|
| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Memorial Day Fire Safety Tips | 04:19PM / Friday, May 26, 2023 | |
STOW—As Massachusetts heads into the Memorial Day Weekend, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey reminds residents to practice fire safety this summer. "Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and we want to remind everyone to play it safe as they enjoy the warm weather," said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. "Don't let a fire or serious burn ruin your summer. Practice fire safety with friends and family safely this season, and you won't have your local firefighters showing up as uninvited guests." Grilling Safety More than 75 percent of grilling fires in Massachusetts occur between May and September. In the past five years, there have been more than
0 Comments
Read More >> |
@theMarket: Debt Deadline Hangs Over MarketsBy Bill Schmick,
04:09PM / Friday, May 26, 2023 | |
One week before the debt ceiling deadline, members of Congress have adjourned, while a handful of negotiators continue to search for a compromise solution to the impasse. Investors are holding their breath. As many expected, myself included, the politicians are drawing out the drama and will continue to do so until the 11th hour. Both sides have stressed that there will be no default and the market has taken them at their word. Investors have bid up stocks this week in anticipation of a positive announcement. This week, Fitch, one of the big three American credit agencies, has put the nation's debt on a negative credit watch. The agency warned that it may downgrade the 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Residents Can Be Rude During Public Comment, Laws SayBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:27PM / Friday, May 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Members of the public are allowed to be rude during open microphone and even use hate speech, the city solicitor has confirmed. On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee discussed the Supreme Judicial Court's recent decision that regulating the substance of public commenters is "unconstitutional" and what that means for Pittsfield. City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta said the City Council rules largely conform with the SJC ruling with the exception of a sentence that states a speaker shall refrain from any personal attacks. He revised the sentence to state that the public comment period should be conducted in an orderly and peaceful 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield 2024 Budget Day Two: 14 Budgets Reviewed By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Friday, May 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In the second session of fiscal 2024 budget hearings, the City Council preliminarily approved 14 departmental spending plans on Wednesday. Budget Day 1
A $50,000 reduction was made to the Worker's Compensation budget for medical payments, which supports independent medical review for employees who have led worker compensation or injured on duty claims.
Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren made the motion in an attempt to bring down the budget's burden on taxpayers.
"I think it's reasonable for the City Council to reduce this budget by $50,000," Mayor Linda Tyer said.
"We will manage as long as we understand that if we need to come 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Planners Hope to Break Ground on Pittsfield's Site 9 in AugustBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Friday, May 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the Site 9 redevelopment fully funded, planners are pushing to get shovels in the ground by the end of the summer.
On Wednesday, the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority received an update from the project consultants.
In the last month, the team has met with city planners to review its permitting strategy and with the Department of Public Works to review the subdivision of the site requirements for the stormwater permit, had a subsequent meeting with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System on stormwater requirements, submitted permitting plans to state Department of Environmental Protection, and refined the funding budget summary.
If all
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Pins 2023 Class of Physical Therapist AssistantsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:51PM / Thursday, May 25, 2023 | |
See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The eight graduates of Berkshire Community College's physical therapy assistant program were told there was more meaning behind their acronym of "PTA ." Vice President of Academic Affairs Laurie Gordy riffed off the acronym as way to provide the graduates advice to take with them. P is for patience, she said, because people will be coming to them vulnerable and in a lot of pain, and may respond to treatment one day and then differently the next. So to be effective, place the patient at the center of what you do, she said. Secondly, build trust, Gordy said, not only with patients to assist in the 0 Comments
Read More >> |
The Retired Investor: Rents Rising as More Americans Priced Out of Housing MarketBy Bill Schmick,
05:35PM / Thursday, May 25, 2023 | |
Nationwide, rents have been climbing since the pandemic, but it is still cheaper to rent than to buy in most of the country. As such, in some states, building houses-to-rent is becoming a trend. Home prices continue to soar with the median sale price of a U.S. home gaining 32 percent in the first quarter of this year from the same time in 2020. Throw in the climb in mortgage interest rates and there is no wonder that a record number of Americans believe it is a terrible time to buy a house, according to a Gallup survey. Renting seems to be the only alternative. But the unfortunate fact is that rents are growing faster than incomes in the U.S. The trend began two years ago and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Activist Group, Mormons Deliver 20 Tons of Food to Christian CenterBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:47PM / Thursday, May 25, 2023 | |
Tony Gibson, second from right, with representatives from the Christian Center and the Latter-day Saints on Thursday morning. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Linden Street was lined with about 40,000 pounds of food Thursday morning to feed local families thanks to an initiative that trying to make a positive change from a negative situations.
Facilitated by the Black 14 activism group, the Christian Center received the goods from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Utah. It will be distributed to around 20 local organizations that serve hungry community members.
Executive Director Betsy Sherman said this is a celebration for the center, as it will allow them
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC to Hold New Student Orientation and Registration Sessions | 08:08AM / Thursday, May 25, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced a full slate of orientation sessions for new students over the coming months. All accepted students are invited to attend. Two-hour information sessions will be held in the SBA Lounge from 10 am-noon on Tuesday, June 27; Thursday, July 20; and Wednesday, August 16. During these sessions, students can take a campus tour and, if registered, pick up their student ID. Students accepted into the Pre-Nursing/Pre-LPN program, Liberal Arts or Business are invited to attend a new student orientation and registration session, including a campus tour, lunch with the Financial Aid Department and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires Awards Community Leaders By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Thursday, May 25, 2023 | |
The event was held at Berkshire Hill Country Club. See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community leaders, organizers and residents gathered at Berkshire Hills Country Club on Tuesday morning to recognize people who work with nonprofits to better the community. Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires recognized eight women who have gone above and beyond in their work with nonprofits: Susan Crofut, Leigh Doherty, Florence Afanukoe, Tyeesha R. Keele-Kedroe, Anne Nemetz-Carlson, Julianne Boyd, Shirley Edgerton and Sheila Dargie. There is power in collaboration and you can see this collaboration prevalent in the Berkshires, said Berkshire United Way President and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Council Speaks Against School Committee Age RequirementBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22PM / Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | |
Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, elected at the age of 26, describes the attempts to limit democratic participation as 'backward' and 'extremely inappropriate.' PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick's attempt to impose a minimum 30-year age requirement on School Committee candidates and a one-year "cooling off" period for elected officials did not fare well with the City Council.
On Tuesday, a majority of the councilors and some community members spoke against Kronick's proposed charter modifications that he wanted referred to the review committee for consideration before Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren called a charter
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Free Training Program Leading to BHS July 4th Road Race| 08:24AM / Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — As the Berkshire Health Systems July 4th 5K Road Race nears, a free six-week training program is being offered by the Berkshire Running Foundation for walkers and runners at all levels and abilities. The program begins on Saturday, May 27 and ends on July 1. Participants can use their training to run in the July 4th Road Race or take advantage of the program without participating. Training program participants will gather Saturday mornings at 8 am at the Crane Avenue entrance to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and on Tuesdays at 5 am and 6 pm, there will be speed workouts at the Taconic High School track. Berkshire County students who are interested in
0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
MEMBER SIGN IN
