| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Local Firefighters Graduate from Firefighting Academy| 12:37PM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recently graduated Class S35 consisting of 27 firefighters representing 16 fire departments including North Adams and Pittsfield. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said the graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. "Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today's graduates are needed now more than ever," said Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they've received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and 0 Comments
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Office of Climate Innovation and Resiliency Welcomes Director of Strategic Initiatives| 08:08AM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
BOSTON — Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer welcomed Nick Black as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience. In this role, Black will work directly with Chief Hoffer on special initiatives like the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Corporate Climate Challenge and develop and execute Massachusetts' long-term climate initiatives, including implementing key EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant deliverables. "I created the Climate Office on my very first day as Governor and ever since, Chief Hoffer and her team have consistently delivered results that advance Massachusetts' whole-of-government approach to 0 Comments
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PHS Students Showing Love With Art Show and FundraiserBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
07:36AM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
Students in teacher Lisa Ostellino's class work on their projects. 'For the Love of Art' will also include senior portfolios, drawings, paintings, photography and other ceramic work. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School students are spreading the love with an art show and fundraiser before Valentine's Day.
The "For the Love of Art" exhibit will debut at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., showcasing students' midway senior portfolios, drawings and paintings, photography, and ceramic works. The show will stay up for one week.
It is the artists' way of showing their passions while helping
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BCARc Grant Helps Support New Home | 04:09PM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc (BCARc) received a $250,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank to help offset the cost of building a new home in Southhampton to give new lives to four men with brain injuries. "This program is part of a statewide effort to move people with brain injuries into communities to live more independently," said Maryann Hyatt, BCArc President and CEO. "The list is long for individuals waiting for a residential program. BCArc will continue to do its part to support people with brain injury." BCArc runs 43 residential programs in Western Massachusetts supporting individuals with brain injuries and development 0 Comments
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New Pittsfield Councilors Reflect on MMA ConferenceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:12PM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elected officials and municipal staff traveled to Boston last weekend for the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual meeting and trade show.
Pittsfield had quite a presence at the event with returning and new attendees. Councilor at Large Alisa Costa and Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre attended for the first time after being elected to office in November. Both gathered insightful information they say will aid them in serving the city.
Serre loved sharing conversations with other councilors and learning and making connections so that "we don't reinvent the wheel every time."
"It's about learning best practices from
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Eversource: Don't Let Scammers Ruin the New Year| 11:14AM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — As the colder weather arrives in New England, scammers are heating up their efforts. Among their constantly evolving methods, clever imposters are taking advantage of the winter months by posing as Eversource representatives and threatening to disconnect customers' power unless they make immediate payment on the spot. The energy company is reminding residents and businesses to be on the lookout for the signs of a scam whether it's in person, over the phone, or online. "These scammers will use deceitful tactics to scare people into giving up their money or personal information," said Eversource Senior Vice President for Customer Operations
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Mass Transportation Secretary Announces Chief Communications Officer| 08:00AM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
BOSTON — Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt is announcing the appointment of Amelia Aubourg to the position of Chief Communications Officer. In this role, Aubourg will oversee all internal and external communications for the four divisions of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to ensure the key policies, programs, and projects of MassDOT are communicated to municipal officials, elected leaders, residents, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders in coordination with other members of the Secretary's executive team. In addition, she will work to coordinate communications and community engagement with 0 Comments
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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.)
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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
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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.
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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 |
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