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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Recent Rainfall Improves Drought Conditions in Berkshire County| 08:04AM / Friday, August 16, 2024 | |
BOSTON — Following several weeks of rainfall, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Western Region will be downgraded from Level 1-Mild Drought to Level 0-Normal conditions.
However, a localized Level-1 Mild Drought has been declared in the Parker River Basin after a review of July conditions including data showing localized critically low flow conditions. All other areas in the Northeast region remain normal. A Level 1-Mild Drought, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, requires detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance to the 0 Comments
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Options for Lanesborough's Public Safety Building Coming SoonBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Friday, August 16, 2024 | |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Options for a new public safety facility are not far from the Select Board's hands.
"The [Public Safety Building Committee] is in the final throws of turning it back over to the Select Board," Chair Mark Siegars said on Monday.
Members have agreed on three alternating designs: one for just a police station that is a redesign of a nearly decade-old proposal, one for a combined police and emergency medical services station, and a standalone EMS facility with room for expansion.
"All these will be laid out on the Skyline property and so that you could have the single building, the combined building, or two separate buildings,"
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PIttsfield School Committee Endorses 'Aggressive' Timeline to Decide on Middle School ConfigurationBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
05:38PM / Thursday, August 15, 2024 | |
Superintendent of School Joseph Curtis addresses the School Committee on Wednesday night in City Council chambers. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee on Wednesday approved an ambitious timeline that could see the city's middle school reconfiguration implemented as soon as the 2025-26 academic year. On a vote of 6-0 with one member, Diana Belair, absent, the committee accepted the proposal of Superintendent Joseph Curtis that would see a Middle School Restructuring Committee organized later this month. That committee would continue studying possible grade configurations, assess data on student performance and gather feedback from stakeholder groups 0 Comments
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The Retired Investor: Presidents Have a Long History of Fed Bashingby Bill Schmick,
04:49PM / Thursday, August 15, 2024 | |
Many on Wall Street are horrified that a presidential candidate might want to erode the independence of the Fed. Some have even called the idea the biggest threat to the U.S. economy. Any student of central bank history would beg to disagree. We all would like to think that the Federal Reserve Bank's independence is sacrosanct. Once appointed by the president, the chairman of the Fed has the right and the duty to make decisions solely based on what is best for the economy and the labor force. The problem has been that many past presidents thought they knew best and sometimes they did. A president can indeed both appoint and fire the Fed chair as well as most member 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Launches Campaign For New Trash, Collection System| 10:40AM / Thursday, August 15, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Beginning early this fall, residential curbside trash and recycling will be picked up by an automated side-load truck.
Residences with four or less units will be receive one recycling cart (also known as toter) and one trash cart per household/unit. The recycling cart is expected to be delivered starting in mid- September to early October, one collection route at a time. The trash cart will then be delivered in mid-October to early November, one collection route at a time. A schedule with more information can be found on the city's website: Cart Delivery & Pickup (revize.com)
There is no need for residents to be home to receive their carts. As part of 0 Comments
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St. George Greek Fest| 04:00PM / Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The St. George Greek Orthodox Church of the Berkshires will host its annual Greek Fest on Aug. 17 and 18. This year's festival will be held indoors at the Hillcrest Academy, located at 400 Columbus Avenue Extension in Pittsfield. The event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free, and the festival will feature Greek music, dancers, and a variety of traditional Greek foods including pastitsio, souvlaki, gyros, spanakopita, and Greek pastries. The festival will proceed rain or shine, with all activities taking place indoors. Free parking is available. For more information 0 Comments
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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better WagesBy Katherine von Haefen , Guest Column
02:04PM / Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | |
 As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners. Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families. Berkshire United Way has invested in 0 Comments
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Greylock Federal Joining Credit Union CollaborativeBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
06:29PM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union is moving some of its back-office operations to a collaborative network but says customers shouldn't see any difference. This is expected to affect a percentage of employees over the next two years. "This is a group of credit unions sharing operational resources," said President and CEO John Bissell on Tuesday, adding these include informational technology, areas of lending and quality that are more "business to business" aspects of the credit union's operations. Greylock will join with three other credit unions in what is called a credit union service organization, or 0 Comments
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Chili's Grill & Bar Closes in PittsfieldBy Stephen Dravis, iBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The casual dining restaurant chain Chili's is pulling up stakes at its Hubbard Avenue location. On Tuesday afternoon, there were moving trucks outside the location, as first reported by Pittsfield Community Television on its Facebook page, and a call to the location was answered by an employee who reported that the restaurant had no plans to reopen. Inquiries to Chili's parent corporation, Brinker International, were not immediately returned on Tuesday afternoon. There is no information posted on Brinker's website about any wider closures. The Chili's location in Bennington, Vt., remains open as of Tuesday 0 Comments
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Park Square Maple Couldn't Weather Summer StormsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:24PM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — One of Park Square's trees wasn't able to weather the summer storms.
A large limb from a 32-foot sugar maple in the park fell next to the fountain area over the weekend. Caution tape and traffic barrels now surround the aftermath. If it cannot be saved, it will likely be replaced.
This tree was assessed two years ago as part of the Park Square Tree Planting Project and deemed to be in "fair to good" condition. Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath explained that it was showing deadwood and areas on top were experiencing dieback but planners hoped to clean it up to "serve our needs into the
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Pittsfield Awarded Clean Water Grant| 08:03AM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust's (the Trust) Board of Trustees approved $60,492,784 in new low-interest loans and grants at its meeting on August 7, 2024. Pittsfield was awarded a $445,104 Lead Service Line Planning Grant The Trust, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), helps communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources, ensures the safety of drinking water, protects public health and develops resilient communities. It accomplishes these objectives by providing low-interest loans and grants to cities, towns and water utilities 0 Comments
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Pittsfield Nonprofit Asks for Building Permit ForgivenessBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Westside Legends would like a helping hand from the city in the form of fee forgiveness for an upcoming condo project.
The City Council will return from its summer break on Tuesday. Among the nearly 40-item agenda is a petition from the nonprofit requesting a waiver of all building permit fees for "Project Legacy," an affordable first-time homebuyers development.
According to the City Code, new residential construction costs $0.35 per square foot ($150 minimum.)
The nonprofit plans to build 16 new units on a vacant lot at the corner of Columbus Avenue and South John Street. It says this will meet the need for more affordable
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