| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Adams Community Bank Announces Partnership with Financial Safety PlatformBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Friday, August 22, 2025 | |
Carefull Director of Customer Success Laura Mohan explains how the platform works and goes over some facts. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Adams Community Bank is partnering with financial safety platform Carefull to provide extra security for customers. The announcement was made to stakeholders on Tuesday at the Berkshire Innovation Center. "As all of you know, fraud becomes an increasing issue for everyone, not just for older people, but for everyone," said bank President and CEO Julie Fallon Hughes. "The schemes become more complex, and anyone can be a victim. "So as a community bank, we really take not just 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Additional 401(k) Investment Choices May Be Coming Your WayBy Bill Schmick,
03:47PM / Thursday, August 21, 2025 | |
If President Trump has his way, investments in private equity, real estate, and even digital assets will soon be allowed in your 401(k). As in everything, there are risks and rewards in this proposition. Last week, Donald Trump ordered the Labor Department to examine his proposal. The new investments, aside from your 401(k), would also apply to other defined benefit plans. These are America's primary vehicles for retirement savings. How much money are we talking about? As of the first quarter of 2025, 90 million Americans held $12.2 trillion in 401(k) plans alone. That is not counting the $8.9 trillion in federal, state, and local government plans. Today, most of 0 Comments
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BCC Announces the Return of the Chorale | 09:17AM / Thursday, August 21, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the return of the BCC Chorale, led by Professor of Music Ellen Shanahan. The Chorale had been discontinued a few years ago when the College consolidated its for-credit jazz and choral ensembles into a single group. Now, thanks to renewed interest from students and community members, Professor Shanahan is bringing the Chorale back in a new form — as a non-credit, volunteer group open to BCC students, alumni, staff, and members of the broader community. "I am resurrecting the BCC Chorale, which was a staple on campus for decades," said Shanahan. "I have since heard 0 Comments
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Berkshire United Way Board Welcomes Three New Members | 08:18AM / Thursday, August 21, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Berkshire United Way (BUW) welcomes three community leaders – Stephanie Ham, Jennifer Kerwood and Bethany Kieley – to its board of directors. At a time when our neighbors are facing growing challenges and uncertainty, the mission of Berkshire United Way is more important than ever," offered BUW Interim President and CEO Katherine von Haefen. "The leadership, experience and commitment that Stephanie, Jennifer and Bethany each bring to the table will be invaluable in ensuring that everyone in our community has an opportunity to thrive." Ham is an assistant branch manager and digital banking guru for Adams 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Looks to Improve Access at Pontoosuc Lake ShorelineBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Thursday, August 21, 2025 | |
A public site visit in July raised concerns about the limited access to the water because of foliage and bank erosion controls. PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city plans to create water access points on the south shore of Pontoosuc Lake Park.
This comes after community members asserted that bank plantings limited access for swimming and fishing. Because the area is shared with boats, the north side of the park is staged for a formal swimming area with a beach.
"I think people just need to allow us a little bit of time and afford us a little bit of patience, and we'll get this right," Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath told
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Shop 'n' Shred Event Coming to Pittsfield Skate ParkBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:10PM / Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— On Sunday, the Pittsfield Skate Plaza will be filled with vendors and, of course, skateboarding.
This comes months after the closure of Pittsfield's longtime skate shop, The Garden.
The Parks Commission on Tuesday approved a skate jam and flea market event scheduled for Aug. 24 at the Appleton Avenue park. It is a collaboration between Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and Bomb Shack Vintage, owned by professional BMX bike rider Jake Seeley.
DPI's Managing Director Rebecca Brien described it as a "shop and shred skateboard jam."
"It's actually going to combine both the activity obviously meant at the skate park,
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Berkshire Communities Awarded Funds for Ecological Restoration Projects | 07:55AM / Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | |
BOSTON—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $2.9 million in grants to support ecological restoration projects across Massachusetts. This funding, provided by the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), will strengthen resilience against extreme weather events, improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and restore crucial wildlife habitat. "Massachusetts has over 25,000 culverts, most of which are undersized. By replacing these outdated culverts with larger, safer structures, we can better prepare our communities for severe weather," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary 0 Comments
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Report: Miss Hall's Failed to Act on Abuse ReportsBy Staff Reports, iBerkshires
04:12PM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A report commissioned by Miss Hall's School found school officials failed for years to follow up on accusations of sexual misconduct by its instructors. The full report, summary from the Board of Trustees and a letter to the school community from Head of School Julia Heaton and board President Nancy Ault can be found here. "The Report makes clear that, over the decades, there were multiple instances in which students were harmed and that MHS failed to investigate adequately or hold perpetrators accountable for their actions," reads a summary of the report released by the board of trustees on Tuesday. "We 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Senior Center Staffers Save Life on Hot June DayBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:17PM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
Fire Chief Thomas Sammons presents the department's new Deputy Chief Matthew Packard, left, Fire Capt. Kevin Brady and Fire Lt. Jesse Underwood-Miller. PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Two Senior Center staff members saved a woman's life while she was having a medical emergency on an extremely hot June day.
During last Tuesday's City Council meeting, Cora Scarborough and Pat Rosse were recognized for their actions on June 17, when they helped stabilize a senior citizen having a seizure in a hot car near the Ralph Froio Senior Center before emergency responders arrived.
The woman had reportedly been in a medical emergency for over half an
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Pittsfield Company Awarded InnovateMass Grant| 09:37AM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded Noble Carbon $350,000 to demonstrate its innovative and reverse-compatible circuit that helps residents and businesses manage electricity use and bills. InnovateMass offers grants and technical support for teams deploying new clean energy technologies or innovative combinations of existing technologies with strong commercialization potential. Including this latest round of awards, InnovateMass has provided over $23 million to 115 demonstration projects since 2013, leveraging more than $27 million in additional private and public funding. MassCEC announced $3.6 million in funding for 20 clean 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Committee Updates Social Media Policy By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:03AM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district updated its staff use of social media and personal cell phones policy. "We've had full cooperation with the teachers bargaining unit leadership, the [Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association,] that is the administrators, and the federation," School Committee Chair William Cameron said. "I think everyone in a leadership position in those organizations recognizes the potential for serious problems, unless the expectations of this policy are implemented." The school unions are the PEAA, United Educators of Pittsfield and Pittsfield Federation of School 0 Comments
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Allendale Pines Expansion to Bring More Affordable HomesBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:27AM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Allendale Pines expansion will bring more affordable homes to the community. The expansion is located at 395 Cheshire Road, bordering the Ashuwillticook Trail, and will include 22 manufactured homes. The project cost is $1.4 million and is not too far from the current mobile home community at 245 Cheshire Road. The homes will start as low as $179,900. Residents will pay owner Teton Management Corp. a lot fee of $550, which will include water and sewer. Residents will be responsible for electric and gas. "I do feel strongly that we are delivering a product, and indeed it is attainable and affordable housing that I just feel there 0 Comments
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