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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Springside ParkBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
08:07AM / Sunday, April 30, 2023 | |
Landscape architect Martha Lyon speaks about the historical context of trees at Friday's Arbor Day celebration in Pittsfield. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Springside Park gained a red oak tree on Friday as the community celebrated Arbor Day. Over the next 20 years, it will absorb about 900 pounds of carbon dioxide and release upwards of 260 pounds of oxygen a year. The tree was donated by the Conway School of Landscape Design in Northampton in honor of its 50th anniversary and replaces one that fell down during a windstorm last about a year ago. "This new red oak is our replacement oak and will forever be that tree planted during Arbor Day 2023 here at 0 Comments
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Governor Launches Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting| 07:57AM / Sunday, April 30, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca L. Tepper today announced the establishment of the Commission on Clean Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting (CEISP) and the Interagency Offshore Wind Council (IOWC). 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 throughout the Commonwealth. The CEISP and IOWC will bring together stakeholders to swiftly remove barriers to responsible clean energy infrastructure 0 Comments
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Dalton to Vote FY24 Budget, Spending Items at May 1 Town MeetingBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:28PM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
DALTON, Mass. — Fewer than a dozen voters attended Monday's review of the town meeting warrant in advance of next week's annual town meeting, Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. Town meeting will be asked to authorize a number of spending articles, including a $21 million budget. Of that, $10 million is the assessment to the Central Berkshire Regional School District and $9.4 million is the town operating budget. A number of articles are requesting the use of free cash for capital purchases, Green Committee initiatives and studies and other expenditures; $200,000 would be used to reduce the tax rate, $450,000 transferred to 0 Comments
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Governor Names Western Mass Director and Deputy Director | 04:28PM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Governor Maura T. Healey announced at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Beacon Hill Summit that she has hired Kristen Elechko of Northampton as Western Massachusetts Director and LaMar Cook of Springfield as Deputy Director. Together, Elechko and Cook will lead the Governor's Western Mass office in Springfield, which opens on Monday, May 1, and will serve as the primary liaisons for Western Mass residents to the Governor's Office. "Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I are committed to leading an administration for all of Massachusetts, and that means making sure that the people of Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Berkshire 0 Comments
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One Dead in Cummington House Fire| 02:34PM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
CUMMINGTON, Mass. — An early morning fire on Friday claimed one adult resident's life and injured another. The identity of the fatality had not been released. A joint press release was issued by Cummington Fire Chief Adam E. Dragon, State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. "On behalf of the Cummington Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim's family," said Dragon. "This is a tragedy for them and our community." The fire was first reported through a 911 call at about 5:37 Friday morning. The Fire Department responded the area of 9 Thayer Corner Road to 0 Comments
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Governor, Climate Chief Announce Creation of Youth Climate Council | 11:00AM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
BOSTON — Governor Maura T. Healey and Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer announced the creation of a Youth Climate Council. The council will advise the Governor and the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience on climate policy and actions to make communities more resilient. Interested high school students in Massachusetts can now apply to be part of the council which will meet regularly with Chief Hoffer. "I am so inspired by the young people who have been leading the charge to advocate for bold, innovative action on climate. We are creating the Youth Climate Council to center their voices, perspectives and ideas in our climate policy and make sure 0 Comments
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National Grid Reminds Customers to Call 811 Before Digging| 08:10AM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
WALTHAM, Mass. — April is designated as National Safe Digging Month, and National Grid urges anyone planning on digging to call 811 to prevent damage to underground utilities. This year, 74 percent of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property. Of those who are planning projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves and their communities at risk by not contacting 811 before digging. Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly fines and repairs. Hitting underground gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines while digging can 0 Comments
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Public Meeting to Be Held on Demo of Historical Wendell Avenue BarnBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
07:14AM / Saturday, April 29, 2023 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed demolition of a barn owned by Berkshire Theatre Group in the next couple of months. The Historical Commission this week voted to begin the 60-day process for a public hearing that will happen by the end of June.
Due to a misunderstanding of the process, the theater had lapsed on the 60-day public hearing window based on an August decision to deem it historically significant. Rather than making the organization restart its application, the panel on Tuesday decided to move forward with the public hearing process.
The carriage house is located behind the Thaddeus Clapp House on Wendell Avenue, which
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@theMarket: Investors Await Fed WeekBy Bill Schmick,
03:20PM / Friday, April 28, 2023 | |
All eyes will be focused on May's Federal Open Market Committee meeting (FOMC) this week. Most investors are expecting another quarter-point interest rate increase, and there is an ongoing debate over the possibility of another one in June. Some strategists believe that may be overkill. The fear is that the Fed could break something else if they do. Many already blame the Fed's rapid hiking of interest rates for the troubles within the regional bank area. The value of Silicon Valley Bank's U.S. Treasury bond holdings, for example, fell by billions of dollars as the Fed tightened monetary policy over the last year. And the banking worries continue. This week, a 0 Comments
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Weekend Outlook: Jazz Nights, Art Exhibits, and MoreBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
12:27PM / Friday, April 28, 2023 | |
 Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events including jazz performances, art exhibits, and more. Editor's Pick
Works by artist Jaye Moscariello are on exhibit at the Guild of Berkshire Artists with an opening reception Saturday. Art Exhibition Art on Main Gallery, West Stockbridge The Guild of Berkshire Artists will be exhibiting works from artist Jaye Moscariello this weekend. Moscariello's work depicts landscapes and seascapes of the coast of Northern California in a town called Elk. There will be a reception on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The exhibit will be on view until May 7. More information 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Water System Flushing: Week 2| 08:17AM / Friday, April 28, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Monday, May 1 marks the start of week two for the flushing of the City of Pittsfield's water system. Water mains throughout the city will be flushed through hydrants over the next several weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The upcoming flushing for the week of May 1 may be expected to affect the following areas: Starting at Unkamet Park Drive heading west up to North Street working north to the Broadway and Lake streets neighborhood. Starting at Plastics Avenue moving west on Dalton Avenue including the 0 Comments
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Pittsfield School Subcommittee to Review Cell Phone PolicyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:26AM / Friday, April 28, 2023 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — School Committee members will be looking into the district's 2015 policy on cell phones with the recognition that capabilities and use have expanded.
Pittsfield Public Schools require devices to be turned off and not used during the instructional day or a school-sponsored activity or program. Violations can result in disciplinary action that includes the confiscation and denial of possession for a varied amount of school days.
Given the large role that technology plays in the modern day, there is a question of whether some use should be allowed.
On Wednesday, the Social Emotional Learning and School Safety subcommittee discussed gathering input on
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