mercado-Antunez speaks about Taino history and culture to her daughter's class in this provided photo. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Reina Mercado-Antunez is widely regarded by her peers as the glue that holds a community together. It is this spirit she brings to every role she assumes that has earned her the title of March's Community Hero of the Month. The Community Hero of the Month is a 12-month series that honors individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. This year's sponsor is Window World of Western Massachusetts. Nominate a hero here. Mercado-Antunez is the family engagement manager at Berkshire 0 Comments
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MassDOT Reminds All Motorists Roadway Safety Is a Shared Responsibility | 03:32PM / Saturday, March 22, 2025 | |
BOSTON —The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) have announced a Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period from March 23 to April 30, 2025. The announcement emphasizes the shared responsibility of roadway safety for all motorists. MassDOT urges vehicle drivers to exercise caution, particularly when changing lanes and making turns, by "looking twice" for motorcycles. Motorcycle operators are advised to wear visible clothing and adhere to speed limits. Data from MassDOT's IMPACT crash data portal indicates 71 motorcycle operator fatalities in Massachusetts in 2024, a 22% increase from 58 fatalities in 2023. One motorcycle
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Mass Humanities Announces 2025 Funding Opportunities| 07:41AM / Saturday, March 22, 2025 | |
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Mass Humanities has announced its 2025 funding opportunities through its Expand Massachusetts Stories (EMS) initiative. This year, the EMS initiative features: Promises of the Revolution: Organizations are invited to explore how people, past and present, responded to the promises of the American Revolution in preparation for the country's 250th anniversary in 2026. Story Forward: Organizations that have received funding from Mass Humanities in the past can advance their storytelling to reach new audiences or build on previous work. Reading Frederick Douglass Together grants are currently open, with applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout 0 Comments
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