| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin Terminated By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Wednesday, January 08, 2025 | |
Members of the Fire District attend the meeting at the Stationery Factory, where Christian Tobin was sworn in on Jan. 29, 2024. DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Water Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously voted to terminate Fire Chief Christian Tobin just a year after hiring him. The decision comes after an investigation by Kerry Gilpin of Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting, which began when the board announced Tobin's paid suspension in August over allegations of sexual harassment, grant overspending, and employee concerns. The suspension was originally for a month but was indefinitely extended in September until the investigation into 0 Comments
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Bus Organized to People's March| 06:26PM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Leigh Davis, state Sen. Paul Mark, and the Rural Freedom Network are organizing a motorcoach bus from the Berkshires to Washington, D.C., for the 2025 People's March. Rural Freedom Network is a federally registered political action committee and as a grassroots media organization it supports Democratic candidates and issues such as civil rights. The People's March is a rebranding of the Women's March that first occurred in 2017 and broadened to include such rights to free speech, health care and economics. The bus departs on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 2 a.m. from the parking lot of The 0 Comments
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Letter: Issues & Topics of Upcoming Dalton Special ElectionLetter to the Editor,
01:00PM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
The focus of the upcoming election, like all elections, is about how best to prepare for the future of our town while minimizing the impact on taxpayers. One of those future issues that is a huge need and we are presently struggling with is a new police station. If one has seen the videos or read the description of the working conditions our Police Department is working under, I am sure they are at minimum concerned if not completely appalled. I am amazed Chief Strout, her officers and staff manage to perform their jobs so professionally and adequately in light of the space in the Town Hall basement falling short in so many ways that impact running an effective police
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Pittsfield to Decide Crosby/Conte Feasibility Study in OctoberBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:45PM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City and school officials are expected to vote on a feasibility study for the Crosby Elementary School rebuild by Halloween.
On Monday, Superintendent Joseph Curtis gave an overview of the study's timeline and components. It would determine the feasibility of rebuilding Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities.
"We at this point, do not know the feasibility study will actually occur," he told the Middle School Restructuring Committee.
"There has to be discussions of the School Building Needs Commission, who is actually meeting [Tuesday night], there has to be discussion with the School Committee, and
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Berkshire Organizations Celebrate Sucessess, New Locations in 2024By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025 | |
Second Street Second Chances in Pittsfield celebrates renovated and expanded space to provide resources and training for people who've done their time and are trying to reintegrate into the community. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In 2024, Berkshire County organizations saw new locations and successes in their fields.
Downtown Pittsfield saw some new tenants — in fact, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. even relocated to North Street to be right on the pulse of activity.
Last month, 1Berkshire announced that it had sold its property at 66 Allen St. after 12 years and will move to the second floor of Crawford Square on North Street.
"It was not for lack of a fondness of the
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CBRSD to Reconvene Regional Agreement PanelBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:13AM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — After an outcry of concern from residents in several small towns in the Central Berkshire Regional School District, the district will investigate how to adjust its proposed update of the regional agreement. The district has been functioning without an approved regional agreement since 1968. The agreement was updated in 1997 but received approval only from the towns, not the state commissioner. For over a year, the district has been working to bring the agreement up to date with state law. "It's been a long time we've been operating without approval. State law is we're supposed to be operating with approval," 0 Comments
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Five Local Firefighters Graduate From Massachusetts Firefighting Academy| 05:32PM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
Cody Doyle, left, and Owen Hoffman of Dalton hold their axes after graduating from the academy on Monday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five local firefighters were among the 20 graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Monday. Jahyde Bullard, Phourasamy Din and Matthew Tobin, all of Pittsfield, and Cody Doyle and Owen Hoffman of Dalton completed the academy's 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. Bullard, Din and Tobin were appointed permanent firefighters by Mayor Peter Marchetti last July. "Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are 0 Comments
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New Bedford Installing Sculpture of Melville Based on 'Moby-Dick'| 11:48AM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — New Bedford's installing a statue of Herman Melville based on his epic "Moby-Dick," the story of a whaling captain and his nemesis the white whale, inspired by Mount Greylock. An illustration of the statue titled "Melville and Jonah's Journey" was unveiled on Friday morning at the Seaman's Bethel in New Bedford, where it will be installed on the grounds. The work by sculptor Stefanie Rocknak shows Melville amidst waves and three whale ribs "representing Melville's own journey into and out of the whale. Yet, Melville rises above them, his mouth open, as though beginning to speak — to tell the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Public Schools Announces Pre-Kindergarten Lottery| 10:43AM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, children living in Pittsfield, who will be 3 or 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2025, may complete an application for the Pittsfield Public Schools Pre-Kindergarten Program lottery. Pre-Kindergarten spaces are limited. Students must register by May 1, 2025 to be considered for the school based lottery which will occur on May 15, 2025. To be entered into the Pre-Kindergarten Lottery: Go to pittsfield.net, select Registration. Select Pre-Kindergarten Registration and complete the online Pre-Kindergarten application form. Applicants will be required to email a copy of their child's Birth 0 Comments
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Local Figure Skaters Compete at Bay State GamesiBerkshires.com Sports,
09:56AM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Pittsfield's Sophia Collins Sunday led a sweep of the podium for the Christmas Brook Figure Skating Club in one her events at the Bay State Winter Games. Hundreds of figure skaters from around the commonwealth and around New England participated in the annual event. Collins took a gold medal in the Aspire 1 Girls Free Skate Group D on Sunday morning at Williams College's Lansing Chapman Rink. Teammates Mila Juras of Cheshire and Alyse Wright of Pittsfield took bronze and silver, respectively, in the event. Christmas Brook FSC, which hosted the three-day competition, earned eight gold medals in U.S. Figure Skating-sanctioned 0 Comments
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BCC Receives Funding for ESOL Classes| 08:01AM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced that it has received funding from 1Berkshire for two cohorts of adult students enrolling in BCC's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. 1Berkshire will provide $15,000 per cohort for the spring and fall 2025 semesters, allowing ESOL students to receive full tuition assistance. BCC's ESOL classes are designed to assist non-native English speakers, primarily immigrants, in assimilating into the community and achieving their academic and career goals. Classes focus on English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, while also integrating critical thinking, digital literacy, civics, and
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BRPC Mulls Upcoming ADU RegulationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Monday, January 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — County planners can see accessory dwelling units providing a "desperately needed" influx and diversity of housing in the Berkshires. On Thursday, the Executive Committee of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission approved draft comments on ADUs for Housing Secretary Edward Augustus. As a part of the Affordable Homes Act, accessory dwelling units under 900 square feet will be allowed by right on Feb. 2.
The draft letter will be revised before reaching the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. It makes notes about the definition of a single-family zoning district, non-conformities, principal dwellings, parking, and access to
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