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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire County in Mild Drought | 10:45AM / Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Following nearly six months of below-normal precipitation, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared that the Connecticut River Valley and Western regions still have their previous statuses: Level 2 – Significant and Level – 1 Mild Drought. The Central and Northeast regions have been raised to a Level – 3 Critical Drought. The Southeast, Cape and Islands regions have been elevated to a Level – 2 Significant Drought. As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, a Level 3 – Critical Drought, Level – 2 Significant Drought, and a Level – 1 Mild Drought 0 Comments
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Winter Snowshoe Hike at Arrowhead| 08:06AM / Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass—Join the Berkshire County Historical Society and Berkshire Natural Resources Council for a guided snowshoe hike at Herman Melville's historic Arrowhead on Feb. 15 from 10-11 AM. This free event offers participants a chance to explore the grounds while learning about Melville's history, including his sleigh rides, and to view Mt. Greylock's winter scenery. Snowshoes will be available for lending, and participants are encouraged to bring their own if possible. Pre-registration is required at this link. 0 Comments
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Dalton Day In Need of SponsorshipsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:18PM / Monday, February 10, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Day event needs sponsorships to compensate for no longer having American Rescue Plan Act funds. The town partially subsidized the event, allocating $4,500 to the fiscal year 2025's budget. The remaining cost came from $3,249.50 of ARPA funds and $1,750 from sponsorships. This year, the town will not receive ARPA funds because it was a response to aid towns during the pandemic. There is a lot of pressure to get sponsorships for the event, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said during a recent Finance Committee meeting. How to budget for the event is still being worked out because of the lack of ARPA funds. 0 Comments
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Friday's Drug Raids Seized $200K Worth of Drugs; Arrest NineBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:21PM / Monday, February 10, 2025 | |
DA Timothy Shugrue says the complex months-long investigation is a warning to anyone seeking to sell drugs in the Berkshires. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A combined task force says it took down a major drug pipeline on Friday that extended out to Lowell. The raids carried out that day seized more than $200,000 worth of drugs and numerous weapons, and resulted in the arrests of nine people so far. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, surrounded by local and state law enforcement officers, said it was a warning to drug dealers looking to set up in the Berkshires. "We will find you, we locate you and we will arrest you," he said at 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Basement Fire Displaces Residents, Claims Pet Birds| 10:28AM / Monday, February 10, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A basement fire on South Onota Street displaced two residents and caused extensive damage to their home Saturday night. While the residents and their dog escaped safely, several pet birds perished in the fire. The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to 70 South Onota Street around 9:30 p.m. after receiving a report of an active basement fire. Firefighters arrived to find thick smoke pouring from the front door and flames visible through a first-floor window. Crews quickly entered the basement through a rear entrance and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes, preventing further spread. The basement sustained significant fire and water damage, while 0 Comments
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Pittsfield's 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival Returns with Music, Art, and Outdoor Activities| 07:51AM / Monday, February 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 14th annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival, presented by the City of Pittsfield and Barrington Stage Company in partnership with Mill Town Foundation, will take place February 13-23, 2025. The festival features a range of events including theater, music, visual arts, dance, outdoor activities, and fireworks. Highlights include the 10x10 New Play Festival at Barrington Stage Company, A Taste of Downtown coordinated by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., and beer releases at Hot Plate Brewing Company. The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will showcase OFF the STREETS, a group exhibition of local mural artists, from February 5-28, with an opening reception on February
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Pittsfield Charter Panel Defers Pay for Elected OfficialsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Monday, February 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — While recognizing it is a noble suggestion, the Charter Review Commission feels pay raises for elected officials are an ordinance or budgetary discussion.
The commission last week motioned to thank city councilors for bringing pay raises to their attention but communicate it is better suited for the city code and ordinary course — not the city charter.
Section 2.4 of the charter states that city councilors receive compensation set by an ordinance and an ordinance increasing to reducing pay is not effective unless adopted by a two-thirds vote.
"I really want to keep the charter pristine. And believe me, I have no opinion about the level of
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Governor Launches Increased Annuity for Veterans and Families through HERO Act| 04:13PM / Sunday, February 09, 2025 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration is announcing that Massachusetts veterans and their families will begin receiving increased benefits in February 2025 as part of the historic HERO Act that Governor Healey signed into law last year. This is the first increase in 17 years to the annual annuity for 100 percent disabled veterans, Gold Star parents and Gold Star spouses. This increase raises the annuity from $2,000 to $2,500 annually, providing much-needed financial support to veterans and their loved ones. The increase will be phased in to ensure a smooth transition. In February 2025, recipients will receive an initial payment of $1,250. Beginning in
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Big Y Donates 1 Million Meals to Regional Food Banks| 12:18PM / Sunday, February 09, 2025 | |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Big Y's annual Sack Hunger campaign has provided funding for four regional food banks, resulting in the donation of 1 million meals to those in need. The campaign supports local soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, and other organizations that assist communities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. During the past holiday season, Big Y customers and employees contributed to the campaign through $5 donations, with each donation supplying 10 meals. Additional contributions came from proceeds in the Produce, Floral, and Meat departments, as well as sales from Big Y's private label brands. Since its inception in 2010, the Sack Hunger 0 Comments
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State Reviewing Dalton's Proposed Second Historical DistrictBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:12PM / Sunday, February 09, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The State Historical Commission has received the preliminary documentation required in the process of establishing the town's second historical district. The proposed district starts at Park Avenue, where Main Street Cemetery is, and goes down to Depot Street. It then goes up High and North Streets. Based on photos and by following the district subdivision plans or other development patterns, the state will determine whether there is enough historical significance to be considered a district. If they deem there is, the State Historical Commission will request an area form that they will use to evaluate the area for National Register 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Health Initiative Vaccinates Underrepresented PopulationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:18AM / Sunday, February 09, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Health Department worked to vaccinate Hispanic community members after noticing they were underrepresented.
At Wednesday's Board of Health meeting, public health nurse Patricia Tremblay and community health worker Gabrielle DiMassimo presented the results of the targeted initiative to address vaccination hesitancy in this population.
Through messaging and clinics, the department administered more than five times more vaccines to Hispanic community members this season than the previous — jumping from 14 doses last season to 74 doses in the 2024-2025 season.
The public health workers recognized that this isn't a large number but said
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Accessory Dwelling Units Officially Allowed Statewide| 04:12PM / Saturday, February 08, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are now permitted by-right statewide in Massachusetts thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Affordable Homes Act, signed into law by Governor Maura Healey in August 2024. Sometimes called tiny homes or in-law suites, ADUs are small, independent living spaces located on the same lot as a principal dwelling in a residential zoning district. Garages, attics, and basements can be converted into ADUs. Or an ADU can be a newly constructed detached cottage or addition onto the primary home with a separate entrance. "We said from the beginning that we were going to make housing more affordable by creating 0 Comments
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