| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire Green Drinks: Monitoring Air Pollution in Pittsfield| 08:11AM / Wednesday, August 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Andrew Ferrara and Drake Reed will speak at the August Berkshire Green Drinks event on Wednesday, Aug. 13. This free hybrid event will take place online via Zoom and in person at Wander Berkshires, 34 Depot Street, Suite 101, Pittsfield, MA. The in-person social gathering will begin around 5:15 PM; the presentation and Zoom meeting will start at 6:00 PM. Attendees will learn about the scope of the Breathe Easy Berkshires ambient air quality project, a local effort to monitor air pollution in Pittsfield. The presentation will cover the motivation behind starting the project, the progress made in the research, and findings to date—including 0 Comments
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Short-Term Rental Ordinance Advances to Pittsfield CouncilBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:08AM / Wednesday, August 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After some final revisions, an ordinance that allows and regulates short-term rentals will go before the City Council.
Last week, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee gave its approval to the document. In late June, councilors had to make several decisions, including designating a granting authority and establishing a yearly cap on the number of days an STR can be rented.
"I looked at everything that the two of you worked on in the last month, and you did apply everything that the committee thought of and came up with," subcommittee member Rhonda Serre of Ward 7 said to City Planner Kevin Rayner and City Solicitor Devon
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Central Berkshires Habitat For Humanity Sells 54th HomeStaff Reports,
05:56PM / Tuesday, August 05, 2025 | |
The home's new owner Binta Kinteh with Habitat CEO Carolyn Valli, right, and below, working on her home. Provided photos. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity has sold more than 50 homes to local families — most recently to a health-care worker and single mother.
The below-market condominium is one of two that the nonprofit built at 112 Robbins Ave. for families earning between 55 percent and 65 percent of the area median income. The home features a riser made from the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, which was grown in West Stockbridge.
On Tuesday, Habitat announced the completion and sale of its 54th
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Berkshire Community College Welcomes Community to 65th Anniversary Fest| 02:04PM / Tuesday, August 05, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College is turning 65, and the entire Berkshires community is invited to join the festivities at Community Fest, happening Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 to 4 on the main campus. Admission is free, but registration is recommended. More than 60 activities are planned, ranging from live music and food trucks to workshops, exhibits, athletic tournaments and family-friendly events. Community Fest offers a wide range of interactive experiences and exhibits: Food trucks all day, featuring food for purchase from local favorites like BB's Hot Spot, Copsicle, KJ Nosh, Krispy Kone and La Chalupa y La Enchilada Beer & wine garden opens
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MassDEP Air Quality Advisory Extended for Western Massachusetts| 10:10AM / Tuesday, August 05, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires that continue to influence parts of the state, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is extending an air quality advisory, effective today, for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Effective today, Aug. 5, 2025, until 11:59 p.m. Air quality in these four counties is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution. MassDEP 0 Comments
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Wild County Final Ends with Force Black on Top in 14U DivisionBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires.com Sports
09:06PM / Monday, August 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – In the sixth inning of Monday’s Berkshire County summer league 14-and-under championship game, the Berkshire Force Black team got a couple of bad breaks. Then, it got the biggest break of the night and cashed in to score three runs and take a 9-8 win over the Force Teal squad. Madilyn Demary went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI and walked and scored the winning run in the decisive three-run rally as the top-seeded Force Black prevailed in a back and forth game that saw three lead changes. Amelia Polidoro struck out eight and walked just two in a complete-game win in the circle for the Black. But it was the Teal team that had all 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Won't Have a Preliminary ElectionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Monday, August 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Candidates for the November municipal election have been certified and, because of some withdrawals, the city won't have a preliminary election in September.
On Nov. 4, voters will elect a city clerk, six School Committee members, four at-large city councilors, and seven ward councilors. Certified papers were due on Friday, and there are seven candidates for at-large seats and 10 for seats on the School Committee.
While it looked like there might be a preliminary election on Sept. 16 to trim the races for councilor at large, Ward 2, and Ward 6, several candidates dropped out, and it is no longer required.
The City Council and School Committee
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Pittsfield's 2025 National Night Out| 03:41PM / Monday, August 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the Pittsfield Police Department will be hosting the local National Night Out event at the Common Park on First St. in downtown Pittsfield. This event will run from 5-7 PM. This event is free and open to the public. According to a press release, National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring 0 Comments
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MassDEP Air Quality Advisory: Impact Expected Statewide| 10:30AM / Monday, August 04, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a statewide air quality advisory, effective Aug. 4 untill 11:59 pm. Air quality across the Commonwealth is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution. MassDEP advises people in sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow 0 Comments
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West Street Safety Improvements Starting SoonBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:52AM / Monday, August 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Streetscape improvements are set to begin on West Street soon.
On Thursday, the city notified residents that the project will kick off on Aug. 11. Running between Backman Avenue and College Way, it implements safety measures for pedestrians and motorists on a street that saw two fatalities in 2023.
"The Department of Public Services and Utilities held several community meetings on this proposed project during 2023 and 2024 and adjusted their proposed plans based upon input received at these meetings," a City of Pittsfield Facebook post explained.
The $2.1 million project includes lighting improvements, sidewalk improvements and
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Central Berkshire Cell Phone Policy A 'Gamechanger'By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:41PM / Sunday, August 03, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Officials say Central Berkshire Regional School District's cell phone policy has been a success In 2023, the district updated its cell phone policy to prohibit use during school hours to ensure that the use of cell phones or other electronic devices by students and staff does not interfere with learning. To accomplish a cell phone free learning environment the district has been utilizing Yondr pouches in the middle and high schools. The pouches make cell phones inaccessible to students but allows the students to keep phones in their possession. According to school staff and parents, the policy and the Yondr pouches have been a complete gamechanger, Assistant
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Two Downtown Murals Unveiled in Pittsfield By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:27PM / Sunday, August 03, 2025 | |
The murals are part of Let It Shine's Emerging Artists Mentorship. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown is a little more colorful with the unveiling of two new murals. The pieces entitled "Burbank Place" and "Downtown Bound" were presented during the First Friday at Five Festivities. The works are through the Let It Shine public art partnership, a group that aims to make art accessible to everyone, build city pride, and strengthen connections between residents and downtown, said Rebecca Brien, managing director of Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Let It Shine's Emerging Artists Mentorship program was established in 2024 to 0 Comments
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