| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Announces Internet Speed Test Day| 07:46AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Earlier this year, the City of Pittsfield was selected to participate in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program launched by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). As a part of the digital equity planning effort, the city is seeking to gain insight into any internet disparities within the community and if residents are experiencing widespread problems with their internet connections through an internet speed test. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, community members are asked to join the Speed Test Day. To participate, visit: https://www.cityofpittsfield.org/speedtest/ on the device you use to connect to the 0 Comments
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Berkshire Visiting Nurses Push For Fair Standards, PayBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Friday, October 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2-year-old union local representing some members of the Berkshire Visiting Nursing Association continues to push for fair productivity standards and pay to preserve employees and quality of care. The union reported that the BVNA, which is owned and operated by Berkshire Health Systems, has lost almost 30 permanent staff members since 2021, 90 percent citing an unsustainable work-life balance and many leaving for higher pay. The members, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, delivered a petition to Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz on Monday signed by 82 percent of its clinicians. On the horizon 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Commissioner Receives Latino Excellence AwardBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:48PM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
Caucus celebration was held Thursday at the State House. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's commissioner of public services and utilities has been honored for various contributions to Pittsfield over the last few years.
On Tuesday, Ricardo Morales was recognized in council chambers for receiving the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Latino Excellence Award commemorating Hispanic History Month. The award highlights the heritage and work of Latino leaders, agents of impact, and change-makers who make contributions in legislative districts.
Morales was nominated by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier for his efforts in COVID-19 response, safe street
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Hot Plate Brewing To Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos| 03:07PM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hot Plate Brewing, a local Latina-owned brewery, will host The Community Ofrenda event in partnership with Latinas413 and the Berkshire Historical Society on Nov. 1. Together, the community will to honor the history of Dia De Los Muertos. The event will be held at Hot Plate's taproom, located 1 School Street in Pittsfield on Nov. 1, 2023, with doors opening at 3:30 pm. One of the key aspects of the event will be the creation of a Community Ofrenda, which provides community members from all backgrounds to celebrate their ancestry and honor the past. A physical ofrenda will be housed at Hot Plate Brewing's taproom throughout the 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Halloween Spending Expected to Hit a RecordBy Bill Schmick,
02:56PM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
Spending on candy, costumes, decorations, and parties is rising. The expected amount Americans plan to spend on Halloween is $12.2 billion in 2023, according to the National Retail Federation NRF). That beats last year's record of $10.6 billion. More Americans than ever are celebrating with 79 percent of people participating, which is greater than last year and exceeds pre-pandemic levels as well. In addition, 76 percent of adult American pet owners plan to put their pets in costumes, according to a PetSmart national survey. The average amount consumers will pay to celebrate the holiday is $108.24 versus $102.74 last year. Candy is still at the top of the agenda for 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Business UAT to be Highlighted on National Television| 11:11AM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Tyer announced that United Aircraft Technologies, Inc. (UAT), a Pittsfield business, will be featured on Veteran's Playbook on Destination America. In the fall of 2020, the City of Pittsfield provided UAT with $300,000 in Economic Development Funds to help relocate to Pittsfield, create new jobs, testing equipment and software and to develop a new internship program. "I am so thrilled to see the success UAT continues to achieve as they grow their operations, adding more jobs to our local economy," said Mayor Linda M. Tyer. "UAT sets an example for other veterans looking to explore entrepreneurship as part of their next chapter 0 Comments
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Pittsfield to collect Toys for Tots| 08:00AM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield, in collaboration with the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, is collecting brand new, unwrapped toys for children between the ages of newborn to 14 years old as part of the 2023 Toys for Tots program. All toys are provided to children who live in Berkshire County. Gift Guidelines: • New/unwrapped toys • No toys with choking hazards for infants/toddlers • No toys replicating weapons • No gift cards A donation box is available at the Mayor's Office located in City Hall at 70 Allen Street. Donations will be collected until Monday, Dec. 4. For questions, please contact Malia 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Historical Explores History of Broadhall | 08:00AM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On November 2, Berkshire County Historical Society Executive Director Lesley Herzberg and Board President Cynthia Farr Brown will discuss the history of Broadhall, the home of Sarah Morewood, currently known as the Country Club of Pittsfield. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at the Country Club of Pittsfield. The talk will include a tour of the building followed by refreshments and drinks. Use the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org to purchase tickets; $30 BCHS and Country Club of Pittsfield members, $35 non-members. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and the Massachusetts Cultural 0 Comments
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Dalton Trucking Business Requests More HoursBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Thursday, October 26, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Residents and community members from surrounding areas filled the Callahan Meeting Room at the Town Hall last Wednesday to discuss the future of Ray Robert Excavation & Trucking. The excavation and trucking company has requested a new special permit to improve clarity and extend its operating and crushing hours. The board approved a 90-day extension for Robert's current special permit so that the work surrounding the new special permit request does not interfere with the excavation and trucking company's current operations. Robert's current special permit allows his business to continue the manufacturing use as 0 Comments
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Making the Loop | We had some free time this week to walk the 2-mile loop through the downtown. Here's a few of things that caught our eye. (In between taking photos, we were heel-toeing and arm-pumping as prescribed.)
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Let's Go Paperless | This is from Ward 6 Councilor John Krol's eblast today. His switch to digital immediately caught our attention. With the associated costs - nearly $4,000 a year for paper alone! - zipping councilors "the packet" (as we in the know like to call it) over the ether makes loads of sense.
Digital also means the average citizen gets far better access to these public documents than ever before. The city clerk's office has been diligent about posting meeting agendas and, where possible, relevant documents. So in terms of saving money and time and getting information out efficiently, digital is the way to go.
I would like to thank City Clerk Linda Tyer for agreeing to print out one less city council packet, as I have officially gone paperless for council meetings - which I hope will be a trend that can be extended throughout city government.
 The bulky (and often, very bulky) city council packet that councilors use for a reference costs an average of $170 per meeting for paper alone. Add the additional costs of ink/toner, wear and tear on city hall copiers, and the time and energy of staff who put it all together - and a simple transition away from paper benefits everyone.
With the packet now fully digital in pdf form, all councilors, and everyone with an internet
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Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
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January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
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