| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Cultural Council Quits After Chair FiredBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
09:27AM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board's decision to terminate the town manager's executive assistant, Alyssa Maschino, has had a ripple effect. Maschino's colleague in the town manager's office, Kira Smith, said Thursday she was submitting her resignation. And the Dalton Cultural Council has resigned en masse. Maschino has been the chair of the council, which is charged with promoting the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences as a way to improve residents' quality of life. One of its tasks in planning Dalton Day. Dalton Day would not be what it is if it weren't for Maschino, council clerk and recording secretary 0 Comments
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Letter: Together, Cool heads will prevail Letter to the Editor,
06:00PM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
Rather tragically at Thursday night's Select Board meeting, we lost one of our own. The lesson made apparent by this tragedy is that our current system is broken. We need better and more timely communication; we need openness; we need the needs of the town of be first; we need more professionalism; and we need an environment free of fear.
So what remains for us to do is understand this problem did not develop overnight and that it will take some time and hard work to make the needed changes. We must make our concerns heard through our votes on Town Election Day on May 5 and at the annual town meeting on May 12 to create the first big step toward making needed repairs
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Congressman Neal Talks 'Chaotic' Trump EdictsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:40PM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At call-in town hall on Thursday, constituents in the First Mass District shared their fears and concerns over actions being taken at the federal level. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal detailed the "chaotic nature" of President Donald Trump's recent executive actions during a telephone town hall that drew more than 8,000 participants. "Congress does not serve under a president of the United States," Neal said from his Washington, D.C., office, the Capital dome in the background. "I need and you need to have our colleagues on the other side of the aisle begin to challenge some of these edicts that are coming from the 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Higher Inflation Signals No More Rate CutsBy Bill Schmick,
04:04PM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
For the fourth straight month, the Consumer Price Index registered higher inflation. That has dashed any hope that the U.S. central bank would loosen momentary policy further in the months ahead. And now the country faces even higher prices if tariffs go into effect. The most recent University of Michigan survey of consumers indicated that inflation expectations for the next year increased to 4.3 percent in February. That is one percentage point higher than January and the highest since November 2023. Wednesday's Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for January increased 3 percent over the prior year and 0.5 percent over the previous month. That surprised markets but came in 0 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Winterfest & the Big ChillBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:12PM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
 There are several events this weekend to help you recharge from your week, including festivals, live music, and more. Editor's Pick The Big Chill Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield Time: 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The village will have a range of activities, including walking tours, ice harvesting talks, maple tree tapping demonstrations, crafts, farm animals, and more. The event is part of the Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival, during which several organizations and businesses will hold events from Feb. 13 through 23. All activities are included with the $15 admission ticket, 0 Comments
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Dalton Board Fires Executive Assistant for Sharing Anonymous LetterBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:37AM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
Some 40 people attended the hearing that Alyssa Maschino had asked to be open. DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board on Thursday voted to terminate the town manager's executive assistant, Alyssa Maschino. The board placed Maschino on administrative leave until Feb. 19, and authorized Chair Robert Bishop to work with the town counsel and the town manager to coordinate termination. The decision proved controversial, with many of her peers expressing frustration with the decision they described as a double standard. About 40 people attended the meeting. The board claimed that by sending an anonymous letter addressed to "Dalton Select Board" and to 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Schools: No 'Friending' StudentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, February 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — While awaiting the findings of Pittsfield High School's staff investigation, district unions and administrators united to create a social media and cell phone directive.
Effective immediately, it bars staff members from connecting with students outside of their immediate family on social media and calling or messaging them from a personal phone. It will become a policy the Monday after February vacation and non-compliance will result in "progressive disciplinary action."
"It's become obvious during the travails that we're enduring here that this is not always observed and although I know that each of the presidents of the bargaining
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The Retired Investor: A Different View on Interest RatesBy Bill Schmick,
04:41PM / Thursday, February 13, 2025 | |
Scott Bessent, the nation's new Treasury secretary, is a product of the investment world. His private sector background brings to the government a different set of tools and ideas that may lessen the burden on the Federal Reserve Bank in its fight against inflation. For decades, politicians of both parties with few exceptions have left it up to the Federal Reserve Bank to curb inflation while maintaining employment. It has been a tough job, especially when fiscal policy is working at cross purposes with their mandate. The fly in the ointment over the last several decades has been that while the central bank has been largely insulated from political pressures and has functioned 0 Comments
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Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. Photography Exhibition: Focus on Downtown| 03:27PM / Thursday, February 13, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework are presenting "Focus on Downtown," a new photography exhibition featuring local photographers Brian Beckett, Shaun Harmon, and Autumn Phoenix. The exhibit runs from February 3 through March 26 at Framework by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (437 North Street) and showcases vibrant and artistic views of the city. As part of the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival, a reception with the photographers will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 10 AM to 12 PM in collaboration with Dottie’s Coffee Lounge’s Domingo Brunch, featuring live music by Amy Attias and Dave Christopolis. The exhibition is open Monday through Thursday,
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Joann Fabric in Pittsfield Targeted for ClosureStaff Reports, iBerkshires
12:52PM / Thursday, February 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Joann Fabric and Crafts store on Dalton Avenue is among some 500 set to close. Joann Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year to restructure and filed again last month. On Wednesday, the bankruptcy filings noted that liquidation should start immediately. Pittsfield was among the 19 Massachusetts stores identified for closure, as well as the store in the Hampshire Mall in Hadley. Two Vermont stores are closing along with several in New York's Capital District. Overall, 53 stores out of 800 are slated to be shuttered. Joann is the only large scale material retailer in the area. Walmart eliminated its bolt fabrics a few 0 Comments
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Fire Damages First Street Multifamily Home in Pittsfield| 10:47AM / Thursday, February 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A fire early Tuesday morning caused extensive damage to a multifamily home on First Street, displacing residents and prompting an investigation by local and state authorities. The blaze, which broke out around 1 a.m. at 233 First Street, is being investigated by the Pittsfield Fire Department, Pittsfield Police, and the State Fire Marshal's Office. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames on the back exterior of the 2 ½-story home. Crews quickly worked to contain the fire, extinguishing it outside before moving to the second floor, where the fire had spread. Additional teams searched the building and ventilated smoke from the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield to Host Second Annual Winter Festival at Clapp Park| 08:14AM / Thursday, February 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program has announced the second annual Winter Festival, set to take place on Monday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clapp Park. The event, designed to kick off the winter break, will feature a variety of activities for children, families, and community members of all ages. Among the scheduled activities are group-led outdoor experiences, including a Winter Senses Safari with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council and snowshoeing with Mass Audubon. The festival will also feature a Snow Sculpture Contest, open to participants ranging from novices to professional 0 Comments
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