| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Pittsfield Community Development Board OKs Walmart Pick Up Center ExpansionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
10:12AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Walmart is closer to gaining approval to convert part of the garden center into an online ordering pickup area.
On Tuesday, the Community Development Board endorsed the company's request to amend its existing site plan at 555 Hubbard Ave. As part of nationwide store improvements, about 1,500 square feet of the Pittsfield garden center is planned to be enclosed for an online ordering pickup center.
Greg DiBona of Bohler Engineering, the firm hired by Walmart, reported working on similar projects at dozens of other locations. Online shopping became popular and necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They look at their stores and
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Stearns Not Currently Included in Pittsfield's Crosby/Conte ProposalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:56AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
Stearns is in the zone with Conte and Crosby in the 'three zone' map presented at the last meeting but officials say this does not indicate it will be merged as the zones are not specific. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stearns Elementary School was not included in Crosby/Conte planning documents sent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
This was clarified on Wednesday, before the School Committee endorsed the district and MSBA’s examination of a three-zone, long-term option for reorganizing and consolidating the elementary level.
"MSBA is not moving forward at this time with a feasibility study that includes any
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Cable Advisory Comm Emphasizes Stations NeedBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — As the Cable Advisory Commission works to update its contract with Charter Communications, questions have arisen about whether the town can recover the unpaid capital costs from the past four decades. "They have been benefiting from operating in our town for 40 years," commission Chair Richard White said. The commission was re-established to negotiate a new contract with Charter Communications. The last time the town had a contract was in 1997 with Time Warner Cable, which was purchased by Spectrum in 2016. It met on Monday, though the meeting agenda was not posted on the town website. "Here in Dalton, they have an excellent program, 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Massachusetts Joins Northeast Health Collaborative| 06:46PM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Massachusetts has joined with several Northeastern states and America's largest city to create the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a voluntary regional coalition of public health agencies and leaders, brought together to share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and promote and protect evidence-based public health. The collaborative's shared purpose is to work together in new ways — optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and reimagining core services — to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Weekend Outlook: Festivals, Fundraisers, and MoreBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:37PM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
 There are lots of events in and around Berkshire County this weekend including festivals, fundraisers, and more. Editor's Pick Lee Founders Weekend Friday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 21 Nearly 250 years ago, the town of Lee was founded and this weekend community members will celebrate the rich history and vibrant spirit of its founders. The three-day festival features a variety of activities including parades, live music, food vendors, fireworks, and more. It kicks off Friday with a Lee Historical Society Cemetery Talk at Fairmont Cemetery at 10 a.m. followed by the beloved Taste of Lee event. From 5 to 9 p.m. Main Street 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Public Schools Awarded CPPI Grant| 10:56AM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Public Schools has been awarded $250,000 through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) to expand access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds across the city. A 2024–25 community-wide needs assessment revealed that about 25 percent of Pittsfield's preschool-aged children remain unserved and disconnected to pre-K education, despite over 1,100 available seats. More than half of incoming kindergarteners scored below readiness benchmarks and would benefit from early childhood programs. However, families cited cost, transportation, and limited full-day options as barriers to their child's enrollment in such 0 Comments
Read More >> |
MCLA to Host Networking Session for Regional K-12 Educational Leaders | 07:42AM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Division of Graduate & Continuing Education will host a networking and mentoring session for new K-12 leaders on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 4-6 p.m. at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield. The event comes at a time of significant leadership transitions across local school districts and is designed to strengthen regional educational partnerships while providing support for newly appointed administrators. "With significant leadership transitions occurring across local school districts, this gathering provides an opportunity to build relationships, offer support, and strengthen the 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Marchetti Details Vacancies, New Efforts in Downtown PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:07AM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The downtown has 20 commercial vacancies, and 16 have been empty for more than a year.
On Monday, Mayor Peter Marchetti gave an update on the occupancy levels of commercial spaces in the corridor and the city's strategies to recruit and retain local businesses.
"I know when we talk about the downtown, we always talk about the vacancy rates, and I think one of the pieces that we need to do a better job is advertising and blowing our own horn about the businesses," he told the subcommittee on community and economic development.
"And so you can see the list of 25 new businesses that have opened up in the downtown since
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Voters Unanimously Approve All Articles at Special Town MeetingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires.com
10:31PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Some 53 voters unanimously approved all five articles on the special town meeting warrant on Wednesday. The meeting that lasted 30 minutes resulted in the authorization of funding for specific projects, addressed budget changes and the approval of the Central Berkshire Regional School District's regional agreement. The article that received the most discussion but was ultimately unanimously approved was the authorization to transfer $89,000 to fund hiring engineering firm Fuss & O'Neil to complete the remaining engineering work for the Dalton Division Road Sewer project. The Dalton Division Road sewer project 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Parks Commission Backs Pontoosuc Access PlanBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:45PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
The arrows indicate the new access points in Pontoosuc Lake Park; one near the boat dock was the result of vandalism. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has devised a solution for the south shore of Pontoosuc Lake Park that increases access while protecting the bank from erosion.
On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed a plan for four easy-entrance points after community members asserted that bank plantings limited access for fishing and swimming. It will be sent to the Conservation Commission, which will consider modifying the project's permit.
The plan proposes 150 feet of live stake planting removal on the 940-foot stretch of shoreline.
"I
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Council Continues Fiber Network Hearing By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:38PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council continued a fiber-optic company's request to build a network in the city's right-of-way after a "confusing" permitting process and complaints from residents.
Archtop Fiber's request to install a fiber-optic network in Pittsfield will be discussed again on Sept. 23. Councilors expect more information from the company and more public outreach to ensure that residents are aware of utility work.
"You did work on [Oswald Avenue] in my ward, tore up a bunch of lawns. The residents were extremely unhappy with the work that was done," Ward 5 Patrick Kavey told the project representative at last
0 Comments
Read More >> |
MassDOT: Pittsfield Paving Operations on First St. and North Street Roundabout| 10:42AM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will conducting daytime paving operations in Pittsfield. Crews will pave the First Street and North Street roundabout, located by the Berkshire Medical Center, on Thursday, Sept. 18, Friday, Sept. 19, and Monday, Sept. 22, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Appropriate traffic controls will be in place, and travelers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Appropriate signage and law enforcement details will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution. All scheduled work is weather
0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
