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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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BRPC Outlines Busy Year Addressing Region's NeedsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:40AM / Saturday, September 28, 2024 | |
Executive Director Thomas Matuszko highlights the work the commission as done this past year at BRPC's annual meeting. RICHMOND, Mass.— Berkshire Regional Planning Commission had a busy year addressing the region's needs through a dozen cross-cutting programs.
"We really are out of the COVID era and have gotten into a real routine working with our communities and other organizations," Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said.
Community members filled the barn at Balderdash Winery on Wednesday for BRPC's annual meeting. The regional planning agency closed fiscal year 2024 with a revenue increase of nearly $858,000 over the previous year, and a total
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The Retired Investor: My Economic Outlook into 2025By Bill Schmick,
02:29PM / Friday, September 27, 2024 | |
On the back of last week's half-point cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve Bank, equities and many commodities rallied anticipating continued growth in the U.S. economy. Why, therefore, did bond prices plunge? Normally, after the Federal Reserve Bank begins an interest rate-cutting cycle, bond prices rally, and yields fall. But not this time. Economists were scratching their heads all week looking for answers. The explanation is straightforward. For weeks before the meeting, many traders were betting that the Fed would be too slow to cut interest rates. And when and if they did it would be a small cut. That delay increased the probability that the economy would dip 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Police Arrest Maine Murder SuspectBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:09PM / Friday, September 27, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police arrested a man on a warrant for murder in Maine after a pursuit Friday that prompted Pittsfield schools to enact a brief lockdown. Keith Thorpe, 42, of Bangor is wanted in the homicide of 39-year-old Virginia Cookson, who was found dead in her home Wednesday. Police posted on social media that officers were actively tracking a stolen vehicle from in a neighboring state earlier in the morning. Thorpe was caught near Euclid Avenue after making contact with a cruiser. Thorpe is also being charged with numerous motor vehicle offenses and is expected to be arraigned at Pittsfield District Court and to extradited to Maine. "As a precaution during the 0 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Country Fairs, Pumpkin Fests, Latino CelebrationsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:01PM / Friday, September 27, 2024 | |
 There are a variety of events this weekend, including a country fair, live music, and more. See a list of Farmer's Markets here. Editor's Pick Country Fair Hancock Shaker Village Sept. 28 and 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The village is hosting its annual county fair, which will feature live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, workshops, demonstrations, an antique quilt show, a farmer's market, an antique car show, a timber framing workshop, face painting, and craft vendors. There will also be freshly made cider donuts and other treats from Great Cape Bakery, grilled food from Woodlife Kitchen, and craft beer, bourbon, and 0 Comments
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DPW Leadership Position Supported by Pittsfield SubcommitteeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:45AM / Friday, September 27, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— City councilors support giving the Department of Public Works and Utilities lead a hand.
On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules subcommittee unanimously OKed Mayor Peter Marchetti's request to add a deputy commissioner to the department to assist with Commissioner Ricardo Morales' workload.
"I am not one for fattening management roles, I'm really not, and I definitely don't want to go back to two commissioners, I think that was overkill," Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre said.
"And I really like that this solution is more elegant, less burden to the taxpayers."
The position, with a salary between $89,47 and $116,021, would aim to
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Housing Secretary Applauds County's Collaborative Housing EffortsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:08PM / Thursday, September 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.—State leadership recognized the collaborative spirit that drives Berkshire County to address hard-hitting issues with a multi-faceted approach. On Thursday, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus visited Pittsfield Housing Authority (PHA) and Berkshire Community Action Council's central office. His overarching observation? The collaborative spirit that surrounds nonprofit providers, state, federal, and local government. "It's not about turf, it's not about fiefdom, it's about who you're trying to serve and the difference you're trying to make with your targeted population," he said, 0 Comments
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Berkshire Athenaeum Teen Electronic Music Workshop Series| 03:43PM / Thursday, September 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Teens 12 to 18 years old can learn about electronic music, beat making, and music production at the library for free. The Berkshire Athenaeum are partnering with Geoffrey Carter of BeatNest who will guide youth in creating original music while growing their skills as creative individuals. The workshop series will occur for four Wednesdays, October 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2024 from 3 – 4:30 pm. Registration is required and we request that participants be able to make all four sessions as the knowledge learned will build upon each meeting. According to Geoffrey Carter: "BeatNest classes offer a way to learn music in a unique way. 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Halloween Parade Returns with Hollywood ThemeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:12PM / Thursday, September 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city's historic Halloween parade rises from the dead this year with a Hollywood theme.
On Monday, the Department of Community Development Recreation Program announced that the "Spooky Hollywood" parade will be held on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. on Tyler Street.
Aside from the usual ghouls, goblins, and superheroes, there will be an abundance of spooky pop culture icons. Think the Sanderson Sisters from "Hocus Pocus," Michael Myers from the "Halloween" franchise, or even Casper the Friendly Ghost.
"Participants are encouraged to base their float designs, decorations, and/or costumes around their favorite Halloween
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Berkshire Community Land Trust Awarded Grant | 11:00AM / Thursday, September 26, 2024 | |
BOSTON — The state awarded Berkshire Community Land Trust a $172,500 grant to acquire a 66.75-acre CR at River Run Farm. The remaining 12.25 acres is designated as a farmstead area and includes a farmhouse and large barn. The full 79 acres will be leased through a 98-year ground lease to Off-the-Shelf Farm to pasture their mobile, pasture-grazed chicken and egg operation. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced over $27.8 million in grant funding for park improvements and open space acquisitions across Massachusetts that will conserve 2,375 acres. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded Parkland Acquisitions and 0 Comments
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Child-care Agency Plans Wahconah Street FacilityBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:53AM / Thursday, September 26, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire County Head Start plans to demolish a Wahconah Street building and construct an early child-care facility near the people it serves.
Last week the Historical Commission OK'd the demolition of 224 Wahconah St. The approval is contingent upon a letter of support from the owner, as the child-care agency is under contract and has not closed on the property yet.
Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Hunter McCormick explained that this is in the beginning stages of a lengthy process because federal dollars will fund the project.
"In addition to all of the proper procedures to meet all the city of Pittsfield requirements with the various
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Pittsfield Gets 100K For Digital EquityBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:39PM / Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city has received $100,000 toward developing digital equity.
On Tuesday, the City Council accepted a $99,972 Digital Equity Implementation Grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. It will expand public Wi-Fi to Durant Park, bring wayfinding for Wi-Fi to the downtown area, and fund a digital equity ambassador to get the word out to the community.
Pittsfield is the first of 14 local communities to participate in the digital equity planning project through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. It was selected last year.
The focus is on digital equity, inclusion, and literacy with the
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BCC to Hold Community Tag Sale | 08:05AM / Wednesday, September 25, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold a community tag sale of surplus inventory on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 11 am to 3 pm. The sale will take place in the North parking lot on the main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. In accordance with policies set forth by the Commonwealth, property considered no longer relevant or needed by the College may be declared surplus by the State Surplus Property Office (SSPO). Surplus property typically includes used equipment and furniture, such as desks, chairs and file cabinets. Only cash will be accepted. All items must be picked up by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the tag 0 Comments
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