Berkshire Benchmarks Releases State of the County Update

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Benchmarks data team recently released a State of the County Update for 2023. 
 
This brief report builds on the Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County Report published in May 2022 and highlights notable changes in regional indicators over the past year. The berkshirebenchmarks.org website has also been updated to reflect the most current available data. 
 
The purpose of the Benchmarks initiative and report is to highlight the region's successes and challenges.
 
The 2022 Berkshire Benchmarks State of the County report provided a comprehensive overview of our region's performance across eight sectors: Economy, Education, Environment, Government, Health, Housing, Social Environment, and Transportation.  
 
In the future, the Berkshire Benchmarks team will continue to monitor these and other indicators to aid with the regional understanding of changes in these sectors and whether the work happening throughout the region is having the intended impact. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks is a collaborative initiative managed through Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). Our sources are publicly available data, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the American Community Survey, various Massachusetts data sets, and periodic surveys of Berkshire County residents. 
 
Berkshire Benchmarks aims to work with the community to understand priorities and help inform the region on how we are doing and if we are improving. Berkshire Benchmarks enhances the region's access to quality data and analysis. 

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Pittsfield Council Preview: Firework Funds and Morningside Public Safety Request

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday will accept donations used to fund a belated Fourth of July fireworks display and see a councilor's request to consider reusing Morningside Community School as a police station. 

On the agenda for July 14 is a $22,000 gift from various individuals and organizations to support the fireworks, which went off on July 8 in the area of Wahconah Park. Pittsfield Cooperative Bank contributed $10,000, and George Haddad and Berkshire Property Managers each contributed $6,000. 

Pittsfield could not secure a vendor for the Fourth of July, but one was available a few days later because of a cancellation in another state. While there was no city-sponsored fireworks show on the Fourth of July this year, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, a fireworks display was held on Wednesday evening. 

Community members gathered around the Wahconah Park area to watch the show; the property is under construction while the grandstand is being demolished. 

"The city would like to extend a special thank you to the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, George Haddad, and Berkshire Property Managers for their support and sponsorship to make this year's fireworks display possible," Mayor Peter Marchetti wrote. 

The 2026 parade on July 4, "America 250 — Pittsfield Celebrates the Generations," celebrated 250 years of the nation and Pittsfield.  People, floats, cars, balloons, and more proceeded down South, North, and Wahconah streets to thousands of spectators.

Morningside recently retired as an elementary school after the School Committee determined that its lack of classroom walls created a difficult, noisy learning environment and impacted student success.  Students are reassigned to Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams elementary schools. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham wants the city to explore turning the school into a "public safety and community resource hub."

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