| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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@theMarket: Markets Down, Economy Up, What Gives?By Bill Schmick,
03:34PM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
Sometimes good news on Main Street is bad news for Wall Street. Let's start with the good news. The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years during the past three months. Third-quarter Gross Domestic Product grew at an annualized pace of 4.9 percent blowing away economists' expectations of a 4.5 percent growth rate. The resilient U.S. consumer continued to spend, which has boosted growth, defying those who have been expecting the economy to slow down under the weight of 18 months of interest rate hikes. The bad news is the stronger economy will make the Fed's fight against inflation that much more difficult and therein lies the rub for the stock 0 Comments
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Mayoral Candidates Talk Future of Pittsfield SchoolsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:36PM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayoral candidates Peter Marchetti and John Krol weighed in on issues that face Pittsfield Public Schools during a Berkshire NAACP forum on Monday. The district is in the midst of a restructuring study to determine its physical and educational future, with school consolidation and new grade alignments being possible outcomes. Marchetti, the current City Council president, said that as a product of Morningside Community School, he knows the challenges of learning in an open space classroom. This is the layout of the city's two community schools Morningside and Conte Community School, where the forum was held. Upon taking office, he 0 Comments
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Community Legal Aid Kicks Off Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign| 12:00PM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community Legal Aid is kicking off its annual Berkshire County Access to Justice Campaign, which seeks to bring legal help to residents in the county facing a variety of civil legal problems. Over the last year, Community Legal Aid's staff of attorneys and paralegals helped more than 700 Berkshire County elderly and low-income clients last year, impacting an estimated 1,750 residents trying to avoid homelessness, seeking safety from violence, and others fighting for life's necessities. Through its subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center, it also helps refugees seeking humanitarian-based immigration relief. For more than a 0 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Halloween By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
11:41AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
 There will be a variety of events in and slightly outside the Berkshires this weekend including pumpkin walks, a parade, Halloween dance parties, and more. Find our list of craft fairs and bazaars here. Find our list of trick or treat hours and Halloween events here. Editor's Pick Pumpkin Walk Adams Visitors Center Time: Saturday and Sunday evenings Community members are invited to carve pumpkins or donate jack-o'-lanterns for display on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a bring-your-own pumpkin event, but the center will provide tools, templates and clean up. Walk through pumpkins carved by members of the community 0 Comments
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Man Pleads Guilty to Gun, Drug Charges Connected to North Adams Drug Bust| 11:00AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Tuesday, Aug. 24, Quentin Harris, of Springfield, pled guilty and was sentenced to a slate of charges in connection to a 2022 drug bust in North Adams. Charges: Possession with Intent to Distribute (Fentanyl) - 5 to 8 years state prison concurrent on all charges Trafficking in Cocaine - 5 to 8 years Illegal Possession of a Firearm (2nd Offense) - 5 to 7 years Illegal Possession of a Loaded Firearm Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony - 4 to 5 years He was sentenced by the Judge Agostini in Berkshire Superior Court. In August 2022, the North Adams Police Department in conjunction with the Berkshire County Drug Task 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Announces Internet Speed Test Day| 07:46AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Earlier this year, the City of Pittsfield was selected to participate in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program launched by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). As a part of the digital equity planning effort, the city is seeking to gain insight into any internet disparities within the community and if residents are experiencing widespread problems with their internet connections through an internet speed test. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, community members are asked to join the Speed Test Day. To participate, visit: https://www.cityofpittsfield.org/speedtest/ on the device you use to connect to the 0 Comments
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Berkshire Visiting Nurses Push For Fair Standards, PayBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2-year-old union local representing some members of the Berkshire Visiting Nursing Association continues to push for fair productivity standards and pay to preserve employees and quality of care. The union reported that the BVNA, which is owned and operated by Berkshire Health Systems, has lost almost 30 permanent staff members since 2021, 90 percent citing an unsustainable work-life balance and many leaving for higher pay. The members, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, delivered a petition to Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz on Monday signed by 82 percent of its clinicians. On the horizon 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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