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Pittsfield Parks Panel Wants 'Blue Lives Matter' Flag Removed
The Parks Commission is asking the Kiwanis Club to remove two flags — one of which has become linked to white supremacy — from its Park of Honor on Park Square.
Williamstown Town Manager: Change in Police Leadership 'On the Table'
DIRE Committee member Aruna D'Souza pressed the pair about whether that conversation could include a step that many in town have been calling for since August's release of a discrimination suit by a sergeant against the town, Hoch and Police Chief Kyle Johnson.
Pittsfield Aims to Make Lower-Income Neighborhoods Greener
Studies have shown that low-income neighborhoods are more concrete or "gray" than higher-income neighborhoods, which can have a deleterious effect on the health of residents, Senior Planner Allison Egan told the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on Thursday.
North Adams Fire Chief Meranti to Retire
Meranti and Mayor Thomas Bernard announced the chief's retirement after more than three decades working with the city. His last day will be Jan. 26, 2021.
North Adams Keeping Eye on Coronavirus Spread
North Adams has remained in the lowest category with eight new cases in the past two weeks and six in the to weeks prior to that for a total of 75 to date. In contrast, the county logged 159 new cases in the past two weeks, the bulk of those in Pittsfield.
Pittsfield Parks Commission Sets Date to Evacuate Homeless
The commission will be evacuating the park by Dec. 1 in hopes these individuals will choose to relocate to the recently reopened COVID-19 shelter at the former St. Joseph's high school on Maplewood Avenue.
'Noodle Belts' Allow for Fun Social Distancing at Hancock School
Janet Tremblay, who has been teaching Grades 4 and 5 for six years, constructed "noodle belts" for her students to assist with social distancing during recess time.
Pittsfield Sees Residential Values, Tax Bills Increase
The City Council on Tuesday set a rate that will see residential tax bills rise by about 2.5 percent, or about $100 for the average homeowner.
Commonwealth Urges Residents to Do What It Takes to 'Get Back'
The hashtag "GetBackMass" is part of the latest public awareness campaign launched by the commonwealth. The focus of television and digital advertising will be to promote the idea that "normal" activities can only resume after the threat of the novel coronavirus has subsided.
Transportation & Climate Initiative Touted for Benefits to Rural Communities
A multi-state plan to reduce carbon emissions and invest in more sustainable transportation could be in action as soon as 2022, advocates said last week.
Williamstown Planners Developing Plan to Link Pot Grow Area to Setbacks
The Planning Board last week began filling in some of the blanks in a new cannabis production bylaw it hopes to send to town meeting in the spring. And it agreed to try to set up a panel discussion with outside experts for early December.
Pittsfield Neighborhood Plans Holiday Lights Display on Thanksgiving Eve
The three neighbors agreed that it would be a great idea to do something together, so Hanson said they decided to blast it out there. The goal is to get the whole neighborhood to participate and create a fairytale experience for both themselves and bystanders.
Christmas Trees Delivered to Carr Hardware
The trees hail from New Hampshire and are Douglas firs.
Update: Jacob's Pillow Theater Fire Cause Still Undetermined
Images posted on Twitter and Facebook show the structure completely destroyed. The state fire marshal's office is reportedly aiding in the investigation.
Budget Amendment Includes Increase For Rural Schools
The Rural School Aid grant program helps school districts with low population densities and lower-than-average incomes address fiscal challenges and take steps to improve efficiency.
SVMC: COVID-19 Update Nov. 23
You’ve heard the news reports. Vermont is breaking records every day for the number of new COVID cases. The highest number of cases every 14 days this spring was 400. In the last 14 days, we have seen 894 cases in our state.
'Ordinary People': The Truth Will Set You Free
In thinking back on those salad days through rose-colored glasses, Dave's pretty Mom looks just like Mary Tyler Moore's Beth Jarrett, the female lead in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People," a beautifully embroidered opus about the tragic chink in the armor of a family of privilege. She likes things just so. Well, gosh, who doesn't?
Carr Hardware To Collect Pajamas For At-Risk Children
This year, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, who annually conduct the drive, teamed up with Carr Hardware to collect new pajamas (sizes newborn to teen) throughout the county.
North Adams Board Drastically Reduces Alcohol License Fees
Local pouring establishments are getting some relief on license fees this coming year to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Licensing Board on Tuesday voted to institute a flat $100 fee for restaurants and taverns that fall under Section 12 in the state code.
BMC Therapy Dog Program Offers Benefits to Patients
At the time, Cormier didn't think that BMC would allow dogs, so she joined forces with another employee to contact organizations and hospitals to find out how they adopted pet therapy programs. Her year-old Newfoundland passed an assessment to become the program's first therapy dog.
Mount Greylock School Committee Again Postpones Decision on Turf Field
But Business Manager Joe Bergeron informed the committee that despite his best efforts to prod the Boston firm, it sent its proposal to the district just after 2 p.m. on Monday, and the committee agreed it did not have enough time to review the proposal for $44,000.
Wells Presented Superintendent's Award at Mount Greylock
McCandless' first awardee in this Northern Berkshire community was Mount Greylock senior Jacqueline Wells, who was formally recognized with the award at Monday's School Committee meeting.
One-Eyed Cat's Pet Contest Win Benefits Humane Society
Joanne LaCrosse won the Berkshire Humane Society a $5,000 prize, 1,000 pounds of Blue Buffalo pet food, and 100 Kong pet toys after her cat Alastor Mini Moody was awarded first place in a national pet contest.
Pittsfield Committee Talks Housing Options for Homeless
The committee on Thursday heard from a number of sources on the issue, including Community Development Director Deanna Ruffer, who said the city has been working agencies to define what type of project would work for a homeless population whose needs have changed.
Parks Commission Approves Concept for Bike Skills Park
McGee has been working with Garrett Pulley of the Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series and Kevin Delaney of the Shire Shredders youth cycling program to put this project together.
Clarksburg Board Confirms Closure of Public Buildings for Interim
Robert and Lauren Norcross, who have become involved in the Senior Center, objected that keeping the community/senior center closed was doing a disservice to the town's elderly.
Mayor Announces a Restaurant Rapid Response Grant Program
The Restaurant Rapid Response Grant program will offer up to $5,000 to eligible restaurants to help with rent, mortgage, utilities, payroll, supplies, and inventory.
Pittsfield Historical Commission OKs Historic Photo Project for CPA Funds
They include a large collection of very early class photos from before the time of yearbooks, famous Pittsfield people, Berkshire County landscapes, and other historical photos and events that are useful for research, especially in genealogy.
Community Thanksgiving Meals Turn to Takeout, Continue Service
But while they know this year will look very different, they could not let a pandemic stop them from plating up turkey and the fixings for those in need.
