News & Notes: City Clerk Stepping Down; Santa on Parade

By Larry KratkaBerkshire News Network
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Phillips Leaving Pittsfield City Hall

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City Clerk Jody Phillips will be stepping down from her office on Jan. 1. 

This week's edition of the Pittsfield Gazette reports that Phillips decided to accept a position with General Dynamics. Phillips told the Gazette that it was a difficult decision to make but the opportunity happened at just the right time. 

Phillips was elected as city clerk in 1998 and voted to a lifetime tenure by city residents in 2005. In the meantime, Mayor James Ruberto is expected to name an interim city clerk and the position will be on the 2009 municipal election ballot.

Santa Parade Tomorrow

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — If you're in the mood for parade, be in downtown Pittsfield tomorrow morning at 10 for the annual Santa Parade to kick off the annual Santa Fund.  

Organizers say they have firetrucks, bands including the Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps from New York, and other marching units. The parade will travel from Edwin Street behind the Crowne Plaza, to Park Square then proceed up North Street to Maplewood Avenue, where they will disband behind St. Joseph's School. 

Included in the parade will be a Christmas Stocking Brigade to collect money for the Santa Fund, which has a goal this year of $45,000. 
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Pittsfield Earns Road Win at Westfield in Little League Sectional

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Hector Reyes-Colon broke a scoreless tie with a monster home run in the fourth inning, and the Pittsfield Little League All-Stars went on to a 9-1 win over Westfield in the first game of the Section 1 Championship on Wednesday night.
 
Myles Morrison-Gould held Westfield scoreless for 4 and a third innings before Carmelo Coco and Thomas Lacatell finished up as Pittsfield advanced in the winners’ bracket and set up a Thursday date with Holden.
 
Morrison-Gould and Westfield’s Keegan Welch (four strikeouts, four innings pitched) were locked in a pitchers duel until Reyes-Colon stepped into the box with two out in the top of the fourth.
 
He hammered a 1-0 pitch deep over the center field fence to give Pittsfield a 1-0 lead, and the District 1 Championship never looked back.
 
“Hector was just trying to get a base hit there, so that was beautiful,” Pittsfield coach Joe Skutnik said.
 
Skutnik agreed that Reyes-Colon helped break the seal and propel Pittsfield to a five-run rally in the top of the fifth.
 
“That was the second time through the order, too,” he added. “So the second time through, I think we did a lot better job at the plate.”
 
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