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Men Initiating Change from North Berkshire prepare to march on Thursday.
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Remembering those lost to domestic violence.
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The Ninth Walk A Mile In Her Shoes Hits North Street

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Local and state representatives join the march. See more photos here.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of men stepped into their high heels to participate in the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes march on Thursday night. Although it was not the most graceful of miles, it raised some big money to support the Elizabeth Freeman Center.
 
"It takes a community to make change and we are that community and for the past nine years, we have been gathering here," Elizabeth Freeman Center Executive Director Janis Broderick said before the march on North Street during Third Thursday. "We are increasing awareness, developing new partnerships, and we are creating new partnerships to reach people better and sooner."
 
The nonprofit center provides counseling, shelter, and legal advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence. It has offices in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington.
 
Broderick said this year so far they have raised at least $75,000. She said there is still money to be counted.
 
The march has featured men wearing "her shoes" although women also participate. People marched individually and in teams and the group included community leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and folks who just wanted to help spread awareness of gender violence and make a difference.
 
Broderick said there are increasing levels of violence in the country and in Berkshire County. Those lost to domestic and sexual violence will not be forgotten, she said, as she reached out to those who are suffering by reiterating that they are not alone.
 
"Violence must stop tonight. We are people from throughout Berkshire County and we stand together, stepping out united," she said. "Together we are powerful and violence is preventable. No more rape, no more death, nor more violence."
 

Tags: awareness event,   domestic violence,   elizabeth freeman center,   walk a mile,   

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Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A few projects are not getting funded by the Community Preservation Committee because of a tight budget.

The projects not making the cut were in the historic preservation and open space and recreation categories and though they were seen as interesting and valuable projects, the urgency was not prevalent enough for this cycle.

"It's a tough year," Chair Danielle Steinmann said.

The panel made its recommendations on Monday after several meetings of presentations from applications. They will advance to the City Council for final approval.  

Two cemetery projects were scored low by the committee and not funded: A $9,500 request from the city for fencing at the West Part Cemetery as outlined in a preservation plan created in 2021 and a $39,500 request from the St. Joseph Cemetery Commission for tombstone restorations.

"I feel personally that they could be pushed back a year," Elizabeth Herland said. "And I think they're both good projects but they don't have the urgency."

It was also decided that George B. Crane Memorial Center's $73,465 application for the creation of a recreational space would not be funded. Herland said the main reason she scored the project low was because it didn't appear to benefit the larger community as much as other projects do.

There was conversation about not funding The Christian Center's $34,100 request for heating system repairs but the committee ended up voting to give it $21,341 when monies were left over.

The total funding request was more than $1.6 million for FY24 and with a budget of $808,547, only about half could be funded. The panel allocated all of the available monies, breaking down into $107,206 for open space and recreation, $276,341 for historic preservation, and $425,000 for community housing.

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