| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
|
Reid Student Is Levine Spelling Bee Champion| 04:54PM / Saturday, January 25, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Top spellers from Herberg and Reid Middle Schools competed in the 2025 Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum. Spellers went 10 rounds to crown this year's victor: Emily Escalon-Brizuela, from Reid Middle School. In the last round, Emily inched out Averi Olds, the top Herberg speller. Last year, these same two spellers battled it out, with Averi taking home the 2024 trophy. "It was a lot of intensity. I was very impressed by the poise," said judge state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. Both Emily and Averi (as the top spellers from their respective schools) will advance to regionals in an 0 Comments
Read More >> |
1Berkshire Launches Pilot Program to Support Immigrant Entrepreneurs| 02:46PM / Saturday, January 25, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire has announced a two-year pilot program aimed at supporting immigrant entrepreneurs in the Berkshires, funded by a one-time earmark from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Berkshire Immigrant Entrepreneurial Support Program consists of four key initiatives: Collaborative Partner Resource Allocations - These pre-identified funding allocations will help launch, sustain, or complete programs, projects, or efforts that add new capacity. 1Berkshire's support to Berkshire Community College's ESOL program for Spring and Fall 2025 is one such investment being made through this program. Future allocations will be announced as they 0 Comments
Read More >> |
@theMarket: Markets Head Toward New Highs in FebruaryBy Bill Schmick,
12:22PM / Saturday, January 25, 2025 | |
As we step into the new year, stocks have soared in celebration as Donald Trump took the reins of office. This transition of power has brought a wave of optimism, which can continue, although a mild bout of profit-taking in the near term should be expected. A flurry of Day One executive orders kept the markets busy parsing the meaning of this one or that one. However, the enthusiasm had more to do with what President Trump did not do than what he did. The greatest fear of investors was that the president would levy 10 percent tariffs across the board on all nations. Some nations, such as China, Mexico, and Canada, were expected to get hit by even higher duties on Day One. It 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield High Basketball Coach Released Without ExplanationBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Saturday, January 25, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Joe Racicot has given four decades of his life to coaching basketball and spent the last 14 years at Pittsfield High. That career came to an abrupt end in late November, and Racicot says he did not get a good explanation why. "I feel like I'm cheated because I didn't get an opportunity to discuss this," Racicot said recently. "For somebody to come in and make a decision and just make a phone call the Friday before the season starts … "I never really got a reason other than: The administration wanted you gone, and we wanted to go in another direction." What Racicot did get, and what may have 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Williams PTO Plans $330K Playground ImprovementBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:21AM / Saturday, January 25, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Williams Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has launched a $330,000 initiative to revamp its playground
"The current playground, there's a lot of issues with it. The equipment is out of date, a lot of safety concerns with play surfaces, age of equipment, accessibility, and kind of inclusion of play with the current setup that they have," PTO member Joseph Simon explained.
"So the new playground looks to kind of address a lot of those issues with modern, new equipment, looking to try to have an inclusion area that will be accessible from the school so that way we can accommodate all students and there would also be some
0 Comments
Read More >> |
The Retired Investor: Food Prices Are Climbing AgainBy Bill Schmick,
04:19PM / Friday, January 24, 2025 | |
Eggs, fruit, vegetables, chocolate, cereal, and all kinds of protein — wherever you look — prices are rising faster at grocery stores than anyone may have imagined. The bad news is that consumers can expect this trend to continue. Food prices jumped by 1.8 percent year-over-year at the close of 2024. That was the fastest increase in over a year, according to the Labor Department. In the last two months of the year, grocery prices climbed by 0.4 percent in November and 0.3 percent in December. Expectations are that January will see another rise. Most voters will immediately point to corporate greed, grocery gauging, or as a last resort, the outgoing Biden 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Berkshire Carousel Offer Withdrawn, Volunteers Plan ReopeningBy Brittany Polito,
01:43PM / Friday, January 24, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Berkshire Carousel offer has been withdrawn, and a volunteer group plans to reopen it.
Tuesday’s City Council agenda includes withdrawing an order to accept a conveyance and donation of land at 50 Center St. (the Berkshire Carousel.) While the carousel, owned by James Shulman, opened to enthusiastic fans in 2016, it has not operated since 2018 after leadership and funding fell apart.
“On January 17, 2025, I received an email from Mr. Shulman notifying me of his withdrawal of the gift of the carousel and conveyance and donation of land at 50 Center Street,” Marchetti wrote.
“Given this set of circumstances, I no longer intend to create
0 Comments
Read More >> |
BCC Holds Pinning Ceremony for Nursing Graduates | 08:00AM / Friday, January 24, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) held a traditional pinning ceremony for 40 graduates of the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program on Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Robert Boland Theatre on the main campus. The wearing of the school pin symbolizes the right to serve others, signifying the acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of nursing and the educational preparation of the wearer. The ceremony is a nursing school tradition dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The gold center of the pin features the college seal, including the words "To travel hopefully." Five graduates received 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Over 70 Percent of Pittsfield Students Are in PovertyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:00AM / Friday, January 24, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 70 percent of Pittsfield Public School students are living in poverty, a situation that has led to the city's inclusion in "Group 11," which provides additional resources but highlights a troubling reality. On Wednesday, during the district's first budget workshop for fiscal year 2026 at Reid Middle School, it was announced that Pittsfield Public Schools expects a $4.4 million increase over FY25, totaling more than $68 million. This increase comes in part due to a nearly $60 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2026 filed by Gov. Maura Healey, which includes $7.3 billion in Chapter 70 aid to school districts — an 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Pittsfield Health Board Considering Nicotine Free GenerationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:19PM / Thursday, January 23, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Thirteen Massachusetts communities have joined the "Nicotine-Free Generation." Could Pittsfield do the same?
This was the question during the Board of Health meeting earlier this month. The board will discuss a possible path forward that includes community input at its next meeting.
"Clearly, I think, as a board, there's a sentiment that this is attractive as a public health service," Dr. Jeffrey Leppo said, followed by agreement from other members.
Maureen Buzby, tobacco inspection coordinator in Melrose, presented information about the Nicotine-Free Generation movement. The policy adopted by the municipalities prohibits the sale of
0 Comments
Read More >> |
Weekend OutlookBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:01PM / Thursday, January 23, 2025 | |
There are several events this weekend to help you recharge from your week including a free museum day, live music, and winter activities. Editor's Pick Mass MoCA Free Day Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams Time: Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is opening its doors for free on Saturday for its annual community celebration. Attendees can visit the museum's galleries and experience its "thematic museum tours, art-making in Kidspace, workshops, and performances." More information here. Friday Friday Supper Club Dorothy's Estaminet, Pittsfield Time: 5 to 10 0 Comments
Read More >> |
Snowshoe Hike at Arrowhead| 11:02AM / Thursday, January 23, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society and Berkshire Natural Resources Council are offering guided snowshoe hikes at Herman Melville's historic Arrowhead this winter. A hike will take place on Jan. 26, weather permitting, and are free to the public. The first hike on Jan 26 from 10-11 AM is a family-friendly event that includes a 1-mile snowshoe trail and a scavenger hunt led by Taylor Staubach of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council. Participants will also learn about the historic site from the Berkshire County Historical Society. Snowshoes will be available for lending, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own if 0 Comments
Read More >> |
|
|
