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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Select Board Disagrees With Renegotiation For Ladder TruckBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:35PM / Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass.—The Select Board expressed concerns Monday regarding the Board of Water Commission's decision to renegotiate a contract for a fire truck with Northern Fire Equipment. The board voted to send a letter to the Water Commission indicating that it does not support the decision because of the significant delivery delay of the apparatus and since the intended use of the funds does not appear to be possible. The intended use was to get a "good" ladder truck for the price offered. Based on the mechanical malfunctions and delays this does not appear to be possible, the Select Board said. The board unanimously agreed that it would be 0 Comments
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Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Safe from Pittsfield Auto Dealership| 03:32PM / Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police arrested Joseph Demary, age 48-year-old of St. Petersburg, Fla., who allegedly broke into the Nissan of Pittsfield Auto Dealership and stole a safe. According to a report, on Feb. 4, 2024 at approximately 7:05pm, the Nissan of Pittsfield Auto Dealership on West Housatonic Street was broken into and a safe was stolen. The suspect fled the area on foot. The Pittsfield Police Department Patrol Division responded and collected initial evidence at the scene and spoke with a witness. Based on a day long investigation by members of the Detective Bureau, Narcotics Unit and the Anti-Crime Unit, a suspect was identified. A search 0 Comments
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Guest Column: Quit Smoking Valentine's Day MessageBy Joyce Brewer, Guest Column
02:00PM / Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | |
 If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant this Valentine's Day, consider taking the first step toward quitting smoking, vaping or using other tobacco. 1-800-QUIT-NOW has a special incentive for you — pregnant Massachusetts residents can receive up to $65 on a Mastercard gift card when they participate in its free coaching services. In the program for pregnant people, you can receive up to nine coaching calls with the same quit coach as well as text messages, email support and materials. When you quit, your body becomes safer and healthier for your developing baby's brain and lungs, and what a gift that is. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit mass.gov/quitting for
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BCC's '40 Under Forty' Winners to be Honored| 11:15AM / Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | |
 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 Thursday, March 28 at 5 pm in the Robert Boland theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit the BCC Foundation, which manages about 180 scholarships totaling more than $375,000 for BCC students and supports a number of programs at the College. 40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who try to improving 0 Comments
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Dalton Select Board Approves More FY25 Budgets By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:57AM / Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board approved a number of departmental budgets for the coming fiscal year during its meeting on Monday night. The fiscal 2025 budget is projected at $22 million of which about $10 million is for the town's operations. The Select Board has sliced some lines that have since been endorsed by the Finance Committee. The town manager budget was approved for $201,663, a $10,419 or 5.45 percent change from this year. It reflects more four hours for the interdepartmental assistant who currently works eight hours a week. The original purpose of the post was to work as a floater between different town departments, Town Manager Thomas 0 Comments
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Pittsfield to Recieve $2M in Opioid Settlement FundsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:41PM / Monday, February 05, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is slated to receive more than $2 million in settlement funds to address opioid use in the community.
Last week, the finance subcommittee supported an order to transfer and appropriate the initial settlement installment of $510,711.79 from free cash to the new Opioid Settlement account.
In July 2021, the attorney general entered into an agreement with the major distributors of opioids. This includes payments to communities to address issues associated with opioid addiction and prevention and the city expects to receive $2,221,991.49 over its term. Documents show that payments are scheduled until 2038.
Mayor Peter Marchetti reported that the Mental
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Berkshire Family YMCA Announces Search for New Chief Executive Officer | 08:22AM / Monday, February 05, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Family YMCA announced the commencement of a national search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This executive search is conducted in partnership with the YMCA of the USA. According to a press release, the YMCA is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to helm the Berkshire Family YMCA, with a budget of $4.8M and a legacy in the Berkshire area. The incoming CEO will guide the organization through strategic initiatives, foster valuable community partnerships, and uphold our mission of inclusivity, health, and empowerment. The role promises a significant opportunity for impact, shaping the lives of children, families, 0 Comments
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Downtown Pittsfield Corridors to be Revitalized Through TDI PartnershipBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:03AM / Monday, February 05, 2024 | |
Downtown Pittsfield Inc.'s Rebecca Brien, Nicholas Russo of the Pittsfield Community Design Center and TDI Fellow Julie Copoulos talk to the gathering about possibilities for enhancing public spaces downtown. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — This spring, Dunham Mall will be subject to a $70,000 effort to restore the corridor to its glory days.
Community members got a look at the project and weighed in on downtown needs during a community feedback night at Hot Plate Brewing Co. on Wednesday. Burbank Place, located across the street, is also an area of focus.
"If we can highlight some of the infrastructural features that we have here by lighting the way and guiding people
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Pittsfield Schools Point to Online Resource for Bullying, Peer Conflict.By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Monday, February 05, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — School administrators are urging families to use an online resource to report bullying and peer conflict. "We're really trying to promote the bullying reporting form, [so] that families use it, and … even if they can't fill it out themselves, we want to really make sure that families understand that they're entitled to an investigation when they make a claim and an outcome," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said during a virtual school safety meeting last week. This online form improves accessibility to reporting and makes it easier to tack student conflict, Curtis said. The school adjustment counselors 0 Comments
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Plant Connector Opening Second Location in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:42PM / Sunday, February 04, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North County plant shop is expanding to Pittsfield with a West Street location.
The Plant Connector recently announced its second location next to Thistle and Mirth following a pop-up on North Street over the holiday season. The shop is about a month away from opening, with a lease signed and staging underway.
Business owners Emilee Yawn and Bonnie Marks say the new location will be all about "plants, refills, and good times."
"Our 'inspo' is Victorian plant rooms where one can leisurely read, play cards, a place one can just enjoy living with plants," a Facebook post reads.
"Somehow we'll combine this with a
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Dalton Finance Committee Approves Select Board Budget CutsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:25PM / Sunday, February 04, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee approved a number of budgets that are under $20,000 in bulk after reviewing them during its meeting Wednesday night. The approval of these 23 lines from the $10 million proposed town budget added up to $145,257, which included the budgets for a number of town committees and commissions, the moderator, animal control, landfill monitoring, sealer of weights and measures, tax title foreclosure, and other budgets. More information on these budgets here. Finance Committee Clerk Karen Schmidt noted that the Green Committee budget is not included in this group so will have to be approved later in the budgeting 0 Comments
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Governor Signs Order Directing State Agencies to Institute Skills-Based Hiring | 11:49AM / Sunday, February 04, 2024 | |
NEWTON — In her address to the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), Governor Healey announced that she signed an executive order instituting skills-based hiring practices for the state's workforce. Through this Executive Order, for the vast majority of job postings, the administration will focus primarily on applicants' skills, knowledge, and abilities rather than educational credentials. Job postings will only be allowed to include degree conditions when absolutely necessary to the performance of the job. Additionally, for the first time, hiring managers will receive training and tools to implement this new hiring strategy effectively. 0 Comments
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