| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Wahconah Park Committee Recommends $30M DesignBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Friday, September 29, 2023 | |
The committee is recommending the pricier $30 million option as providing more square footage and alleviating flooding issues. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Wahconah Park Restoration Committee has endorsed a $30 million overhaul of the historic ballpark that is three times the original expectation. On Thursday, the panel unanimously voted to recommend an elevated option that raises all program spaces above the floodplain and has a fully accessible lower and upper concourse. The 40,000 square foot design is valued at $30.2 million. One year ago when the process began, the overhaul was expected to cost $10 to $15 million. "The pricing is
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Pittsfield Draws Ballot Positions for November ElectionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:34PM / Thursday, September 28, 2023 | |
Candidates for at-large seats put the names in the tumbler. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the general election just over a month away, ballot positions were drawn for the mayoral, School Committee, and multiple City Council races.
City Clerk Michele Benjamin congratulated all candidates for their nominations and placement on the ballot.
Peter Marchetti attended the drawing and pulled second position, placing John Krol in the first position on the ballot for mayor.
Councilors-at-large candidates Kathleen Amuso, Craig Benoit, Daniel Miraglia, Alisa Costa and a representative of Lucas Marion drew their own names. Incumbent Peter White is in the first position followed by
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The Retired Investor: The Day-Care CrisisBy Bill Schmick,
04:19PM / Thursday, September 28, 2023 | |
On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, $24 billion in emergency funding for the nation's child day-care industry expires. Estimates are that as many as 70,000 care centers or more will close over the next year, impacting as many as 3.2 million kids. The downside for working women with young children could be even more substantial. In recent columns, I have written of the gains women have made in the post-pandemic labor force. Women's workforce participation, especially women with children under 5, is higher than it has ever been (at 70.4 percent, compared to a pre-pandemic high of 68.9 percent). That brings the employment gap between men and women to record lows. This progress 0 Comments
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Clark Art Expands RX for Wellbeing Program| 11:04AM / Thursday, September 28, 2023 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute and Berkshire Medical Center are teaming to provide a new mental health service aimed at providing assistance to trauma victims. The Clark currently offers a county-wide program, Rx for Wellbeing at the Clark, through local mental health practitioners as a means of encouraging engagement with art as part of a therapeutic treatment plan for those dealing with issues like depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The new initiative with Berkshire Medical Center, Access to Wellbeing at the Clark, extends the program to offer victims of trauma opportunities to engage with art as a part of their recovery efforts. To date, the Rx 0 Comments
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Miss Hall's School Names Dean of Teaching and Learning| 08:00AM / Thursday, September 28, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School has named Meghan Smith as the School's inaugural Dean of Teaching and Learning. Meghan comes to Miss Hall's with more than 20 years of teaching and administrative experience, demonstrated success in designing and implementing curriculum, and a background in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-focused leadership. Prior to Miss Hall's, she worked since 2005 at Lawrence Academy, in Groton, serving in several roles, including Latin, History, and English Instructor; Language Department Chair; Director of the 9th grade interdisciplinary program; and Director of DEI Professional Growth and Practice. "I am 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Looks Forward to New, Improved Streetscape MaintenanceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Thursday, September 28, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state of disarray in downtown medians stemmed from a problem with a contractor who won the bid and then was terminated twice.
Earlier this month, members of the City Council were outraged at overgrown medians and flowerbeds in the downtown area and referred several petitions on city maintenance to Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales.
The lack of care was attributed to issues with contracted work, being short-staffed, and weather struggles. The overgrowth has since been cleared and a new partnership between the city and local organizations will take the reins.
On Tuesday, Morales reported that EMS, a property maintenance and
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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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