| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Ellen Kennedy Reflects on Past, Future of BCC Before RetirementBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:17PM / Sunday, September 21, 2025 | |
President Ellen Kennedy last year at a certification ceremony. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — President Ellen Kennedy feels Berkshire Community College is in a good place to welcome new leadership.
She will retire at the end of the school year after more than 17 years with the college, 14 as president, and looks back on the students, faculty, and campus as a whole with pride.
"Our faculty is extraordinary. Our administrators and staff are just exceptional. Our students are so special, so committed to their own learning and their own growth as people and in pursuit of their own goals, it's just really exciting," she said recently.
"We have an excellent
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MassDOT 12th Annual Safe Streets Smart Trips Video Contest| 07:43AM / Sunday, September 21, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing that entries are now being accepted for the twelfth annual statewide Safe Streets Smart Trips high school video contest. This contest encourages students to showcase their understanding of roadway safety across all travel modes to try to decrease pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities. Per the contest guidelines, this year students are being asked to write and produce a 30-60 second video emphasizing "Safe Walking, Biking, and Driving Behaviors." "MassDOT is proud to launch the 2025 Safe Streets Smart Trips Video Contest, now in its twelfth year," 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Gold Star Memorial Unveiled in LenoxBy Tammy Daniels , iBerkshires Staff
07:30AM / Sunday, September 21, 2025 | |
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, daughter of a career Navy veteran, speaks at the memorial dedication. Her son, Nicholas, enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard this month. LENOX, Mass. — William "Smitty" Pignatelli was visiting the Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park in Fall River with its tributes ranging from the Revolution to the War on Terror when a particular monument caught his attention. "It was a Gold Star Family Memorial," Pignatelli told the hundreds gathered outside Town Hall on Saturday. "I had never seen one before in my life, and I said, we need to bring one to Berkshire County." The county agreed: the $175,000 goal 0 Comments
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Dottie's Will be Reopening with a Former EmployeeBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Saturday, September 20, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dottie's Coffee Lounge is reopening with a familiar face at the counter. Jessica Rufo closed Dottie's July 6 to spend more time with her family after owning it for almost 20 years. Loic Adandedjan, a former barista and shift lead at the cafe recently started sublisting the space with Rufo. He hopes to one day buy it. "After it closed, I was also into digital marketing, creating content on social media, and I had a really huge interest while working here, seeing the vibe, the movement, of how everything was, and I didn't want this to end. I didn't want this chapter to close on me," he said. "I'll be sublisting the coffee shop
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Mass Department of Revenue Cautions Public to Beware of Text Scams| 03:31PM / Saturday, September 20, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) is warning the public about text messages that appear to be from DOR and ask for payment or sensitive information, such as credit card numbers. DOR strongly advises recipients to avoid clicking on any links in these messages. Recently, a wave of text messages—in Massachusetts and other states—falsely claimed taxpayers would be disqualified from receiving refunds if they did not submit the required payment information by September 19, 2025. "If you receive a message urging you to respond quickly or click on a link, please do not reply or click the link. DOR does not send text messages 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports GE Funds For Old, New BusinessBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:18PM / Saturday, September 20, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Councilors were glad to see a long-time and a new company put forward for a total of $700,000 in economic development funds.
On Monday, the Community and Economic Development subcommittee supported requests of $200,000 and $500,000 for the Pittsfield Economic Funds, also known as the GE funds. A half-million dollars would help Jain Americas Inc. expand Chicopee operations to Pittsfield, and $200,000 would support a design and manufacturing studio for Elegant Stitches.
"First, I want to say to the mayor, thank you," Councilor at Large and committee member Earl Persip III said to Mayor Peter Marchetti.
"You brought us two
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Pittsfield Remembers POW/MIA ServicemembersBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
10:27AM / Saturday, September 20, 2025 | |
Brian Sedgwick, commander of the New Lebanon, N.Y., American Legion post, was the keynote speaker for the event. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local veterans gathered on Friday to honor prisoners of war and service members missing in action, and to underscore efforts to unite them with descendants. The Charles Persip American Legion Post 68 held its third annual POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park. Keynote speaker Brian Sedgewick, commander of American Legion Post 1236 of New Lebanon, N.Y., reported that more than 200 missing servicemen were identified in the last year.
This includes 159 from World War 2, 55 from the Korean War, and eight from the
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Market 32 Launches Pet Food Drive| 08:13AM / Saturday, September 20, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. In celebration of Market 32's 10th anniversary, Market 32 and Price Chopper stores are inviting customers to help make a difference in the lives of pets in need through the purchase of $10 bags of pet food. Now through Oct. 4, shoppers will have the option to purchase and contribute a bag containing five dog food or cat food items. All donations will be distributed to animal shelters local to each store, ensuring these organizations and local families facing hardship can keep their pets healthy and well-fed. "Pets are family, too," said Pam Cerrone, director of community relations for Market 32 and Price Chopper. "We're happy to
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Pittsfield Community Development Board OKs Walmart Pick Up Center ExpansionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
10:12AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Walmart is closer to gaining approval to convert part of the garden center into an online ordering pickup area.
On Tuesday, the Community Development Board endorsed the company's request to amend its existing site plan at 555 Hubbard Ave. As part of nationwide store improvements, about 1,500 square feet of the Pittsfield garden center is planned to be enclosed for an online ordering pickup center.
Greg DiBona of Bohler Engineering, the firm hired by Walmart, reported working on similar projects at dozens of other locations. Online shopping became popular and necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They look at their stores and
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Stearns Not Currently Included in Pittsfield's Crosby/Conte ProposalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:56AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
Stearns is in the zone with Conte and Crosby in the 'three zone' map presented at the last meeting but officials say this does not indicate it will be merged as the zones are not specific. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stearns Elementary School was not included in Crosby/Conte planning documents sent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
This was clarified on Wednesday, before the School Committee endorsed the district and MSBA’s examination of a three-zone, long-term option for reorganizing and consolidating the elementary level.
"MSBA is not moving forward at this time with a feasibility study that includes any
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Dalton Cable Advisory Comm Emphasizes Stations NeedBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — As the Cable Advisory Commission works to update its contract with Charter Communications, questions have arisen about whether the town can recover the unpaid capital costs from the past four decades. "They have been benefiting from operating in our town for 40 years," commission Chair Richard White said. The commission was re-established to negotiate a new contract with Charter Communications. The last time the town had a contract was in 1997 with Time Warner Cable, which was purchased by Spectrum in 2016. It met on Monday, though the meeting agenda was not posted on the town website. "Here in Dalton, they have an excellent program, 0 Comments
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Massachusetts Joins Northeast Health Collaborative| 06:46PM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Massachusetts has joined with several Northeastern states and America's largest city to create the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a voluntary regional coalition of public health agencies and leaders, brought together to share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and promote and protect evidence-based public health. The collaborative's shared purpose is to work together in new ways — optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and reimagining core services — to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen 0 Comments
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