| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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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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Dalton Officials Talk Meters Amidst Rate Increases By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Tuesday, February 03, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The anticipated rise in the water and sewer rates has sparked discussion on whether implementing meters could help mitigate the costs for residents The single-family water rate has been $160 since 2011, however, because of the need to improve the town's water main infrastructure, prices are anticipated to increase. "The infrastructure in town is aged … we have a bunch of old mains in town that need to be changed out," said Water Superintendent Robert Benlien during a joint meeting with the Select Board. The district had contracted Tighe and Bond to conduct an asset management study in 2022, where it was recommended 0 Comments
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Former Country Club Reopens as The Venue at SkylineBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:30PM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
The new Patty Barnaby's name is all over the venue. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A new but familiar space is opening for event rentals as The Venue at Skyline. Patty Barnaby recently leased the former Skyline Country Club building at 405 South Main St. Barnaby used to attend events there, including holding her own "Jack and Jill" wedding shower. "I've been to the golf tournaments. We've been to fundraisers. We've been to benefits. Actually, sports banquets for our girls, my oldest daughter. We had quite a few of her sports banquets here, just town events, truly, but our Jack and Jill was here," she said. "I had my stepfather's retirement
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Pittsfield Resident Given OK to Distribute DoughnutsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:48PM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has clarified that a charitable resident can continue distributing cider and doughnuts to people, as long as parking regulations are followed.
"So it is my understanding now, throughout this meeting, that there is no longer any threat of fine for feeding the homeless," Ward 7 Councilor Moody said to Robert Ball, who has distributed sweets and hot beverages around the city for months.
A couple of weeks ago, Ball told News10 that he ran into issues with the city about his charitable food distributions. Moody saw the story and filed a request that the city stand down on penalties against good Samaritans feeding unhoused community 0 Comments
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Saturday Night Fire in Pittsfield Turns FatalStaff Reports ,
10:29AM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Saturday night structure fire turned fatal when the sole occupant was pronounced dead at Berkshire Medical Center. The Fire Department responded to 7 Virginia Ave. just after 11:20 on Saturday night following a report of a fire. On arrival, firefighters observed flames coming from the first floor of the small one-story Cape and immediately made entry to attack the fire and search for occupants. They located the sole resident, a woman in her 70s, and rescued her. Action Ambulance transported her to BMC. According to the State Fire Marshal's Office, the woman later passed away. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine 0 Comments
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Two Pittsfield Habitat for Humanity Homes Open for Tours| 07:57AM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is inviting the public to tour two newly built, affordable homes at 21 and 23 Murphy Place during upcoming open houses in February. Located on a dead-end street just off Upper North Street heading towards Pontoosuc Lake, these three-bedroom, one-bath condominiums offer an opportunity for income-qualified buyers to achieve homeownership. The homes will be sold to families earning between 50 percent and 65 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). For Pittsfield, current income eligibility ranges by household size are approximately: Family of 2: $49,150 – $63,895 Family of 3: $55,300 – 0 Comments
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Lenox Looks to Add Parking with Street ChangesBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:53AM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
 LENOX, Mass. — The Select Board is moving forward with a proposal to increase parking on two downtown streets by making them one-way. On Wednesday night, Department of Public Works Superintendent William "Billy" Gop showed a proposal of Church and Franklin Streets that would add 26 new parking spots and change them to both streets to one-ways. The proposal comes after the town was looking for a way to add more parking after losing a major parking lot last year. "We had a lot of chatter over the past year about purchasing two parcels in the downtown core, and the presumption was that the town wanted to at least use one of them in order to allow 0 Comments
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Dalton Library Holds Adult Reading Challenge By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Monday, February 02, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The library is making book enthusiasts nostalgic thanks to its adult reading challenge that encourages people to expand their horizons in the literature world. Many may remember, from their school years, being challenged to read for a chance to win a pizza or, for this writer, a school trip to the cinema to watch their book come alive on screen. The Dalton Free Public Library has reawakened that experience for its patrons 18 and older until March 27 at 1 p.m. Visit the library to get your game board and after reading a book let library staff know to get your raffle ticket or track your progress online. Readers can 0 Comments
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Wahconah Park Skating Rink Under ConstructionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:44PM / Sunday, February 01, 2026 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The outdoor ice skating rink in front of Wahconah Park is taking shape, and the city plans to open it early next week.
If you pass by the historic park this weekend, you will notice a pop-up ice skating rink under construction on the property between Hudpucker's Pub and Grill and Thrive Diner. City officials hope for a soft launch early next week and have secured state funds for programmatic expenses and skate rentals.
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath on Friday said it will take several days to build the ice. The community will be notified through a social media post and a press release.
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Dalton Board to Discuss Storage Container Bylaw By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:42PM / Sunday, February 01, 2026 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Planning Board will be reviewing a proposed bylaw that would require a special permit for storage containers in a residential zone. The board briefly discussed the proposed bylaw that is in the very early stages. More in-depth discussions will take place during future meetings. During the development of proposed bylaws, the board holds public hearings to gather input from the community. Then it goes to town meeting for a vote. "There's currently a number of storage containers in town which are not permitted. This would basically require getting a permit and restrict the time that the container could be kept," 0 Comments
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