Home From Afghanistan, Mount Greylock Vice Principal Settling In

Schutz addressed the 120-member class of seventh-graders in a midday meeting in the school's gymnasium, on his third day back after serving a year in the National Guard.

Wayfair Bringing 300 Jobs to Pittsfield

Home decor distributor Wayfair is planning to bring 300 jobs to the city. The Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council this morning approved $31.4 million in tax breaks to the Boston-based retailer. Wayfair Inc. will in return add up to 3,000 jobs in the Boston area and establish a call center in Pittsfield.

Renovated Olympic Pizza Reopens in Williamstown

Owner Stella Giannaris has reopened the eatery with a new look and expanded menu after being closed for six weeks.

North Adams Council Restores Fire, Police Chief Titles

The adoption was prompted by the announced retirement of Police Director Michael Cozzaglio, who has been in his post for 15 years. However, the changes have been discussed off and on after the past administration abandoned attempts to fill the commissioner of public safety post six years ago.

Coding Error Pushed North Adams' Violent Crimes Stats Higher

A coding error discovered last month in the software used in crime reporting designated all assaults as felonies. Fixing it has dropped the number of aggravated assault cases so far this year by 46 percent.

Berkshire Medical Center Shows Off New Technology

Berkshire Medical Center is hoping to get people back to their everyday lives quicker with the help of new technology. The hospital recent upgraded its daVinci Robot to lessen the invasiveness of surgery and purchased a new EksoGT robotic exoskeleton to help patients who had strokes or spinal cord injuries learn to walk again. On Wednesday the hospital showed off the new equipment in its lobby, displaying all of the cool features the equipment has to offer

BRTA Work Stoppage Playing Havoc With Regular Bus Routes

The work stoppage has affected the regular Berkshire Regional Transit Authority bus routes, causing havoc for people trying to get to jobs, schools and other appointments.

Pittsfield Seeks Input on Tyler Street Streetscape Plans

After months of working on conceptual designs and working with stakeholders, officials are now taking the vision for a streetscape plan to the wider public.

Chapter Two Books Opens in Williamstown to Support Milne Library

Chapter Two Books, operated by Friends of the David and Joyce Milne Library, held its grand opening on Thursday at its location at 37 Spring St. with a ribbon cutting celebrated by local officials, library employees and Friends.

North Adams Celebrates Lighting of First Menorah

The Jewish community has been an integral part of North Adams for more than a century, but not until Sunday, the start of the eight nights of the Festival of Lights, did Hanukkah become part of the city's holiday celebrations.

North Adams Trustees Want Voice in Library Director Candidates

The trustees said they wanted to see applications first before sending them off to the mayor – who ultimately will make the decision.

Mount Greylock School Building Committee Presses Contractor on Auditorium

At the latest meeting of the School Building Committee, the panel pressed Turner Construction Vice President Carl Stewart III for a date when the general contractor finally will finish work on the school's auditorium.

Adams Selectmen Get Transfer Station Update

Before moving on, the Selectmen discussed what day during the week the transfer station would be open during summer. Ultimately the board agreed on Thursday but noted this could change if it does not work out this coming summer.

Berkshire Palate Opens in Williamstown

Many of the dishes on the Berkshire Palate menu can be found on the restaurant's Facebook page. Dishes include the "Pig Wing," a roasted sugar pumpkin dip with crostini and chile-toasted pumpkin seeds and seared salmon with quinoa, kale, and grains.

Pignatelli Honored As 'River Hero'

Pignatelli and Gobi were responsible for the passage of a $2.4 billion Environmental Bond Bill, signed by Gov. Baker in July, which allocated $55 million in funds for river and wetland restoration programs across the commonwealth. In Pignatelli's own Fourth Berkshire District, he allocated $400,000 in funds for the upkeep and expansion of the W.E.B. DuBois river garden park and the Housatonic river walk.

PEDA: Waterstone Contract Expires Saturday

The site of a proposed Walmart Supercenter will be back on the market following a year of inactivity. Pittsfield Economic Development Authority Executive Director Corydon Thurston said since Walmart pulled out of the plans developed by Waterstone Retail to redevelop the 16.5-acre site at the William Stanley Business Park there hasn't been any new activity. PEDA has signed an agreement holding the property for the developer for a year and that expires on Saturday.

Marino Receives McCann Superintendent's Award

Principal Justin Kratz said the business tech senior from North Adams has a 4.27 grade-point average and is president of the school's Business Professionals of America chapter.

What Is Smarter: Paying Off Debts or Investing?

Wherever this money comes from, you will want to put it to good use. Should you use the cash to pay down debts or should you invest it instead?

Hoosac Valley Athletes Paint Wall of Recognition

The Student-Athlete Leadership Council have honored local veterans with a mural at Hoosac Valley High School.

Hundreds Turn Out for North Adams Wreath-Laying Memorial

They spread out over the city's cemeteries on Saturday, more than 200 volunteers seeking out names and placing wreaths. It was part of the National Wreaths Across America Day, what is becoming an annual event to remember those who served in the nation's military. More than 3,000 wreaths were placed on graves at Southview, Hill Side, Blackinton and St. Joseph's cemeteries.

North Adams Elks Donation Helps Veterans Wreath Effort

Among the donations has been $2,000 total through the local Elks Lodge, which has made a point of supporting veterans and other community efforts.

Pittsfield Council Approves New Water and Sewer Rates

The City Council adopted increases to water and sewer rates for both fiscal year 2019 and 2020. The water rates are now set to go up 10 percent starting on Jan. 1 and then another 10 percent on July 1. Sewer rates are now slated to increase 50 percent on Jan. 1 and remain that way through 2020.

Paratransit Workers Vote Work Stoppage Over Contract

In a statement, the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority said the paratransit service will not operate during the strike.

Harrington Adds Two More to District Attorney's Office Leadership

District Attorney-elect Andrea Harrington added two more to her leadership team on Tuesday. Richard Dohoney will be brought on as Harrington's deputy district attorney and Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as chief of appeals and legal counsel. Dohoney, of Great Barrington, is currently the city solicitor. Kempthorne is a former federal prosecutor working in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston for 11 years.

Single Car Accident Causes Road Closure in Williamstown

A little after noon, a car southbound on U.S. Route 7 lost control, striking and severing a utility pole on the west side of the road, according to Williamstown Police.

Pittsfield Firefighters Donate Christmas Gifts to DCF

The city's firefighters are helping to provide a good Christmas to children in DCF care. The firefighters union continued its annual holiday tradition of buying gifts for more than two dozen local children involved with the Department of Children and Families. The firefighters had taken the names of 25 children, what they'd like for Christmas, and then headed out to shop for them.

State Crafting Plan For Unique Issues of Rural Towns

Rural towns have their own challenges. And now the state is taking a closer look at this issues. In 2015, the state Legislature created the Rural Policy Advisory Commission and this year the group has been on a listening tour to dig into those issues. On Thursday, the tour was in Berkshire County to get a better understanding of the issues here.

Pittsfield to Continue With Wastewater Treatment Project Plan

After six hours spanning two nights, the City Council opted not to ask the mayor to hold off on the $74 million wastewater treatment project. The City Council had given the OK earlier this year for the mayor to borrow up to $74 million for significant upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant

Christmas Comes Early at North Adams Veterans Office

Lined up in ranks across tables and the floor were shopping bags, wrapped gifts, cards and sports bags filled with necessities were ready for pickup on Friday morning at the North Adams Veterans Office.

Dalton Senior Center Cuts Ribbon on New Exercise Park

The senior center has made it a bit easier for people to be healthy and fit even later in life. Through a grant from AARP, a half dozen pieces of outdoor workout equipment have been installed on the property. The hope is to make it easier for the seniors to get moderate workouts alongside their peers to stay healthier.

Late Representative's Will Leaves $420,000 to North Adams

The late state representative's "remarkable, unbelievable generosity" in providing $420,000 in bequests to the city of North Adams was announced by Mayor Thomas Bernard on Tuesday.

Hoosic River Revival Founder Grinnell Steps Down

Judith Grinnell and some of the organization's longest-serving members passed the torch on Wednesday to a new board and new Executive Director Jason LaForest with a mission to continue their work.

Cheshire Appoints St. John as Interim Town Administrator

The two selectman were unanimous on Tuesday in voting to hire Edmund St. John IV as the interim town administrator for four months. The agreement puts behind the discord that occurred over who to hire for the post, at least for the time being.

Harrington Prepares to Take Over District Attorney's Office

If Andrea Harrington wants to make the changes to the office that voters elected her to make, it is going to require the right team of staff members. And that's whats Harrington has been spending her last month or so building. Harrington defeated incumbent Paul Caccaviello in the November election and since then the Richmond Democrat has been focusing finding people she believes in to take leadership rolls in the next incarnation of the district attorney's office.

North Adams Council to Take Up Public Safety Chief Changes

Mayor Thomas Bernard had pledged nearly two weeks to move forward with the change with the looming retirement of Police Director Michael Cozzaglio.

Superior Court Briefs: Dec. 5 - Dec. 6

Pittsfield Police: Multi-agency Operations Lead To 32 Arrests

Police say the series of operations were done both in response to recent violent crimes in the city and the anticipation of dangerous driving behavior during the holidays.