| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Charter Panel Hears Opposition to Charter ObjectionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The newly reconvened Charter Review Committee began its work last week with a conversation about the charter objection, a motion that has delayed votes and created a stir in council chambers over the last term.
Councilor at Large Peter White presented a petition that asked "Should the charter objection be eliminated or otherwise amended?" Under the rule, if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote it is postponed until the next meeting of the city council.
White feels it is something that has been used wisely but also at times not.
"One of my issues with this and something I've heard from the public is there's no real
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Pittsfield Community Television's Fall Training Series| 04:00PM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television announced the start of its fourth Seasonal Training Series, marking one year since the series started, with two special media production sessions. Session 1, which begins Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:00pm and runs for three consecutive weeks, focuses on the basics of how to be a producer and teaches anyone who wants to create their own content how to produce a television show in the studio, how to manage a production on-location, and how to start a radio program. Session 2, which begins Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6:00pm and runs for three consecutive weeks, gives novice video editors the foundations they 0 Comments
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Berkshires Receive National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant| 02:00PM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — To help address the crisis, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $1 million in funding for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to address the impact of the opioid crisis on the local workforce in Berkshire County. Administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration, the National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant will support Massachusetts in its efforts to employ people in positions as recovery coaches, harm reduction specialists, peer navigators and community health workers. The funding will also provide employment and training services to eligible individuals 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Figure Skating Club Holds Registration Night| 10:19AM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Pittsfield Figure Skating Club will hold its first registration night on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Boys and Girls Club from 5 to 7 p.m. Current figure skaters and interested new members are encouraged to attend. Founded in 1977, the PFSC provides skaters of all ages and abilities the opportunity to develop their figure skating skills in a safe and healthy environment. PFSC professional coaches are U.S. Figure Skating members and provide group and private instruction. The club provides lessons in basic skating skills for people aged 3 and up, including adults, and it offers a basic skating skills class for children interested in playing hockey, 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Street Improvement Project: Sept. 25| 08:11AM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The following contacted road work is planned to take place starting Monday, Sept. 25: Monday, September 25: Curbing installation on Radcliffe Avenue and finish aprons on Quirico Dr. and Lucia Dr. Monday Sept. 25 and Tuesday Sept. 26: Loam and seed Brookside Dr. & Ann Dr. Wednesday, Sept. 27: Loam and seed on Lucia Dr. Thursday, Sept. 28: Milling East Street (from Elm Street to Lyman Street) This work will begin at 4 a.m. to accommodate the morning commute. Friday, Sept. 29: Structure work on East Street In-house paving, conducted by the Department of Public Services, is scheduled as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 26: 0 Comments
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Collaboration Key to Housing, Hunger Solutions Say Local LeadersBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli convenes the housing and food security summit at Lenox Town Hall on Friday. LENOX, Mass. — Organizations and officials agree that collaboration is the key to addressing the housing crisis and food insecurity.
More than 100 stakeholders piled into Town Hall to share ideas during a summit hosted by state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. The event covered the renovation and maintenance of existing housing units, resources at food sites, tenant advocacy, and the development of new affordable units.
Pignatelli said housing and food insecurity are hot topics in the State House and recognized the individual needs of Berkshire
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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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