| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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District Attorney Reveals Identity of Hancock Man Killed by State Police Staff Reports ,
08:19AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
HANCOCK, Mass. — The District Attorney's Office identified Phillip Henault as the man shot and killed by a State Police officer responding to a domestic incident. The identity of the single State Police officer involved has not been made public. According to State Police, and a statement from the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, the officer was called to a Hancock residence about 7 a.m. on Sept. 9 and was confronted by Henault, age 64, who was armed. The preliminary investigation involving crime scene analysis, civilian interviews, body and dash camera footage and 911 recordings corroborate that the Massachusetts State Police officer retreated a 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Airs Frustrations With Overgrown WaysBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Thursday, September 14, 2023 | |
A company was contracted to maintain the medians and borders but has apparently not been able to do so. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City councilors are appalled at the condition of some public ways and have called for action.
On Tuesday, the council sent multiple petitions to the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales concerning walkways, medians and planter boxes that appear to be lacking maintenance.
These include a request to have the center median and all adjacent flower boxes from the intersection of Reed Street and South Street to the intersection of Linden Street and North Street cleared of all debris; a request for information on the schedule of emptying
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Letter: Alex Blumin for City CouncilLetter to the Editor,
02:00PM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
 To the Editor: I am excited to endorse Mr. Alex Blumin for Ward 2 City Council. When we elect Mr. Blumin, we continue Ward 2's tradition of self-governance. We consistently choose the independent voice to represent our interests. We have a tradition of preserving a philosophy of reasonable inquiry of elected officials, and we demand responsible financial governance.
Ward 2 awaits the city's fulfillment of its promises to complete roadwork and fix abandoned homes. Mr. Blumin will push the city to achieve these promises. The mayor aggressively hiked water and sewer rates twice in the last two years, and she promised more increases. Ward 2 residents worry about the
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Pittsfield Police Investigating Fatal Stabbing | 10:00AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Authorities are investigating the fatal stabbing of a Pittsfield man on Tuesday night as a homicide. Police responded at about 10:45 p.m. to the report of a stabbing on Melville Street, near the intersection with First Street. A 42-year-old, who identity was not disclosed, was found at the scene. Officers, firefighters and Action Ambulance Personnel provided the victim with emergency medical care and he was transported to Berkshire Medical Center, where he later died. The investigation is being handled by the Pittsfield Police with assistance from the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire County District Attorney's 0 Comments
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Berkshire Health Systems Instituting Code of ConductBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
09:30AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Patients and staff are expected to be on their best behavior at Berkshire Health Systems — especially after Oct. 2. That's when a new code of conduct goes into effect at all offices and facilities of the health system, including Berkshire Medical Center. "Our goal here is to make sure that we're providing a safe and welcoming place to receive care for everyone that walks through our doors and to encourage constructive conversations with one another," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO, Berkshire Health Systems. The code lists a number of actions and activities that officials say effect the health systems ability to 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Hires New Chief Technology Officer| 08:17AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (The Co-op) announced the hiring of Eric Padelford as SVP, Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this role, Padelford will oversee the information technology department, and work closely with leadership on modernizing technology and platforms to increase efficiency and better serve the institution's customers. Padelford joins The Co-op after serving as Vice President, Integration Architect and Developer at Berkshire Bank for the last six years. Padelford has over twenty-two years of systems architecture and development expertise, serving in IT and development roles at McGlinchey Stafford, and Tech Valley DataPro 0 Comments
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BArT Announces Upcoming Enrollment Deadline| 08:00AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Arts and Technology (BArT) Charter Public School is currently accepting applications for students in grades 6 through 10 for the 2023-2024 school year. The next enrollment deadline for the 2023-2024 school year for grades 6 through 10 is Thursday, Oct.12, 2023, at noon. The easiest way to apply is to visit https://bartcharter.schoolmint.com/. Interested families should note that the best way to secure a seat, or a desirable waitlist spot for the 2023-2024 school year is to apply before the Oct. 12 deadline. More information on the school's enrollment and lottery process can be found at www.bartcharter.org. Interested 0 Comments
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Dalton Board Approves Sales Agreement for Bardin PropertyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:21AM / Wednesday, September 13, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — After nine years of navigating regulations that complicated the sale of the so-called Bardin property, the town has taken the last step in being rid of the land. The Select Board on Monday signed the purchase-and-sales agreement for the property, awarding it to Charlotte Lind Crane for the amount of $150,000. Of that amount, $25,000 has already been paid as a deposit. The state Department of Agricultural Resources now has 60 days to enact its right of first refusal. The 148 acres of land made up of three parcels came into the town's possession in 2016 in a taking for delinquent taxes. The town had first placed a lien against the 0 Comments
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Berkshire Athenaeum Celebrates National Library Card Sign-up Month| 02:01PM / Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, in partnership with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., and its member businesses, is observing National Library Card Sign-up Month during the month of September. The public is encouraged to sign up for or renew their library card at the Athenaeum and enjoy special discounts exclusive to library cardholders at participating Pittsfield businesses. Patrons of the library may enter a raffle to win a $150 Downtown Pittsfield gift card or a Family Membership for the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. Prizes provided by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum. A brochure listing the discounts 0 Comments
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Berkshire Communities Receive Highway Funds| 11:05AM / Tuesday, September 12, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that MassDOT has received an additional $80 million in funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as part of the annual funding redistribution process. These redistribution funds represent federal transportation funds that were unable to be used for the programs to which they were originally allocated. As part of this redistribution, MassDOT will add or increase funding for 12 infrastructure projects across Massachusetts. "Our Administration is committed to pursuing transportation projects that increase safety, equity, and reliability 0 Comments
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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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