| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Commission Considers Park Square Historic District By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Friday, August 01, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city is chipping away at its plans for establishing a possible historic district in the downtown. On Monday, the Historical Commission discussed who would lead the charge to designate a small area around Park Square as a historical district, which preserves and protects buildings and places with historical significance. City Planner Kevin Rayner said that if it is done, it will be done slowly and properly. He hopes that the commission could lead the project. "Whatever board does this, it's going to be like a year-long process, so I don't think it makes any sense to rush getting into that process. I think we set up the
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The Retired Investor: College Grads Face Tough Times in Job Market.By Bill Schmick,
03:46PM / Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |
The unemployment rate in the Gen Z population, those born between 1997 and 2012, is edging up to 7 percent compared to the nation's overall employment rate of 4.3 percent. That is the highest gap the country has seen in 30 years. For entry-level college grads, aged 22 to 27, the number is roughly 5.8 percent — the highest level in a dozen years. Fed officials and private sector economists have been quick to point out that the uncertainty created by the Trump administration's tariff increases is a major cause of reluctance among businesses to hire young, inexperienced workers. That makes some sense since entry-level jobs are the first to go in times of economic 0 Comments
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West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Pittsfield| 03:12PM / Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Pittsfield. The City of Pittsfield has two confirmed isolations. One at upper North St. (Garland Ave) and the other on South Street (Dan Fox Dr Intersection). WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. At this time there are no confirmed human cases 0 Comments
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Co-Op Bank Welcomes New Senior Commercial Team Leader| 12:10PM / Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-Op Bank) announced the addition of Mark McKenna as Senior Vice President, Senior Commercial Lending Team Leader. A native and long-time resident of the Berkshires, McKenna joins the bank's senior management team with an understanding of the local business landscape and a passion for helping others, stated a press release. McKenna brings over 35 years of experience in commercial lending, business development, and relationship banking. In this new role, he will lead strategic efforts to support local businesses, expand lending services, and guide a team of lenders. "Bringing 0 Comments
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Co-Op Bank Welcomes New President| 08:11AM / Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-Op Bank) announce the appointment of Gregg Levante as its new President. A lifelong resident of Berkshire County, Levante brings banking experience and an understanding of the community's needs, values, and aspirations, stated a press release. "Gregg embodies everything we stand for, dedication to serving others, a strong commitment to leadership development, and a belief in the power of connection," said Co-Op Bank CEO Mike Daly. Levante has more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry, previously holding leadership roles in commercial lending at Berkshire Bank and NBT Bank. He 0 Comments
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Dalton Zoning Officer, Board in Stalement Over Dig SiteBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:55AM / Thursday, July 31, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass.— The Select Board still wants Berkshire Concrete's unauthorized dig site fully mitigated, but are at a standstill due to concerns from the town's building commissioner and zoning enforcement officer. For nearly nine months, residents have attended numerous meetings urging action to prevent sand from leaving property, owned by Berkshire Concrete, a subsidiary of Petricca Industries. In drone photos, taken by a member of the Clean Air Coalition, a group established to provide updates on the situation, it can be seen that part of the area had been mitigated. A newsletter from the coalition claimed that the section of the parcel was left untouched
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Create an Ad: Imperial PoolsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | |
Imperial Pools picked Tashi Zaretsky for first place, Charlotte Burke for second, and Emelyn Gimbert for third. LENOX, Mass. — Fourth-grade students at Morris Elementary School participated in our Junior Marketers Create an Ad series. Just weeks ahead of summer vacation, students in Ashley Scherben's class brought their daydreams of the cool pool under the hot summer fun to life as they created advertisements for Imperial Pools. In their drawings the students demonstrated family fun, which is what pools are all about, said Keith LaFrance, owner of Imperial Pools. Richard LaFrance opened Imperial Pools in Adams in 1963 and moved the business to Lanesborough a
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Pittsfield's Affordable Housing Trust Notice of Funding Availability for Housing Projects| 08:01AM / Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is seeking applications for Community Preservation (CPA) funds that have been allocated to the Trust for the purpose of creating affordable housing opportunities for Pittsfield residents. The AHT has $365,000 in funding that it is seeking to award to affordable housing projects in Pittsfield that are eligible to receive Community Preservation Funds. The application process is a two-part process. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest to the Board to be reviewed at a meeting of the Trust. The initial review will determine the project's eligibility. If the Board 0 Comments
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Lanesborough Chair Requests Committee Member's RemovalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:10AM / Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A resident's seat on town boards and commissions will be deliberated after he verbally attacked a Select Board member at Monday's meeting. Preston Repenning, a member of the Age Friendly Park Committee and the information committee for the public safety building, aired grievances about Select Board's leadership and town issues during public comment.
Repenning alleged in a statement he read that Chair Deborah Maynard planned a "coup d'etat" to secure the title, and by the end of the statement, the police chief was instructed to escort him out. Maynard, whom he addressed, asked that the board take up removing him from
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Amended Camping Ordinance Sent to Pittsfield City CouncilBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:46PM / Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The controversial public camping ordinance has been referred back to the City Council with several "compromises." This includes the removal of criminalization language, a new fine structure, and some exceptions for people sleeping in cars or escaping danger. The amendments made at Monday's Ordinance and Rules subcommittee meeting followed some 90 minutes of comments from the public on a regulation seen by many as targeting the homeless population. The vote was 3-2, with subcommittee members Kathleen Amuso, Rhonda Serre and Peter White in favor and Chair Dina Lampiasi and Patrick Kavey voting against. "I want to be clear:
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BCC to Celebrate 65 Years| 10:52AM / Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) invites all for a free Community Fest 2025, celebrating the College's 65th anniversary, on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The celebration will take place on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Community Fest honors BCC's accomplishments over the years, from new academic buildings and programs to an accessible quad and a new One Stop Enrollment Center. Community Fest includes Build a Bear workshops (the first 200 children can build a free BCC Falcon stuffed animal), a "touch a truck" activity, face painting, arts and crafts, a community 0 Comments
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Alleged Underage Serving Sends Pittsfield Bar to Licensing BoardBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Bei Tempi was brought before the Licensing Board after a mother alleged that her underage son was served at the West Side bar.
"My son was there. He was highly intoxicated. It resulted in his arrest when he came home violent," Sara Stein said to the board on Monday.
A show-cause hearing for the Bei Tempi, located at 195 Onota St., was continued until next month to gather information about what happened on the night of June 21.
After drinking at a graduation party, Stein said her 18-year-old son became further intoxicated at the establishment before returning home late and becoming combative, resulting in an arrest by
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