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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire Athenaeum Launches Reader Leaders Program for Teens and Kids| 03:30PM / Monday, January 20, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum has announced its new "Reader Leaders" program, inviting teens aged 14-18 to volunteer as reading mentors for children aged 5-8. This initiative pairs youth to read together, fostering literacy and leadership skills. A mandatory training session for teen mentors will take place on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. Following the training, monthly reading sessions are scheduled for Feb. 28, March 21, and April 11, from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Participants will read together, enjoy crafts, and share snacks during these sessions. Interested teens can register by picking up a form at the library's Young Adult or Children's
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Downtown Pittsfield Cigarette Butt Containers Help Beautify CorridorBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:17PM / Monday, January 20, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Cigarette waste recycling boxes have contributed to the beautification of North Street.
In the fall, TerraCycle containers were installed between the intersection of Maplewood Avenue and the Berkshire Family YMCA. This was done by Downtown Pittsfield Inc. with funding from Downtown Blooms and support from Pittsfield Beautiful and Mill Town Foundation.
It is working, as the corridor has fewer cigarette butts on the sidewalks and in its landscaping.
Managing Director Rebecca Brien explained that the pilot program was brought forward by Pittsfield Beautiful, whose volunteers realized there was a need when finding cigarette butts in planter boxes.
"As they
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Berkshire Bach Society Hosts Exploration of Bach's Spirituality| 11:56AM / Monday, January 20, 2025 | |
 GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) will present the third event in its quarterly BBS Portals series, Bach and God: Troubling Voices, featuring musicologist Michael Marissen. The program will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, at the Kellogg Music Center on the campus of Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, and at 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, at The Koussevitsky Arts Center at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. Marissen, an expert on the music and religious beliefs of Johann Sebastian Bach, will explore the foundations of the composer's spirituality and the social norms of Lutheran Germany. Drawing on his books "Bach
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Pittsfield Considering Nonprofit for School InvestigationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:51AM / Monday, January 20, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council and School Committee will consider a children's advocacy nonprofit to audit the Pittsfield Public Schools.
On Tuesday, the council supported a petition from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren requesting to schedule a joint meeting to receive a presentation from Jetta Bernier, executive director of Enough Abuse.
"The object is, we're trying to address a serious problem of sexual abuse in the schools," Warren said. "And I want to get this off the ground and I want to get us moving."
On Dec. 11, PHS Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to
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Westfield State Study Makes Local EMS RecommendationsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Monday, January 20, 2025 | |
Emergency responders participate in a drill in 2018. A study done in a Westfield State University course offered recommendations for stabilizing and sharing EMS services. DALTON, Mass. — A research project of Westfield State University made several recommendations to enhance emergency medical services within Berkshire County, including more regionalization and stable funding sources. "Currently, EMS services are provided to the county's 128,000 residents through a patchwork system that results in unpredictable response times and inconsistent quality of emergency care from one community to another," the research project 0 Comments
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Community Hero: Abigail AllardBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:20PM / Sunday, January 19, 2025 | |
Abigail Allard also coaches boxing, chairs the Berkshire Leadership Program and is involved in the city's cultural organizations. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Abigail Allard wears many hats within the Berkshire County community, which gained her the recognition of our January Community Hero of the Month. The Community Hero of the Month is a 12-month series that honors individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. This year's sponsor is Window World of Western Massachusetts. Nominate a hero here. Allard is the development and communications manager at the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, which is the home of Girls 0 Comments
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Market 32 Customers Donate Over 50K Food Bags to Local Pantries| 04:08PM / Sunday, January 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 customers donated over 50,000 pre-packed food bags to local food banks and pantries between Nov. 10, 2024, and Jan. 4, 2025. A total of 50,902 $10 food bags filled with essential items such as elbow macaroni, peanut butter, canned tuna, and kidney beans were collected to support neighbors in need. Each store selected a local organization to benefit from the donations, helping address nutrition insecurity in their communities. The initiative, part of the chain's ongoing commitment to community support, directly impacted individuals facing hunger during the holiday season. "The holiday season brings our blessings to mind 0 Comments
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Governor Signs Laws Lowering Health Care Costs, Strengthening Oversight| 08:59AM / Sunday, January 19, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey today signed into law S.3012, An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency, and H.5159, An Act enhancing the market review process. The laws aim to lower health care costs, cap prescription drug copays at $25, improve primary care access, and strengthen oversight of the health care industry. "We know that one of the biggest strains on Massachusetts families' budgets is high health care costs. These new laws will lower out-of-pocket costs by capping copays at $25 for lifesaving prescription medications and increasing transparency in the industry," said Governor Healey. "They also close loopholes in our 0 Comments
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Progressives March for Human Rights in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:55AM / Sunday, January 19, 2025 | |
Amelia Gilardi addresses the crowd at Park Square. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 100 people marched down North Street on Saturday in support of human rights. The Pittsfield People's March was designed to unite community members, raise awareness, and promote the fundamental rights of all people. It was one of numerous marches across the nation, including in Boston and the annual one (formerly the Women's March) in Washington, D.C. The marches started in 2017 in response to the first election of Donald Trump, who is set to sworn in for a second term on Monday. Saturday's marchers expressed their fears that the incoming administration will 0 Comments
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Dalton Mail-In Ballot Instructions Had Date ErrorBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:05PM / Saturday, January 18, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Town voters started receiving mail-in ballots yesterday for the upcoming special election but were surprised to find an error. The ballots had printed instructions to have them returned to the town by Nov. 5, 2024, information left behind from the general election in November. The special election to decide who will fill the vacant Select Board seat will occur on Feb. 3. In December, the board also approved mail-in ballots. Select Board member Marc Strout took to his Select Board Facebook page to inform constituents of the error and provide an update. He explained that Chair Robert Bishop, Town Manager Thomas 0 Comments
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Big Y Partners with Red Cross Relief Campaign in Response to California Wildfires| 03:44PM / Saturday, January 18, 2025 | |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Big Y is partnering with the American Red Cross to raise donations for those affected by the California Wildfires. Now through Friday, Jan. 31st, Big Y customers and employees will have the opportunity to donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief at all Big Y supermarket locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Donation containers for cash donations will be available at all Big Y registers, with the ability to donate with credit or debit at the register, via the myExpress Checkout app or https://bit.ly/BigYCaliforniaWildfiresSupport. "The American Red Cross is focused on making sure everyone has a safe place to stay, and no 0 Comments
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Pittsfield FedEx to Close This YearBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:20AM / Saturday, January 18, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Federal Express Shipment Center on Federico Drive will close later this year.
This is attributed to the "evolving needs of the business."
David Westrick, of FedEx's Media Relations department, explained via email on Wednesday that the company regularly evaluates its network and makes adjustments to align with the evolving needs of the business.
Employees were recently notified that the FedEx facility will close later in the year and certain team members will be offered opportunities in other locations, he wrote.
The closing date was not identified but it appears the location will not close for months.
"Decisions of this nature are the
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