| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Art Exhibit Kicks Off Pittsfield 10x10 Upstreet Arts FestivalBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
03:05PM / Monday, February 17, 2025 | |
Shelsy Rodriguez's works feature endangered animals from Colombia. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 14th annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival officially kicked off Thursday night with an "Off The Streets" art exhibition. The show features work from 10 artists who have murals in Pittsfield. The 10 artists are Hope Aguilera, Mike Carty, Huck Elling, Diane Firtell, Frances Chloe Jones-Whitman, Pops Peterson, Cara Petricca, Stef Quetti, Shelsy Rodriguez and Jesse Tobin McCauley. Each artist has a couple of their works on the wall throughout the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts from now until Feb. 28. Jen Glockner, the city's director of 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Councilors Hope ADUs Alleviate Housing ShortageBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
09:13AM / Sunday, February 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new accessory dwelling unit ordinance and the state allowing them by-right, Pittsfield officials hope for alleviation from the housing crisis.
Last week, the City Council established an ordinance for the creation of ADUs that allows one by right on any property with a one- or two-family residential home. This includes changes to Sections 23-2 and 23-9 of the City Code.
"This is going to be good for us," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said.
Lampiasi said that anyone recently searching for a home in the city knows "It's very difficult." Thirty years down the road, she envisions these units sparking interest for prospective
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Teacher of the Month: Carole SomervilleBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:04PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
Carole Somerville's pupils say she makes them feel ready to take on the day. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Morningside Community School second-grade teacher Carole Somerville has been selected as the February teacher of the month. The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next five months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here. Somerville has been in the education sector for 15 years, transitioning from running her own daycare to becoming a paraprofessional and now a teacher. "I was always passionate about it. I 0 Comments
Read More >> |
DCR's Free Family Programming in Western Massachusetts for February School Vacation Week| 04:00PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
HOLYOKE, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is excited to announce its lineup of free, family-friendly programs in Western Massachusetts for the upcoming February school vacation week. Running from Saturday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 25, families can enjoy 79 engaging programs at 20 state parks and watersheds in the western region. Activities include guided hikes, bird watching, animal tracking, crafting, and maple sugaring, all designed to encourage kids to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the state’s parks. In addition to the special programs, DCR is waiving parking fees at participating parks throughout the region. Public skating
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Five People Displaced by Pittsfield Fire| 02:20PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five people were displaced and one taken to the hospital from a fire on Alcove Street on Friday. A report by Deputy Chief Ron Clement said three engines, Truck 2 and Car 2 responded to the report a structure fire at 18 Alcove, and found smoke coming from a second-story window. Crews from Engine 5 entering the residence found heavy fire on the second floor that was brought under control within 30 minutes. All companies participated in search, ventilation and overhaul efforts. One man was home at the time and taken to Berkshire Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation. No firefighter injuries were reported. The 0 Comments
Read More >> |
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
Read More >> |
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
0 Comments
Read More >> |
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
Read More >> |
@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
Read More >> |
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
Read More >> |
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
Read More >> |
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
0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
