| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Biodiversity Research Institute Attempts to Revitalize Loon PopulationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
07:37AM / Sunday, September 17, 2023 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — The Biodiversity Research Institute is attempting to revitalize the loon population in Massachusetts. Earlier this season, the institute deployed rearing pens at Windsor Reservoir with the goal to translocate a total of nine to 15 male chicks this season. The institute, based in Portland, Maine, works internationally to assess threats to wildlife and ecosystems and conducts research to inform policy decisions. It collaborates with a range of public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Its loon research program began in 2013 with the goal of strengthening and restoring the birds' population and developing protocols that can be 0 Comments
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Governor Requests Changes to Work Authorization Process for Migrants | 04:05PM / Saturday, September 16, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlining her administration's specific requests for changes to the work authorization process to allow migrants to secure work faster and relieve pressure on the emergency shelter system in Massachusetts. "Massachusetts has stepped up to address what has been a federal crisis of inaction many years in the making. Communities, service providers, and our National Guard are going above and beyond to ensure that families arriving in Massachusetts have a safe place to sleep and their basic needs met," said Governor Healey. "We are 0 Comments
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Dalton Home Still Facing CondemnationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:42PM / Saturday, September 16, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — A residence located at 96 Anthony Road is still facing condemnation unless the residents can make strides in cleaning the property to meet safety standards. The Board of Health had agreed to give Gary Dill an additional four weeks to clean the property. Since then, some improvements have been made but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to meet safety standards, Health Agent Agnes Witkowski. Dill expressed his gratitude for his neighbors and the community members who aided in their endeavor to meet the Board of Health expectation for the outside of the property. Despite having concerns, the Board of 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Oil Prices Boost Inflation But Don't Deter InvestorsBy Bill Schmick,
10:26AM / Saturday, September 16, 2023 | |
Stocks did remarkably well this week considering the macroeconomic data. That could be signaling further upside soon for the financial markets. The decline in the inflation rate over the past six months has been encouraging. However, the recent climb in oil and gasoline prices threatens to put a crimp in the trend of declining inflation. As I have written many times before, oil is the fuel that powers the global economy. It is involved in every stage of production and as such, its price has an enormous influence on the rate of inflation. Thanks to production cuts by OPEC-plus over the last few months, the price of oil has risen from roughly $65 a barrel to over $90 a 0 Comments
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FEMA Urges Public to Prepare Ahead of Hurricane Lee| 08:14AM / Saturday, September 16, 2023 | |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — FEMA encourages residents and visitors in Hurricane Lee's path to prepare now and follow the instructions of local officials. Anyone in the forecast path of the storm should monitor local weather alerts for updates and evacuate immediately if told to do so. "For the past several days, FEMA has been in close contact with our state partners as we monitor the path of Hurricane Lee," FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich said. "Right now, we want to remind New Englanders to listen to their local emergency management officials and take the appropriate steps to prepare for the impact of the 0 Comments
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Making the Loop | We had some free time this week to walk the 2-mile loop through the downtown. Here's a few of things that caught our eye. (In between taking photos, we were heel-toeing and arm-pumping as prescribed.)
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Let's Go Paperless | This is from Ward 6 Councilor John Krol's eblast today. His switch to digital immediately caught our attention. With the associated costs - nearly $4,000 a year for paper alone! - zipping councilors "the packet" (as we in the know like to call it) over the ether makes loads of sense.
Digital also means the average citizen gets far better access to these public documents than ever before. The city clerk's office has been diligent about posting meeting agendas and, where possible, relevant documents. So in terms of saving money and time and getting information out efficiently, digital is the way to go.
I would like to thank City Clerk Linda Tyer for agreeing to print out one less city council packet, as I have officially gone paperless for council meetings - which I hope will be a trend that can be extended throughout city government.
 The bulky (and often, very bulky) city council packet that councilors use for a reference costs an average of $170 per meeting for paper alone. Add the additional costs of ink/toner, wear and tear on city hall copiers, and the time and energy of staff who put it all together - and a simple transition away from paper benefits everyone.
With the packet now fully digital in pdf form, all councilors, and everyone with an internet
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Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
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January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
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