| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Marchetti Details Vacancies, New Efforts in Downtown PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:07AM / Thursday, September 18, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The downtown has 20 commercial vacancies, and 16 have been empty for more than a year.
On Monday, Mayor Peter Marchetti gave an update on the occupancy levels of commercial spaces in the corridor and the city's strategies to recruit and retain local businesses.
"I know when we talk about the downtown, we always talk about the vacancy rates, and I think one of the pieces that we need to do a better job is advertising and blowing our own horn about the businesses," he told the subcommittee on community and economic development.
"And so you can see the list of 25 new businesses that have opened up in the downtown since
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Dalton Voters Unanimously Approve All Articles at Special Town MeetingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires.com
10:31PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Some 53 voters unanimously approved all five articles on the special town meeting warrant on Wednesday. The meeting that lasted 30 minutes resulted in the authorization of funding for specific projects, addressed budget changes and the approval of the Central Berkshire Regional School District's regional agreement. The article that received the most discussion but was ultimately unanimously approved was the authorization to transfer $89,000 to fund hiring engineering firm Fuss & O'Neil to complete the remaining engineering work for the Dalton Division Road Sewer project. The Dalton Division Road sewer project 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Parks Commission Backs Pontoosuc Access PlanBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:45PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
The arrows indicate the new access points in Pontoosuc Lake Park; one near the boat dock was the result of vandalism. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has devised a solution for the south shore of Pontoosuc Lake Park that increases access while protecting the bank from erosion.
On Tuesday, the Parks Commission endorsed a plan for four easy-entrance points after community members asserted that bank plantings limited access for fishing and swimming. It will be sent to the Conservation Commission, which will consider modifying the project's permit.
The plan proposes 150 feet of live stake planting removal on the 940-foot stretch of shoreline.
"I
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Pittsfield Council Continues Fiber Network Hearing By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:38PM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council continued a fiber-optic company's request to build a network in the city's right-of-way after a "confusing" permitting process and complaints from residents.
Archtop Fiber's request to install a fiber-optic network in Pittsfield will be discussed again on Sept. 23. Councilors expect more information from the company and more public outreach to ensure that residents are aware of utility work.
"You did work on [Oswald Avenue] in my ward, tore up a bunch of lawns. The residents were extremely unhappy with the work that was done," Ward 5 Patrick Kavey told the project representative at last
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MassDOT: Pittsfield Paving Operations on First St. and North Street Roundabout| 10:42AM / Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will conducting daytime paving operations in Pittsfield. Crews will pave the First Street and North Street roundabout, located by the Berkshire Medical Center, on Thursday, Sept. 18, Friday, Sept. 19, and Monday, Sept. 22, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Appropriate traffic controls will be in place, and travelers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible. Appropriate signage and law enforcement details will be in place to guide drivers through the work area. Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution. All scheduled work is weather
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Driver Seriously Injured in Pittsfield Accident| 05:14PM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A woman was taken to Bay State Medical Center on Monday after a rock crashed into the windshield and her car went into a ravine. According to Lt. Marc Maddalena, a 2013 Ford F550 was exiting a driveway in the 300 block of Cheshire Road, Route 8, to proceed southbound when a rock from its load became airborne and struck a northbound 2013 Toyota Corolla. The rock struck the operator, and she lost control of the Toyota, which left the roadway and dropped into a ravine on the east side of the road. The Fire Department had to use mechanical means to extricate the woman from the vehicle. She was first taken to Berkshire Medical 0 Comments
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Public Health Advisory for Pontoosuc Lake| 03:22PM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. Be advised that recent observations results have confirmed the presence of a blue-green algae bloom at Pontoosuc Lake that may present harmful health effects for users of the lake. This public health advisory impacts all access points to the lake in Pittsfield and Lanesborough. Accordingly, and as recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a public health advisory is being issued. Waterbody poses risk for people and pets. Do not swim. Do not swallow water. Keep animals away. Rinse off after contact with water. Warning signs are being posted around the lake. Blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, occur 0 Comments
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Dalton Library: More Programming and AccessibilityBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:08PM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — For the Dalton Free Public Library, a library serves as a welcoming place that supports literacy and, with its new programming, it is achieving just that. Nearly a year into her position as library director, Janet Forest has worked with library staff, trustees, and the Friends of the Dalton Library to implement a variety of programs aimed at increasing library participation and accessibility. "We have so many people that come into the library and they'll say, 'I haven't been here in 30 years' or 'I haven't been here since my kids were here,' and a lot's changed in those years, depending on how old they are. So, I think 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Community Food Pantry Benefit Concert | 08:51AM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Food Pantry (formerly South Community Food Pantry) announced its first-ever benefit concert, celebrating the musical talent of the Berkshires while raising support for those in need. The stage will feature: The Wanda Houston Band, Billy Keane, Jackson DuCharme, Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis. The concert will be held at 7:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at the Colonial Theater at 111 South Street, Pittsfield. Tickets are $40, and $60 (plus ticketing fees). Ticket proceeds will go directly to the Food Pantry. "We are incredibly grateful to Berkshire Theater Group for providing the Colonial Theater 0 Comments
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BCC Invites All to 'Explore the Electrician Trade'| 08:14AM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold a free, hands-on career awareness event called "Explore the Electrician Trade" on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in the SBA Lounge on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. The event will focus on the BCC Trades Academy's future electrician program. Attendees will include local electricians, young employees in the trade and facilities managers. Admission is free; registration is suggested but not required. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/electrician. An overview of the program will be followed 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council OKs Short-Term Rental RegulationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has created regulations for short-term rentals, allowing them for 150 days of the year.
Last week, the City Council approved a zoning amendment that allows the operation of short-term rentals and a licensing process. Popular STR companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo provide a marketplace for units that are rented for 30 consecutive days or less.
"If you complain about a short-term rental, right now, there is no ordinance, so if you make a zoning complaint, the zoning enforcement officer, our building commissioner, will say, 'There's no ordinance. I can't do anything about this complaint.' He'll drive out to the
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Berkshire Athenaeum Hosts an Early Literacy Event | 12:49PM / Monday, September 15, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum and Pittsfield Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE), based out of Berkshire County Head Start, invite children ages 6 and under and their families to a free early literacy event celebrating the children's book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, from 10:30 am to noon in the auditorium of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library located at 1 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201. This event aims to engage young learners and their families through a variety of fun, STEAM- based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, 0 Comments
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