| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Art in the Berkshires Juried Arts & Crafts Show| 07:57AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Art in the Berkshires (ArtintheBerkshires.com) invites artists from across the region to participate in its annual Juried Arts & Crafts Show. This event celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of local artists and artisans. The art show will be held at the Eastover Contemporary Art Space from June 4 to July 5, 2025, with an online gallery running through the end of the year. Marie Craig, artist, gallerist, and curator, will be the juror for this inaugural show. The Call for Art is now open through March 14, 2025, offering artists the opportunity to showcase their work in one of four categories: 2-Dimensional Wall-Hung 0 Comments
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BCC to Hold Workforce CompTIA Security Certification Virtual Trainings | 07:40AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College's Workforce and Community Education department will hold a CompTIA Security-plus Certification virtual training beginning on March 31. The 13-week training will occur online on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and run through June 25. Scholarships are available for eligible students. This training will equip participants with essential cybersecurity skills and prepare them for the CompTIA Security-plus certification exam. This industry-recognized certification validates the ability to secure networks, detect threats, and protect data. This course is ideal for individuals with CompTIA-plus 0 Comments
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Berkshire Pipe & Tobacco Sees License SuspensionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:41AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After repeat violations, a longtime Tyler Street retailer cannot sell tobacco until the end of the year.
On Wednesday, the Board of Health voted to suspend Berkshire Pipe and Tobacco's license until Dec. 11. The store has paid $4,300 in fines for selling flavored products, missing signage for blunt wraps, failure to request identification, and more.
"It's a tough decision for us," Chair Roberta Elliott said. "Because we don't like to be in a situation like this but we find ourselves here because we have a tobacco-selling store that has not taken things seriously and now is saying that they're going to all of a sudden."
In
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Love of T Showcases Community at GalaBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:35PM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
The event featured dining, raffles and an auction. Some $35,000 was raised to aid the peer-mentoring organization. See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The non-profit Love of T celebrated its ever-growing community and raised funds to continue its mission during its "Dance the Blues Away" gala on Saturday. The organization works to help those struggling with suicidal thoughts lead beautiful and fulfilling lives. Over the years, it has established a community of people who understand each other's struggles and support one another, Love of T staff and participants said. This year, it has served more than 245 individuals and 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Government Shutdown Looms LargeBy Bill Schmick,
04:19PM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
It is getting to be a regular occurrence. The U.S. Treasury runs out of money and warns Congress that they need more. Politicians on both sides strut and crow but delay until the 11th hour only to pass another "continuing resolution" for a few months. Will it ever end? Exactly what is a continuing resolution (CR)? They are temporary spending bills that allow the federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the president. CRs are never-ending stories with a shelf-life of 2-3 months. This time, the deadline is March 14. Has anything changed? Well, yes and no. The factions within the Republican party are 0 Comments
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Co-op Bank Promotes Vice President, Commercial Lending| 04:01PM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-op Bank) announced the promotion of Sierra King Watson to Vice President, Commercial Lending. In her new commercial role, Watson will spearhead efforts to support local businesses, delivering tailored business banking and lending solutions to help foster growth and strengthen the regional economy. Watson, a member of the Co-op Bank team, has built a strong reputation for her personalized approach to commercial lending, working closely with business owners to understand their goals and challenges. With fifteen years of banking and lending experience, Watson has consistently demonstrated exceptional 0 Comments
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Letter: Richmond Has Options to Reduce Building DensityLetter to the Editor,
02:00PM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
This year, the governor of Massachusetts signed a new bill into law that overrides every town in the commonwealth's zoning regarding ADUs (Additional/Accessory Dwelling Units). Every house in the commonwealth can now have an additional dwelling unit (house, cottage, guest house, etc.) up to 900 square feet on the same building lot as the primary house. The town you live in cannot do anything to prevent these as they are "by right" per the state government. How would you feel if your neighbor built a 900 square foot secondary house next to you on a lot that was zoned for one house? You may not like or agree with it, but there is nothing you or the town can do
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Greylock Community Enrichment Scholarship Applications Now Available| 10:43AM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Through its Community Enrichment Scholarship Program, Greylock will be offering scholarships to every public high school in Berkshire County and Columbia County, N.Y.. The scholarships will be awarded to high school senior students to be applied toward tuition at a state or nationally accredited two- or four-year college/university. Greylock will also award two scholarships to high school seniors from Berkshire and Columbia counties who will enroll in a program at an accredited technical, vocational or trade school. Students must be Greylock Federal Credit Union members. "These scholarships recognize students who exemplify 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Transportation Enhanced by Over $400 K in State Grants| 08:17AM / Thursday, March 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded funding to the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority and Great Barrington (BRTA) to enhance transportation access within Berkshire County. BRTA and the Town of Great Barrington have received a combined total of over $400,000 through the Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP). "Every investment we make in public transportation is an investment to connect more individuals and households to opportunities and to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts," said Governor Maura Healey. "We commend everyone who competed for funding available through this program and made a strong case for the 0 Comments
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Ollie's Bargain Outlet Taking Over Pittsfield Big LotsStaff Reports, iBerkshires
05:15PM / Wednesday, March 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The lease for the Big Lots on Dalton Avenue has been purchased by Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Ollie's, based in Harrisburg, Pa., acquired 40 leases for Big Lots stores and Burlington Stores Inc. another dozen. Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. It operated nearly 1,400 stores nationwide but began closing more than 300 by August with plans for another 250 by January. It announced back in December it would be closing the Pittsfield store after a purchase agreement with a competitor fall through. The closeout retailer moved into the former Price Rite Marketplace on Dalton Avenue in 2021 from 0 Comments
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Bianchi Barbarotta Foundation to Host 11th Annual Beer Tasting Event| 04:00PM / Wednesday, March 05, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Bianchi Barbarotta Foundation will host its 11th Annual Beer Tasting event on Saturday, March 8 at the Berkshire Hills Country Club. The event will feature a selection of beers from various breweries, including Antimony Brewing, Berkshire Brewing Company, Craft Brewers, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, Hot Plate Brewing Co., Bright Ideas Brewing, Big Elm Brewing, Roaring 20s Brewery, Start Line Brewing Co., Reverie Brewing Company, Barnstable Brewing, and Wandering Star Craft Brewery. Kelly's Package Store will also be participating. Food will be provided by Family Meatballs and KJ Knosh. Music will be performed by DJ Mike Wilk. Doors open at 6 PM, with 0 Comments
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BRTA Mulls Extending Free Rides to Non-ADA CommunitiesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:52PM / Wednesday, March 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority may extend free rides even further for the next few months.
This would expand opportunities for rural residents to use the transit authority's services and could even be a catalyst for route extensions.
On Wednesday, the BRTA Finance Committee recommended the extension of fare-free rides to non-ADA communities for the months of April, May, and June. It will go before the full advisory board at the end of the month.
"It's a way of getting more service out there to communities that maybe don't have it or aren't using it," Administrator Robert Malnati said.
Last year, BRTA was awarded $699,733
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