| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire County Historical: 'In The Service of America' Lecture| 03:25PM / Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society will present the lecture In the Service of America: Berkshire's Black Soldiers and Veterans of the Revolution, by historian Cynthia Farr Brown. The free event takes place on Feb. 26. The lecture will look at some of the stories of the Black men from the Berkshires who served in the Continental Army and as minutemen and militia during the American Revolution, as well as what happened to veterans living in the Berkshires after the war was over. Historical records reveal the stories of lesser-known Revolutionary War veterans from Berkshire County, including Frank Duncan, Bacchus Boardman, and 0 Comments
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Residents Oppose Battery Energy Storage in Southeast PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:40PM / Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen community members attended last week's Conservation Commission meeting to speak against a proposed battery energy storage system on Williams Street.
A Stonehenge Road resident called it an "accident waiting to happen" and said, "None of us want 60 Teslas parked in that goddamn spot." Fires, flooding, and noise interruptions are collective concerns. More than 170 people in the southeast Pittsfield neighborhood signed a petition against it.
On Thursday, the commission continued a notice of intent application from Brattle Brook LLC to construct a storage system, or BESS, at 734 Williams St., behind the Pittsfield Cooperative
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Berkshire United Way Seeks Volunteer Grant Reviewers| 10:33AM / Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire United Way (BUW) is seeking volunteers to assist in its two-year funding cycle grant review process. Volunteers will participate in up to 25 hours of training, individual evaluations, and group meetings to make funding recommendations. These recommendations will be presented to the BUW Community Impact Committee and Board for final approval, with funding disbursed starting in mid-July. BUW will host three training sessions for volunteer reviewers in March. Interested individuals can register and find more information at www.berkshireunitedway.org/funding-application. Concurrently, BUW is accepting applications 0 Comments
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BCC Offers Virtual Advanced Beginner Computer Training Course | 08:07AM / Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Workforce Department is offering a virtual advanced beginner computer training course starting Monday, Feb. 24 and concluding Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Classes will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. The course will be taught in English, with Spanish language support. Ten grant-funded scholarships are available for eligible students. To register, email workforce@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2115. Designed for those looking to expand upon basic computer skills, the course provides an in-depth exploration of core Microsoft Office applications, enabling 0 Comments
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Lanesborough Select Board Votes to Expand Tow ListBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:16AM / Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Select Board members want to even the playing field for towing.
In a 2-1 vote with Chair Michael Murphy in opposition, the board last week voted to allow businesses outside of Lanesborough to be on the towing list. Current towers will work with the town on a formal policy, as there is currently not one.
"Frankly, I think it's premature," Murphy said about the motion made by Select Board member Deborah Maynard.
Two years ago, Police Chief Robert Derksen was contacted by a local tow agency that wanted to be put on the rotation. He brought a sample policy to the board in March 2023 and returned with the same one at Monday's meeting.
"I
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Berkshire Residents Snowed In For Long WeekendBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:58PM / Monday, February 17, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Many Berkshire County residents were snowed in for Presidents Day. Instead of buying large appliances, the long weekend was spent shoveling.
Pittsfield's second annual Winter Festival at Clapp Park fell victim to the storm, which dumped up to 6 inches of snow or more on higher-elevation communities. On Monday, the area was under a wind advisory until 7 p.m. for winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.
The winter fest was postponed to Friday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The outdoor family event includes hot cocoa and s’mores, cardboard sled races, a snow sculpture contest, snowshoeing, and more.
Trash and recycling collection was also
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Art Exhibit Kicks Off Pittsfield 10x10 Upstreet Arts FestivalBy Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
03:05PM / Monday, February 17, 2025 | |
Shelsy Rodriguez's works feature endangered animals from Colombia. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 14th annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival officially kicked off Thursday night with an "Off The Streets" art exhibition. The show features work from 10 artists who have murals in Pittsfield. The 10 artists are Hope Aguilera, Mike Carty, Huck Elling, Diane Firtell, Frances Chloe Jones-Whitman, Pops Peterson, Cara Petricca, Stef Quetti, Shelsy Rodriguez and Jesse Tobin McCauley. Each artist has a couple of their works on the wall throughout the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts from now until Feb. 28. Jen Glockner, the city's director of 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Councilors Hope ADUs Alleviate Housing ShortageBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
09:13AM / Sunday, February 16, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new accessory dwelling unit ordinance and the state allowing them by-right, Pittsfield officials hope for alleviation from the housing crisis.
Last week, the City Council established an ordinance for the creation of ADUs that allows one by right on any property with a one- or two-family residential home. This includes changes to Sections 23-2 and 23-9 of the City Code.
"This is going to be good for us," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said.
Lampiasi said that anyone recently searching for a home in the city knows "It's very difficult." Thirty years down the road, she envisions these units sparking interest for prospective
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Teacher of the Month: Carole SomervilleBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:04PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
Carole Somerville's pupils say she makes them feel ready to take on the day. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Morningside Community School second-grade teacher Carole Somerville has been selected as the February teacher of the month. The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next five months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here. Somerville has been in the education sector for 15 years, transitioning from running her own daycare to becoming a paraprofessional and now a teacher. "I was always passionate about it. I 0 Comments
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DCR's Free Family Programming in Western Massachusetts for February School Vacation Week| 04:00PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
HOLYOKE, Mass. — The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is excited to announce its lineup of free, family-friendly programs in Western Massachusetts for the upcoming February school vacation week. Running from Saturday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 25, families can enjoy 79 engaging programs at 20 state parks and watersheds in the western region. Activities include guided hikes, bird watching, animal tracking, crafting, and maple sugaring, all designed to encourage kids to get outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the state’s parks. In addition to the special programs, DCR is waiving parking fees at participating parks throughout the region. Public skating
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Five People Displaced by Pittsfield Fire| 02:20PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five people were displaced and one taken to the hospital from a fire on Alcove Street on Friday. A report by Deputy Chief Ron Clement said three engines, Truck 2 and Car 2 responded to the report a structure fire at 18 Alcove, and found smoke coming from a second-story window. Crews from Engine 5 entering the residence found heavy fire on the second floor that was brought under control within 30 minutes. All companies participated in search, ventilation and overhaul efforts. One man was home at the time and taken to Berkshire Medical Center for possible smoke inhalation. No firefighter injuries were reported. The 0 Comments
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Dalton Cultural Council Quits After Chair FiredBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
09:27AM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board's decision to terminate the town manager's executive assistant, Alyssa Maschino, has had a ripple effect. Maschino's colleague in the town manager's office, Kira Smith, said Thursday she was submitting her resignation. And the Dalton Cultural Council has resigned en masse. Maschino has been the chair of the council, which is charged with promoting the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences as a way to improve residents' quality of life. One of its tasks in planning Dalton Day. Dalton Day would not be what it is if it weren't for Maschino, council clerk and recording secretary 0 Comments
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