| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Superintendent Details 'Nightmare' Threat Incident By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Thursday, March 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday's threat incident was Superintendent Joseph Curtis' "absolute worst nightmare."
That morning, a social media threat put Taconic and Pittsfield high schools into "hold-in-passing" procedures. It was lifted a couple of hours later when the Pittsfield Police Department confirmed that the post depicted an Orbeez gel blaster gun and there was no threat to the school community. "The incident that happened today is a superintendent's and I'm sure everyone else in the room and everyone's absolute worst nightmare," he told the School Committee that night.
"There is no minimizing it. There is no saying
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Protecting Your Assets: How FDIC and DIF Protect Your DepositsSubmitted by Dana Robb,
02:39PM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | |
 In this time of economic uncertainty, keeping your money secure should be a top priority. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF) play crucial roles in safeguarding your deposits. FDIC Insurance: Your First Line of Defense More than just a sticker on the door at your bank, the FDIC, an independent government agency, provides insurance coverage for deposits at member banks. As of 2025, the FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, and ownership category. This means if you have two different types of accounts (e.g. savings and a CD) at the same bank, you only receive $250,000 of insurance for these accounts even if you 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Police Say No School Threat Posed by Social Media Post| 10:59AM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating a social media threat related to the Pittsfield Public Schools. "The Pittsfield Police Department has confirmed that the online social media post in question depicted an Orbeez gun, a type of toy gel blaster. As of right now, the Pittsfield Police Department has determined that there is no current threat to the school community," Superintendent Joseph Curtis stated in a communication to the school community. Both Taconic and Pittsfield high schools were put into "hold-in-passing" procedures on Wednesday morning that has since been lifted. The Police Department in stationing an extra 0 Comments
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Berkshire LGBTQ+ Leaders Launch Monthly Networking Event| 07:25AM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire LGBTQ+ business owners, professionals, and community leaders are coming together to launch the new LGBTQ Business & Leaders Networking Monthly Networking Event on the third Wednesday each month, beginning March 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Inaugural meeting will be hosted at WANDER Berkshires, 34 Depot St., Suite 101, Pittsfield, and include a panel discussion with a local business owner, a community leader, and a representative from the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. There will also be an opportunity for participants to speak about their businesses and meet other business owners. The monthly networking event is
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Pittsfield Council Backs Transgender CommunityBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City councilors on Tuesday assured members of the LGBTQIA-plus community "We're on your side."
"To any young people in the LGBTQ-plus community or anyone else who I guess is still figuring it out, wherever you fall in the spectrum, whoever you are, there is nothing wrong with you and I'm sorry that our society tries to make you feel like there is," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.
"It's completely ridiculous."
The City Council backed a resolution declaring Pittsfield a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse people. This is in response to executive orders made by President Donald Trump declaring only
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BHS Appoints Vice President of Quality| 03:54PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced that Susan Gazzillo, MSN, RN, CRNI, has been named Vice President of Quality for BHS. Gazzillo previously served as Senior Director of Nursing for Specialty Care for the past three years. She was selected after a nationwide search for this system-wide leadership position. As Vice President of Quality, Gazzillo will continue Berkshire Health Systems' focus on enhancing patient safety and performance improvement, clinical excellence and overall quality of care across all patient care locations. "Sue's extensive experience and outstanding leadership qualities made her the ideal 0 Comments
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Co-Op Bank Promotes Vice President, Senior Credit Officer| 03:16PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-op Bank) is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa M. Lawler to Vice President, Senior Credit Officer. In this role, Lawler will continue to play a part in helping local businesses secure the financing they need to thrive, while also contributing to the growth and development of the Bank's commercial lending portfolio. Lawler has been a member of the Co-op Bank team since 2022, bringing with her more than 30 years of banking experience. Over the years, she has built relationships throughout the region and financial services industry, making her a trusted credit analyst to businesses across the Berkshires. 0 Comments
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Additional Stearns Staffers on Leave Amid 'De-escalation' AllegationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:53PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional Stearns Elementary School staff members have been placed on leave amid allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
On Monday, Principal Sara Luciani notified the school community "as our investigation continues and new information has been obtained, additional paraprofessionals assigned to Room 1 have been placed on administrative leave, effective Friday, March 7, 2025."
The Department of Children and Families and Pittsfield Public Schools are investigating, and the district is reviewing its protocols for de-escalation strategies.
Last week, Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported that on Feb. 26, Luciani received an
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Pittsfield Preparing to Fix PotholesBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:28PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield is addressing the potholes in the city with two phases. Every winter potholes appear throughout the county because of the harsh weather and cold temperatures; they often are unable to be filled fast enough and roads to become damaged. Commissioner of Public Utilities Ricardo Morales addressed the concerns saying last week some temporary work on the roads will be done. "It's going to be temporary work. Obviously, we, you know, none of the asphalt plants are open," Morales said. Pittsfield gets asphalt from plants in Lenoxdale, Pittsfield, and West Sand Lake, N.Y. Morales said West Sand Lake's asphalt plant plans to open March 20 while
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Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Petricca TIFBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22AM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors are happy to support a longtime city construction company's expansion. It will take a majority of the council support the tax exemption plan.
On Monday, the Finance subcommittee voted in favor of a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for Unistress Corp.'s $4 million expansion at 550 Cheshire Road, which is expected to create 50 new jobs.
"This is the perfect opportunity. When we give out TIFs or we give out GE economic funds, people talk about helping local business. This is a great local business that hires a lot of people, that pays good salaries so I'm 100 percent for this. This is an easy slam dunk for
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Lanesborough Advancing Two Public Safety Building OptionsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:09AM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board has voted to advance two public safety complex options for public review.
A $7.3 million facility could hold police and emergency medical services under one roof and, for $6.5 million, the departments could have their own buildings.
The final choice will be in the hands of residents at a town meeting.
In 2023, voters rejected a proposed $5.9 million police/EMS complex 139-214. The committee thought that it was a good proposal and asked that the cost be updated for another try.
The 7,222 square-foot combined police and EMS build would cost about $7,365,868. Alternatively, a 4,814-square-foot police station with a separate two or
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Berkshire Officials Back Bills to Protect Minors From Sexual AbuseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
Berkshire DA Timothy Shugrue says current consent laws constrained his ability to bring charges in the recent Miss Hall's School case. Left, state Rep. Leigh Davis has signed on to bills that would close that loophole. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials urge the passage of "long overdue" legislation to protect minors from sexual abuse by adults who are teachers, mentors, or other positions of trust.
"When I began my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. In the mid-1980s, this was a taboo topic. Something rarely discussed, much less prosecuted. During those early years, I worked to normalize the
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