| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Youth Sign Connect Returns to Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires| 03:51PM / Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires is bringing back Youth Sign Connect, a program offering members the chance to learn and engage with American Sign Language (ASL). Weekly sessions begin Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 5 to 6 p.m. The interactive program is free for Club members, but advance registration is required due to limited spots. Open to both beginners and returning participants, Youth Sign Connect aims to enhance communication skills and promote inclusivity. Parents and guardians can register online at bgcberkshires.org. 0 Comments
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Future of Joann Fabric and Crafts UnknownBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
10:32AM / Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The future is uncertain for Joann Fabric and Crafts and the store that's been in the Dalton Avenue Shopping Center for more than 30 years. The well-known national retailer that has served sewers, quilters, crocheters, and crafters for more than 80 years filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week for a second time. The approximately 800 stores across the United States and online businesses are still operational, including one on Dalton Avenue and in Hadley. There are also several in New York State's Capital District and it also had a store in North Adams in the 1990s. The chain was better known as Jo-Ann's for 0 Comments
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Berkshire Money Management Hosts Second Annual Money Date for Couples| 08:12AM / Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management will host its second annual "Money Date" event on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. at Mazzeo's Ristorante in Pittsfield. The event aims to help couples strengthen their relationships and align their financial goals over a 3-course dinner and guided discussions. The evening will include presentations and exercises designed to improve communication about money, define shared goals, and plan for retirement. The program targets couples planning to retire within the next decade or who are recently retired, though all couples are welcome. Tickets are $50 per couple, which includes dinner and a follow-up 0 Comments
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BMC Plans Demolition of Century-Old BuildingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Roadwork put the nail in the coffin for a Berkshire Medical Center property that was approved for demolition 10 years ago.
On Monday, the Historical Commission approved leveling 769 North St., a 1920 building on the BMC campus. Work is being done on both sides, as the hospital is undergoing renovations and the state Department of Transportation is overhauling the intersection of North Street and First Street.
The commission approved the demolition in 2015. The first floor has been in limited use since, but it is now unoccupied because it is "inhabitable." Coupled with surrounding changes, BMC decided it had no use for the structure.
Attorney
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Pittsfield's Panchos Plans Rebrand, Wander Secures Entertainment LicenseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
Wander Berkshires was approved for an entertainment license. It will host sober evening events in expanded space adjacent its cafe. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A longtime North Street restaurant will change its name, its branding and its menu.
On Monday, the Licensing Board approved the name change of Pancho's Mexican Restaurant to Iztac. The eatery will still operate under Columnna LLC.
Attorney Loretta Mach explained that owner Gabriel Columna is rebranding, including renovations to the restaurant and some new offerings.
Columna said he would like everything fresh, "and I want to make a little different food, all different." He purchased the business in
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Woodlands Partnership Hosts Survey, Listening Sessions on Emergency Response| 03:14PM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
WINDSOR, Mass. — The Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts is embarking on a public safety services study of the 21-town region with the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Collins Center will focus on municipal services in the Woodlands Partnership region as they relate to increasing tourism, use and accessibility of public forests, diminished tax base, and the ability of first responders to provide emergency services. Funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the study is intended to provide towns with direction and support in receiving additional funds and 0 Comments
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Striking Out Cancer Event Holding Kickoff Event in FebruaryiBerkshires.com Sports,
11:15AM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The fifth annual Striking out Cancer in the Berkshires fund-raiser will kick off with a night of music, entertainment and dancing on Feb. 22. The event will be held at the Polish Falcon Club at 32 Bel Air Ave. at 6 p.m. Joe Adee and the Lug Nuts, who performed at the Eastern States Exposition last summer, will be featured at the event, which is tied to a full day of baseball and softball in the summer at Clapp Park to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. Tickets to the Feb. 22 event are $10. For information, contact Joe DiCicco at 518-390-2512 or jdicicco7@aol.com. 0 Comments
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BCC to Hold Open House for Workforce & Community Education Programs | 10:22AM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Workforce & Community Education department will hold an open house for prospective students on Tuesday, Feb. 4 from 5-7 p.m. in The Connector, located on BCC's main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Participants will not only get in-depth information about programs to develop new skills, advance in their current field and explore new career opportunities, but they can also apply to BCC on the spot. A demonstration table for the phlebotomy program will be available, along with informational materials for all the programs offered by the Workforce and Community Education 0 Comments
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Overwhelmed by debt? It may be time to consolidate| 09:36AM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
 The start of the New Year is a great time to evaluate your financial status and set goals for savings and more. If multiple debts are hurting your ability to meet monthly expenses and save at the rate you want, debt consolidation can help. Debt consolidation works by transferring your debt from multiple—and often high-interest—sources into a single loan or line of credit. Not only is it easier to pay a single bill to one source, but consolidated debt options have lower interest rates that allow you to pay off your debt faster, which, in turn, frees up cash for savings. However, when choosing a consolidation tool, there’s more to consider than just the interest 0 Comments
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Dalton Residents Express Support for Town Clerk Heather HuntBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | |
The meeting room at the Senior Center had a crowd of 40 for Monday's meeting, where the town clerk addressed the Select Board about the recent error on an election instruction sheet. DALTON, Mass. — Town Clerk Heather Hunt received a standing ovation at Monday night's Select Board meeting after she recounted her efforts to rectify a mailing error and her shock at the "vicious post" by a board member on the matter. An erroneous date had been left on the instruction sheet sent out with 28 mail-in ballots for the Feb. 3 special election for Select Board. Hunt thought many voters would understand that the date was an "obvious error or a 0 Comments
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Drinking Water Advocates Applaud Well Water Bill| 05:54PM / Monday, January 27, 2025 | |
WORCESTER, Mass. — The Coalition for Safe Drinking Water is applauding legislation filed this month that would enable Massachusetts to develop minimum statewide water quality standards for private wells and expand a financial assistance program to remediate wells affected by PFAS ("forever chemicals") and other harmful contaminants in drinking water supplies. The filing of bills SD.847 by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Marlborough and HD.3597 by state Reps. Natalie Blais of Sunderland, Meghan K. Kilcoyne of Clintoin and Danillo A. Sena of Acton, is not only suppported by the coalition, a grassroots group led by RCAP Solutions, but also the Health Foundation of Central 0 Comments
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Boys & Girls Club Members Can Get Homework Help| 04:30PM / Monday, January 27, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires offers a free homework help program for youth members in third grade and up as a way to support community youth in their academic journey. Available every Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 at the club, the program has been a cornerstone of the its commitment to education. With the assistance of staff and volunteers, students receive personalized support in completing assignments, tackling challenging topics, and building confidence in their abilities. Parents and guardians are encouraged to explore "Power Hour," a structured approach to homework help that promotes focus, time management, and 0 Comments
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