| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Dalton Select Board Calls for Special ElectionBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:55PM / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board has called a special election to fill its vacant seat left by former member Joseph Diver after delaying the decision on a citizen's petition. Diver announced that he would be stepping down from his seat effective Oct. 1 during a meeting at the beginning of September. The board has been discussing whether to hold a special election since October but was hesitant because of cost, proximity to the presidential election, and confusion regarding state law procedures. The decision no longer became one the board could make following a citizen petition led by Robert Collins, which garnered 237 signatures from 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Announces 2024 Holiday Parking Schedule| 03:18PM / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In celebration of the holiday season, the city of Pittsfield announced this year's free parking schedule. Free parking this season will include "Free Parking Fridays" on Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and 13. There will also be free parking starting Monday, Dec. 16 through Friday, Dec. 27. As always, parking in the city is free in the evenings and weekends. All other parking regulations remain in effect. 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Flying Cloud Receives $8K Matching Challenge| 01:10PM / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | |
 GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Flying Cloud Institute has received an $8,000 Matching Challenge Gift from a summer camp family. This will allow donations received by Flying Cloud on Giving Tuesday, which is December 3, 2024, to be doubled, up to $8,000. The funds raised will enable Flying Cloud to run its innovative science and art programs at two local Berkshire County schools, offering in-school science residencies and after school workshops to area youth. Flying Cloud educators will lead project-based investigations and model the Next Generation Science Strategies for inquiry-based learning. They will bring local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering 0 Comments
Read More >> |
MountainOne Thankful 5K to Benefit Local Food Pantries| 07:50AM / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— MountainOne will partner with Berkshire Running Foundation, the charitable arm of the Berkshire Running Center, as the lead sponsor of its 9th annual Thankful 5K. The run/walk will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at Berkshire Community College, located at 1350 West Street in Pittsfield, starting at 9 a.m. All proceeds and donations of food from the fundraising event directly benefit South Community Church's local food pantries and its Fuel Assistance Fund. Pittsfield pantries serve the largest population in Western Massachusetts, with over 800 families receiving assistance weekly, a number that continues to grow. "We're proud 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Thanksgiving Angels Show Up for Increased NeedBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:37AM / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | |
Cole, 6, and Trey, 3, stock bread for the Thanksgiving Angels in this provided photo. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the cost of living continues to rise, so does the need for Thanksgiving Angels.
The meal kit distribution effort has surpassed last year's numbers, serving more than 2,200 local families in need. Around 500 volunteers have helped with the entire process and on Monday, around 100 volunteers packed into the South Congregational Church for drive-through distribution.
Generosity is the engine that has powered Thanksgiving Angels for around 15 years.
"The community is so incredibly generous with financials and their time and helping us to pull this
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BMC Receives Baby-Friendly Designation | 03:30PM / Monday, November 25, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) announced that it has achieved international Baby-Friendly designation after a review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States. This demonstrates that BMC is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the first days of a newborn's 0 Comments
Read More >> |
BEAT Looks to Decarbonization of Last Berkshire Peaker PlantBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:31PM / Monday, November 25, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Environmentalists feel community cooperation may help move the needle on the county's last peaker plant transitioning to clean energy.
During Wednesday's Berkshire Green Drinks event hosted by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Rosemary Wessel discussed possible green outcomes for Pittsfield Generating Co. on Merrill Road.
"It might be in the interest of the city to leave behind yesterday's technology and start looking at what a clean energy future might look like," said Wessel, No Fracked Gas in Mass program director.
"By replacing it, decarbonizing our last peaker power plant could show that Pittsfield is forward-looking, an
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Awarded Technical Assistance Grant| 10:30AM / Monday, November 25, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) awarded Berkshire Community College (BCC) a $12,550 technical assistance grant to explore developing HVAC apprenticeships. EOLWD announced $3.2 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to 29 organizations to train and place 514 apprentices across the state. The grants, which include contract renewals and new awards, leverage more than $2 million in state funding complemented by remaining support from federal funds to train apprentices in high growth industries like health care, manufacturing, clean energy, early childhood education, and 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Hancock Shaker Village: Thanksgiving on the Farm| 08:00AM / Monday, November 25, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village continues it's Thanksgiving on the Farm tradition on the three days following Thanksgiving Day: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. The historic Village will be open all three days from 11am–4 pm. There will be a variety of tours, talks, and demos throughout the weekend. Highlights of the weekend include: Turkey Walk & Talk - Looking for a great way to get out of the house or an activity for visiting guests and family? Gobble up nature and escape the hectic pace of the holiday with a peaceful guided walk on our one-mile Farm & Forest Trail. The walk ends in the barnyard where 0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Celebrates 10 Years of Medical Coding, HIM ProgramBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Monday, November 25, 2024 | |
BCC President Ellen Kennedy says she was excited to overhear two graduates who 'raved' about the program at a dentist's office. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College's Medical Coding and Health Information Management Program has seen around 150 graduates since its inception in 2014.
Many have found the career path to be rewarding and accessible, as Berkshire County residents can work for top medical institutions remotely.
Ann Marie Perry said her life since her 2015 graduation has seen a constant upward and positive trajectory, being transformed both professionally and personally. She now works as a data quality specialist for Massachusetts General
0 Comments
Read More >> |
State Unemployment and Job Estimates for October| 04:08PM / Sunday, November 24, 2024 | |
BOSTON, Mass, — The state's October total unemployment rate was 3.9 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the revised September estimate of 3.8 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over-the-year, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up by 0.5 percentage points. The labor force increased by an estimated 3,000 from the revised estimate of 3,850,600 in September, with 300 more residents employed and 2,900 more residents unemployed over-the-month. The state's
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Mass RMV Offering Learner’s Permit Exams in Spanish, Portuguese | 01:02PM / Sunday, November 24, 2024 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts RMV is pleased to announce it is expanding the number of languages offered for individuals interested in taking commercial learner's permit exams. Effective immediately, the knowledge exams are now available in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as in English. To apply for a commercial learner's permit, the applicant must be a Massachusetts resident, be at least 18 years of age, have lawful presence in the United States, and have an active passenger (Class D) driver's license. "We hope to encourage more residents to consider applying for a Commercial Driver's License by offering the exam in Spanish and Portuguese,
0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
