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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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The Retired Investor: Government Shutdown ScorecardBy Bill Schmick,
02:54PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
Oct. 1, 2023, is the deadline to avert yet another government shutdown. At this point, the chances are high that partisan politics will once again disappoint the country and most voters. The truth is that the U.S. has a long history of dysfunctional shutdowns. There have been 20 such incidents since 1976. The longest single shut down in history occurred from Dec. 22, 2018, until Jan. 25, 2019. The credit or blame for that debacle goes to former President Donald Trump. Trump held government workers and the nation hostage to fund his pet folly, a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. How important was that issue? The subject has disappeared entirely from the political realm 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Says 'No' to Water Treatment Plant PresentationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:43PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Craig Gaetani's talk about saving the city millions of dollars on its water treatment plan will remain at open microphone.
On Tuesday, the City Council shot down a petition from Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick requesting that a public hearing be held to provide Gaetani the opportunity to explain the technology of the plant.
Kronick was the lone vote in favor and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi abstained.
"I believe that the people of Pittsfield and this body, the City Council, should give him this opportunity," he said. "What are we afraid of?"
Councilors believed that allowing the public hearing would set a dangerous precedent for
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Pittsfield Police Arrest Man Allegedly Involved in Fatal StabbingStaff Reports ,
08:54AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
Josiah Helmer, age 27, was arraigned for murder on Friday in Central Berkshire District Court and held without the right of bail. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 10. PITTSFILED, Mass. — A 27-year-old city man has been arrested in Tuesday's fatal stabbing. Multiple law enforcement officers arrested Josiah Helmer on Thursday at a residence on Dalton Avenue on an outstanding warrant charging him with murder. The charge stemmed from the stabbing that occurred on Melville Street on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 12. Police responded at about 10:45 p.m. to the report of a stabbing on Melville Street, near the intersection with First 0 Comments
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Wahconah Park Restoration Committee Launches Survey| 08:10AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In spring 2022, the Wahconah Park grandstand had to be closed to fans due to structural concerns. The City of Pittsfield and Wahconah Park Restoration Committee is considering how best to proceed with a project that returns fans to a safe grandstand structure that meets handicapped accessibility requirements while providing a better fan, player and overall experience. The Wahconah Park Restoration Committee has launched a short survey to gather feedback around various aspects of the project. This survey is now available to the public and can beaccessed through the city's website: 0 Comments
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Pittsfield's Site 9 Work Going to Bid This SeasonBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Work is expected to begin on Site 9 this winter, depending on weather. Edward Weagle, principal geologist at Roux Associates reported on Wednesday to PEDA plans to award the $10 million redevelopment to a successful bidder in October. The concrete slab and foundations left from the former buildings can begin to be cracked up and crushed during the winter if there is not too much snow, he said. The Pittsfield Economic Development Authority also went into executive session to discuss a real estate opportunity on the site. "We're very excited. This is a huge milestone for us," member Michael Matthews said, adding that it will create a lot of
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Pittsfield Homeless Committee Details Accomplishments, GoalsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:24PM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Homelessness Advisory Committee over the last year has worked to understand the many layers of homelessness and how to address service gaps.
To connect housing-insecure community members with services, the panel launched housing resource fairs and plans to continue them on a quarterly basis.
Last week, the HAC approved a 2023 annual report to be sent to Mayor Linda Tyer. Five priority actions have been identified for fiscal 2024: a flow chart for housing services, quarterly housing resource fairs, supportive services paired with housing, increased winter shelter capacity, and future planning for housing development.
Established in 2020
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Lanesborough Residents Want a Senior ParkBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:56PM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A group of seniors who are not yet ready to retire from physical activity want to create a "senior park" at Bridge Street Park.
The Select Board on Monday voted to form a Lanesborough Senior Park Initiative after it was approached by resident Linda Pruyne with a proposal to add senior-friendly recreation facilities to the site. Members will be recruited through a citizen's interest form and are planned to be appointed at the next meeting.
"Our population is aging. Seventy-year-olds, we don't feel old and we're not ready to go to the senior center and play bingo," she said, adding that older residents need outdoor activities
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LitNet Hires First-Gen College Coordinator| 08:33AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
 LEE, Mass. The Literacy Network (LitNet) announced the addition of Deisy Escobar to its staff as the organization's First-Generation College Coordinator. In this newly created role, Escobar will serve as a community ambassador for LitNet by helping to develop programming, outreach, and partnerships centered around supporting and educating first-generation college applicants and their families about the college application process and related opportunities. With Escobar's support, LitNet hopes to launch its first First-Generation College-Goer Fair in spring 2024. Escobar, a second-generation immigrant and first-year college student, graduated from 0 Comments
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District Attorney Reveals Identity of Hancock Man Killed by State Police Staff Reports ,
08:19AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
HANCOCK, Mass. — The District Attorney's Office identified Phillip Henault as the man shot and killed by a State Police officer responding to a domestic incident. The identity of the single State Police officer involved has not been made public. According to State Police, and a statement from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, the officer was called to a Hancock residence about 7 a.m. on Sept. 9 and was confronted by Henault, age 64, who was armed. The preliminary investigation involving crime scene analysis, civilian interviews, body and dash camera footage and 911 recordings corroborate that the Massachusetts State Police officer retreated a 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Airs Frustrations With Overgrown WaysBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
A company was contracted to maintain the medians and borders but has apparently not been able to do so. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City councilors are appalled at the condition of some public ways and have called for action.
On Tuesday, the council sent multiple petitions to the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales concerning walkways, medians and planter boxes that appear to be lacking maintenance.
These include a request to have the center median and all adjacent flower boxes from the intersection of Reed Street and South Street to the intersection of Linden Street and North Street cleared of all debris; a request for information on the schedule of emptying
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Letter: Alex Blumin for City CouncilLetter to the Editor,
02:00PM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
 To the Editor: I am excited to endorse Mr. Alex Blumin for Ward 2 City Council. When we elect Mr. Blumin, we continue Ward 2's tradition of self-governance. We consistently choose the independent voice to represent our interests. We have a tradition of preserving a philosophy of reasonable inquiry of elected officials, and we demand responsible financial governance.
Ward 2 awaits the city's fulfillment of its promises to complete roadwork and fix abandoned homes. Mr. Blumin will push the city to achieve these promises. The mayor aggressively hiked water and sewer rates twice in the last two years, and she promised more increases. Ward 2 residents worry about the
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Pittsfield Police Investigating Fatal Stabbing | 10:00AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Authorities are investigating the fatal stabbing of a Pittsfield man on Tuesday night as a homicide. Police responded at about 10:45 p.m. to the report of a stabbing on Melville Street, near the intersection with First Street. A 42-year-old, who identity was not disclosed, was found at the scene. Officers, firefighters and Action Ambulance Personnel provided the victim with emergency medical care and he was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where he later died. The investigation is being handled by the Pittsfield Police with assistance from the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire County District Attorney's 0 Comments
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