| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Flying Cloud STEAM Challenge Night Brings Science to SchoolchildrenBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
06:11PM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
Boyd BioMedical shows how different materials appear at 100x magnification. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Children and their families were able to learn from a range of science experiments last week night from Flying Clouds annual STEAM Challenge Night. Flying Cloud, an organization that offers programs in the arts and science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) to schools and children in the area, brought together about 20 organizations at the Berkshire Innovation Center to demonstrate science-based projects. "We believe in creative expression, as well as being an integral piece of learning science. And so we call it our STEAM Challenge. And then all the people that we get
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The Retired Investor: The Never-Ending Story of Rising Beef PricesBy Bill Schmick,
04:45PM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
Beef is no longer a grocery staple. It is becoming a luxury commodity, priced out of most consumers' everyday budgets. The average price of ground beef is now $6.30 per pound. Steaks are averaging $12.22 per pound. Ranchers want to keep it that way, but the president begs to differ. In total, beef prices are hitting record highs as the U.S. cattle herd falls to its smallest size since 1951. From around 140 million head of cattle in the U.S. back in the '70s, the herd has dropped to 94 million head. Recently, even Donald Trump had to admit that beef prices are out of control. "The only price we have that's high is beef — we'll get that down," the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Community Mourns Death of Taconic StudentBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:03AM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district and city are mourning the loss of a 17-year-old Taconic High School student who was found fatally shot on Sunday.
It has been widely reported that the victim was Brodie Slonski, 17, who was in Taconic's metal fabrication program. The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office has not identified the victim, saying it was because he was a juvenile.
Crisis counselors were available in the school to provide support for students and staff.
"We are heartbroken by the recent loss of one of our students and extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and all who are grieving. We know this loss deeply affects many
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Berkshire County Regional Employment Board Awarded State Grant| 10:38AM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $8.5 million in career-connected learning grants to support school districts and workforce partners in expanding high-quality career pathways and work-based learning opportunities for students across Massachusetts. In Berkshire County, the Berkshire County Regional Employment Board was awarded a $334,438 Connected Activities Grant. Funding will expand work-based learning immersion experiences, strengthen partnerships with local employers, and build a regional system of support for high schools to connect students with career experiences. "Every student deserves the 0 Comments
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Berkshire Natural Resources Council Awarded Conservation Partnership Grant | 08:04AM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $12 million in grants for projects in 40 communities across Massachusetts that will help protect open space, build parks and give more people access to the outdoors. The funding will support projects like creating new walking trails, protecting forests and wetlands, building neighborhood parks and preserving land near rivers and lakes that provide drinking water. In Berkshire County, Berkshire Natural Resources Council was awarded $288,500 for the Depot Brook Corridor Project. The project is within a half mile of the Appalachian Trail and is a focal area of the Resilient and Connected Network. 0 Comments
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Dalton Police Station Consultant to Create 'Fictitious' RenderingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Thursday, October 30, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Public Safety Advisory Committee members are conflicted on how to proceed with the proposed public safety facility project. With a presentation deadline looming and constraints from Select Board members, committee members struggled to agree on a path forward. After an hour-long discussion on Oct. 16, members of the members reached a compromise. They agreed to have their consultant, Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects LLC based in Berlin, Conn., create a rendering of both a one-story and a two-story station on a "fictitious" parcel that resembles the lot next to the Senior Center. Residents need to know the 0 Comments
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Book and Record Store Opens in PittsfieldBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:51PM / Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |
Laurie and Emma Lenski saw a need for a bookstore downtown. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new bookstore has filled a hole in the downtown area. Indie Readery and Records held its grand opening on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at its location at 314 North St. Partners and now co-owners Emma and Laurie Lenski decided to open the bookstore after seeing a need for one in the area. It also offers records and gifts. "I mean, there was totally a void on North Street for a bookstore. Like, you know, there's a lot in South County, some in North County, and then Barnes and Noble, which is almost impossible to get to. And so, yeah, we saw a need in the community. We were like, let's do
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Letter: Dan, McNeice for School Committee and Hathaway for City CouncilLetter to the Editor,
12:00PM / Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
The challenges Pittsfield faces must be dealt with care and an understanding of the nuances, rather than soundbites. This election I am supporting Dan Elias and Heather McNeice for School Committee, and Sara Hathaway for city councilor at large.
Having served with Elias during my time on the School Committee, he has shown his ability to understand all sides of an issue and understand the nuances that come with serving on the committee. Having served on the committee for 30 years, he brings great experience of what has worked and not worked for the district as well as much knowledge of the collective bargaining process. While some may say that we need a completely new
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Pittsfield Hosts Open Houses on Integrated Water Resources Management Plan| 10:50AM / Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The City of Pittsfield's Department of Public Services and Utilities will be hosting two open houses on Nov. 10 in preparation of developing an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (IWRMP). The city is developing the IWRMP to evaluate the city's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It aims to balance sustainable growth, environmental protection, and affordability while identifying infrastructure needs and management strategies. The plan will provide a roadmap for effective long-term water resource management in the city for years to come. Community members will have two opportunities to learn more about this work and 0 Comments
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Hearthway Plans Housing Development at Former Pittsfield Polish ClubBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A local affordable housing provider is planning nearly 50 new units on the former site of the Polish Community Club.
Last week, the Community Development Board OKed a special permit for Hearthway, in partnership with Causeway Development, to create 47 housing units at 55 Linden St. The historic building would be refurbished into six units, and three new buildings would be constructed to accommodate the remaining units.
"We are seeking a special permit that would allow for what we believe would be some design improvements that we can make to this project," said Matt Kropke, Hearthway's director of real estate development.
The applicants
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Dalton Finalizes Town Manager ContractBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | |
Eric Anderson DALTON, Mass. — Town Manager Eric Anderson will start in his new role Nov. 17. It was announced during the Select Board meeting on Monday that the town had successfully negotiated a three-year contract with Anderson. "The contract negotiations were as smooth as possibly one could imagine, and Eric Anderson was here yesterday for the signing of the contract," interim Town Manager Henry "Terry" Williams told iBerksires. "I met with him for a number of hours yesterday, and he and I are looking forward to his arrival, and it appears to me as though he's a perfect fit for the town going 0 Comments
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Guest Column: When Behavioral Health Funding Is Cut, the Berkshires Pays the PriceBy Diana L. Knaebe, Community Submission
05:28PM / Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | |
 The Brien Center is Berkshire County's leading provider of behavioral health services, dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing mental health and addiction challenges. As funding pressures threaten these vital services, we have prepared this op-ed to highlight the urgent need for sustained investment in behavioral health care in our community. We hope this piece will raise awareness and inspire action to ensure that every resident of Berkshire County has access to the care they deserve. In Berkshire County, we pride ourselves on taking care of one another. But this spirit of care is being tested as state and federal funding cuts threaten the services many of 0 Comments
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