| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Letter: Don't Deny Trans Youth Access to SportsLetter to the Editor,
03:00PM / Friday, May 09, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
Last night [Thursday], I attended the Berkshire Transgender Rights Town Hall at Pittsfield's Unitarian Universalist Church. And I am so grateful that I did. In a room packed with members of the local trans community, allies and Massachusetts state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, trans neighbors from across the county shared heartbreaking, powerful, profound, inspiring and eye-opening personal testimonials about their childhood struggles; battles to survive cruelty, abuse, depression; and in several cases, the very real and transformative power of participating in sports as young people. In April of this year Massachusetts passed a budget bill that included a transgender
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@theMarket: Fed waits, Markets Gain While Trump Changes His TuneBy Bill Schmick,
02:28PM / Friday, May 09, 2025 | |
One country down, only 194 more to go. This week, the announcement of a "framework" for President Trump's first trade deal and the first high-level meeting between the U.S. and China encouraged investors. Wall Street's enthusiasm was somewhat tempered, given that the United Kingdom was an easy deal to make. The terms of trade have always favored the U.S., where we have run a capital trade surplus for years. We have long exported far more to the UK than they have sold to America. Nonetheless, it did provide movement on the tariff question that has troubled the markets since "Liberation Day." On the China front, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott 0 Comments
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BCC to Host Free College Information Session May 14| 10:42AM / Friday, May 09, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host an information session on Wednesday, May 14, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to explain how Massachusetts residents may be eligible to attend community college at no cost. The session will take place in the Susan B. Anthony Lounge on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West St. The session will outline the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' free community college initiatives, which provide tuition- and fee-free education to residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. The program also includes an allowance for books and supplies for qualifying students. The event is free and open to the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield High Concludes 'Working' Performance This WeekendBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Friday, May 09, 2025 | |
The students worked on acting and production to bring the musical to the stage. See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a stressful yet exciting opening weekend of the spring musical "Working," the Pittsfield High School Proteus Theatre actors and actresses are ready to build on their success this weekend during their closing shows. The students will conclude the musical this Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The students worked diligently on this musical, starting with learning the music and the basic elements of the performance, which transitioned into integrating themselves into the story and culminated in Tech Week, where 0 Comments
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Commissioned Report Clears Three PHS Staff & FacultyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:48PM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Four of the five executive summaries on alleged staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School have been released, clearing so far two administrators and a former teacher. Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP at the request of the School Committee for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts. The investigation into Wiggins found the accusations of improprieties with students to be
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The Retired Investor: Emerging Markets Confront Trade DilemmaBy Bill Schmick,
04:40PM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
The lifeblood of emerging markets has always been their exports within a framework of robust global trade. The advent of U.S. tariffs worldwide has placed these countries between a rock and a hard place. The rock is clearly the size and extent of U.S. tariffs. These new tariffs have dwarfed the imposition of levies during the first Trump presidency. Back then, the U.S.-China trade war benefited some emerging market (EM) countries by attracting increased foreign direct investment and manufacturing as alternatives to Chinese trade. It also meant increased exports in some cases, especially in agricultural products. In response to the U.S. tariffs on their goods, China hit back by 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Investigation Clears Wiggins of Student Improprieties By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:40PM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four of the five executive summaries on alleged staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School have been released, including for Pittsfield High's former dean of students, Lavante Wiggins. Wiggins is identified as "administrator 1" in the report. Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts. BRG, commissioned by the School Committee,
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'Safe Haven' Facility Coming to PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:06PM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An upcoming supportive housing facility will be a "Safe Haven" for people struggling with mental illness, substance use disorder, and homelessness.
Christine Haley, Berkshires site director from the state Department of Mental Health, told the Homeless Advisory Committee on Wednesday that a Maplewood Avenue property will become a Safe Haven this summer. The facility will employ a "housing first" model to provide an alternative to shelter placement. "The model is based on engaging people and eventually trying to get them housed," she said.
"You don't have to be agreeing to have treatment. You don't have to take
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Letter: Please Elect Tony PagliaruloLetter to the Editor,
01:00PM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
As we approach our town elections on Monday, I write to encourage residents to vote for Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo for Select Board. My conclusion from attending both evening sessions of town meeting is that Dalton voters are looking for change — and that Tony will provide the change that they seek. Tony is aware of the financial stress that many Dalton homeowners currently experience and has proposed new town policies that will provide tax relief. As a volunteer and elected member of town committees over decades as a Dalton resident, Tony knows the town problems that have persisted for years — and will tackle those issues through innovative
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Berkshire Agricultural Groups Receive Over $124K in State Grants| 10:46AM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced significant grant funding to support agricultural initiatives across Massachusetts, with several organizations in Berkshire County receiving awards. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will manage these grants through three programs: the Agricultural Fairs Infrastructure Grant Program, Farmers Market Sustainability Grant Program, and Buy Local Grant Program. "Agricultural fairs are an important part of Massachusetts' farming history and traditions," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "These fairs, along with farmers markets, 0 Comments
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Second Round: Dalton Town Meeting Passes Recall, Capital Plan BylawsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
It still took nearly 200 voters 2 1/2 hours to get through a dozen articles on Wednesday. DALTON, Mass. — After a contentious first meeting on Monday, the annual town meeting continued on Wednesday. Some 170 registered voters got through the remaining 19 of 31 articles on the warrant during a meeting that lasted a little more than 2 1/2 hours. Two of the remaining 12 articles were tabled, and one failed. Voters approved an amended version of the recall petition, Article 29, which creates a process for recalling elected officials before the end of their term. The citizens' petition originally proposed starting the process with an affidavit of intent 0 Comments
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BHS Appoints Two Community Leaders to Board of Trustees| 04:00PM / Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson, MSW, LICSW, and Matthew Lauro of Mountain One Bank to the BHS Board of Trustees. "We are excited to welcome Ashley and Matthew to the BHS Board of Trustees," said President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz. "They are recognized leaders in our community, and BHS will be lucky to benefit from their perspectives as we continue working to advance health and wellness for everyone in the region." Ashley P. Benson, MSW, LICSW: Ashley Benson is the founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and is a Psychotherapist, consultant and clinical supervisor. A Berkshire Mountain 0 Comments
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