| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield's Ward 7 Councilor Steps DownBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:39PM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre will step down from her post a couple of months early to work in education.
"Tonight will be officially my last City Council meeting," she reported at the conclusion of Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting.
"I'm stepping down a few meetings earlier than originally planned because I've accepted an opportunity to join the public schools. I'm returning back to my roots. This has been a long-term plan all along, but it wasn't expected to happen until next September, so it's a little premature." She feels that this council did a "tremendous" amount of work,
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Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Events 2025| 02:40PM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
 Halloween falls on a Friday this year. Some communities may hold their trick-or-treating hours during the weekend, or hold events ahead of the holiday. Check back as the holiday approaches for what your town is doing. If you are going door-to-door, remember to dress appropriately, carry a flashlight and only visit homes with lights on in your neighborhood. Below is a list of towns holding trick-or-treat hours on Halloween, unless otherwise noted. Those towns that are crossed out are dates from last year that have not been updated. The towns with the asterisks are the same times every year. If you don't see your town listed and you know the hours, let us know
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Letter: Elect Buerger for School CommitteeLetter to the Editor,
12:31PM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
 To the Editor: It is with great joy that I write this letter surrounding the upcoming election, particularly the School Committee election. I sit here as an 18-year-old recent graduate of Pittsfield Public Schools, preparing to vote and I look at this candidate pool and say wow! There are so many great and amazing options, but one comes to mind that definitely has my vote, Dr. Geoffrey Buerger. For those of you who don’t know Dr. Buerger, he will introduce himself to you as a fossil who is older than the state of Alaska, exactly how he introduced himself to me when he became my long-term substitute in chemistry my sophomore year of high school. From this point, he 11 Comments
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Letter: Walker Prioritizes Building Better LivesLetter to the Editor,
12:30PM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
 To the editor:
We don't get a Corey Walker every generation.
This Pittsfield native shows that she springs back up when she gets knocked down and hits the ground running! Opportunity was scarce for her before affordable Berkshire Community College: she continues to tirelessly make and share lemonade with it. She makes the Dean's list every single semester. She juggles college, two jobs, and activism so that those after her won't have to.
She has the proven record of fighting for our neighbors' rights. Having worked at the city's Water Department has already taught her how to work with people to get things done.
She brings something to the council that we need! A
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These Mysterious Hills Presents 'City of the Dead' Cemetery Walking Tours| 11:26AM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Beginning at dusk, this 90 minute lamplight tour explores the dark and mysterious side of the 175-year-old Pittsfield Cemetery. Tens of thousands are buried in Pittsfield Cemetery, and half a dozen actually died on the premises. "City of the Dead" will explore fascinating and tragic stories from some of the more obscure lives of inhabitants. It will also lay bare the darker history of the place itself: the vandalism, assaults, exhumations, reinterments, and tragic deaths that have taken place within the cemetery itself. Tours cost $10 and will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 25, 28, 29, 30. Enter from Onota Street and park on the 11 Comments
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BRPC Honors Retiring Local Leaders with Kusik AwardBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | |
Judge Frederick Rutberg, who recently stepped back as publisher of The Berkshire Eagle, was the keynote speaker. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two outgoing leaders were recognized with Kusik Awards at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's annual meeting.
Ellen Kennedy, Berkshire Community College's retiring president, and Jane Winn, retired executive director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, were recognized for outstanding contributions to Berkshire County.
Meg Bandarra of Unpaved Trails for All and Rene Wood, of Sheffield, also received the award to applause at The Proprietor's Lodge last week. It is named in honor of the
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Berkshire County Historical Society Lecture on Late 19th Century Textiles| 03:25PM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society will host historian Lorraine German for the lecture Grandmother's Wedding Dress on Oct. 22 at 5:30 pm. German uses the swatches and clothing information found in a small late-nineteenth century scrapbook filled with fabric swatches to reveal a story of fabrics and fashion in nineteenth-century Vermont, as told by three generations of an ordinary family. The lecture takes place at Arrowhead; tickets are $15 for BCHS members, $20 for non-members and can be purchased by using the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org. Lorraine German and her late husband Steve established Mad River Antiques, LLC 11 Comments
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Senate Candidate Rikleen to Speak to Lenox Dems| 03:05PM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
LENOX, Mass. — The Lenox Town Democratic Committee will hear from U.S. Senate candidate Alex Rikleen at its meeting Wednesday. The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Church on the Hill Annex, 55 Main St., in the parlor room. It is open to all Democrats. Rikleen, of Acton, was the first to launch a primary challenge against Edward Markey, who is running for third term. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton recently announced his intent to run as well. The committee will also discuss Jeromie Whalen, who running against Richie Neal for his congressional seat, and the two Board of Selectmen seats up in May 2026. A report will be given on the Democratic 11 Comments
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Pittsfield Council OKs Mobile Home Language Change for Lake Onota Village AssociationBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:02PM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Lake Onota Village Association asked the City Council to change the City Code to exclude owner-occupied parks from the city's rent control. Last Tuesday, the council said, "yes," and commended the mobile home park residents for buying their community and being self-governed. The residents banded together to buy the property earlier this year and, in September, voted to purchase it for $5.5 million. Board members of the association have to abide by rent regulations from the state after receiving a $2 million grant. "If we want to keep the $2 million and not have any issues with the state, we are going to 11 Comments
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BRPC Awarded Grant to Launch Mental Health Program at PHS| 10:31AM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) announced it has been awarded a $10,000 Community Impact Grant from Fallon Health. This one-time award will fund the pilot of the Active Minds Curriculum at Pittsfield High School. "We're pleased to award grant funding to Berkshire Regional Planning and the SPARK initiative to help support early intervention programs for children and youth,” said Cheryl Schmaltz, Community Engagement Manager. “By focusing on teen mental health and substance use prevention, we can eliminate barriers to health care for this important population and enhance outcomes."" The 11 Comments
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Pittsfield Street Improvement Project: Oct. 20-24| 08:00AM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Please be advised that the following street improvements are scheduled from October 20-24: West Street project update The construction of new sidewalks and bike paths continues. In addition, the installation of the support poles for the traffic signal at West Street and West Street intersection will begin. During this work, lane closures at various sections are expected. We encourage drivers to seek alternate routes if possible. Additional utility underground work, in the right of way, will be occurring on the following streets: King Street Valentine Road (between West Street and Taconic High School) Holmes Road Use caution when traveling on these 11 Comments
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Pittsfield Ward 7 Candidates Mull Mosquito Control, HomelessnessBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | |
Anthony Maffuccio is seeking to return as Ward 7 councilor. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Candidates for Ward 7 found common ground on a couple of topics during Thursday's debate sponsored by Pittsfield Community Television and iBerkshires.
Anthony Maffuccio and Katherine Nagy Moody agreed that the city does not have enough support for unhoused community members and oppose the city's contracting with the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project for mosquito control.
Maffuccio has petitioned against the program in the past.
"I think it's a waste of taxpayer money," he said.
"I don't think we get the benefit out of
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