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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Council Closes Term With Tax Rate ApprovalsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:14PM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
Councilors on Tuesday debate the tax shift differential for fiscal 2024 before voting 6-4 to approve as presented. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Despite the pain of raising taxes, a majority of the City Council members agreed that it is their responsibility to approve 2024 tax classification so that the city doesn't fall behind. The council approved during its last meeting of the term a residential shift factor of 0.8151 that will result in a residential rate of $18.45 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial rate of $39.61 per $1,000. This is a 13 cent, or 0.7 percent, increase from 2023 for residential and a 40 cent, or one percent, increase for commercial, industrial,
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Pittsfield Named One of Nation's Digital Inclusion Trailblazers| 03:58PM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) named the City of Pittsfield as a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer, recognizing the city's efforts to close the digital divide. "It is an honor for Pittsfield to be recognized for its digital inclusion efforts. This is more motivation to enhance what we have to continue to create access to the digital space for everyone," said Michael Obasohan, chief diversity officer. This year, Pittsfield joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, with 47 total awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the 0 Comments
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BCC Helps BCArc Provide Better Mouth Care Training| 11:02AM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two Berkshire Community College (BCC) faculty members, assistant professors of nursing Julia Gallagher and Jennifer Charbonneau, recently offered "train the trainer" sessions at Berkshire County Arc (BCArc) highlighting the importance of oral hygiene in the population they serve. BCArc offers a broad range of community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism. Brandon Page, a training specialist at BCArc who worked with BCC to coordinate the training sessions, explained that BCArc trains staff on skills related to maintaining healthy boundaries and teaching individuals with 0 Comments
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Berkshire Farms Awarded Disaster Relief Grants | 08:03AM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
BOSTON —The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $20 million to farms impacted by several severe weather events this year. The Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) Program for Agriculture provides immediate assistance to 347 farmers in Western and Central Massachusetts who experienced significant crop losses due to a deep February freeze, a late May frost event, and catastrophic flooding in July. "After seeing the devastating damage and listening to farmers who lost their livelihoods over the summer, we knew we had to do something to support the agricultural industry. That's what this funding demonstrates – it provides direct aid to farms," 0 Comments
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Tyer's Citizenship Academy Will Continue in Next AdministrationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13AM / Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Citizens Academy will continue to facilitate civic involvement into the next administration.
On Tuesday, 21 graduates of the academy that gives a first-hand look at the workings of local government were celebrated in council chambers. The 12-week course visits various city locations and allows participants to communicate with department heads for a better understanding of their day-to-day activities. Mayor-elect Peter Marchetti will take office on Jan. 2 and the program instituted by Mayor Linda Tyer will live on under his leadership.
"The Citizens Academy is a free program designed to teach community members about how local government operates
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State Issues EBT Scam Alert| 03:00PM / Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The state issued an alert Tuesday notifying residents that there is currently a scam targeting Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) clients. DTA reported that scammers are trying to steal EBT benefits. They reiterated that DTA will never ask clients for their EBT number online. The state agency offered some safety tips: DTA benefits can be stolen through scams like skimming and phishing. Skimming is a type of theft where thieves put a device on a store’s card-swiping machine to copy card information. Phishing is where thieves use texts or phone calls to get you to share confidential information about your identity or card information. The 0 Comments
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Panchos Gets Liquor License Suspended, Hours ReducedBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:38PM / Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A consistent string of incidents at Panchos Mexican Restaurant has led to a seven-day liquor license suspension and reduced hours.
On Monday, the Licensing Board heard of more than 10 disturbances at the North Street eatery since August that included projectile vomiting and talk of a gun. The events began to occur only months after Panchos reduced hours because of a "large-scale disturbance" earlier in the year were lifted.
Most of the reports were of intoxicated fighting outside of the establishment after midnight.
"I feel sad because I try to do the best I can do," manager Gabriel Columna said.
After more than an hour of testimony, the
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MassDOT Secures Funds for Enhanced Boston-Albany Passenger Rail| 10:52AM / Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced that up to $500,000 has been awarded to the Rail and Transit Division through the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID) to support planning for additional train service connecting Boston and Albany, New York through Springfield. This corridor would provide up to eight daily round-trip passenger trains on an existing alignment owned by CSX Transportation. Currently, the only passenger service on this corridor is Amtrak's once-daily long-distance Lake Shore Limited. Development of this corridor is part of the Healey-Driscoll 0 Comments
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Lanesborough, Pittsfield Awarded IT Grants | 08:01AM / Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | |
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that $5 million in grants have been awarded to municipalities to upgrade and improve their information and technology systems through the Community Compact program. Lanesborough was awarded $70,000 for the implementation of a records management system, and Pittsfield was awarded $50,000 for website enhancements. This funding comes from one of four Community Compact grant programs being run this fiscal year and will benefit 68 municipalities and school districts, including 13 first-time recipients. The 52 grants being awarded total more than $4.95 million and will go toward improving cybersecurity and 0 Comments
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PEDA Discusses Possible Innovation DistrictBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An innovation district could be a solution to marketing the William Stanley Business Park, planners say.
This would ideally transform the site into an "amenity-rich enclave" that fosters open innovation through formal and informal interactions.
On Thursday, consultant Adina Astor gave the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority what the area could look like as an innovation district and how it could further economic growth.
"We had a meeting in here about a year ago with MassDevelopment and they were talking about how can we help the (Berkshire Innovation Center) market this property and help out with economic development in the
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State Fire Marshal: Dec. 11 is Candle Safety Day| 05:04PM / Monday, December 11, 2023 | |
STOW, Mass. — As Massachusetts enters the time of year when candle fires are most common, Governor Maura T. Healey has proclaimed Dec. 11, 2023, to be Candle Safety Day and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to follow safety guidelines. "There have been more than 1,000 candle fires in Massachusetts over the past 10 years," State Fire Marshal Davine said. "These fires caused 11 deaths, 191 injuries, and over $35 million in losses. More of these fires started in December than in any other month, and especially on the days leading up to Christmas. If candles are part of your celebration or decoration, please use them 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Council to Tackle Tax Rate, Zoning Amendment ProposalsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:03PM / Monday, December 11, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday will take up the fiscal 2024 tax classification and a proposed battery energy storage overlay district.
On the agenda are public hearings for both items, with the tax rate continuing from last month.
The administration has requested a commercial shift of 1.75 that would result in a residential rate of $18.45 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial rate of $39.61 per $1,000. After several councilors expressed concern about raising taxes, it was tabled.
"You are driving people out of Pittsfield," Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky said at the late November meeting.
The residential rate for FY23 was $18.32 per
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