| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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@theMarket: Jobs Weaken Again, Increasing Odds of Rate CutBy Bill Schmick,
02:13PM / Friday, September 05, 2025 | |
The first week of September saw record highs in the stock market, but bad news on Main Street had investors rethink their investment case. The payroll report had a lot to do with that. The non-farm payrolls report for August, released on Friday morning, was another downside surprise following last month's disappointing report. Employers added just 22,000 jobs for August, far fewer than forecast, while the headline rate of unemployment rose to 4.3 percent. Economists were looking for an already subdued gain of 73,000 new jobs. Even worse, the downward revisions to the employment numbers for past months continued to show additional losses. All in all, over the last three 0 Comments
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BRTA Fare Free Fixed Route and ADA Service| 11:05AM / Friday, September 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) will continue to be fare free for Fixed Route Bus Services and ADA Complementary Paratransit Services. Fare free transit service is made possible through funding awarded in the Governor's FY 26 Budget. The impact of 8 months of fixed route fare free service in FY 25 increased ridership by 13.76 percent. FY 25 had 613,408 customers compared to FY 24 of 539,225, an increase of 74,183 rides. ADA Complementary ridership increased by 17.6 percent during this same time frame. FY 25 there was 31,631 customers compared to FY 24 of 26,897, an increase of 4,734 rides. Fare free service will 0 Comments
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Plan for Merging Pittsfield's Elementary Zones TabledBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Friday, September 05, 2025 | |
The current elementary zones. PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The School Committee is not ready to adopt an elementary school reorganization plan that moves Stearns students into the proposed Crosby/Conte building.
On Wednesday, it tabled a long-term, three-zone elementary plan that assumes the Stearns population will be a part of a new school on West Street as early as 2029.
The city has to determine the building's size, based on enrollments, in its quest for funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Officials say the MSBA also wants to see how the consolidation of the West Side fits into larger plans for the district.
Based on the
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The Retired Investor: Trump's Tariff TroublesBy Bill Schmick,
04:02PM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
The Court of International Trade waited until the market's close on Friday afternoon before ruining the administration's Labor Day weekend. The court judges said the president had exceeded his authority in using the Emergency Powers Act to levy reciprocal tariffs on the world. Is this a good or a bad thing? It depends on where you sit. The court did not halt the tariffs but instead ruled they would remain in place until mid-October. In a 7-4 decision, the appellate court backed a lower court's decision finding that the law Trump used to justify his policies, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, did not give him the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the power 0 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Last First Fridays of SummerBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:14PM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
 Check out the events happening this weekend, including the two cities' First Fridays, picnics, and more. Editor's Picks Ice Cream Social: Sweet Scoops and Live Tunes
320 Main St., Williamstown
Time: 1 to 4 p.m. Celebrate the Williamstown Youth Center with live music from Vermont's TechnicalDUFFiculties and ice cream. Every scoop Saturday benefits the youth center's afterschool program for Grades 1 through 6. More information here. Franklin County Fair Wisdom Way, Greenfield Time: opens Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. The 176th Franklin County Fair features a midway, demonstrations, truck and horse pulls, demolition derby, animals, 0 Comments
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Berkshire's Hoffmann Bird Club to Celebrate 85th Anniversary| 11:43AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Hoffmann Bird Club (HBC) of Berkshire County was founded in Pittsfield in 1940, and on Monday, Sept. 8, the club will celebrate its 85th Anniversary at Berkshire Community College, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Social hour will start at 6:00 PM, with the meeting and programs starting at 7:00 PM in Susan B. Anthony building, 1st Floor. The event will be complete with a birthday cake, and presentations from several HBC Members. The event is free and open to the public. There will be a brief meeting, and mini programs to follow. On the roster are: Dick Ferren, who will introduce us to his new book, "The 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Call for Participants for Halloween Parade 2025| 10:36AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program has announced its 79th annual Halloween Parade, which will be held on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m. on Tyler Street. Floats, marchers, bands and more are wanted as the Pittsfield Halloween Parade seeks participants. This year's parade theme is "Haunted Hometown Spooktacular" and participants are encouraged to base their float designs, decorations, and/or costumes around iconic, past Halloween parades that have occurred in Pittsfield since the mid-1940s. Schools, local businesses, organizations and community/civic groups are encouraged to participate 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Kids' Place Annual Jimmy Bernardo Memorial Motorcycle Ride| 08:16AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Kids' Place and Violence Prevention Center, Inc., invites the community to join us for the 30th Annual Jimmy's Ride on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. This tradition honors the life of Jimmy Bernardo and raises essential funds to help children and families heal from abuse and violence. The ride begins at Berkshire County Kids' Place, 63 Wendell Ave in Pittsfield, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. and kickstands up at 11:00 a.m. Riders will travel a scenic 90-minute route through Berkshire County, ending at the Tavern at the A 303 Crane Ave in Pittsfield for the After Party, which starts at noon. The After
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BHS Prepares for Reopening of Medical Arts Complex Entry, Parking Area| 08:00AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT)'s North Street rotary construction project nears completion, Berkshire Health Systems has announced the timeline for its own campus improvement project that will expand parking and access for its Medical Arts Complex (MAC) adjacent to Berkshire Medical Center. The MAC parking area, which has been expanded and repaved, will reopen to patient traffic on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. There will be dozens more spaces than in the previous lot, and the spaces will be wider to better accommodate the size of current vehicles. Additionally, the second-floor entrance to the MAC building, located next to the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Building Commission Welcomes New Superintendent By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The academic year has begun with a new superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools and the same focus on a couple of big projects.
Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips was appointed as co-chair of the School Building Needs Commission on Tuesday, and commissioners looked to the future of the Crosby/Conte proposal.
Phillips stepped into the position on July 1 and has since met with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to discuss enrollment numbers.
"That is ongoing work. We intend to finalize the enrollment numbers at the end of October," she reported.
"And it was shared with us that once that number is
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BRTA to Update Bylaws After ComplaintBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The BRTA board met last week to update its bylaws and resolve an Open Meeting Law complaint. Earlier this month the BRTA Advisory Board met to discuss an Open Meeting Law complaint expressed by board member Rene Wood who alleged that the search for a new authority administrator "was not properly noticed for the average person to understand." Her complaint stated that no agenda posted for a search committee meeting in July when potential candidates were moved forward, and insufficient information was provided for the June meeting during which members were appointed to the task. Last week, the meeting started with a board member Ray Killeen
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Sheriff Bowler to Hold Annual Picnic| 03:38PM / Wednesday, September 03, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2025 Sheriff's picnic will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, from noon to 4 at Camp Russell in Richmond. The event will feature an afternoon barbeque including burgers, hot dogs, smoked ribs and wings. In addition, lifeguards will be on duty at the camp's pool from 1 – 3 for the children who typically attend this family picnic. "We always look forward to our annual picnic at Camp Russell," Sheriff Bowler said. "It gives me the opportunity to say hello to many families in our community and talk about programs that I believe are truly making a difference." Admission is $20 and kids under 12 are free. 0 Comments
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