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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Fire Damages Home on High StreetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
07:41PM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — It took more than hour on Monday for firefighters to knock down a blaze that engulfed a large portion of a home at 177 High St. A neighbor reported the fire in the two-story home around 4:30 p.m. Interim Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said firefighters arrived to find flames extending up the front of the house and into the eaves and the attic. An image posted on Facebook shows the porch section of the building fully involved. One person was treated by the local emergency medical services for smoke inhalation but was not take to the hospital, said Czerwinski. No firefighters were injured. The road from Field Street to Glennon Avenue 0 Comments
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Wildlife-Friendly Fall Cleanup TipsMass Wildlife,
04:00PM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
 Autumn is here, bringing cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and shorter days. As you prepare your yard for winter, help your local wildlife with a few simple steps. Leave the leaves Although raking leaves seems synonymous with autumn, allowing some leaves to remain in your yard can provide benefits for plants and local wildlife. When they decompose, leaves return nutrients to the soil. In addition, fallen leaves provide cover and insulation to overwintering insects including many types of moths and butterflies. Mow over fallen leaves to break them up and speed decomposition. Use a rake to spread out the leaves so underlying plants and grass are smothered. Excess leaves can 0 Comments
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Dalton Weighs Fitch-Hoose House Repainting OptionsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:18PM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
An image of what the home used to look like from the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System database. DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission is reviewing financing options so that it can repaint the Fitch-Hoose House museum. Commission co-Chair Louisa M. Horth had said in August that the nearly 200-year-old house is in need of repainting. The paint is starting to peel and weather, and would need to be repainted this year or next year, she said. The house was painted six or seven years ago during a restoration. According to Town Manager Tom Hutcheson, the commission will need to provide the Select Board with two quotes for how 0 Comments
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Governor Signs Tax Cuts| 11:38AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey signed into law Massachusetts' first tax cuts in more than 20 years. The $1 billion package includes proposals introduced in her tax cuts proposal in March, including an expanded Child and Family Tax Credit that is now the most generous in the country, increases to the Rental Deduction, Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, and Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP), and changes to the Estate Tax and Short Term Capital Gains to address areas of the tax code where Massachusetts is an outlier. Governor Healey also announced that she is launching a Cutting Taxes, Saving You Money tour in communities across the state to 0 Comments
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Dalton Zoning Board Adopts Conflict of Interest PolicyBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
10:44AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Zoning Board voted to adopt a conflict of interest policy during its meeting last week. The policy prohibits board members who are invested in or are partners, directors, or officers in a business to vote on a zoning action that may affect that business. It would also require all members to disclose any investments or controlling positions they have that would affect Zoning Board action. The discussion to establish a conflict-of-interest policy was presented to the board in August when the town's insurer, Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association reached out regarding the matter. Although board members 0 Comments
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Dalton Green Committee Discusses Getting Compost ProgramBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Green Committee is mulling the potential of a composting program at the transfer station. The program would allow residents to bring organic compost to the transfer station without charge. The compost station would have three sections separated by concrete cubes. Every six months to a year, the compost would be moved to a different section as it breaks down, committee member Antonio Pagliarulo said. Pagliarulo and committee member Thomas Irwin visited the Egremont Transfer Station to inform Dalton's proposed program. "It's gratis to the townspeople of Egremont. They leave their compost, and then 0 Comments
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Herberg Students Acknowledge Mohican Land with PlaqueBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:22AM / Monday, October 09, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Herberg Middle School students have collaborated to honor the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans in a long-lasting way.
Last week, a land acknowledgment plaque was installed on the school just in time for Indigenous Peoples' Day. The effort stemmed from an eighth-grade civics project and has spanned over a couple of years.
"When students are exposed to unjust history they really want to contribute to reparations. Additionally, our middle schoolers are civically minded and looking for opportunities to be involved in our local community," social studies teacher Jen Jaehnig said.
"Last year they collected money for Damar
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Commission Formed to Accelerate Siting and Permitting of Clean Energy Infrastructure | 04:00PM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (CEISP) and swore in Commission members. To meet the emissions limits outlined in the Clean Energy and Climate Plans (CECP), Massachusetts will need to site a significant amount of new energy infrastructure, including new solar and wind generation, storage, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. The CEISP brings together stakeholders to swiftly remove barriers to responsible clean energy infrastructure development.? "The clean energy transition can't wait," said Governor Healey. "This commission 0 Comments
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Dalton Cultural Council Accepting Applications for Cultural Initiatives| 10:04AM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Cultural Council is accepting applications for grant funding that supports annual, local cultural projects focusing on the arts, humanities and sciences. The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded the council $7,800 to distribute to groups or individuals to fund qualified projects. "We're looking for some unique ideas this year and hope that Dalton residents participate in this grant opportunity as they know our town best to bring forth the cultural projects our citizens want. And, that's what makes Dalton special," Cultural Council Treasurer Leslee Bassman said. Grant amounts vary. If interested, please complete 0 Comments
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Governor Healey Nominates Attorneys to Superior Court | 08:00AM / Sunday, October 08, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey today nominated Boston-based attorney Adam L. Sisitsky and Springfield-based attorney Tracy E. Duncan as Associate Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. The nominees will now be considered by the Governor's Council for confirmation. "I'm proud to nominate two experienced attorneys to the Superior Court. Adam Sisitsky and Tracy Duncan share our commitment to making Massachusetts stronger by upholding justice, equity and the rule of law," said Governor Maura Healey. "We thank the Governor's Council in advance for their diligent consideration of these two nominations." The 0 Comments
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Planners Present Possible Solutions for Pittsfield Public Schools RestructuringBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:13PM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A decline in Pittsfield's population has planners reviewing the size and number of the city's elementary schools, their grade configurations and the curricular offerings of the middle and high schools.
Tuesday's update to the School Building Needs Commission from DRA architects on the restructuring study included information about demographics and enrollment; zoning and environmental mapping; Massachusetts School Building Authority guidelines; and grade span and alignment options. "It's a lot to think about," committee member Kathy Amuso said.
An online survey on the school's physical and educational needs garnered
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Dalton Residents Emphasize Need for Better CommunicationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
01:05PM / Saturday, October 07, 2023 | |
The session was part of a review of the 2016 master plan's goals and how it aligns to changes in the community over the past seven years. DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board heard input from community members on ways it can improve the town's master plan during its strategy session on Monday night. The three-hour meeting was held in an effort to review the current status of the goals set in the 2016 master plan and to determine how the town can improve it to better serve its evolving community. A conversation between the residents and the Select Board regarding the plan has not been done before, Chair Joseph Diver 0 Comments
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