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| News and events in Pittsfield, Mass.
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Dalton Swears in New Fire ChiefBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:14AM / Tuesday, January 30, 2024 | |
Fire Chief Christian Tobin is sworn in by Melanie Roucoulet, the Fire District's clerk and treasurer. See more photos here. DALTON, Mass. — The town's new Fire Chief Christian Tobin was welcomed to the department during a swearing-in ceremony at the Stationery Factory on Monday evening. The ceremony that drew in nearly 100 community members was full of laughter and, at times, tears. It also marked an end to a turbulent year that saw multiple changes in leadership and allegations of misconduct within the Fire Department. Tobin has nearly 25 years experience in the field and just recently retired as a deputy chief of operations for the Greater 0 Comments
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Dalton Board OKs Technical Assistance ApplicationBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
02:47PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board last week approved an amended application for Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's District Local Technical Assistance Program (DLTA). If accepted, the DLTA grant would provide the town technical assistance in planning for housing and growth in an effort to address housing needs within the community. BRPC would provide the assistance at no cost to the community. The commission gets money from the state for the DLTA program. The annual programs can have various kinds of focuses and this year is focusing on housing, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. "The desired results, as we say, is first having the town 0 Comments
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County Residents Earn Bay State Games Skating Medals| 02:12PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Dozens of local figure skaters competed in Bay State Games USFS Figure Skating Competitions over the weekend at Williams College's Lansing Chapman Rink. Nine athletes took home gold medals in their groups at the competition. Among the local residents competing in the event were: Basic 2 Girls Group A Samantha Anderson, Lanesborough, Christmas Brook, bronze Aspire 3 Girls Free Skate Group C Amelia Art, Williamstown, Christmas Brook, bronze Basic 3 Boys Lukas Benson, Adams, Christmas Brook, gold Excel Preliminary Girls Free Skate Group D Madlyn Benson, Adams, Christmas Brook, gold Basic 4 Girls Group B Ava 0 Comments
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State Historical Commission Favors Wahconah Park PreservationBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:35PM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Historical Commission wants to see the Wahconah Park grandstand preserved. This was announced to the historic park's restoration committee on Thursday, months after it supported a razed and elevated design. Planners had been trying to get in touch with the state commission for some time and received a formal response after filing a project notification form.
The commission said it "encourages consideration of project alternatives that would preserve the historic grandstand."
Planners said they are are willing to work with Mass Historic and are considering hiring a historic preservation consultant to work as a
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BHS Relaxes Masking and Updates Visitor Guidelines| 10:49AM / Monday, January 29, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass — As respiratory illnesses begin to wane, Berkshire Health Systems is relaxing its masking policy for patients and visitors and has instituted changes in its visitation policy, effective on Monday, Jan 29. The updated masking and visitation guidelines impact all BHS care settings across the county, including Berkshire Medical Center, Fairview Hospital, the North Adams and Hillcrest Campuses of BMC, provider clinics, and the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association. "While the end of the holiday season saw a significant increase in documented respiratory illnesses in the Berkshires, recent weeks have shown an improving trend, which allows us to 0 Comments
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National Grid Encourages Customers to Enroll in Heating Assistance Programs| 04:01PM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
WALTHAM, MA – As winter weather and colder temperatures persist, National Grid is reminding Massachusetts customers to take advantage of energy programs that can help them manage their energy bills. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), commonly referred to as Fuel Assistance, provides eligible households with help in paying a portion of winter heating bills. Enrollment for LIHEAP is free and open through April 30, 2024, and covers energy usage from Nov. 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. LIHEAP is open to both homeowners and renters, including households whose cost of heat is included in rent, and eligibility is based on household size and the gross annual 0 Comments
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State Unemployment and Job Estimates for Dec. 2023| 12:39PM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
BOSTON, Mass. — The state's December total unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the revised November estimate of 2.9 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced. The Massachusetts unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Over-the-year, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down by 0.5 percentage points. The labor force grew by an estimated 13,900 from the revised estimate of 3,729,000 in November, the largest single month increase since January 2022. The increase is a result of 1,300 more 0 Comments
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Local Firefighters Graduate from Firefighting Academy| 12:37PM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recently graduated Class S35 consisting of 27 firefighters representing 16 fire departments including North Adams and Pittsfield. State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said the graduates completed the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. "Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today's graduates are needed now more than ever," said Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they've received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and 0 Comments
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Office of Climate Innovation and Resiliency Welcomes Director of Strategic Initiatives| 08:08AM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
BOSTON — Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer welcomed Nick Black as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience. In this role, Black will work directly with Chief Hoffer on special initiatives like the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Corporate Climate Challenge and develop and execute Massachusetts' long-term climate initiatives, including implementing key EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant deliverables. "I created the Climate Office on my very first day as Governor and ever since, Chief Hoffer and her team have consistently delivered results that advance Massachusetts' whole-of-government approach to 0 Comments
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PHS Students Showing Love With Art Show and FundraiserBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
07:36AM / Sunday, January 28, 2024 | |
Students in teacher Lisa Ostellino's class work on their projects. 'For the Love of Art' will also include senior portfolios, drawings, paintings, photography and other ceramic work. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School students are spreading the love with an art show and fundraiser before Valentine's Day.
The "For the Love of Art" exhibit will debut at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., showcasing students' midway senior portfolios, drawings and paintings, photography, and ceramic works. The show will stay up for one week.
It is the artists' way of showing their passions while helping
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BCARc Grant Helps Support New Home | 04:09PM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc (BCARc) received a $250,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank to help offset the cost of building a new home in Southhampton to give new lives to four men with brain injuries. "This program is part of a statewide effort to move people with brain injuries into communities to live more independently," said Maryann Hyatt, BCArc President and CEO. "The list is long for individuals waiting for a residential program. BCArc will continue to do its part to support people with brain injury." BCArc runs 43 residential programs in Western Massachusetts supporting individuals with brain injuries and development 0 Comments
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New Pittsfield Councilors Reflect on MMA ConferenceBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:12PM / Saturday, January 27, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elected officials and municipal staff traveled to Boston last weekend for the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual meeting and trade show.
Pittsfield had quite a presence at the event with returning and new attendees. Councilor at Large Alisa Costa and Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre attended for the first time after being elected to office in November. Both gathered insightful information they say will aid them in serving the city.
Serre loved sharing conversations with other councilors and learning and making connections so that "we don't reinvent the wheel every time."
"It's about learning best practices from
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