Tyringham, Mount Washington Flags Added To Great Hall

Print Story | Email Story
Top, 30 Tyringham residents attended their flag presentation. Left, Mount Washington's flag. Both will hang in the Great Hall of Flags.
BOSTON — Two of the Berkshires' smaller communities will have their flags waving in the State House's Great Hall of Flags.

Flags for Tyringham and Mount Washington were presented on July 18 at the State House by Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and the towns' officials.

Tyringham Town Administrator Molly Curtin Schaeffer and Selectman Alan Wilcox were among the presenters of Tyringham's flag to Bureau of State Office Buildings Superintendent John Billera. The flag design was voted on by town residents, 30 of whom came to Boston for the presentation ceremony.

Once properly cataloged by state officials the flags will be added to the impressive display of community flags in the Great Hall of Flags, which is open to State House visitors. The Great Hall of Flags serves as the largest function room in the State House. In 1992, the agency that manages state office space, the BSB, began collecting official flags from the 351 commonwealth communities and hanging them throughout the Great Hall in order to improve the acoustics of the room. 

Tags: flags,   Great Hall,   State House,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council OKs Privacy Measure, Sees Bridge Update

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The state plans to remove some of crumbling concrete on the Dalton Avenue bridge and wrap its repairs into a project with the rail trail. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council is taking steps to protect its own privacy, as well as public comment speakers' privacy. 

On Tuesday, councilors voted to remove their home addresses from city documents and websites and replace them with 70 Allen St., or City Hall, to improve safety. It was brought forward by Ward 4 Councilor James Conant, Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, and Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham. 

"This is an easy proposal to support," Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said. 

While this doesn't completely block their addresses from public view, as they are listed elsewhere as residents, it makes them a little harder to access. 

Moody pointed out that a Virginia city councilor was set on fire last year by a member of the public. NBC News reported that the attack stemmed from a personal matter. 

"I don't think anybody worries about me being able to defend myself, but I do have children, and I worry for them," Moody explained. 

Warren pointed out that they have done the same for those who speak at public comment. When he was first elected into office years ago, people picketed at his home for his stance on a School Committee issue. 

"Back then, it wasn't that big a deal. Now we find ourselves in very divisive times," Warren said. 

View Full Story

More Tyringham Stories