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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust Hears Ins & Outs of DevelopmentBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In its third meeting, the Affordable Housing Trust heard the ins and outs of development and how they apply to Pittsfield. The panel is early in its work. It met for the first time in the fall after being established by the City Council over the summer. Two organization leaders were invited to last week's meeting to detail their hands-on experience with affordable housing in the Berkshires. Matt Kropke, director of real estate development at Berkshire Housing Develop Corp., and Construct Inc.'s Development Director Leigh Davis gave insights on affordable housing projects that are completed and in 0 Comments
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Dalton First Responders Recognized for Aiding Mother and NewbornBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
04:43AM / Tuesday, January 24, 2023 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Brittany Maloney woke with contractions at 6 a.m., three days after Christmas. She tried to relieve her discomfort with a yoga ball — but that apparently hastened the process. Soon her water broke so the family set out from their Savoy home to Berkshire Medical Center. They only made it as far as the Windsor/Dalton line when Charliegh Mae Maloney decided it was time to enter the world. Although Michael Maloney had some emergency training as a military police officer in the Marines, this situation was like no other, he said. Brittany gave a "battle cry," he said, and then he caught Charliegh in his arm 0 Comments
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Wayfair Closing Pittsfield Call Center; Employees Will Go VirtualBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:21PM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
Wayfair founder Niraj Shah takes a selfie with state Sen. Smitty Pignatelli, left, and Congressman Richie Neal at the call center's opening in 2019. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wayfair opened a $5 million call center in the Clock Tower Building three years ago with plans to bring 300 jobs to the city. It was a pledge by Chairman and CEO Niraj Shah, a Pittsfield High graduate, to ensure his hometown benefited from his burgeoning home goods business. Now the company is planning to close that center by July and shift its 40-person staff to virtual work. Wayfair announced last Friday plans to layoff upwards of 1,750 employees, following 900 16 Comments
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Miss Hall's School Names Business Administrator| 03:51PM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School has named Aaron Gordon, of Lenox, as the School's new Director of Finance and Operations. Gordon, who brings experience in nonprofit finance, higher education administration, strategic planning, student and residential life, and operations, most recently served as Director of Student Administrative Affairs, Strategy and Planning at Williams College. In that role, he was the central administrative and budget officer for the college's Division of the Dean of the College, working closely with the Dean of the College on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, budget creation, strategic planning, emergency 1 Comment
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Central Berkshire Regional Eyes Nearly 6% Increase in FY24By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
03:29PM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is anticipating a 5.86 percent increase for fiscal 2024, which translates to nearly $2 million over this year. This year's budget is $29,084,048 and next year's is forecast at $30,788,051, up $1,704,003. The administration told the School Committee last week that is trying to design a fiscally responsible budget while being conscious of the overall impact to taxpayers in the seven member towns. The top five operating expenditures are salaries, benefits, special education services, transportation, and operations andmaintenance. The salaries are estimated to be $16,176.001 0 Comments
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Reproductive Rights Rally Held on 50th Anniversary of Roe v. WadeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:38PM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
 Pittsfield, Mass. — Community members joined nationwide standouts on Sunday to mark 50 years since the now-overturned Roe v. Wade decision secured reproductive rights. In a post-Roe society, many fear that all freedoms are at stake. Greylock Together co-founder Jessica Dils recounted marching for gender and civil rights with half a million others in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 2017, and said this feels like "an old wound." "I don't know how else to call it but being 53, having this all of my life and having constitutional rights taken away, assaulted, disregarded, this is so much more than our reproductive health care and 44 Comments
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Pittsfield School Panel Supports 'Culture & Community' CourseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:52AM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School educators would like to offer a pilot course that covers diverse life experiences, and on Wednesday the curriculum subcommittee supported "Culture and Community." The one-semester course is designed to provide students with language and skills to understand their own identity and the identities of others in their community, communicate effectively with diverse populations, understand privilege and bias, and take action to change discriminatory practices. "What a gift to our students," Member Vicky Smith said. Social studies teacher Emily Day explained that this was suggested by a student 0 Comments
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Colonial Gardens Without Water Due to Private Line Water Main Break Staff Reports ,
10:25AM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Colonial Gardens residents are on day two without water due to a water line break that occurred Sunday morning, Jan. 22. Repairs were delayed Sunday because of unforeseen soil stability issues that made it difficult to complete the repairs safely and without disruption. "They found some substrates that are high in concentrations of sand and that makes it difficult to maintain the excavation open in a safe manner," Public Services & Utilities Commissioner Ricardo Morales said. Colonial Gardens residents were notified that the Highview Drive complex would be without water for another day on Sunday. As of 0 Comments
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BCArc Names Executive Vice President| 08:26AM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — BCArc has named Sonja Haecker, Ed.D, Executive Vice President. In this new position she will oversee the Agency's Community Services programs, including Adult Family Care Program, Family Support & Advocacy, Employment & Vocational Services, Day Habilitation programs, and Community-Based Day Services. She will also oversee the Clinical Department, and Respite Services. In addition, Sonja will assist the President & CEO with strategic planning initiatives. Prior to this position, Sonja was Vice President of Community Services, where she expanded the Adult Family Care program, strengthened Family Support Services, and 0 Comments
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Berkshire Athenaeum to Host Community Health and Wellness Fair| 08:07AM / Monday, January 23, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's public library, will be hosting a free community health and wellness fair on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The fair will be held noon-3 p.m. in the library's auditorium. Representatives from Berkshire Harm Reduction, Berkshire Health Systems, Berkshire North WIC, the Brien Center, Community Health Programs (CHP), Elder Services of Berkshire County, NAMI Berkshire County, and Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) will be available for one-on-one conversations to answer questions and provide health and wellness resources. Blood pressure screenings will also be available. The library, located at 1 Wendell Ave., is 0 Comments
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Adams Community Bank Donates to Local Nonprofits| 04:04PM / Sunday, January 22, 2023 | |
ADAMS, Mass. — Adams Community Bank (ACB) ended 2022 with a donation of $75,000 to local food pantries, food banks, and fuel assistance programs. ACB's Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Engagement Maureen Baran presented donations to several Berkshire County nonprofits. Adams Community Bank began its December donation efforts by presenting BCAC's Fuel Assistance program with a $50,000 donation. This program is part of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded program to help low-income households with their energy costs. The program runs from Nov. 1 to April 30 each year and covers the cost of various 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Cultural Council Seeks to Make Public Art GuideBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:47PM / Sunday, January 22, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Cultural Council is looking to create a guide to the city's public art for locals and tourists alike. On Wednesday, the panel voted in favor of the project after it was suggested by member Abigail Allard. They agreed that this would be a great resource if it is feasible. "I think especially for people in Pittsfield that are here and just used to it don't realize how much public art is actually around them and visible," Allard said, citing the various murals, sculptures, and painted electrical boxes that can be enjoyed on the city streets. Based on conversations that she has had with the city's director of
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