Police Officers to Raise Money for Special Olympics Massachusetts

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Don't be alarmed on Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, when heading to the Pittsfield Wal-Mart for your holiday shopping: Those police vehicles you'll find in the parking lot are a good thing - a very good thing, in fact, for local Special Olympics athletes.

Law enforcement officers from the Pittsfield Police Department, Berkshire County Sheriff's Office and other local and state police agencies, will be taking part in an event called "Cop on Top" – a fundraiser for Special Olympics Massachusetts where local officers volunteer their free time during this holiday season and stand high atop the Pittsfield Wal-Mart until they reach their fundraising goal.

The goal for the Pittsfield event is to raise $55,000. Event organizers are hoping to surpass that goal with an event featuring  food, huge prize raffle, giveaways, local Special Olympics athletes and lots of good-spirited law enforcement officers. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, with the Pittsfield Fire Department hoisting the first brave group of officers on the roof and local Special Olympic athletes lighting the ceremonial Special Olympic cauldron that will burn throughout the event.

Berkshire County Officers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Program for Special Olympics have raised more than $500,000 over the last five years through various fundraising endeavors including Cop on Top. The Berkshire County LETR Program is the highest-grossing fundraising program in the State of Massachusetts.

Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) provides year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programming for nearly 12,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state. Locally, more than 600 athletes take part in Special Olympics programming and are able to do this at no cost.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

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.