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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Council Tables FY24 Tax Rate AsksBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:30AM / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has delayed a vote on the proposed fiscal year 2024 split tax rate.
Councilors on Tuesday voted to table the administration's ask for 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. Discussion will resume at its Dec. 12 meeting.
Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick and at-Large Councilor Karen Kalinowsky spoke against the proposal that would increase the average homeowner's bill by 8.75 percent.
Kalinowsky said the city has a spending problem and people cannot afford it — especially
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Pittsfield Announces the 2023 Holiday Parking Schedule| 08:00AM / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In celebration of the holiday season, the city of Pittsfield announced this year's free parking schedule. Free parking this season will include "Free Parking Fridays" on Dec. 1, 8 and 15. There will also be a week of free parking starting Monday, Dec. 18 through Friday, Dec. 22. Parking is also free on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. As always, parking in the city is free in the evenings and weekends. All other parking regulations remain in effect. 0 Comments
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Berkshire County Historical Society Holiday Tea| 08:00AM / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Celebrate the season at Herman Melville's historic Arrowhead with holiday-inspired readings by local author Kevin O'Hara and a traditional Holiday Tea provided by caterer Kate Baldwin. The event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 3 pm. Use the BOOK NOW button at berkshirehistory.org to reserve your tickets; $25 for BCHS members, $30 for non-members. This event is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. About Kevin O'Hara O'Hara is the author of "Last of The Donkey Pilgrims," about his travels with Missie the donkey around Ireland; "A Lucky Irish 0 Comments
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Pittsfield's Thistle & Mirth Moving Ramen Menu to Sister EateryBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The future of a West Street bar and eatery is unclear after a stabbing last week but its ramen menu will prevail at a sister restaurant.
On Tuesday, Thistle and Mirth announced on Facebook that its noodle dishes will be offered at Lulu's Tiny Grocery starting Thursday. Lulu's, located inside Crawford Square on North Street, was opened as a breakfast and lunch spot last year. Joad Bowman and Austin Oliver own both downtown Pittsfield establishments.
"This move will not only allow us to continue our ramen menu, but we will be able to expand our offerings, as well as offer boba," the post read.
Thistle's ramen menu will be
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Pittsfield Sets Session on West Side Zoning| 08:00AM / Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Department of Community Development, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, has been working with an urban planning and design consulting team to discuss zoning in the West Side. The next step in this work is to hold a series of community input sessions. The first session will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m. at Conte Community School. This session will provide an overview of what zoning is, what zoning can and can't do, how zoning can improve the community and the impact to residents. Attendees will be able to share ideas about what they want their community to look like while also having the opportunity to ask 0 Comments
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Kiwanis Park of Honor Concludes for 2023By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:38PM / Monday, November 27, 2023 | |
Kiwanis President Curtis Janey says the scholarship recipients will get $500 certificates to use as they need. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Volunteers loaded American flags into a U-Haul at Park Square over the weekend as the Kiwanis Club of Pittsfield's annual fundraiser concluded.
"We truly appreciate all those that have participated this year with the Park of Honor," President Curtis Janey said during a closing ceremony on Saturday. The Park of Honor has funded scholarships for children and grandchildren of veterans over the past decade by selling flags that are placed in the city's most central park. The flags sway in the wind in uniform rows, each representing
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Berkshire Family YMCA Welcomes Interim CEO and Executive Director| 02:13PM / Monday, November 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Family YMCA announced the appointment of Christian Bianchi as its new Interim CEO and Executive Director. Bianchi, a member of the Berkshire Family YMCA Board and current Director of Development at The Brien Center, will begin his new role on Dec. 11. According to a press release, Christian Bianchi brings experience and a deep commitment to community service. His expertise in organizational development and fundraising will guide the Berkshire Family YMCA towards its future goals. "We are thrilled to welcome Christian Bianchi as our new Interim CEO and Executive Director," said Adam Kelpetar, Chair of the 0 Comments
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Proposed Pittsfield Tax Rate Would Hike Bills 8.75%By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
11:47AM / Monday, November 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The administration is proposing a split tax rate that will increase the average homeowner's bill by 8.75 percent.
City Council will hold a tax classification hearing on Tuesday for the fiscal 2024 tax rate; the meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Linda Tyer and the Board of Assessors have put forward a residential rate of $18.45 per $1,000 of valuation and a commercial, industrial, and personal property rate of $39.61.
This is based on a residential factor of 0.8151 and a commercial shift of 1.75. The city will utilize a levy of about $109.1 million.
The residential rate for FY23 was $18.32 per $1,000 of valuation and the commercial,
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Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to 6 Counts of Raping a Child | 10:54AM / Monday, November 27, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, Nov. 20 Dean Giftos, age 48 of Pittsfield, pled guilty to 2 counts of Rape of a Child with Force and 4 counts of Rape of a Child, Aggravated by Age Difference. Judge Agostini sentenced Giftos to 7 to 10 years in prison for the Rape with Force charges and 3 years' probation from and after for the Aggravated Rape charges. During his probation, Giftos must have no contact with the victim, have no unsupervised contact with minors, and he must attend sex offender treatment. Should he violate his probation, he is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. According to a report from the district 0 Comments
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Strong Little Souls Founder Advocates for Pediatric Cancer Research FundBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
08:08AM / Monday, November 27, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Strong Little Souls founder Madison Quinn headed to the State House two weeks ago to advocate for a bill that would provide funding for pediatric cancer research. "Pediatric cancers are desperately underfunded," said Quinn, now a pediatric nurse. Quinn was showing support for Bill S.2496 An Act Improving Pediatric Cancer Research at a public hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Health. If voted into law the act would establish a Pediatric Cancer Research and Resource Project Trust Fund. The committee was hearing testimony on more than a dozen bills. Also testifying on the need for cancer 0 Comments
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Springside Park Not Viable for Roots Rising FarmBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:51PM / Sunday, November 26, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Arsenic-infected soils and invasive plants have led Roots Rising to pull its farm project from Springside Park.
"Over the past several months we have been studying the site at Springside Park. We found levels of arsenic that require further investigation as well as a number of species of invasive plants," Executive Director Jess Vecchia wrote to the Parks Commission.
"One such plant, cypress spurge, is of particular concern because contact with the latex sap can cause serious burns on skin, as well as permanent corneal damage if it comes into contact with the eyes."
Earlier this year, the nonprofit farming organization came to the commission
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National Grid Submits Comprehensive Performance Investment Plan| 11:29AM / Sunday, November 26, 2023 | |
WALTHAM, Mass. – Massachusetts Electric Company and Nantucket Electric Company, which are part of National Grid, filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) a Comprehensive Performance and Investment (CPI) plan, as part of its required Rate Review filing, designed to deliver the fair, affordable and clean energy transition, reinforce the local energy grid, and hold the company accountable to achieving a smarter, stronger, cleaner and more equitable energy future for the 1.3 million customers the company serves across the Commonwealth. "The proposal we've filed today, coupled with our electric sector modernization plan, Future Grid, will deliver 0 Comments
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