St. Patrick's Celebration to Benefit Hillcrest Educational Centers

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hillcrest Educational Centers’ 11th annual Robert  'Bees' Prendergast St. Patrick’s Celebration will take place Thursday, March 22, at the Country Club of Pittsfield from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets for the celebration are $50 each. Proceeds will benefit the educational programs at Hillcrest Educational Centers. Lead sponsors include, Action Ambulance, Berkshire Money Management, Greylock Federal Credit Union and Pignatelli Electrical Contractors.

In keeping with the event’s Celtic traditions, Hillcrest will honor Dr. Howard "Jake" Eberwein III as its Irish Person of the Year. Eberwein began his career in Berkshire County in 1994 as a biology/chemistry teacher and then served four years as principal of Pittsfield High School before being named superintendent of schools in 2008. Eberwein is also an adjunct professor and has been a member of several state and local committees.

Hillcrest will present the Judge John A. Barry Community Service Award to locally owned Crescent Creamery and principal partners John O'Brien, president, and Robert "Bob" Keegan, vice president. Founded in 1936, the creamery continues to promote a strong culture of allegiance to Berkshire County by the company and its employees' support of community based programs and initiatives.


“This traditional event captures the lively spirit of Hillcrest’s founding board member, Bees Prendergast, and continues his legacy by bringing our longtime, and new, supporters together for an evening," said Hillcrest President and CEO Gerard Burke.

The reception features hors d’oeuvres, buffet selections, door prizes, and live and silent auctions with Irish entertainment provided by the Brodie Mountain Boys. To purchase tickets, contact Sheila Mason, Hillcrest’s director of development and  community outreach, at 413-499-7924, Ext. 133, or smason@hillcrestec.org.
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Pittsfield Seeks Public Input for Draft CDBG Annual Action Plan

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Department of Community Development has released the draft Annual Action Plan outlining how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds will be used to address housing and community development needs in Pittsfield for the city's 2025 fiscal year.
 
The Community Development Office, in conjunction with the City Council's subcommittee on Community and Economic Development, will hold a public hearing on May 21 at 6:00 p.m. on the proposed CDBG program budget and draft 2025 Annual Action Plan. The public hearing will be held at City Hall, 70 Allen Street, in the Council Chambers.
 
The hearing is part of a 30-day public review process that is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides an opportunity for public input on the draft plan. Through what HUD terms an entitlement grant, HUD provides the city with CDBG funding on an annual basis. The 30-day public review and comment period runs from Tuesday, April 23, 2024 until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
 
The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan proposed budget of $2.2 million consists of $1.3 million in estimated new CDBG funds and $140,000 in expected program income and reprogrammed funds as well as an estimated $470,567 in carryover funds.
 
Community Development has proposed using CDBG money during the upcoming 2025 fiscal year for projects that include public facilities, removal of architectural barriers, public services, housing rehabilitation, economic development, clearance, planning activities, and administrative costs.
 
Copies of the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan are available for public review in the Community Development office, and on the city's website: www.cityofpittsfield.org/departments/community_development/community_development_and_housing/index.php
 
If residents are unable to attend the public hearing, they may submit their written comments to Community Development at any time during the 30-day comment period via email at njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org or by mail to the Department of Community Development, 70 Allen St., Room 205, Pittsfield, MA, 01201.
 
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