| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Lenox Celebrates Amy Lafave's 30 Years at the LibraryBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:07AM / Sunday, April 06, 2025 | |
Library Director Katherin O'Neil poses with Amy Lafave and her cake. LENOX, Mass. — Dozens gathered at the Lenox Library on Friday to celebrate Amy Lafave, the "archetype of a public servant." Lafave, a lifelong town resident, has been with the library for 30 years and shares her expertise and passion for local history with the community. She has worked as the music librarian, library director, and most recently as the historical librarian, a position that seemed fated. "Amy is the archetype of a public servant and by that I mean she is, to me, an aspirational model embodying wisdom, guidance, humor, and respect for events and persons that 0 Comments
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Berkshires Turns Out in Protest Against Trump AdministrationBy Tammy Daniels , iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
Hundreds of people were at Park Square on Saturday afternoon to protest actions by the Trump administration and expressed fears about the potential loss of civil rights and Social Security. ADAMS, Mass. — A cold and rainy Saturday didn't stop hundreds of Berkshire residents from making known their feelings about recent actions by the Trump administration. At least 150 people assembled in Adams around the Town Common, with the statue of voting rights icon Susan B. Anthony in the background, and at the Adams Free Library where Civil War veterans once gathered. "Last time I was in one of these marches was in 1969 against the Vietnam War down in 0 Comments
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Dalton Police Department Budget Fails at Finance By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:50PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee last week voted against the Police Department budget, citing concerns with anticipated financial constraints. The department proposed a budget of $1,679,488, a $144,232 or 9.39 percent, increase mainly caused by salary increases. When a motion on a budget fails, it goes back to the department, town manager, and the Select Board to see what can be done to rectify the reason for the failure, Finance Committee Chair William Drosehn said. The salary budget has an increase of $139,002, or 10.30 percent. "This is year one of a contractual year, and that's why there's a substantial jump, and 0 Comments
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Berkshire Running Foundation Announces 2025 Race Calendar| 12:53PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Running Foundation looks forward to another year of races and community engagement. Berkshire Running Foundation announced the running race calendar for the year 2025. This year's events that cater to runners of all skill levels. All registration information is available on the Race Calendar page of the Berkshire Running Center website Race Calendar. April MCLA Sam Gomez 5K – April 6, 2025 Puddle Jumper 5K for Lenox Memorial Middle and High School – April 12, 2025 May May Day Races for the CRA – May 4, 2025 Mother's Day Race – May 11, 2025 MountainOne Steel Rail Race Weekend – May 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Fire Investigating Cause of Dalton Avenue Blaze| 08:53AM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton Avenue home was heavily damaged by fire on Friday night. Multiple people driving by the structure at 206 Dalton called 911 report heavy flames coming from the front of the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Neil Myers. Firefighters responded at about 10:39 p.m. with four engine companies and a ladder company. Engine 2 found the front of the two-story residence fully involved with flame and spreading into the front yard. Shortly thereafter E-2 reported the lone occupant of the home had safely evacuated uninjured. E-2 quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire that was quickly spreading inside the front 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Homeless Count Increases Over 2024By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Friday, April 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There were 187 people experiencing homelessness in Pittsfield on the day of this year's Point In Time count, an increase of more than 50 from 2024.
On Wednesday, the Three County Continuum of Care presented the "sobering" 2025 PIT numbers to the Homelessness Advisory Committee.
"This is, to me, one of the very important presentations that we have each year," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds said.
On Jan. 29, 187 people reported experiencing homelessness: 99 people in families with at least one child and 88 adult-only households and individuals. Sixteen of the people were completely without shelter.
Data came from four
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@theMarket: 'Demolition Day' in global marketsBy Bill Schmick,
02:21PM / Friday, April 04, 2025 | |
Stocks fell to kick off the second quarter following the worst quarterly performance for equities in the past three years. The culprit was Wednesday evening's "Liberation Day" announcement of tariffs far worse than the markets expected. By now, most readers know that the president not only levied a 10 percent tariff on all nations across the board, but he also added reciprocal tariffs to that total on individual nations. China was signaled out for the harshest treatment with a combined 54 percent total round of tariffs. In response, China announced 34 percent tariffs on U.S. goods. As I warned readers last week, these tariffs would be "extensive, explicit 0 Comments
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St. George Greek Orthodox Church to Host In-Person Greek Pastry Sale| 01:40PM / Friday, April 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsfield will hold an in-person Greek pastry sale on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The event will take place at the church, located at 73 Bradford St, Pittsfield across from the Dery Funeral Home. The sale was announced as being "back to an in person sale" and will be held one week earlier than in previous years. For more information, contact the organizers via email at glps1932@verizon.net or by telephone at 413-442-8113. 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Announces North Street Re-design Open House| 07:57AM / Friday, April 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield invites residents, business owners, and community members to attend the North Street re-design open house on Wednesday, April 9, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Onota Building located at 74 North Street (first floor). This initiative aims to transform North Street into a street that ensures safe, comfortable access for all modes of travel and creates space for community interaction, culture, and commerce. This open house will be an opportunity for community members to help shape the future of the downtown. At the Open House, attendees will: Learn about the vision, goals, and planning timeline for the project Review previous 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council to See 10-Year Charter Review ReportBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:59AM / Friday, April 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following almost two years of work, the Charter Review Committee has made its recommendations to the City Council.
Tuesday's council agenda includes the committee's report dealing with governance items such as the charter objection, term limits, and financial procedures. Every 10 years, a panel reviews the City Charter, which defines the city's structure of government.
"The Charter Review Committee was established by city ordinance in May 2023. Its first meeting took place on August 7, 2023, under the direction of City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta," Chair Michael McCarthy's executive summary reads.
"Solicitor Pagnotta informed the
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The Retired Investor: Trump's Plan to Boost the EconomyBy Bill Schmick,
03:48PM / Thursday, April 03, 2025 | |
Transforming a government-heavy economy into one where the private sector leads not only takes time but also requires a period of detoxification, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The idea that pain may need to come before any gains has caught the nation and the stock market by surprise. Last week, I explained that "the administration's first objective, is to slow demand in the real economy. Keynesian demand-side economics says the best way to do that is to reduce spending. Doing so, they believe, will also slow inflation. How do they do that? By distributing less money to the greatest number of people possible. That means slowing wage growth and 0 Comments
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North Adams Regional Hospital Receives MassEcon Impact Award| 03:17PM / Thursday, April 03, 2025 | |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass — MassEcon, the state's private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, has honored North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) in the 21st Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards, with a Gold recognition. NARH was among three organizations honored in Western Massachusetts, achieving Gold, while a Silver honor went to Electro Magnetic Applications and Bronze to the Berkshire Innovation Center, both in Pittsfield. "Berkshire Health Systems, and the entire staff of North Adams Regional Hospital, are honored to be recognized for this achievement," said Laurie Lamarre, BHS Vice President and NARH Chief Operating 0 Comments
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