| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Former CYC in Pittsfield DemolishedBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
10:17AM / Friday, August 08, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After more than 75 years on Melville Street, the former Catholic Youth Center is being reduced to bricks. Only part of the building's facade remained Thursday as crews make way for an expanded playground that serves the Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires' child-care program. The nonprofit purchased the abutting property in 2015, and it has reportedly been out of use since at least 2012. Last summer, the Historical Commission voted to issue a demolition delay on the property, but it was withdrawn in the fall.
The club offers programs for children ranging from 2 years and 9 months to 5 years old. It also includes a SEED Program for children
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Pittsfield Cemetery Requests Green Burial RegulationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Friday, August 08, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Green burials could be another option for burying loved ones in Pittsfield.
On Wednesday, representatives from the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory approached the Board of Health, inquiring about how to offer burials that return a body to the ground after death with reduced environmental impact. "Green" generally means no embalming or use of caskets made with metal or hardwood.
"We've had many requests for the green burials, and I know other places have been approved for them, so we are interested in moving forward with them," said Kim Murray, from the Pittsfield Cemetery on Wahconah Street.
About 150 communities
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Bushika No-Hitter Helps Force Defend 10U County TitleBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires.com Sports
09:08PM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – McKinley Bushika struck out 12 Thursday to lead the Berkshire Force 10-and-under travel softball team to a 12-0 win over Northern Berkshire in the championship game of the Berkshire County summer league. Bushika went the distance in the circle for the Force, which ended the game in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from Sophia Tardibuono that brought home Mila Ostellino. Bushika struck out six in a row at one point and did not allow a hit. But she also dealt with runners on base in three of the game’s five innings, including the top of the first, when Northern Berkshire loaded the bases with one out before Bushika closed the door 0 Comments
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Central Berkshire Schools Summer Meal Program Feeds Hundreds By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:21PM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
Meals packed and ready to go. Nearly 12,000 breakfast and lunch meals were served in July. DALTON, Mass.— Central Berkshire Regional School District helped feed hundreds of kids this summer thanks to its new Summer Meals Program. In the month of July alone, the district served 11,410 meals to families with children under 18, said John Tranfaglia, food service director. "The summer meals program that we started has been phenomenal. We've provided almost 12,000 meals so far and the work that food service is doing to prepare the meals and distribute them is outstanding. We're definitely providing a needed resource for the community,"
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The Retired Investor: Suntan Lotion Meets SummerweenBy Bill Schmick,
04:21PM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
This weekend, my wife went shopping for a beach hat but came home empty-handed. A new display of plastic skeletons, smiling pumpkins, and scary costumes occupied the beachwear display at her favorite store. Welcome to Summerween. If you thought holiday merchandise is getting earlier each year, consider the July launch by most retailers of their fall Halloween collection. Walmart calls it their "Summer Frights" section, but it was Home Depot that first set the tone by marketing 12-foot skeletons back in April. Michaels, Lowes, Target, Costco, HomeGoods — you name it — major retailers have jumped into this trend. The fact is that Halloween spending is a 0 Comments
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Dalton Assistant Fired Over Letter Secures UnemploymentBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:58PM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — According to an unemployment hearing officer, the letter resulting in the termination of the Select Board's former executive assistant doesn't appear to be confidential. Nearly six months ago, the Select Board voted to fire Alyssa Maschino for sharing the anonymous letter addressed to "Dalton Select Board" and to iBerkshires, which was cc'd. "There is nothing in the record to support an allegation that the claimant intentionally or deliberately shared the letter so as to cause the employer harm," the state Division of Unemployment Assistance hearing found. "Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the claimant's
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Weekend Outlook: Community Day, Performances and MoreBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:08PM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
Take a look at some of the events happening this weekend in the Berkshires including live performances and celebrations. Editor's Picks The Mount Community Day
2 Plunkett St, Lenox
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy a day of music and art with the family. There will be performances, baby goats, face painting, and more. You will also be able to step inside Edith Wharton's estate for free from 2 to 5 p.m. More information here. Zucchini Festival Downtown West Stockbridge Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Depot and Center streets will be filled with vendors and zucchini-flavored activities, including a costume contest and weigh-off. There will also be children's games and activities and a 0 Comments
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Berkshire Bank Becoming Beacon Bank| 11:41AM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
 BOSTON — Berkshire Bank's changing its name once its merger with Brookline Bancorp Inc. of Boston is finalized this year. The combined financial institutions will be known as Beacon Bank & Trust under parent company Beacon Financial Corp. The merger removes the "Berkshire" name from the bank after 179 years. It was founded in 1846 as Berkshire County Savings Bank and changed it to Berkshire Bank in 1997 after acquiring Great Barrington Savings Bank. A host of mergers and acquisitions followed and Berkshire's corporate offices left for Boston in 2017. Berkshire Hills Bancorp made the announcement on Wednesday. The 0 Comments
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Brien Center Hires Ethics and Compliance Officer| 11:29AM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services announced the appointment of Dr. Bella Mironovna Guner as Ethics and Compliance Officer, a key leadership position supporting the agency's mission to deliver high-quality, community-based behavioral health and addiction services throughout Berkshire County. Guner brings to the role over 20 years of experience spanning child welfare, developmental psychology, and higher education. Her career began in the nonprofit sector, where she dedicated 15 years to improving outcomes for children and families, rising through the ranks from direct care staff to clinician and ultimately to Director of 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Soap Box Derby Returns SaturdayCommunity submission,
10:15AM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Westside Legends will host its fourth annual Westside Sweet G Super Soap Box Derby on Saturday, Aug. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. with a rain date of Aug. 10. Check-in for racers starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Robbins Avenue. The event features a day of activities for the whole family. There will be three race classes: kids from 6-12, kids from 13-17, and an adult class, ages 18 and older. Trophies will be presented in each division. The racers will “zoom” down Robbins Avenue, and the finish line will be at Southern Avenue. Inspired by soap box races in Pittsfield’s West Side during the 1960s, 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Public Housing Benefits From Internet Access Grants| 07:24AM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll administration and Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) awarded $31,548,018 to four internet service providers (ISPs) to increase internet access for affordable and public housing residents statewide. Aervivo Inc. was awarded $10,527,014 for 6,402 housing units. This uncludes 30 units in Pittsfield through the Beacon Residential Management Limited Partnership and 30 units in Williamstown through the Williamstown Housing Authority. Archtop Fiber LLC was awarded $481,955 for 164 housing units. Through the Great Barrington Housing Authority, 31 housing units in Great 0 Comments
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Berkshire Athenaeum Looks to Hire Social WorkerBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Thursday, August 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Berkshire Athenaeum plans to hire a social worker and has implemented a phone booth. Library staff have reportedly been tasked with mitigating situations outside of their training and job responsibilities, Director Alex Reczkowski explained during the Library Trustees meeting on Tuesday. The library had initially intended to hire a senior technician for the Adult Services department. However, Mayor Peter Marchetti recommended a social worker position for the library. A description for the 35-hour-a-week job will need to be approved by the city's Human Resources department before being posted. One of the social 0 Comments
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