| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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FEMA Urges Public to Prepare Ahead of Hurricane Lee| 08:14AM / Saturday, September 16, 2023 | |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — FEMA encourages residents and visitors in Hurricane Lee's path to prepare now and follow the instructions of local officials. Anyone in the forecast path of the storm should monitor local weather alerts for updates and evacuate immediately if told to do so. "For the past several days, FEMA has been in close contact with our state partners as we monitor the path of Hurricane Lee," FEMA Region 1 Regional Administrator Lori Ehrlich said. "Right now, we want to remind New Englanders to listen to their local emergency management officials and take the appropriate steps to prepare for the impact of the 0 Comments
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Hinsdale's Sullivan Honored With Sign at Middlefield RoadBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
The sign was donated by Angela and Bruce Stetson. HINSDALE, Mass. — Community leaders, friends, and family members honored the late James Sullivan on Friday with a sign unveiling. Sullivan died Dec. 31, 2021, from complications from COVID-19 but not without leaving a big impact on the town and his family. Residents Angela and Bruce Stetson purchased the prominent memorial sign as a gift for the family and had it erected at the intersection of Route 8 and Middlefield Road. The sign notes his commitment to the town and the Middlefield Road project and symbolizes him through the color and patterns used. Red was his favorite color, which is depicted 0 Comments
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Flushing of the City of Pittsfield's Water System: Sept. 18-26| 04:00PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Monday, Sept. 18 marks the start of phase two for the fall flushing schedule of the City of Pittsfield's water system. Water mains throughout the city will be flushed through hydrants over the next several weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. This phase of flushing is expected to occur between Sept. 18 through Sept. 26. Flushing is to be expected to affect the following areas: Starting at Unkamet Park Drive heading west up to North Street working north to the Broadway and Lakeview streets 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Government Shutdown ScorecardBy Bill Schmick,
02:54PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
Oct. 1, 2023, is the deadline to avert yet another government shutdown. At this point, the chances are high that partisan politics will once again disappoint the country and most voters. The truth is that the U.S. has a long history of dysfunctional shutdowns. There have been 20 such incidents since 1976. The longest single shut down in history occurred from Dec. 22, 2018, until Jan. 25, 2019. The credit or blame for that debacle goes to former President Donald Trump. Trump held government workers and the nation hostage to fund his pet folly, a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. How important was that issue? The subject has disappeared entirely from the political realm 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Says 'No' to Water Treatment Plant PresentationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:43PM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Craig Gaetani's talk about saving the city millions of dollars on its water treatment plan will remain at open microphone.
On Tuesday, the City Council shot down a petition from Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick requesting that a public hearing be held to provide Gaetani the opportunity to explain the technology of the plant.
Kronick was the lone vote in favor and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi abstained.
"I believe that the people of Pittsfield and this body, the City Council, should give him this opportunity," he said. "What are we afraid of?"
Councilors believed that allowing the public hearing would set a dangerous precedent for
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Pittsfield Police Arrest Man Allegedly Involved in Fatal StabbingStaff Reports ,
08:54AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
Josiah Helmer, age 27, was arraigned for murder on Friday in Central Berkshire District Court and held without the right of bail. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 10. PITTSFILED, Mass. — A 27-year-old city man has been arrested in Tuesday's fatal stabbing. Multiple law enforcement officers arrested Josiah Helmer on Thursday at a residence on Dalton Avenue on an outstanding warrant charging him with murder. The charge stemmed from the stabbing that occurred on Melville Street on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 12. Police responded at about 10:45 p.m. to the report of a stabbing on Melville Street, near the intersection with First 0 Comments
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Wahconah Park Restoration Committee Launches Survey| 08:10AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In spring 2022, the Wahconah Park grandstand had to be closed to fans due to structural concerns. The City of Pittsfield and Wahconah Park Restoration Committee is considering how best to proceed with a project that returns fans to a safe grandstand structure that meets handicapped accessibility requirements while providing a better fan, player and overall experience. The Wahconah Park Restoration Committee has launched a short survey to gather feedback around various aspects of the project. This survey is now available to the public and can beaccessed through the city's website: 0 Comments
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Pittsfield's Site 9 Work Going to Bid This SeasonBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Friday, September 15, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Work is expected to begin on Site 9 this winter, depending on weather. Edward Weagle, principal geologist at Roux Associates reported on Wednesday to PEDA plans to award the $10 million redevelopment to a successful bidder in October. The concrete slab and foundations left from the former buildings can begin to be cracked up and crushed during the winter if there is not too much snow, he said. The Pittsfield Economic Development Authority also went into executive session to discuss a real estate opportunity on the site. "We're very excited. This is a huge milestone for us," member Michael Matthews said, adding that it will create a lot of
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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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Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
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January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
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