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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Opioid Summit Highlights Collaboration, Stigma BreakingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:33PM / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Combating the opioid crisis depends on collaboration and smashing the stigma around substance use disorder, local agencies say. The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office held a summit at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Monday titled "Breaking Barriers to Support Recovery, Re-Entry and Reduce Recidivism."
Law enforcement, health care, and community service agency professionals attended the summit to connect and discuss paths forward.
"I think for Berkshire Harm Reduction, our biggest thing really is keeping people alive and keeping people safe," Director Sarah DeJesus said during a panel discussion.
"And keeping Narcan in
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Longtime Pittsfield Police Officer Passes SuddenlyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:41PM / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is mourning the sudden loss of a longtime officer.
Chief Thomas Dawley announced the unexpected death of Officer Michael Silver "with great sadness" on Monday. Silver worked for the department for more than 15 years and is remembered as a highly respected member of the force.
The Dawley's post on Facebook stated the department would not release more information and requested privacy for Silver's family.
"Rest in peace Ofc. Michael Silver Call Sign #403, your brothers and sisters in blue will take it from here," he wrote in a Facebook post.
Silver began his career with PPD in 2008 after graduating
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Pittsfield ConCom OKs Bel Air Dam RemovalBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:52AM / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Local approval for the $20 million removal of the Bel Air Dam has been secured.
On Thursday, the Conservation Commission issued an order of conditions for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's Office of Dam Safety to demolish the nearly 200-year-old structure and restore the natural stream channel.
"Get that dam down," Commissioner Thomas Sakshaug said.
Last year, $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars was allocated to remove the deteriorating, potentially deadly dam on Wahconah Street. It has been an area of concern for more than a decade, with the city and DCR conducting inspections, maintenance, and repairs. In 2020, it
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Dalton Seeks Clarity from DOR on EV Charger TaxationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:51AM / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The two electric vehicle charging stations at the Community Recreation Association have been delayed in energizing to clarify whether the town needs to tax consumers. As a municipality, the town does not pay taxes on its services. However, some states require charging a tax on electricity usage, Green Committee member Antonio Pagliarulo said during last week's committee meeting. The town is waiting to hear back from the state Department of Revenue on this matter. Once they know if charging a tax is required, the billing and payment system for the EV chargers can be adjusted to add that cost. In addition, two weeks ago, 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Housing Trust Awards $860K in APRA FundsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:29PM / Monday, October 21, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Affordable Housing Trust awarded more than $860,000 in ARPA monies to three projects it felt pushed the needle on the city's affordability and availability crisis.
With an end-of-year deadline, the trust recommended three projects for funding, and extra American Rescue Plan Act monies were allocated to fill the gaps. The panel was originally awarded $500,000 to disperse.
Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported on Wednesday that the city ARPA team adopted the trust's funding decisions made last month.
Berkshire Habitat for Humanity received its full request of $240,000 for six new housing units, Hearthway received about
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Pittsfield Assessors Office Will Be Closed on Oct. 23| 03:33PM / Monday, October 21, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Assessor's office will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 23 as staff will be attending a conference. If there are any time sensitive matters that arise on Oct. 23, staff will be monitoring emails and voicemail. The city asks that any constituent who may need assistance reach out to the office prior to the closure or after the office opens, on Oct. 24. The Assessors Office can be reached at (413) 395-0102. 0 Comments
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection Planned for Pittsfield| 08:12AM / Monday, October 21, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A household hazardous waste collection, organized by the City of Pittsfield will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those interested must pre-register to drop off designated household hazardous waste items. No walk-ins will be allowed. The collection will be held at the city’s Highway Facility, 81 Hawthorne Avenue. Participants are asked to utilize the rear entrance on Hawthorne Avenue not the entrance from West Housatonic Street. Online pre-registration is required by midnight on October 25 and can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/PittsfieldHHW. Please review the complete list of accepted and 0 Comments
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Dalton Board of Health Condemns 27 Mountain View TerraceBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:49AM / Monday, October 21, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Health voted to condemn 27 Mountain View Terrace on Wednesday after not much progress had been made to resolve the home's condition. Although the board condemned the house, it also gave the owner an additional 60 days to allow the completion of necessary repairs and cleanup, but only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. When a home is condemned, occupants must vacate and secure the property and a timeline is established for demolition or repair. In Dalton, there's typically a one-year period from the date of condemnation during which the house must be demolished if not repaired, Health Agent Agnes Witkowski said during a 0 Comments
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With Autumn in the Air, State Fire Marshal Offers Home Heating Reminder| 04:37PM / Sunday, October 20, 2024 | |
STOW, Mass. — With crisp autumn temperatures settling in across Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents that home heating equipment is the leading source of carbon monoxide and the second-leading cause of residential fires. "Having your heating system serviced each year will help reduce the risk of a fire or carbon monoxide incident that puts you and your loved ones in danger," State Fire Marshal Davine said. "It will also save you money by helping you heat your home more efficiently." Massachusetts fire departments reported nearly 6,000 fires related to home heating equipment in the past five years. These fires claimed eight lives,
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Outdoor Ice Skating Will Return to PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:01AM / Sunday, October 20, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Nostalgic days of public, outdoor ice skating are set to return.
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath revealed on Tuesday that the city plans to buy a 50-foot by 100-foot mobile ice skating rink for its parks. It aims to provide a free outdoor winter recreation activity for people of all ages.
"We've been pursuing a small project to cite an ice rink. This would be a refrigerated ice rink somewhere here in the city," he told the Parks Commission.
Public ice skating is a well-remembered part of the city's past, but global warming has stymied the ability to make ice or even enjoy it on the lakes, McGrath explained.
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Market 32 Fundraising Campaign for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals| 08:11AM / Saturday, October 19, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Price Chopper/Market 32 is raising funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. During the month of October, customers can round up their change at the checkout, 100 percent of which will go directly to local Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Price Chopper will match all donations, up to $10,000. Children's Miracle Network Hospitals helps fund life-saving treatments, innovative research, vital medical equipment, and comforting child life services at 170 children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. The following hospitals, local to Price Chopper and Market 32 customers, are part of the network: Bernard & Millie 0 Comments
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Berkshires, Pittsfield Highlighted in U.S. Senate DebateBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
07:34AM / Saturday, October 19, 2024 | |
John Deaton, an attorney, has positioned himself as a moderate Republican and easily won the three-way primary in September. SPRINGFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire County was mentioned several times during Thursday's Senate debate, hosted by New England Public Media News and GBH News Massachusetts. It was the second of two debates this week between Democrat Elizabeth Warren, the incumbent, and challenger John Deaton, a Republican. The debate was broadcast and livestreamed and can be watched here. "Massachusetts, especially at the Berkshires, is truly magical," said Warren said when speaking about noteworthy fall treescapes.
Warren and Deaton debated
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