| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Lanesborough ZBA Asserts STRs Not Yet PermittedBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:44PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
Second Drop Farm owner Patrick Elliot, with attorney Elisabeth Goodman, states his case for short-term rentals at the farm. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A heated Zoning Board of Appeals meeting ended in a decision that shocked and frustrated many in the audience. The board voted to uphold the cease-and-desist order issued to Second Drop Farm regarding short-term rentals, citing the building inspector's determination that, because of the absence of town bylaw regulations, short-term rentals are not permitted. The audience erupted in indignation with one attendee saying "You are going to create war in this town." The decision split the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Warming Centers Available| 05:12PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Due to the frigid temperatures expected this weekend, the City of Pittsfield announced the following locations will be available for residents looking for some relief from the cold. The Berkshire Athenaeum, located at 1 Wendell Avenue, will be open for regular business hours on Friday, Feb. 6, from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. The Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, located at 330 North Street, will be open on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For those that are seeking shelter overnight, please visit the warming center at the Pearl located at 21 Pearl Street, which will be open from 9:00 p.m. to 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Does It Make Sense to Borrow From Your 401(k) to Buy a House?By Bill Schmick,
04:03PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
Younger generations cannot afford to buy a home. They cannot even make the down payments necessary to take out a mortgage. Borrowing the down payment from your 401(k) might make sense, especially if the Trump administration helps out. Last week, the president's director of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, said the administration was finalizing a plan for some 401(k) funds to go toward home down payments. He said it would be part of a series of White House initiatives on housing affordability. "I'm not a huge fan," said the boss. Trump said, "One of the reasons I don't like it is that their 401(k)s are doing so 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council Approves 'Green' ItemsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:48PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council approved a couple of "green" items during its meeting last week.
This includes more than $20,000 from the state for recycling initiatives, as well as cell phone recycling automated machines at Cumberland Farms on First Street and in Market 32 at 555 Hubbard Ave.
Pittsfield received $21,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program, which reinvests a portion of Waste Energy Certificates into recycling programs. More than $4.2 million was distributed across the state this year.
WECs are tradable, unit-specific certificates (1 per MWh) generated by
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Pittsfield Announces 3rd Annual Winter Festival at Clapp Park| 03:01PM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program has announced its third annual Winter Festival for Monday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clapp Park. As a kickoff to winter break for local Pittsfield schools, this year's festival will include a variety of outdoor activities for children and their families including: Cardboard Sled Design Contest & Races Prior to the day of Winter Festival, all children and families are asked to construct their own cardboard sled at home using glue, tape, paint, and decorations. No plastic or purchased sleds are allowed. Awards will be given for Best Use of Materials, Most Creative 0 Comments
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BCArc Names New Chief Operating Officer| 11:46AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc has named Sonja Haecker the new Chief Operating Officer. Haecker has been serving as the Agency's Executive Vice President, overseeing a wide range of programs for BCArc. "Sonja continues to show incredible leadership," said Maryann Hyatt, President & CEO. "She is a great motivator, demands high standards, and has great energy for advancing this agency forward. The staff and families are well-served with her as the new Chief Operating Officer." Haecker's responsibilities, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, cover the Agency's program operations and strategic planning, along 0 Comments
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Lenox Applying for Housing Rehab ProgramBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
11:35AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
LENOX, Mass. — The town is applying for a federal Housing Rehabilitation Program to help low- and moderate-income residents fix their homes. The Select Board last Wednesday voted to authorize Bailey Boyd Associates to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal 2026. The grant is up to $1,150,000 and will help with the renovation of 13 homes with zero-percent interest, deferred-payment forgivable loans. Cassie Boyd Marsh, president of Bailey Boyd Associates, a community development consultant, explained how the program will work. "The program prioritizes health and safety, including weather, vacant and other 0 Comments
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The First's Housing Resource Center Opens in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026 | |
Tenants for the nine studio apartments will be moving in over the next few days. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The First's housing resource center opened its doors on Tuesday, drawing about a dozen people.
"I was hoping to do a soft open yesterday at The First. It became a little louder, which is fine," ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
"But we are open Tuesday through Saturday for the next few weeks, and that is really due to just onboarding staff and training."
The housing resource center is funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act
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BCC 40 Under 40 Winners to be Honored| 01:24PM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Wednesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street. Tickets are $40 per person (free for award winners and one guest per winner) and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce and Community Education programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting 0 Comments
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Dalton Budget 'Worse-Case Scenario' Could Mean Staffing CutsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:18PM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — In the worst-case scenario, the town could be forced to reduce staff if projected increases in the school budget, health insurance, and other uncontrollable costs occur. Town Manager Eric Anderson presented the "grim" budget to the Select Board on Monday, showcasing the anticipated major driver in the fiscal year 2027 budget. "The first thing I want to say is the first cut of the budget always looks hopeless. I mean it always does. This is, in many ways, what we should probably think of as the worst case scenario," Anderson said. "The goal here has got to be to make this budget better and more reasonable overall 0 Comments
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BCC Names Fall Dean's List Students| 11:14AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced it has named 681 students to the fall 2025 dean's list. To be eligible for the dean's list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.750 to 4.000 to earn high honors, while students with a GPA of 3.250 to 3.749 earn an honors designation. All dean's list students must be matriculated in a certificate or degree program; complete a minimum of six traditionally graded credit hours, and achieve grades of C or higher in all classes during a semester 0 Comments
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Berkshire Schools Awarded Early College Grants | 07:00AM / Wednesday, February 04, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Public Schools, Berkshire Community College, Southern Berkshire Public Schools, and Lee Public Schools were awarded funds to support partnerships between high schools and institutions of higher education. Governor Maura Healey announced the goal of enrolling 100,000 Early College students by 2036, the administration today is awarding $8.2 million in designated Early College grants that will support an additional 44 new partnerships between high schools and institutions of higher education. Early College allows high school students to take college classes and earn college credit at no cost to them or their families. In 0 Comments
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