2nd Street Seeks Submissions for Literary Project

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 2nd Street seeks submissions for Using Our Outside Voices, a literary project created in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC) that is designed to promote creativity, acceptance and inclusion for presently or formerly incarcerated men and women in Berkshire County. The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2024.
 
Authors whose work is selected will receive a cash award of $200, and winning submissions will be published in a journal. The initial run of 400 printed copies of the free journal will be distributed locally, and digital copies will be available online. In addition, public readings will be held at various venues in the Berkshires.
 
Any presently or formerly incarcerated resident of Berkshire County is invited to submit original poetry, short fiction, personal essays or other literary works. Those who need editorial help can bring their work to 2nd Street, located at 264 Second Street, Pittsfield.
 
For more details on how to submit a literary work, visit www.2nd-street.org and click Special Projects, or call (413) 443-7220, ext. 1275. 
 
Financial and in-kind support of Using Our Outside Voices is provided by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation; by Berkshire United Way; by Berkshire Community College; and by Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Animal Control Commission Eyes Animal Abuse Registry

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Animal Control Commission organized itself late last month and floated a couple of areas to address. 

This includes a registry of animal cruelty offenders and handling issues with off-leash dogs at Kirvin Park. The commission is no longer in charge of dangerous or nuisance dog hearings

"Now that we have two separate commissions, the Animal Control Commission and the Hearing Authority, the Animal Control Commission is going to oversee sort of the rules, regulations, and city ordinances for Pittsfield regarding animals, dogs, cats, etc.," Animal Control Officer Kristin Quintal explained. 

"So, if there are any issues that the community wants to discuss regarding park situations, any changes to the city ordinances, things like that." 

During a brief meeting on June 30, the commission welcomed new members John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's executive director, and Tricia Phillips, the Humane Society's community outreach coordinator. 

Perreault was elected chair, and Phillips was elected secretary. 

In 2025, Pittsfield made a separate authority for dangerous dog hearings and made changes to the Animal Control Commission, including fewer members and no requirement for veterinarian representation on the panel. 

"So this commission is supposed to meet four times a year to discuss happy things," Renee Dodds, the former chair, told members last year. 

The commission meets quarterly to "study, review, and issue written reports on issues dealing with dogs or other animals in the City and shall coordinate to the fullest extent possible the work of all public and private agencies concerned with animal care, protection and control," the City Code reads. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories