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Gray Raven Farm Moves to Center of Lanesborough
Gray Raven Farm has moved its store to the center of town. Dan and Sharon Bergeron have moved their store to 65 North Main Street, filling a vacant storefront across the street from the police station. The two had been leasing the former Bradley Farm.
Pittsfield Council OKs $175M Operating Budget, $11M Capital Plan
The City Council approved both the operating budget and the capital budget on Tuesday, June 11,but not before one more match of pickleball.
Pot Shop Proposes Moving Into Adams Oasis Property
Another marijuana retail facility is seeking permission to operate in Adams, this one within the Oasis package store.
Pittsfield Board Pulls Back Permitting Restrictions On Proprietor's Lodge
The Community Development Board is temporarily halting its request that city officials halt all permitting for additions to Proprietor's Lodge but will be keeping a close eye on the operations. The lodge received a special permit earlier this year from parking requirements and it had presented a parking management plan. The permit was needed because of additional space being created but Proprietor's was not expanding its occupancy. The lodge was given a special permit to add a deck, ceremony
Berkshires Receiving Nearly $8M in Chapter 90 Funds
About $7,820,310 of that will be heading to the Berkshires with the largest amount — $1.4 million — going to Pittsfield and its nearly 200 miles of roads. The second largest amount of $435,324 goes to the county's other city, North Adams, which has just over 70 miles of road.
Adult Learning Center Grads Get New Lease on Life
When Brittany Sullivan lost her sister, her life spiraled out of control. "When I was 14 years old, my sister died suddenly in a car accident. This sent me into a downward spiral that led me to drinking, smoking, and dipping into opioids, which eventually got me kicked out of my home at 17. Shortly after, I dropped out of high school," Sullivan said.
Warbler Waves Migrating Through Berkshires
Despite the cool spring weather, waves of warblers and songbirds are reaching their familiar feeding grounds, in the deciduous woodlands and sylvan edges, like the banks of the Hoosic River in North Adams.
Cheshire to Look Into Road Grader Options
After plans to buy a used road grader were decisively rebuffed at town meeting on Monday night, the Board of Selectmen says it will seek out a different avenue for a the road equipment.
Anti-Bias Training Program Seeks to Create Leaders in Berkshire Schools
It takes confidence for a student to speak out and interfere when another is being harassed or bullied. It takes confidence the skill to step in when somebody is being targeting other students with hateful words. Schools traditionally would bring in a speaker or hold an assembly and adults would preach to the students when the issues erupted into something, when something bad happened. And then the assembly would end and there wouldn't be until it happened again.
Lanesborough Town Meeting Approves $10.7M Budget and More
Town meeting approved 35 of 38 warrant articles Tuesday night including the $10.7 million budget, a study for a future police station, but denied the sale of a parcel of land the town owns on North Main Street originally intended for senior housing. The meeting came with few fireworks, unlike last year, and moved along at a decent clip considering the number of articles. Moderator Chris Dodig, at his first annual town meeting, set the tone early.
Taconic Graduates 'Class of Change'
The seniors at Taconic were known as the "class of change" and lead the way to break in the new school. The new Taconic was opened for classes for the first time this year and the nickname "class of change" was given to the seniors. They were the ones to break in the new structure while watching the school that had spent the previous three years be torn down.
Republic Services Donates to Four Pittsfield Community Organizations
Republic Services doesn't just clean up the city's trash. It helps to clean up the community. The city's trash hauler makes annual donations to various organizations throughout the city. This year four organizations were chosen by Mayor Linda Tyer for donations eyed to help make the city a better place. The South Congregational Food Pantry was again a recipient. Republic Services has donated to the food pantry on multiple occasions and employees hold food drives to get additional donations
Coalition Celebrates Another Year of Building Community
Parts of that hole, however, could be filled by the inspiring and uplifting words of the speakers who came to the podium on Friday to share what the idea of "building community" — the theme of the meeting, complete with a Lego brick motif and cake — meant to them.
Drury High Class of 2019 Offers Inspiration to Future Classes
Vincienza Alicandri in her valedictory address on Thursday night lauded Drury High School and its teachers for setting the class of 2019 on the road to success.
PHS Students Ready to Be Accountable Adults
Class President Trista Dearstyne believes the class is ready. She said entering the adult world is scary but because of the lessons they learned in high school has prepared them for it. She said the students can succeed in college, in the military, or in careers
MCLA Launches Institute of Arts and Humanities
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is partnering with the area's myriad cultural entities to further its mission as an inclusive educational institution.
Farley-Bouvier, Hinds Chat Environmental Issues At Pittsfield Forum
The state hopes to see more renewable energy from solar and thus incentives solar development. However, the way the programs are currently established, the solar often comes at the expense of cutting trees. "We have perverse incentives for solar. It is cheaper for a developer to come in and cut down a whole bunch of trees to do something for the environment," state Rep. Farley-Bouvier said.
BRTA Expanding Evening Bus Service Beginning July 1
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority will increase its evening bus service to include transportation to North Adams and Great Barrington beginning on Monday, July 1.
North Adams Library to Renovate Two More Rooms
The Historical Society and trustees of the North Adam Public Library have allocated funds to renovate some unfinished rooms in the library to store archival material.
Pittsfield Council Rejects Pickleball From $10.7M Capital Budget
The City Council spiked funding for the building of pickleball courts at Springside Park but did endorse the plan to get rid of the former Hess Gas Station on Tyler Street in the capital budget approved on Tuesday. The pickleball courts had become somewhat controversial this year as the city's Office of Community Development, Parks Commission, and the Berkshire Mountain Pickleball Club settled on a plan to construct the new courts next to the water tower at Springside Park on the Benedict Roa
Pittsfield High Names Class Speakers & Top 10 for 2019
Trista Dearstyne, president of the Pittsfield High School class of 2019, will speak at the graduation ceremony at Tanglewood in Lenox on Sunday, June 9, at 4:00pm.
Mount Greylock School District Seeks Williamstown Resident to Fill Vacant Committee Seat
The Mount Greylock Regional School District has a vacancy on its School Committee and less than a month to fill the position.
Pittsfield Police Advisory Sees First Two Internal Affairs Cases
The Police Advisory and Review Board's training wheels are coming off. The group has spent the last few months brushing up on various police policies, taking ride alongs with officers, and review two very different types of internal affairs cases. Now, the group is expected to start operating more independently, choosing officers and establishing its own procedures after begin guided by Police Chief Michael Wynn for these last few months.
Sunshine, Warm Temps Finally Arrive in the Berkshires
After a rainy spring, this weekend might finally feel like summer in the Berkshires.
Tools Are Great for Father's Day – and for Investors
In fact, the construction process is valuable for anyone to learn – and the same skills that go in to creating and mending physical objects also can be applied to financial projects – such as working toward a comfortable retirement.
Two Pittsfield Firefighters Resign After Residency Challenged
Two newly hired firefighters resigned after it was found they had falsely claimed residency to get a boost in the Civil Service exam. The Civil Service Commission called for an investigation into the matter after a bypass appeal was filed late last fall. Justin Brady had taken the exam but did not get the job. He filed a grievance with the Civil Service Commission claiming three candidates - Lucas Perry, Jonathan LaCasse, and Nicholas Amuso - above him did not qualify for the residency prefer
Cheshire Selectmen Address Pothole Complaints
The town may create a Highway Department Capital Committee to help prioritize road projects and asses other department issues.
Signage, Public Awareness Means Less Dog Waste in Adams
Board of Health member Bruce Shepley said with new signage on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and public awareness there seems to be fewer dog feces on the trail.
Mount Greylock Regional Names 2019 Graduation Speakers
Adam Cohen and Clare Sheedy have been selected to address the class of 2019 at the Mount Greylock Regional School graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, in the school gymnasium.
Mount Greylock Grads Told to 'Make Change Happen'
Initially divided, now unified yet diverse, the Mount Greylock Regional School class of 2019 was graduated Saturday morning and given one last reminder of how "unspecial" it truly is.
North Adams Council Delays Approval of Fiscal 2020 Budget
The City Council on Tuesday punted the fiscal 2020 budget approval another two weeks on the recommendation of Councilor Marie T. Harpin.
North Adams Planners Want Permitting for Church 'NOMADS'
The Planning Board has told New Hope United Methodist Church on State Street that it must apply for a special permit to allow RVs to park on its property.
Lenox High Graduates Ready to Take Flight
The 49 graduates of Lenox Memorial High School are ready for the risks ahead as they leave the close-knit class of 2019 and learn to fly.
North Adams Schools to Tout Opportunities at Drury High
Declining enrollment and school choice options are lending some competitive overtones to local school districts and Drury High School to make sure parents understand what it has to offer.
