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A large crowd dressed in blue attended the afternoon proclamation.
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The mayor and Cory Carlotto.
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Pittsfield Raising Autism Awareness In April

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Cory Carlotto was an honored special guest of Mayor Daniel Bianchi during Thursday's reading of a proclamation to raise awareness of the disease.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Park Square will be lit up with blue lights throughout the month of April to help raise awareness of autism.
 
Hillcrest Educational Centers, Limelight Productions, and the city have teamed up to install blue lights in both Park Square and at City Hall to remind people when they drive by about the impacts and prevalence of autism.
 
On Thursday, Mayor Daniel Bianchi dedicated a proclamation honoring the money to Cory Carlotto, a city resident with the condition. 
 
"Cory is just a wonderful young man. His mom works here in City Hall and he is just a delightful gentleman. He works in the community and is such a pleasure to have around. But he has been impacted by autism as well. It is really important for us as a community to put a face on autism because it really brings it home," Bianchi said.
 
Meanwhile the mayor's office is selling magnets at $5 a piece to help raise money for local organizations that help those with autism. 
 
"It is becoming a tremendous challenge for all communities who are facing these issues. I don't think there is enough research and knowledge about autism but it affects our community. It affects our educational system. And it affects to many families," Bianchi said. "One in 86 children show up on the autism spectrum, which is incredible. As a society we have to get a handle on this. We have to help the families who are struggling with it."
 
In the last decade, prevalence rose from 1 in 166 to 1 in 88. It is still unknown what causes the neurological disorder and there is no cure. The mayor encouraged residents to call federal and state legislators to allocate additional resources for research.
 
Meanwhile, Hillcrest Educational Director of Business Development Michael Supranowicz is hoping to keep the disease in people's minds all month. The organization teamed up with Lenox-based Limelight Productions for the blue lights in Park Square and at City Hall.
 
"Strategic places all over the world have been lit up on April 2 and through the whole month — the Space Needle in Seattle, Wash., the Empire State Building — so we thought we could make an impact in Berkshire County as well," Supranowicz said. "It is really to bring awareness."
 
At dusk on Thursday, the city will turn on the blue lights and leave them on all month.

Tags: autism,   proclamation,   

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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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