| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield First-Responders Recognized for Lifesaving Efforts on InfantBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:17PM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
Chief Thomas Sammons congratulates one of the EMTs who responded to the emergency involving an infant last fall. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Multiple first responders were recognized for performing lifesaving measures on an infant in November.
Tuesday's City Council meeting began with Lifesaving Awards to three paramedics, three firefighters, and four police officers. The first responders were recognized for their actions on Nov. 22 "where life-saving measures were performed on an infant."
While not much information can be released, Fire Chief Thomas Sammons said the incident was "one of those calls people will never forget." He described it as a
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Pittsfield Man Charged With Carjacking| 11:13AM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A Pittsfield man has been charged with carjacking following an incident Thursday in the Target parking lot at the Berkshire Mall. Police say Earl N. Kirchner, 64, was arrested at the scene and also faces charges of assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer. The carjacking is a felony and the assaults are misdemeanors. Kirchner was being held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections pending his arraignment. According to police, the carjacking attempt was called in at about 1:30 p.m. The victim told authorities that the suspect had punched and kicked him in attempting to steal his motor vehicle. The 0 Comments
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Marchetti's First State of City Speech Points to Successes, ChallengesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:54AM / Friday, January 17, 2025 | |
This was Mayor Peter Marchetti's first State of the City address in his four-year term. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Peter Marchetti invited residents to join "One Pittsfield" during his first State of the City address on Thursday. He used the slogan during his campaign and continue to as a term of collaboration and unity.
"The one thing that I know that Pittsfield is is that Pittsfield is resilient. Believe it or not, I love my job and the city of Pittsfield. Together, we can overcome the obstacles and change our challenges into opportunities," he said to a crowd of city staff, friends and family, and community members at Taconic High School. The
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The Retired Investor: Economic Growth Versus Government EfficiencyBy Bill Schmick,
04:13PM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
We grew up with tales of $500 toilet seats and bridges to nowhere when describing the abuses of government spending. In a few days, Americans will get our first taste of what it will mean to make our government efficient once again. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is not an official government department. That would require an act of Congress. Since members of that august body have been the major contributors to decades of inefficient use of government funds, it probably was a good idea to bypass a vote on making DOGE "official." Instead, it will operate as an advisory body, run by two of President-elect Trump's closest allies with a direct line to 0 Comments
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Reimagine Dunham Mall Calls for Public Art| 10:33AM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Organizers of Reimagine Dunham Mall announced two calls for public art and a project update on Spring 2025 installations to support the use and beautification of Dunham Mall. Reimagine Dunham Mall aims to support area business, recreation, pedestrian networks, and parking accessibility for residents and visitors of downtown Pittsfield. In the Spring of 2025, Pittsfield residents can expect to see a new public art piece installed in Dunham Mall as part of the first of two installation phases. Also, as part of phase one, 8 large planters with Heritage Birch trees will be installed to provide shade and natural habitats, as well as smaller planters with 0 Comments
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Dalton Candidates Debate Infrastructure, Police Station at Candidate ForumBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:08AM / Thursday, January 16, 2025 | |
Nearly 90 residents attended the forum at the Senior Center to hear from the candidates. DALTON, Mass. — Dalton voters will choose from four candidates at the Feb. 3 special election to decide who will fill the vacant Select Board seat. The four candidates on the ballot, Robert Collins, Rich Haley, Levi Renderer and Patrick Carsell appeared at a forum Wednesday night to highlight their perspectives on issues including transparency and collaboration, the condition of the police station, and roads and sidewalks. iBerkshires Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito asked the candidates questions curated by resident submissions in front of 88 attendees at the 0 Comments
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PCTV Welcomes New Digital Navigator To Empower Community| 03:40PM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) announced the hiring of Samuel Pascual, who will serve as the organization's new Digital Navigator. His role is a one-year, grant-funded position designed to promote digital equity through community media centers. In this role, Pascual will help bridge the digital divide in the Pittsfield area by providing hands-on assistance and education to community members seeking to enhance their digital literacy and access vital online resources. Funding to hire the Digital Navigator position at PCTV was provided by the Alliance for Digital Equity, which serves four western Massachusetts counties, facilitating solutions to ensure
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Pittsfield Toter System Reducing Waste, Increasing RecyclingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:15PM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
Mayor Peter Marchetti acknowledges the 'bumpy ride' in establishing the trash system but the numbers are proof it's working. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new toter system has significantly reduced trash and doubled recycling.
Pittsfield now throws away about 1,024 tons of trash per month, down from 1,388 tons, and recycles about 201 tons per month, compared to 148 tons. Since its implementation in the fall, the city has saved more than $367,000.
Mayor Peter Marchetti thinks the numbers speak for themselves.
"When we first implemented this program, I couldn't go anyplace without someone saying 'This program is a terrible idea,'" he told the City
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Car Shears Utility Pole Closing Pittsfield's West StreetBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:05PM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A portion of West Street is closed after a sport utility vehicle hit and broke a utility pole Wednesday morning.
Crews are currently working to clean up the area. The pole was broken into multiple pieces, some still attached to the wires.
There are no known injuries at the time and the area is not believed to have lost power.
Around 7 a.m., the Pittsfield Police Department received a report of a two-car accident in which one vehicle hit the pole. Unconfirmed posts on Facebook say one vehicle pulled out in front of the other, causing it to cross lanes and shear into the pole.
"The pole got sheared down and some wires were down across West
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State Officials Urge Fire Safety During Open Burning Season| 10:36AM / Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | |
STOW, Mass. — After an unprecedented fall fire season in Massachusetts and as wildfires rage in California, state officials are urging residents to protect themselves and their communities by following local and state restrictions on open burning. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bonnie Heiple, and Chief Fire Warden David Celino of the Department of Conservation & Recreation said restrictions on open burning are imposed at the state and local levels. "Open burning season begins January 15 in communities where it’s allowed," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Even where burning is authorized, a
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Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North StreetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
02:44PM / Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, 0 Comments
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Dalton Public Safety Panel Talks Facilities FundBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:25PM / Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Public Safety Advisory Committee members have discussed a proposal to establish a public facilities stabilization fund. The town does not have a stabilization fund dedicated to future public facility projects, including potential needs for construction and renovation of town buildings. This fund would be a way for the town to proactively save money for construction or renovation projects of public buildings, said Finance Committee member Thomas Irwin. A fund like this would save up funds to address unexpected repair needs or new construction without depending on temporary funding such as from the American Rescue Plan Act and 0 Comments
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