| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
PCTV Adds Spanish Language Translations to Programming | 10:39AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television has received funding from Berkshire United Way to add closed captions in Spanish to many local programs broadcast on PCTV's channels. The service will allow Spanish speakers to follow along with government meetings as words will be translated into Spanish, allowing Pittsfield government another level of transparency. "Our community is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to participate in civic life and to understand what is happening and how the decisions that affect people's lives are made. That's why Berkshire United Way is so pleased to sponsor Spanish Closed Captioning on PCTV," 0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Prepares Students for New FAFSA Form | 08:00AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Student Financial Services Office at Berkshire Community College (BCC), in recognition of changes in the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, encourages current and prospective students and their families to attend a workshop or drop in the office any time for help navigating the application process. The office is in the One Stop Enrollment Center on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, and is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm. Free FAFSA completion workshops will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, January 30, 9-11 am Thursday, February 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Swears in New Fire ChiefBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
Fire Chief Christian Tobin is sworn in by Melanie Roucoulet, the Fire District's clerk and treasurer. See more photos here. DALTON, Mass. — The town's new Fire Chief Christian Tobin was welcomed to the department during a swearing-in ceremony at the Stationery Factory on Monday evening. The ceremony that drew in nearly 100 community members was full of laughter and, at times, tears. It also marked an end to a turbulent year that saw multiple changes in leadership and allegations of misconduct within the Fire Department. Tobin has nearly 25 years experience in the field and just recently retired as a deputy chief of operations for the Greater 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Dalton Board OKs Technical Assistance ApplicationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
02:47PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board last week approved an amended application for Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's District Local Technical Assistance Program (DLTA). If accepted, the DLTA grant would provide the town technical assistance in planning for housing and growth in an effort to address housing needs within the community. BRPC would provide the assistance at no cost to the community. The commission gets money from the state for the DLTA program. The annual programs can have various kinds of focuses and this year is focusing on housing, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. "The desired results, as we say, is first having the town 0 Comments
Read More >> |
County Residents Earn Bay State Games Skating Medals| 02:12PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Dozens of local figure skaters competed in Bay State Games USFS Figure Skating Competitions over the weekend at Williams College's Lansing Chapman Rink. Nine athletes took home gold medals in their groups at the competition. Among the local residents competing in the event were: Basic 2 Girls Group A Samantha Anderson, Lanesborough, Christmas Brook, bronze Aspire 3 Girls Free Skate Group C Amelia Art, Williamstown, Christmas Brook, bronze Basic 3 Boys Lukas Benson, Adams, Christmas Brook, gold Excel Preliminary Girls Free Skate Group D Madlyn Benson, Adams, Christmas Brook, gold Basic 4 Girls Group B Ava 0 Comments
Read More >> |
State Historical Commission Favors Wahconah Park PreservationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:35PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Historical Commission wants to see the Wahconah Park grandstand preserved. This was announced to the historic park's restoration committee on Thursday, months after it supported a razed and elevated design. Planners had been trying to get in touch with the state commission for some time and received a formal response after filing a project notification form.
The commission said it "encourages consideration of project alternatives that would preserve the historic grandstand."
Planners said they are are willing to work with Mass Historic and are considering hiring a historic preservation consultant to work as a
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BHS Relaxes Masking and Updates Visitor Guidelines| 10:49AM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass — As respiratory illnesses begin to wane, Berkshire Health Systems is relaxing its masking policy for patients and visitors and has instituted changes in its visitation policy, effective on Monday, Jan 29. The updated masking and visitation guidelines impact all BHS care settings across the county, including Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, the North Adams and Hillcrest Campuses of BMC, provider clinics, and the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association. "While the end of the holiday season saw a significant increase in documented respiratory illnesses in the Berkshires, recent weeks have shown an improving trend, which allows us to 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Making the Loop | We had some free time this week to walk the 2-mile loop through the downtown. Here's a few of things that caught our eye. (In between taking photos, we were heel-toeing and arm-pumping as prescribed.)
 |
>> Read More |
Let's Go Paperless | This is from Ward 6 Councilor John Krol's eblast today. His switch to digital immediately caught our attention. With the associated costs - nearly $4,000 a year for paper alone! - zipping councilors "the packet" (as we in the know like to call it) over the ether makes loads of sense.
Digital also means the average citizen gets far better access to these public documents than ever before. The city clerk's office has been diligent about posting meeting agendas and, where possible, relevant documents. So in terms of saving money and time and getting information out efficiently, digital is the way to go.
I would like to thank City Clerk Linda Tyer for agreeing to print out one less city council packet, as I have officially gone paperless for council meetings - which I hope will be a trend that can be extended throughout city government.
 The bulky (and often, very bulky) city council packet that councilors use for a reference costs an average of $170 per meeting for paper alone. Add the additional costs of ink/toner, wear and tear on city hall copiers, and the time and energy of staff who put it all together - and a simple transition away from paper benefits everyone.
With the packet now fully digital in pdf form, all councilors, and everyone with an internet
|
>> Read More |
Berkshire Music School Kicks Off 2012 Classes With Open House | The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments ...and more than a few delighted squeals.
.jpg)
January 29, 2011
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of youths, many of them under the age of 5, attended an open house at the Berkshire Music School Saturday, as the educational nonprofit enters its 70th year at its 30 Wendell Avenue home.
The open house featured a sample class, access to musical instruments, information for parents, refreshments... and more than a few delighted squeals, proving once again the inherent interest in making a joyful noise is not generational, and will never go out of style.
 The open house featured a Music for Preschoolers class, designed to "children’s awareness of rhythm, ability to sing and move creatively to music," which |
>> Read More |
|
|
