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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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EPA Analysis Shows 2022 Decrease of Toxic Chemical Releases | 08:08AM / Saturday, March 30, 2024 | |
BOSTON — Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis showing that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program were 21 percent lower in 2022 compared to 2013. This includes a 26 percent decrease in air releases. During this 10-year period, releases from manufacturing facilities decreased by 9 percent while the value added to the U.S. economy from manufacturing increased by 14 percent. While overall releases increased by 1 percent from 2021 to 2022, there was a 6.5 percent increase in the number of pollution prevention activities reported under the TRI program compared to
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Berkshire Gas Workers Picket to Over Contract TalksBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:30PM / Friday, March 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Unionized Berkshire Gas employees picketed outside of the facility on Thursday, saying they are asking for favorable work conditions, wages, and benefits. "We are currently involved in contract negotiations with our union members and we are hopeful that an agreement beneficial to all parties will be reached soon," said Sarah Wall Fliotsos, a Berkshire Gas spokesperson. Michael Ferriter, a retiree of the gas company and 20-year president of United Steelworkers Local 12325, spoke on behalf of the workers. The contract expires on March 31 and the union would like to get a new agreement ratified in a timely manner.
"We're just trying to get
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Hoffmann Bird Club Explores the Peruvian Amazon| 03:28PM / Friday, March 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Hoffmann Bird Club (HBC) will host a live and virtual presentation on a photographic adventure to the Peruvian Amazon on April 1, 2024. The presentation, titled "A Peru Travelogue," will be presented by Jonathan Pierce and Rene Wendell, past presidents and trip leaders of the HBC. The presentation will take attendees on a journey along the Amazon River, showcasing the region's abundant biodiversity, including birds, butterflies, and bromeliads. Pierce and Wendell will share their experiences and photographs from their expedition, offering insights into the unique flora and fauna of the Peruvian Amazon. The presentation will be 0 Comments
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@theMarket: Stocks Consolidating Near Highs Into End of First Quarter By Bill Schmick,
02:29PM / Friday, March 29, 2024 | |
An important government inflation metric, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE), for February came in as expected on Good Friday. Since the markets were closed, as investors celebrate the three-day Easter holiday weekend, Monday, April 1, should be interesting. Core PCE rose by 0.3 percent from the previous month. Year-over-year PCE prices rose by 2.8 percent, easing slightly from the 2.9 percent increase in January. The PCE is the Federal Reserve Bank's favorite inflation indicator. As such, it carries a lot more weight when determining whether the central bank will stand pat or decide to cut interest rates in the months ahead. The February numbers will likely 0 Comments
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Berkshire Adult Baseball League Welcomes Players for 13th SeasonBy Leland Barnes, iBerkshires.com Sports
06:27AM / Friday, March 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. – As it enters its 13th season, the Berkshire Adult Baseball League has a new commissioner. Jared Martin takes over the reins this spring from BABL founder Lou Orazio. The league, which has games mostly on Sunday mornings with some weeknights throughout the season, runs from early May through mid-August in two divisions, the 20-and-over Division and the 33-and-over Division. “The 20+ year old division is full of mostly competitive players, while the 33+ year old division is a more fun environment and less on the competitive side of things,” Martin said. As of late March, the league has 13 teams lined up for the 2024 0 Comments
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EPA Lays Out Draft Plan for PCB Remediation in PittsfieldBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Friday, March 29, 2024 | |
Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requested the meeting be held at Herberg Middle School as his ward will be most affected. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric have a preliminary plan to remediate polychlorinated biphenyls from the city's Rest of River stretch by 2032. "We're going to implement the remedy, move on, and in five years we can be done with the majority of the issues in Pittsfield," Project Manager Dean Tagliaferro said during a hearing on Wednesday.
"The goal is to restore the (Housatonic) river, make the river an asset. Right now, it's a liability."
The PCB-polluted "Rest of
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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting CelebrationBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
06:08PM / Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |
BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing. Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. "This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Immigrants Getting Bad Rap on the Economic FrontBy Bill Schmick,
04:26PM / Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |
Immigration has become a dirty word among Americans. Illegal aliens take the brunt of the nation's animosity, for sure, and are vilified for a long list of crimes that few question. I am one of the few who see a positive side to migrants. Politicians on both sides of the aisles are competing to keep as many immigrants as possible from entering the country. Campaign speeches by many radicals warn that the situation has reached cataclysmic proportions. The media stokes these fires with shots of dark-skinned refugees fording rivers, shivering in lines surrounded by barbed wire, and headlining any crimes that involve an immigrant. This is nothing new. The country has a long 0 Comments
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Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From CouncilBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:02PM / Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |
Architect Carl Franceschi and Superintendent Joseph Curtis address the City Council on Tuesday. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.
"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.
"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years
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BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator | 10:42AM / Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $2,326 grant, funded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for the purchase of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) device. The grant specifically covers a device for use inside one of BCC's security vehicles for easy access when traversing the campus. In total, the Commonwealth awarded more than $165,000 in grant funding to 58 municipalities, 13 public colleges and universities, and nine nonprofits to purchase AEDs for emergency response vehicles. The program is designed to increase access to lifesaving equipment during medical emergencies, when every second 0 Comments
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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 RequestsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:11AM / Thursday, March 28, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget. The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.
"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.
The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.
Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500
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Berkshire Art Center's Dance Party Returns| 04:00PM / Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | |
 STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Art Center's annual benefit and dance party is back and happening on Saturday, April 6, at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. This year's theme is Rococo Raku Revelry. The event will include special performances with local drag queen, Bella Santarella, and DJ BFG spinning vinyl on the big stage. "Local artists have been busy at work crafting the elaborate decoration pieces for this immersive event," said Executive Director, Lucie Castaldo. "And our silent auction of ceramic works from artists across the region is one not to miss!" This spectacular event - sponsored by Berkshire Bank - 0 Comments
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