| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Collaboration Key to Housing, Hunger Solutions Say Local LeadersBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Monday, September 25, 2023 | |
State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli convenes the housing and food security summit at Lenox Town Hall on Friday. LENOX, Mass. — Organizations and officials agree that collaboration is the key to addressing the housing crisis and food insecurity.
More than 100 stakeholders piled into Town Hall to share ideas during a summit hosted by state Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. The event covered the renovation and maintenance of existing housing units, resources at food sites, tenant advocacy, and the development of new affordable units.
Pignatelli said housing and food insecurity are hot topics in the State House and recognized the individual needs of Berkshire
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Veteran Spotlight: Army Cpl. Robert SavinoBy Wayne Soares, Special to iBerkshires
04:43PM / Sunday, September 24, 2023 | |
 FALMOUTH, Mass. — Robert Savino served his country in the Army from 1966 to 1968, as a corporal and specialist (E-4). Growing up in upper Manhattan in New York City, he attended and graduated from what was then All Hallows Institute, a private boy's prep school. He did his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan. "We did a lot of jungle training. It was one of the first times in my life that I experienced diversification — Blacks, whites, Hispanics — but, in the end, we were all green in the same pot," he recalled. Savino was shipped to Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division in December 1966. "We left Fort Riley by train 0 Comments
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Governor Announces Veterans Equality Review Board| 04:00PM / Sunday, September 24, 2023 | |
BOSTON — In a move to honor the rights and service of veterans discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, Governor Maura T. Healey today swore in five members to the newly established Veterans Equality Review Board (VERB). VERB's goal is to provide an application process for certain veterans who received an "other than honorable discharge" under DADT and recommend their eligibility for state-based veteran benefits. "Today is a historic milestone for Massachusetts veterans, service members, and their families," said Governor Maura Healey. "The creation of the Veterans Equality Review Board 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Commissioner Responds to Outrage Over Public WaysBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:10AM / Sunday, September 24, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following outrage from City Councilors about the condition of public ways, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales has responded with planning for improved maintenance. The overgrown aesthetic is attributed to issues with contracted work, being short-staffed, and weather struggles.
"I acknowledge the concerns raised regarding the current state of our downtown streetscape, which has seen areas becoming overgrown, unsightly, full of weeds. Historically, relying on contractors for this kind of maintenance has not yielded the best results," Morales wrote in response to a petition requesting that downtown center medians and flower
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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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"Holiday Pittsfield": Barrington Stage Opening House | Down on Union Street, Barrington Stage Company was hosting a holiday open house, an opportunity to look around the theatre, enjoy refreshments, and most importantly, speak to the clear headlining star of the weekend, Santa Claus.
In a quiet moment with the Man in Red, he said he was thrilled to be here, and was looking forward to hearing from many more children. Always gracious, Mr. Claus thanked iBerkshires for stopping by. Always pressed for appearances this time of year, Claus was slated to appear later that evening at the Colonial Theatre.
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