| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Council Files 'Median Safety' PetitionBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Wednesday, April 09, 2025 | |
Mayor Peter Marchetti tells the council that he has been 'pretty beaten up' over the median proposal. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council put a controversial petition that triggered a protest and dozens of public speakers to rest.
On Tuesday, it filed a proposed "median safety" ordinance that would have banned pedestrians from obstructing a median or traffic island and require 5 feet between people and motor vehicles at five city intersections, including Park Square. The measure is widely seen as a way to stop panhandling but could also affect protests. "We need to continue to work together, and we all need to take care of all of us and we always have.
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Letter: Say No to Constitution PipelineLetter to the Editor,
06:00PM / Tuesday, April 08, 2025 | |
 To the Editor:
From 2014-2016, residents of Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, and Connecticut successfully blocked construction of the Kinder Morgan/NED and Constitution pipelines due to their environmental destruction capabilities and irresponsible use of eminent domain. Residents of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New York defeated the Constitution pipeline in 2016, a decision supported by the courts in 2020. In January 2025, Donald Trump and his secretary of energy called for the resurrection of the Constitution pipeline, citing three falsehoods as the rationale: All Northeast governors want the pipeline It would be built in less than a year It would significantly lower 0 Comments
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BHS Appoints Chief Nursing Executive| 08:03AM / Monday, April 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced the appointment of Brenda Cadorette, MSN RN,?NEA-BC, as Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), overseeing nursing across Berkshire Health. Cadorette has served as Vice President of Acute Care and BMC Chief Nursing Officer for the past 11 years. "Brenda has been an exceptional nurse leader at Berkshire Medical Center for decades," said Darlene Rodowicz, Berkshire Health Systems President and CEO. "This new nursing leadership structure will support the alignment of best practice nursing standards and ensure that professional practice, growth, and development are consistent across the 0 Comments
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ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This WinterBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Monday, April 07, 2025 | |
ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.
It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.
While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.
"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter,
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PHS Warmed by Updated Heating SystemBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Monday, April 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new climate control system has brought Pittsfield High School into the 21st century.
On Tuesday, Building Maintenance Director Brian Filiault reported that the building's new gas powered steam boilers are a far cry from the former 1930s converted locomotive engines. The about $3 million replacement began in June 2024 and was completed by the end of the year.
"They have full power capacity, but we're probably using 30 percent of what they can actually produce right now," Filiault told the School Building Needs Commission.
The following day, he and some of his staff were to be trained on how to operate the equipment, but "they are
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Veteran Spotlight: Marine/Army Lt. Col. John J. Harding IIBy Wayne Soares, Special to iBerkshires
06:35PM / Sunday, April 06, 2025 | |
 EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. — John J. Harding II served his country with honor and distinction from 1991 to 2018 in Marine Corps and in the Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He grew up in East Boston and Wilmington and graduated from Arlington Catholic High School in 1987. He would later attend Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., and graduate with his juris doctor from Mississippi School of Law. He also attended the U.S. Naval Justice School. I asked him the driving force for his wanting to enlist and he offered this: "I was well aware of the sacrifices of those who went before me ... I had to serve to honor those men and women and give 0 Comments
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Governor Extends Hybrid and Remote Public Meetings to Increase Access | 03:17PM / Sunday, April 06, 2025 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency. This legislation will permit state and local public bodies to conduct public meetings in a hybrid or remote format while also allowing participants at town meetings to participate remotely through June 2027. "This law allows everyone, no matter where they are in our state, to engage in important discussions that affect their lives and makes it easier for everyone to have their voices heard in our government," said Governor Maura Healey. "We don’t want anyone to be held back from attending public meetings because they 0 Comments
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Greylock Federal Reports Strong 2024 Financial Results, Announces Board Election| 08:10AM / Sunday, April 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—Greylock Federal Credit Union reported its 2024 financial results, including a net income of $4.7 million and assets exceeding $1.6 billion, at its annual meeting on March 25, 2025. According to Chief Financial Officer Michael A. King, the credit union's regulatory capital ratio increased from 12.14 percent to 12.21 percent. Loan growth for the year was reported at $16 million, or 1.3 percent, bringing total loan balances to over $1.3 billion. Deposit balances decreased by 0.1 percent, ending the year at $1.4 billion. "As we look ahead into 2025, our capital, liquidity, and loan quality are at very strong levels. Our balance sheet is 0 Comments
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Lenox Celebrates Amy Lafave's 30 Years at the LibraryBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:07AM / Sunday, April 06, 2025 | |
Library Director Katherin O'Neil poses with Amy Lafave and her cake. LENOX, Mass. — Dozens gathered at the Lenox Library on Friday to celebrate Amy Lafave, the "archetype of a public servant." Lafave, a lifelong town resident, has been with the library for 30 years and shares her expertise and passion for local history with the community. She has worked as the music librarian, library director, and most recently as the historical librarian, a position that seemed fated. "Amy is the archetype of a public servant and by that I mean she is, to me, an aspirational model embodying wisdom, guidance, humor, and respect for events and persons that 0 Comments
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Berkshires Turns Out in Protest Against Trump AdministrationBy Tammy Daniels , iBerkshires Staff
05:37PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
Hundreds of people were at Park Square on Saturday afternoon to protest actions by the Trump administration and expressed fears about the potential loss of civil rights and Social Security. ADAMS, Mass. — A cold and rainy Saturday didn't stop hundreds of Berkshire residents from making known their feelings about recent actions by the Trump administration. At least 150 people assembled in Adams around the Town Common, with the statue of voting rights icon Susan B. Anthony in the background, and at the Adams Free Library where Civil War veterans once gathered. "Last time I was in one of these marches was in 1969 against the Vietnam War down in 0 Comments
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Dalton Police Department Budget Fails at Finance By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:50PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee last week voted against the Police Department budget, citing concerns with anticipated financial constraints. The department proposed a budget of $1,679,488, a $144,232 or 9.39 percent, increase mainly caused by salary increases. When a motion on a budget fails, it goes back to the department, town manager, and the Select Board to see what can be done to rectify the reason for the failure, Finance Committee Chair William Drosehn said. The salary budget has an increase of $139,002, or 10.30 percent. "This is year one of a contractual year, and that's why there's a substantial jump, and 0 Comments
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Berkshire Running Foundation Announces 2025 Race Calendar| 12:53PM / Saturday, April 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Running Foundation looks forward to another year of races and community engagement. Berkshire Running Foundation announced the running race calendar for the year 2025. This year's events that cater to runners of all skill levels. All registration information is available on the Race Calendar page of the Berkshire Running Center website Race Calendar. April MCLA Sam Gomez 5K – April 6, 2025 Puddle Jumper 5K for Lenox Memorial Middle and High School – April 12, 2025 May May Day Races for the CRA – May 4, 2025 Mother's Day Race – May 11, 2025 MountainOne Steel Rail Race Weekend – May 0 Comments
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