| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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BMC to Host Suicide Prevention Conference In Early October| 08:09AM / Friday, August 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2025 annual Berkshire County Suicide Prevention Conference has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 7, hosted by Berkshire Medical Center, the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention Program, The Brien Center, Austen Riggs Center and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Berkshire County. The event will be held from 8 am to 4:30 pm at Tanglewood's Linde Center for Music and Learning in Lenox, and continuing education unit (CEU) applications will be submitted for social workers, licensed mental health counselors, nurses, licensed alcohol and drug counselors and psychologists. Up to 6.5 CEUs
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Elizabeth Freeman Center RISE Together 2025| 07:40AM / Friday, August 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join Elizabeth Freeman Center in September for RISE Together 2025 - six community walks to end domestic and sexual violence in Berkshire County and beyond. Rise Together brings friends, families, neighbors, and community leaders together to honor survivors, remember those we have lost, and take a stand for a safer, more just future for all. Walks are scheduled for Pittsfield: Thursday Sept. at 5:30 pm; Great Barrington: Wednesday Sept. 17 at 4:30 pm; Lenox: Thursday Sept. 18 at 5:30 pm; Lee: Wednesday Sept. 24 at 5:30 pm; Williamstown: Thursday Sept. 25 at 5:30 pm; and North Adams: Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 pm. At each walk, after a 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Investing in Tax-Deferred AccountsBy Bill Schmick,
04:25PM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
An executive order instructing the U.S. Labor Department to consider the pros and cons of adding several new investment choices to your tax-deferred investment accounts is underway. A decision on the president's order won't happen overnight. Last week, I covered the benefits of adding private equity, real estate, and digital assets to the existing mix of stocks and bonds in retirement accounts. Backers of this initiative cheer the president's executive order and say it will expand the investment opportunities for retirees. It also offers much more diversification than simply stocks or bonds. Why, they say, should investors lose out on the spectacular returns 0 Comments
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Open Meeting Law BriefsStaff Reports,
01:25PM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
The state Attorney General's Office issued the following opinions on three Open Meeting Law complaints against Berkshire County boards. The opinions can be found here. Dalton Board Fails to Release Executive Session Minutes DALTON, Mass.— The state attorney general's office has determined the Fire District Board of Water Commissioners violated Open Meeting Law by failing to announce and record the results of any periodic review of its executive session minutes. Evaluations of 17 sets of open session minutes from July 30, 2024, to May 13, 2025, showed no announcements regarding executive-session minute reviews, Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth 0 Comments
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State Agricultural Officials Provide Update About Spotted Lanternfly | 10:27AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is informing the public that the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), an invasive insect, has now been confirmed in more than 50 cities and towns across nine different counties in the state. MDAR is advising businesses and residents in affected areas to review SLF guidance strategies to manage this pest and prevent its further spread. Spotted Lanternflies are not a threat to people or pets, as they do not sting or bite. They primarily feed on the sap of over 100 different types of plants. This time of year, spotted lanternflies are entering their adult stage, characterized by their gray wings with 0 Comments
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UPDATE: Blaze at DA's Home; One Minor Injury ReportedBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
08:36AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
A neighbor shared an image of thick black smoke rising the from the blaze. - According to the Pittsfield Fire Department, during Wednesday night's fire at District Attorney Timothy Shugrue's home, command staff confirmed that all occupants, including the owner, were out of the house. One minor injury was reported. The individual was treated and released. Fire officials reported that the fire was under control in approximately 90 minutes, with crews working in difficult conditions. When Engine 1 arrived, they reported fire showing from the two-and-a-half-story, wood-frame, single-family residence. Crews began stretching handlines to begin 0 Comments
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Co-Op Bank Welcomes New Human Resources Officer | 08:05AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-Op Bank) announced the appointment of Bailey Prescott as the new Human Resources Officer. In this role, Prescott will oversee human resources initiatives that support employee engagement, professional development, and organizational growth. She has a bachelor's in Business Administration with a Management & Leadership major, and a minor in Human Resources from Western New England University. Prescott began her career in human resources in 2022 and previously served with the Co-Op from 2022-2024, where she played a key role in recruitment, employee relations, and building workplace culture. Her experience 0 Comments
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Unpaid Mall Taxes Won't Increase Lanesborough Tax RateBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:55AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass.— Unpaid taxes to the Baker Hill Road District will not likely fall on residents this fiscal year.
"I think at this point in time, we don't need to panic. I was truly panicked at the previous meeting. I will say that," Chair Deborah Maynard told the Select Board and Finance Committee during a joint meeting on Monday.
"So that is the good news, we met with [The Department of Revenue], we put our heads together, and came up with some different options."
At the previous meeting, town officials discussed some $500,000 missing from the road district's approved budget for fiscal 2026. The district and JMJ RE
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National Grid Demonstrates Dangers of Live Wires By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Wednesday, August 27, 2025 | |
Matt Lane, a supervisor with National Grid, explains the wiring systems firefighters might see when responding to an emergency. LENOX. Mass. — National Grid employees demonstrated the dangers of live wires on a hot dog during a safety awareness event on Monday.
When the processed meat (representing human flesh) came into contact with approximately 8,000 volts, it ignited and charred. The main message was to assume downed power lines are live, leave them alone, and report them to the utility company or 911 immediately.
"I think the biggest thing is just to teach awareness, get everybody to gain a little respect for the electricity, and to understand enough to know
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Berkshire Mall Owners Find Partner for Senior Living ProjectBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Berkshire Mall owners are partnering with a local health-care company to bolster its plans for hundreds of senior housing units.
JMJ RE Holdings LLC has announced its collaboration with Integritus Healthcare to redevelop the shuttered mall into campus-style senior housing that includes supportive and ancillary retail space.
"They will be working with us in the planning, reimagining, and eventual operation of the senior housing facilities that we propose to amount to over 400 units across several housing types and a campus-style community," consultant Timothy Grogan, of the Housing Development Corp., told the Select Board on
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Pittsfield Street Improvement Project: Aug. 24-29| 10:11AM / Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Be advised that the following street improvements are scheduled from Aug. 24-29: Crack sealing continues this week for the following locations: Lincoln Street Appleton Avenue Elm Street Howard Street Pomeroy Avenue Williams Street Highway Department Paving Projects: Victory Road (Aug. 26) Daytona Avenue (Aug. 27) The schedule and locations are subject to change based upon weather. On-street parking, for the above streets, is prohibited during this work between the hours of 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. Line painting: Line painting (including the double yellow traffic lines, white traffic lines and crosswalks) is scheduled for from 0 Comments
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Berkshire United Way Receives Donation from Eversource Foundation| 07:54AM / Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Eversource Energy, a long-time supporter of United Ways across New England, has donated $17,000 to Berkshire United Way (BUW). This additional financial support will help BUW further invest in the work of its nonprofit partners and the people they serve, with a focus on school and career readiness, household stability, and mental health. "We are thankful for the generosity of the Eversource Foundation, as well as the consistent dedication of Eversource employees to volunteer their time and dollars, to help enable our important work to empower our neighbors to achieve their goals, creating a stronger Berkshires," said BUW Interim President 0 Comments
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