Electrical Glitch Fizzles Pittsfield Fireworks

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An electrical malfunction shortened the Fourth of July firework display at Wahconah Park.

The company hired for the fireworks display is guaranteeing a "spectacular show" Friday to make up for an electrical problem on the Fourth of July that led to a shortened show.

"The report I got was that there was an electrical problem. We are planning on — at the next fireworks show — doing double," Atlas PyroVision Productions Vice President Matthew Shea said on Tuesday. "You never know when things will break and we want to make it up to everybody."

Not all of the fireworks slated for the show were launched, he said.

The shortened display led to disappointment in thousands inside and outside of the park. The show lasted less than five minutes and, with people still waiting, the team announced the display had ended.

According to Lisa Blackmer, an employee with the Colonials, nobody was injured in the malfunction.



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Neal Tours Berkshire Innovation Center as Pittsfield's Tech Economy Grows

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. —Congressman Richard Neal visited the Berkshire Innovation Center Thursday to highlight $735,000 in federal funding secured for a new cybersecurity training and testing facility.
 
"The number one job of the federal government is to provide for the security of its people. I mean, we should never lose sight of that, whether it's China or Russia, every single day there are these belligerents that are attempting to infiltrate national security here in the United States, and we should not be naive about it," Neal said. "I mean, we can have an argument about proportionality; we can do a lot of different things, but not to miss the point of what they're trying to do every day."  
 
The new cybersecurity facility will provide regional manufacturers and businesses with research and design equipment, specialized lab space, and training facilities and is planned to be housed in a to-be-redeveloped space across the street from the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), located at 45 Woodlawn Ave.
 
The derelict property, formerly owned by General Electric, is now known as the William Stanley Business Park.
 
The project is a $7.2 million dollar investment from the state, $5.2 million from the tech collaborative, $2 million from bond funding secured by Neal, and $1 million that will be split into two phases: $500,000 for BIC to begin building and $500,000 for Myrias Optics to start production in Pittsfield, said Mayor Peter Marchetti. 
 
BIC Executive Director Ben Sosne said manufacturers often highlight the need for help with cybersecurity, particularly in meeting the security requirements necessary to conduct business with General Dynamics and other major contractors.
 
Collaborators in the field and the public sector have recognized the need that has only grown since technology has advanced and is a great career opportunity, Sosne said. 
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