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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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The Retired Investor: Economics According to Trump Supporters Part IIBy Bill Schmick,
04:32PM / Thursday, February 01, 2024 | |
The economic condition of the country has convinced a minority of the population that the only person who can save the country from economic ruin is Donald Trump. The growing budget deficit and persistent inflation are two areas of growing concern for that bloc of voters. However, more and more Americans are paying attention to those areas as we head into 2024. Last week, I pointed out some areas of economic contention between Trumpers and those against him such as illegal immigration. Inflation is another major gripe for Trumpers. That seems to fly in the face of economic facts. The inflation rate has dropped in half over the last year, according to government statistics, but 0 Comments
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Lanesborough Finance Committee Has Attendance ProblemBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:44AM / Thursday, February 01, 2024 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Attendance is a problem for the town's Finance Committee and with budget season ahead, a game plan is needed. Chair Jodi-Lee Szczepaniak-Locke brought concerns about meeting quorum for votes. The panel is "essentially down to a 33 percent attendance rate," she reported to the Select Board last week.
"I'm here tonight, out of significant concern from several members of the Finance Committee about our difficulty achieving a quorum," she said. "We have given due diligence to our members that have been absent on several occasions."
For full transparency to Lanesborough residents, she feels it is important that they know
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Pittsfield Historical Commission OKs GE DemosBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:35AM / Thursday, February 01, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former General Electric campus continues to be chipped away as two more building demolitions are planned next to Site 9.
The Historical Commission on Monday gave the OK for demolition requests for Buildings 12 and 14, located along Tyler Street Extension and the railway. Building 100 sits between the two and is not part of the project.
The environmental abatement and demolition of the buildings will be done by Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. of Bethlehem, Pa. It will remove multiple contaminants and the structures down to the slab and cap the waste consolidation areas. "To be simple about it, they're ugly," Project Manager
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Dalton Begins Discussions on $10M Town BudgetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:28PM / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board last week voted to freeze its stipend as it took up an estimated $22 million budget for fiscal 2025. The town's operating budget was proposed at $10,075,035, up 10 percent over this year, and the board chipped away at some minor line items. One of the main drivers of this "high budget" has been insurance increases, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. The town was originally anticipating health insurance to increase 14 percent or $868,000. However, after attending the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual conference, Hutcheson believes the actual cost for health insurance will be 0 Comments
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Man Charged with Drug Distribution, Illegal Firearm in Pittsfield | 03:40PM / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, Jan. 29, Charles Crosby, age 36, was arraigned in Berkshire District Court on the following charges: Trafficking of 18 grams less than 36 grams of Heroin / Morphine / Opium Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Substance Drug Possession of a Class B Substance Drug Possession to Distribute a Class E Substance Possession of Firearm During a Felony Possession of Ammunition Without an FID card Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm without a license Assault and Battery on a Police officer Assault and Battery with attempt to Disarm a Police Officer Resisting arrest Distribution 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Board Says Club Responded Properly to 'Melee'By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:46PM / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board chose not to penalize a Peck's Road bar for a melee that resulted in one arrest. The panel voted Monday to file a show-cause hearing for the Sportsman's Cafe following a large fight on Dec. 10. It was determined that the owners responded appropriately.
"This is the first incident for this owner of the bar. I think they took appropriate action to remove the individual from the premises," board member Jody Phillips said.
"Unfortunately, you couldn't control what happened outside afterward."
Around 12:50 a.m. that Sunday, several officers responded to the Sportsman's for a report of a fight between 10 to
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Pittsfield Cable Committee Plans Outreach, Next ActionsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:01AM / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Cable Advisory Committee has mapped out a timeline for community outreach before negotiations on the Charter Spectrum contract begin.
The panel plans to meet with Spectrum and Mayor Peter Marchetti at the end of February and hold hearings in early March before reconvening at the end of March. The goal is to have a solid document by April, as the city's 10-year contract ends in September.
"This is kind of our game plan up through the beginning of April, tentatively April 1," Chair Sara Hathaway said. "But if we need a little an extra week to pull together the documents will give ourselves an artificial deadline of April
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Central Berkshire School Committee Appoints Dalton Representative By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:45AM / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Central Berkshire Regional School Committee appointed its newest member, Sara Tucker, during its meeting last week. Tucker will be serving as the committee's Dalton representative taking the place of the town's former representative Nicole Tucker. Although Sara and Nicole share a last name they have no relation. Nicole Tucker decided to leave her seat early, which caused a vacancy on the committee that needed to be filled. The district put a call out for applications and received three but two dropped out. The seat will be included in the elections in November so the community can vote who they want to have as the 0 Comments
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Berkshire NAACP Holds In-Person Freedom Fund AwardsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:03PM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
Members of Berkshire Pride receive the Jahairo DeAlto Award, named for the late transgender activist and Pittsfield resident. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds gathered at the Proprietor's Lodge last weekend for the Berkshire NAACP's Freedom Fund Awards. The sold-out event that had been virtual the last three years returned with a bang.
The night included dinner, dancing, and awards given to people whose advocacy has made positive strides in the community. The event raises money for college scholarships to support students of color, awarding more than $75,000 to nearly 90 students.
"We have deep and hard work ahead of us, in our community, in our nation,
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Licensing Board: Thistle & Mirth Rebrand Proper Response to StabbingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:03PM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board is satisfied with Thistle and Mirth's rebranding after a violent incident on Thanksgiving Eve. The matter was filed on Monday during a show cause hearing for a stabbing on Nov. 22 after the panel determined that the owners have taken full responsibility and are moving the establishment in a positive direction.
"For me, I see that you took full responsibility and want to do business differently and you are," board member Kathy Amuso said.
Co-owner Austin Oliver agreed, "We don't want to invite those types of behaviors and things into Pittsfield. That doesn't do any good for us or downtown Pittsfield for the
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PCTV Adds Spanish Language Translations to Programming | 10:39AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television has received funding from Berkshire United Way to add closed captions in Spanish to many local programs broadcast on PCTV's channels. The service will allow Spanish speakers to follow along with government meetings as words will be translated into Spanish, allowing Pittsfield government another level of transparency. "Our community is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to participate in civic life and to understand what is happening and how the decisions that affect people's lives are made. That's why Berkshire United Way is so pleased to sponsor Spanish Closed Captioning on PCTV," 0 Comments
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BCC Prepares Students for New FAFSA Form | 08:00AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Student Financial Services Office at Berkshire Community College (BCC), in recognition of changes in the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, encourages current and prospective students and their families to attend a workshop or drop in the office any time for help navigating the application process. The office is in the One Stop Enrollment Center on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, and is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm. Free FAFSA completion workshops will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, January 30, 9-11 am Thursday, February 0 Comments
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