| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Berkshire United Way Recognizes Exemplary VolunteersBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:01AM / Friday, April 18, 2025 | |
The celebration event was held at Wander in Pittsfield. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire United Way raised a craft soda on Wednesday to two community members who embody volunteerism.
Brenda Lee Petell was given the Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism Award and Maria Encalada the Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands, Caring Heart Award during a ceremony at Wander, an inclusive sober cafe downtown.
"I'm not breaking any news when I tell you all that Maria and Brenda represent the spirit and the legacy of volunteerism in this community that are exemplified by Dan Dillon and Robert Agar, who are the folks these awards are named after," President and CEO Thomas Bernard
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Select Board Conditionally OKs May Carnival at Berkshire MallBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:19PM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The springtime carnival will return to the Berkshire Mall property in a couple of weeks, if the hosts reach an agreement with emergency medical services.
On Monday, the Select Board approved a community event application for Gillette Shows' carnival from May 1 to May 11, pending a reasonable donation to the Ambulance Gift Account for EMS services. "This isn't a new concept. We discussed this after last year's carnival," EMS Director Jen Weber said.
The department saw an "exponential" increase in the need for services at the event as its attendance continues to rise. In 2024, there were 20 transports to the hospital over
0 Comments
Read More >> |
The Retired Investor: Market Uncertainty Takes Its TollBy Bill Schmick,
04:12PM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
You may have weathered the Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic sell-off, some may even remember the Dot.Com boom and bust, but this time around feels different. That's because it is. In my entire career, I have never seen the stock market move 8.3 percent in 34 minutes on a rumor. That is what happened a few days back. To put that in perspective, the S&P 500 Index gains in minutes an entire year's performance. The following day it gave back half of that. Sure, we can blame these moves on computer-driven trading, algorithms, options, and the like but it doesn't change what happened and could easily happen again. If you feel the markets over the last 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Greylock Federal Promotes Vice President, Business Banking Officer II| 04:06PM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the promotion of Chris Barry to Vice President, Business Banking Officer II. "For nearly two decades, Chris has been a dedicated member of our Greylock team. Through the years, Chris has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of success by listening to our members' needs and supporting them through the process from start to finish," said Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer. "One of Chris' strengths is the willingness to educate and help others on their path to entrepreneurship. In his new role, I know that Chris, and his team, will continue to provide this 0 Comments
Read More >> |
CBRSD Aims to Improve Town Meeting Attendance By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
02:35PM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — As town meeting season approaches, the Central Berkshire Regional School District aims to lower a barrier to residential participation caused by the lack of child care. District Assistant Superintendent Michael Henault informed the School Committee last week that the district plans to offer child care at Kittredge, Beckett-Washington and Wahconah High schools on voting nights, provided by a combination of National Honor Society students and staff volunteers. "We're organizing that right now … we're going to make it work, make it happen. A survey will go out to see the interest, but we're going to try to take away that 0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Nursing Programs Integrate Mental Health First Aid Certification| 08:13AM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) has added Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification as a mandatory component for all students in their final semester of the associate degree in nursing and practical nursing programs. The requirement, based on the curriculum provided by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, aims to equip graduating nursing students with the skills to identify and respond to individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Data from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention indicates an average of 130 daily deaths by suicide in the U.S. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that nearly one in 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Health Board Wants Feedback on Tobacco BanBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Thursday, April 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health will hear from the community before adding Nicotine-Free Generation guidelines into the tobacco ordinance.
Earlier this month, the panel reviewed a draft update for Pittsfield's tobacco regulations, including a provision that "No retailer or person shall sell or provide a tobacco product to a person born on or after January 1, 2005."
No vote was taken, and discussion is set to pick up at the next meeting. "This is going to be a process that we're going to be involving everyone in and being respectful of everyone's opinions or facts that they have to share with us," Director of Public Health Andy Cambi
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Finance Approves Amended Police BudgetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:38PM / Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee approved an amended version of the Police Department budget. The amended budget of $1,664,924 is $14,564 less than what was originally requested. This is still an increase of $129,668 increase from this year. The budget is made up of $191,338 in expenses and $1,473,586 in salaries. The department initially proposed a budget of $1,679,488, a $144,232 or 9.39 percent, increase mainly caused by salary increases. Police Chief Deanna Strout emphasized that the increases within the budget are mostly contractual. Finance Committee chair William Drosehn said if "we all kind of tightened our belts 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Man Charged in Woodlawn Avenue Stabbing| 04:23PM / Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was arrested and charged for a Wednesday morning stabbing that seriously injured another man.
Just before 3 a.m., police responded to a reported stabbing at a multi-family building on Woodlawn Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found a 60-year-old man had sustained at least one stab wound and he was taken to Berkshire Medical Center.
"Although he sustained a serious injury, the victim is expected to survive," police reported around 3:15 p.m.
A suspect was identified as a result of the ensuing investigation, and later that morning, Pittsfield resident Jason Wright, 40, was arrested and charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Registration Open for Benefit Soccer Tournament in PittsfieldCommunity submission,
10:27AM / Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield High boys soccer program will hold a 7-on-7 tournament in May to support the family of a teammate who recently received a heart transplant. The AJ's Beating Heart 7V7 Tournament will benefit A.J. Riello, a ninth-grader at PHS who underwent succesful surgery earlier this month. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at Heberg Middle School. The cost to enter is $5 per player. The tournament is for teams of eight to 12 players of all ages. The format is seven versus seven with a goalie. Teams must have matching shirts, but pinnies will be available for teams without jerseys. To 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Berkshire Art Association Honors College Student Artists in 2025 Fellowship Show| 08:06AM / Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Art Association (BAA) is recognizing student artists in its 2025 College Fellowship Show. The exhibition, featuring 40 artworks by 16 students, is on display at the Lichtenstein Center of the Arts from Friday, April 4, to Friday, April 28, 2025. The participating students, majoring in visual arts at colleges within Berkshire County or those with Berkshire County residency studying elsewhere, were selected by a panel of artists representing various disciplines. The 2025 BAA Fellowship recipients are: Matthew Brinton, Sergio Demo, Maxwell Fyfe, Jean-Charles Innocent, and Max Sweeney from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Julianna 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Council Tables DCF Background Check OrdinanceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:21PM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council decided that a policy to require clearance from the Department of Children and Families for city employees needs more time.
At last Tuesday's meeting, an ordinance requiring a background check with DCF for all new hires who have contact with minors was tabled.
Ward 2 Councilor Brittany Noto, who is an attorney, believes this is an "extreme overreach of privacy" and will have a disparate impact on otherwise qualified applicants who come from low socioeconomic status, people of color, survivors of domestic violence, and single parents.
"We want more qualified applicants in the city pool who have diverse backgrounds, not
0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
