| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Additional Stearns Staffers on Leave Amid 'De-escalation' AllegationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:53PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional Stearns Elementary School staff members have been placed on leave amid allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
On Monday, Principal Sara Luciani notified the school community "as our investigation continues and new information has been obtained, additional paraprofessionals assigned to Room 1 have been placed on administrative leave, effective Friday, March 7, 2025."
The Department of Children and Families and Pittsfield Public Schools are investigating, and the district is reviewing its protocols for de-escalation strategies.
Last week, Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported that on Feb. 26, Luciani received an
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Pittsfield Preparing to Fix PotholesBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
12:28PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield is addressing the potholes in the city with two phases. Every winter potholes appear throughout the county because of the harsh weather and cold temperatures; they often are unable to be filled fast enough and roads to become damaged. Commissioner of Public Utilities Ricardo Morales addressed the concerns saying last week some temporary work on the roads will be done. "It's going to be temporary work. Obviously, we, you know, none of the asphalt plants are open," Morales said. Pittsfield gets asphalt from plants in Lenoxdale, Pittsfield, and West Sand Lake, N.Y. Morales said West Sand Lake's asphalt plant plans to open March 20 while
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Pittsfield Subcommittee Supports Petricca TIFBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22AM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors are happy to support a longtime city construction company's expansion. It will take a majority of the council support the tax exemption plan.
On Monday, the Finance subcommittee voted in favor of a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for Unistress Corp.'s $4 million expansion at 550 Cheshire Road, which is expected to create 50 new jobs.
"This is the perfect opportunity. When we give out TIFs or we give out GE economic funds, people talk about helping local business. This is a great local business that hires a lot of people, that pays good salaries so I'm 100 percent for this. This is an easy slam dunk for
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Lanesborough Advancing Two Public Safety Building OptionsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:09AM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
 LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board has voted to advance two public safety complex options for public review.
A $7.3 million facility could hold police and emergency medical services under one roof and, for $6.5 million, the departments could have their own buildings.
The final choice will be in the hands of residents at a town meeting.
In 2023, voters rejected a proposed $5.9 million police/EMS complex 139-214. The committee thought that it was a good proposal and asked that the cost be updated for another try.
The 7,222 square-foot combined police and EMS build would cost about $7,365,868. Alternatively, a 4,814-square-foot police station with a separate two or
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Berkshire Officials Back Bills to Protect Minors From Sexual AbuseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
Berkshire DA Timothy Shugrue says current consent laws constrained his ability to bring charges in the recent Miss Hall's School case. Left, state Rep. Leigh Davis has signed on to bills that would close that loophole. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials urge the passage of "long overdue" legislation to protect minors from sexual abuse by adults who are teachers, mentors, or other positions of trust.
"When I began my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. In the mid-1980s, this was a taboo topic. Something rarely discussed, much less prosecuted. During those early years, I worked to normalize the
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Berkshire Green Drinks to Feature Presentation on Rare Butterfly Species| 11:35AM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Jessica Duffy will present "A Tale of Two Butterflies: Two Rare Pierid Butterflies of the Berkshires and Combined Threats" at the March Berkshire Green Drinks event on Wednesday, March 12. The event will be held online via Zoom and in person at Hot Plate Brewing Co. in Pittsfield, MA. The in-person gathering begins at 5:15 PM, with the presentation starting at 6:00 PM. Duffy will discuss the Veined White and West Virginia White butterflies, their natural history, and the threats they face from parasitoid wasps and invasive garlic mustard. Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) will conduct butterfly surveys and garlic mustard 0 Comments
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Berkshire County in 'Significant Drought'| 10:56AM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following an extended period of below-normal precipitation, the Western region of Massachusetts, encompassing Berkshire County, has been elevated to a Level 2 – Significant Drought status by Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper. This designation underscores the persistent dry conditions affecting the area and necessitates heightened awareness and water conservation efforts. "The recent rain and snowfall are a welcome reprieve from the drought we have been experiencing," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "However, it has not been enough to replenish our groundwater. As the growing season 0 Comments
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County's 'Super Six' Head to Final FourBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires.com Sports
05:26AM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
 Out of 10 No. 1 seeds in the MIAA basketball tournaments this winter – five boys, five girls – nine are still playing. Those nine did not have to play the Lee High girls basketball team. The ninth-seeded Wildcats pulled off arguably the season’s biggest upset on Saturday when they upended No. 1 Hopedale to reach this week’s state semi-final round. On Sunday afternoon, the Lee girls got together to celebrate their Final Four berth in style, cutting down one of the nets in their gymnasium and boarding a flatbed for a parade down Main Street. Senior captain Mia Puleri said that Lee, which trailed by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter on 0 Comments
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Senator Markey Headlines Pittsfield Democratic RallyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:52PM / Sunday, March 09, 2025 | |
The Progressive Democrats of American were among the groups represented at the rally. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Democratic leaders rallied against the Republican administration on Sunday and urged residents to take action — but offered little on what their strategy is to oppose President Trump's agenda. "Trump doesn't want to make America great again," U.S. Sen. Ed Markey told hundreds at the Colonial Theatre. "He wants to make America hate again." Markey headlined the "No Kings in America" rally for Democracy on Sunday brought forward by the local Four Freedoms Coalition. (President Trump had described himself as 0 Comments
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Letter: A Prescription for Survival: Solving Western Mass Physician CrisisLetter to the Editor,
07:00PM / Sunday, March 09, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
In the shadow of the Berkshires' rolling hills, a quiet calamity unfolds. Rural western Massachusetts — Berkshire, Franklin, and parts of Hampden and Hampshire Counties — teeters on the edge of a health-care abyss. Primary care physicians (PCPs), the bedrock of community wellness, are vanishing. With wait times stretching six to 12 months and ratios dipping to 60-70 doctors per 100,000 residents — half the state's average — this is no mere inconvenience. It's a crisis of equity, economics, and survival, demanding bold, bipartisan action now.
The numbers are stark. Berkshire County, home to 125,000 souls, has lost a third of its PCPs
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Gov, AG Issue Guidance on Equal Access to Education| 03:45PM / Sunday, March 09, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued updated joint guidance to support Massachusetts' higher education and K-12 institutions in their work to further equal access and representation in education in response to recent Executive Orders by President Trump and a U.S. Department of Education "Dear Colleague" letter dated Feb. 14, 2025. Under the joint guidance, Massachusetts educational institutions should continue their work to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility among their student bodies. Longstanding legal precedent has established that educational institutions may take steps to build student 0 Comments
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MassWildlife: Discover animal tracks| 12:31PM / Sunday, March 09, 2025 | |
Wild animals are experts at staying out of sight. Yet the winter snow and mud can reveal a detailed account of the comings and goings of even the most secretive animals. Whether you're wandering secluded forests and fields or taking a walk in your suburban neighborhood, watch for tracks to learn about wildlife in the area. As with birdwatching, tree identification, or any other area of nature study, learning to identify tracks takes some practice. Start by getting familiar with common animal tracks. Use MassWildlife's animal track card as a guide to tracks you may encounter here in Massachusetts. Identifying animal tracks is much easier if the conditions are right. Tracks
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