| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Berkshire Agricultural Groups Receive Over $124K in State Grants| 10:46AM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced significant grant funding to support agricultural initiatives across Massachusetts, with several organizations in Berkshire County receiving awards. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will manage these grants through three programs: the Agricultural Fairs Infrastructure Grant Program, Farmers Market Sustainability Grant Program, and Buy Local Grant Program. "Agricultural fairs are an important part of Massachusetts' farming history and traditions," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "These fairs, along with farmers markets, 0 Comments
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Second Round: Dalton Town Meeting Passes Recall, Capital Plan BylawsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Thursday, May 08, 2025 | |
It still took nearly 200 voters 2 1/2 hours to get through a dozen articles on Wednesday. DALTON, Mass. — After a contentious first meeting on Monday, the annual town meeting continued on Wednesday. Some 170 registered voters got through the remaining 19 of 31 articles on the warrant during a meeting that lasted a little more than 2 1/2 hours. Two of the remaining 12 articles were tabled, and one failed. Voters approved an amended version of the recall petition, Article 29, which creates a process for recalling elected officials before the end of their term. The citizens' petition originally proposed starting the process with an affidavit of intent 0 Comments
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BHS Appoints Two Community Leaders to Board of Trustees| 04:00PM / Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson, MSW, LICSW, and Matthew Lauro of Mountain One Bank to the BHS Board of Trustees. "We are excited to welcome Ashley and Matthew to the BHS Board of Trustees," said President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz. "They are recognized leaders in our community, and BHS will be lucky to benefit from their perspectives as we continue working to advance health and wellness for everyone in the region." Ashley P. Benson, MSW, LICSW: Ashley Benson is the founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and is a Psychotherapist, consultant and clinical supervisor. A Berkshire Mountain 0 Comments
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Berkshire Carousel Reopening June 14By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Carousel will spin again this summer, powered by a nonprofit organization.
Last week, Berkshire Carousel Inc. announced the ride's grand opening on June 14th at noon. The carousel, located at 50 Center St., has not operated since 2018 was picked up by volunteers earlier this year. Aside from carousel rides, the grand opening will feature games, food, and the unveiling of some renovations.
"Operating hours for the 2025 season are 12-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays," Janet Crawford of Berkshire Carousel Inc. wrote in a press release.
"A newly renovated patio will be open featuring food vendors, picnic tables and yard games.
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Pittsfield Holds First Hearing on School RestructuringBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:18AM / Wednesday, May 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district's middle and elementary school restructuring aims to give every student equal opportunity regardless of their address.
On Monday, the Middle School Restructuring Committee held a public hearing for the proposal to create an upper elementary school for grades 5-6 and a junior high school for grades 7-8 by the 2026-2027 academic year. The model also groups prekindergarten and first grade in one school and grades 2-4 in another.
"We see the opportunities. We know there's going to be challenges, but we see those opportunities as outweighing those," Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Engagement Matthew
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Volunteers Pack Meal Kits for Berkshire PantriesBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:46PM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
A volunteer fills a tub wit Spanish rice. The meal kits will go to 13 food pantries in Berkshire County. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Unity can have significant impacts on a community. This was demonstrated during the Berkshire United Way's annual meal kit packing event on Saturday. More than 100 individuals filled the Boys and Girls Club to assemble 40,000 meal kits filled with apple cinnamon oatmeal, Spanish rice, tomato basil pasta, and minestrone. Each of the kits includes seasoning packets. The kits will be distributed to 13 food pantries across the county, including South Community Pantry, the Christian Center, and more. Berkshire Bounty, 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Interviewing 4 for Interim SuperintendentBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:36PM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four external candidates for Pittsfield's interim superintendent will be interviewed this week.
They are Roland Joyal Jr., Latifah Phillips, Robert Putnam, and Mary Jane Rickson. Outgoing Superintendent Joseph Curtis will step down on July 1 after 30 years with the district.
On Tuesday, School Committee Chair William Cameron reported via email that 11 applications were submitted to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for the one-year interim superintendent position.
"The School Committee's Personnel & Negotiations Subcommittee has reviewed all the materials submitted to MASC by applicants," he wrote. "There were
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Pittsfield Homeless Advisory Committee to Host Housing Resource Fair| 02:54PM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The City of Pittsfield's Homeless Advisory Committee will host a Housing Resource Fair on Thursday, May 8, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Persip Park on North Street. In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be relocated to the main room of the Berkshire Athenaeum during the same hours. The purpose of the fair is to provide information and assistance to community members seeking stable and secure housing. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from local housing organizations and agencies, learn about affordable housing options, and obtain information regarding
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Downtown Pittsfield 'Flying and Flourishing' With New MuralBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:10PM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Burbank Place now has two murals bringing it to life through a public art partnership.
On Friday, the Pittsfield Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership debuted "Flying and Flourishing" in the corridor. Just steps from a tile mural debuted last year, this colorful work showcases the synergy of flowers and insects.
Pittsfield High School students worked with artist in residence Huck Elling and public art intern Sophie Possick twice a week over the winter to create the three-part mural hanging in former window arches.
"This is a really awesome opportunity for students at PHS not only to get to make art and experience the whole process beginning to
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Pittsfield: Wild Acres Fishing Derby| 07:08AM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (April 28, 2025) - The City of Pittsfield's Conservation Commission, Recreation Program and Lyon Aviation have announced a free Fishing Derby for youth ages 14 years old and under on Saturday, May 10, at the Wild Acres Conservation Area (rain or shine). Volunteer support will be provided by the Onota Fishing Club to assist with dressing fish, providing fishing tips and techniques, baiting, etc. The derby will begin at 8:00 a.m. and last until noon. Trophies will be awarded during a ceremony between 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to those who catch the largest fish (length & weight). The Onota Boat Livery has donated fishing poles as part of a giveaway 0 Comments
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Bishop Earns Conference Honor at St. Michael'siBerkshires.com Sports,
06:59AM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
 St. Michael's College first-year catcher and Drury High School graduate Brooke Bishop was named the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week in mid-April. Bishop went .389 at the plate with a .667 slugging percentage and .450 on-base percentage in a 3-3 week for the Purple Knights to earn the honor on April 21. Last week, St. Michael's was eliminated in the NE10 tournament with a 2-0 loss to top-seed Pace, the No. 15-ranked team in Division II at the time. Needing two wins against Pace to advance in the tourney, St. Michael's won Game 1, when Bishop went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. She also had a hit in the second game. Bishop ended her first 0 Comments
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Dalton Nixes Police Budget, High School Site Change; Suspends Town MeetingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — With another dozen articles still left, voters elected just before 11 p.m. to suspend the annual town meeting and reconvene on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Some 277 registered voters got through 19 of 31 articles on the warrant over four hours of debate, rejecting both the police budget and a proposal to rescind a housing stipulation at the old high school site. Voters spent more than an hour on Article 3, to raise and appropriate $11,048,759 for the fiscal 2026 operating budget. Their main concerns stemmed from the Police Department budget of $1,665 million, up $129,668 over this year. That line was pulled from the operating budget on 0 Comments
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