| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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PHS Principal Stepping Down at School Year's EndBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School Principal Maggie Harrington-Esko will step down at the end of the year after nearly 20 years in the building.
"I feel that it is important to let you know that this is a decision that I have come to on my own," she wrote to the school community on Monday evening.
Harrington-Esko is the second administrator to resign after the school became embroiled in a staffing scandal in December. Earlier this year, Superintendent Joseph Curtis announced that he would step down from his position effective June 30.
"This is not an easy decision because PHS is a place I love deeply," she wrote.
"For the past 18 years, this
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Community Invited to Participate in Burbank Park Clean-Up| 10:21AM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and the City of Pittsfield are organizing a community clean-up event at Burbank Park on Saturday, April 19, from 9:30 AM to noon. The event is in recognition of Earth Day. A complimentary lunch will be provided to participants after the clean-up. Burbank Park, situated along the shore of Onota Lake, has experienced issues with illegal dumping and litter. The purpose of the clean-up is to remove trash from designated areas within the park to restore its condition and protect local wildlife. Volunteers should meet at the Onota Lake Boat Launch, located at 309 Lakeway Drive, at 9:30 AM. Participants 0 Comments
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Berkshire Fire Departments Awarded Funding for Equipment, Education| 08:00AM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several fire departments across Berkshire County have been awarded state grants totaling over $70,000 as part of a $3.2 million statewide fire safety initiative announced by the Healey-Driscoll Administration. The funding aims to enhance firefighter safety through equipment upgrades and bolster fire safety education programs for children and seniors. The grants stem from three programs managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS): the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) Grant Program, and the Senior SAFE Grant Program. "Massachusetts firefighters do much more than fight fires –
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State Launches Workforce Innovation Tour at InterprintBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:38AM / Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | |
Secretary of Labor Lauren Jones starts her statewide jobs tour at Interprint in Pittsfield on Monday. The colors in the signage were inspired by the Eras Tour. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development kicked off its "revolutionary" workforce tour at Interprint and learned some about decor printing.
On Monday, the Healey-Driscoll administration launched the "MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour" to celebrate local and regional workforce innovations across the state. From now until July, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones will visit each of the state's 16 MassHire regional workforce boards to
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Dalton Health Board Orders Dust-Abatement Plan for Concrete SiteBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36PM / Monday, April 14, 2025 | |
Residents protest on Wednesday ahead of a Board of Health meeting. DALTON, Mass. — Residents urged for quicker action to address the dust and particulates affecting their neighborhood allegedly from Berkshire Concrete's dig site. During Wednesday's meeting, the Board of Health voted to send a letter to the company requiring a comprehensive plan by April 25. This letter establishes a formal deadline for submitting a detailed plan to address the dust nuisance and notes that failure to comply with this requirement could lead to financial penalties and potential legal action. The board also recommended to request that a third-party 0 Comments
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Shoes at Pittsfield City Hall Signify Monthly Child Abuse CasesBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:51PM / Monday, April 14, 2025 | |
Mayor Peter Marchetti speaks at the event hosted by Child Care of the Berkshires and the Children's Trust. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifty-six pairs of sneakers placed on the steps of City Hall signified the number of child abuse cases Berkshire County sees in one month.
Child Care of the Berkshires and the Children's Trust stressed the importance of prevention programs with this visual on Friday. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"That's representing the number of reports that the Department of Children and Families, has said there is reason enough here for us to believe that child abuse or neglect has occurred for this child, 56 is too many," said
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Pittsfield Announces 79th Annual Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt| 07:58AM / Monday, April 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development Recreation Program announces the 79th Annual Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at The Common. The event starts at 10 a.m. and will feature balloon twisting with Bowie the Clown, face painting from Magic Brushes of BTC Family Entertainment, as well as a special appearance by Mr. Bunny. The egg hunt kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and will be divided into five age groups: • 10:30 a.m. for 9, 10 & 11 year olds • 10:40 a.m. for 7 & 8 year olds • 10:55 a.m. for 5 & 6 year olds • 11:10 a.m. for 4 year olds • 11:25 a.m. for 2 & 3 year 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Committee Mulls Lukewarm FY26 BudgetBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:41AM / Monday, April 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There isn't much to be said about the district's "as good as it gets" budget for fiscal year 2026.
Officials are just glad that people won't lose their jobs.
"I'm going to say something that I know is going to get me in trouble later, but I think this is as good as it gets," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.
On Wednesday, School Committee members aired their suggestions for the $87 million budget proposal with $1,238,000 in payroll reductions expected to be made through job movement, attrition, retirements, etc.
A $3,765,084 increase from FY25, it includes an $18 million city contribution and more than $68 million of
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Questions Needed for Dalton Select Board Forum By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:27PM / Sunday, April 13, 2025 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Attention Dalton voters: iBerkshires is asking the public to submit questions for the upcoming Select Board Candidate Forum at the Senior Center on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. During the event, Pittsfield Bureau Chief Brittany Polito will ask Select Board candidates questions curated from voter submissions. Submit a question by emailing our Dalton reporter, Sabrina Damms, at sdamms@iberkshires.com All questions must be submitted by April 22. Please limit questions not highlighted in the candidates' background section of this article. The number of questions will be determined by the 90-minute time limit. In 0 Comments
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MassWildlife: Turkey Troubles| 11:52AM / Sunday, April 13, 2025 | |
March through May is breeding season for wild turkeys and, as a result, there is an increase in turkey activity across the Commonwealth. Some turkeys may act aggressively by pecking, following, or exhibiting other intimidating behavior towards people. Males puff out their feathers, fan their tails, and strut while gobbling and making other vocalizations. This behavior is common during the breeding season and other times of year when turkeys are establishing social dominance or status within the flock. Wild turkeys live in flocks organized by pecking order. Each bird is dominant over or "pecks on" birds of lesser social status. Turkeys may attempt to dominate or attack people that
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Governor Appoints Commissions to Address Veterans' Health and Quality of Life| 12:07PM / Saturday, April 12, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced the appointment of members to two new commissions established under the HERO Act: the Veterans Alternative Therapy Working Group (VAT) and the Veterans Quality of Life Commission (VQL). These commissions will explore treatments and develop solutions aimed at improving the well-being of veterans in Massachusetts. The HERO Act, signed into law in August 2024, includes provisions for the creation of these commissions to examine innovative therapies and enhance veterans' quality of life. The Veterans Alternative Therapy Working Group will evaluate the potential of psychedelic therapies, including psilocybin, ketamine, and
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Market 32 Holds Annual Pet Food and Supply Drive| 07:57AM / Saturday, April 12, 2025 | |
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Market 32 and Price Chopper supermarkets are conducting their annual pet food and supply drive from April 1 to April 30 to benefit local animal welfare organizations. Customers are invited to purchase and donate items by placing them in specially marked shopping carts located at the front of each store. According to Pam Cerrone, director of community relations at Market 32 and Price Chopper, animal shelters offer essential services such as food, medical care, and shelter for animals awaiting adoption. The collection aims to provide these organizations with necessary supplies. Cerrone stated that all donations will remain within the local areas 0 Comments
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