Election 2015: Carpenters Union Endorses Bianchi

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Press release from the New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local Union 108 as submitted by its business representative, Timothy Craw.

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local Union 108 is very proud to stand with Mayor Dan Bianchi in his re-election for mayor of Pittsfield.
 
Dan has laid out a vision for Pittsfield that is coming to fruition with critical projects like the Berkshire Innovation Center and the new Taconic High School. His vision is that which has and will put people back to work in our region to create the good paying jobs with real benefit that our community needs.

Through not only works but his very actions, Dan has proven that he believes in and aligns accurately with our mission of improving our member lives, futures and trade. He has consistently demonstrated over these past four yeas as our mayor that he is the right person for the job. We the officers and member of Carpenter Union Local 108 wholeheartedly endorse his candidacy.

"Gaining the endorsement of the Local 108 Carpenters means a great deal to me. My father was an immigrant who came to this country with next to nothing and it was only for the fact that he became a member of a union that he was able to educate his three children. It was the labor movement that built our strong middle class and allowed families like the Bianchis to be part of the American dream. I never forget that and I am proud each and every time I gain an endorsement such as this," said Bianchi.


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Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments. 

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work. 

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks. 

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed. 

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.  

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.

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