Farley-Bouvier Pushes Bill to Raise Tipped Workers Minimum Wage

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier is calling for the elimination of a lower wage for tipped workers. The Pittsfield Democrat joined other lawmakers and Restaurant Opportunities Center on Wednesday at the statehouse to introduce a bill that will gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers until it matches the minimum wage for all other industries.

Mount Greylock Gets Access to School's Auditorium

Mount Greylock Superintendent Kimberley Grady said Monday that the district has received a certificate of occupancy for the middle-high school, an approval that includes use of the school's auditorium.

Williamstown Con Comm OKs Marijuana Farm

The Conservation Commission on Thursday approved plans for an outdoor marijuana plantation near the Green River. But one member of the panel abstained from the decision, citing a potential conflict between the production and sale of the drug and federal law.

Berkshire House Delegation Gets Committee Assignments

State Rep. Paul Mark will again chair the House Committee on Redistricting. Mark was chair for the last two years and will continue to work as the Census begins. The population numbers gathered by the Census is followed by the state redrawing the lines for both the federal and state districts. Mark added that it also affects a significant number of federal and state grant programs which are based on per capita.

McCann School Committee Endorses $9.6M Budget for Fiscal 2020

The committee members had few questions about what Superintendent James Brosnan referred to as "vanilla" fiscal 2020 budget that will increase by $220,769.

Williamstown Looking at Hike in Transfer Station Sticker Prices

Hoch gave the board a broad strokes preview of the budget he will present to the town's Finance Committee. While there was good news on several fronts, the transfer station is a sour note.

Computer Bug Offers Expanded Services in New Location

The Computer Bug offers a wide variety of services including free diagnostics, repair and service of both Mac and Windows PCs, and the sale of new and used computers, parts, and accessories.

Mount Greylock Notifies Families of Missed Water Test

At Thursday's School Committee meeting, Superintendent Kimberley Grady informed the committee of the omission in the campus's regular testing protocol for radium.

Adams Sees New Regional School District's Amended Agreement

The joint meeting on Wednesday included members of the Regional Agreement Amendment Committee who outlined the major changes in the agreement.

Hinds, Pignatelli Field Questions at Kimball Farms Forum

WinterFest Draws Hundreds to Downtown North Adams

This year's annual Chowder Cook-off saw 348 ballots cast for the People's Choice Award and write-ins for the most unique chowder "Only in North Adams" out of the nine contestants.

In Pursuit of Beetle Happiness: Part 2

The most obvious beetle in the milkweed patch is the rosy red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetraophthalumus), surprisingly hard to find in any beetle/insect book. Go Google. Occupying a restricted niche, it is found almost exclusively foraging on milkweed leaves and blossoms.

The Lantern Reopened In Pittsfield

For a century The Lantern has been a stalwart landmark in the city's downtown. Thousands of people have eaten in the restaurant at the corner of Linden and North and it had remained through generations of changes to the city's downtown. But, in 2017, Mark Papas decided it was time to close it.

Adams Holds Town Administrator Interviews

The town has been without a permanent town administrator for more than a year. A first posting for the position failed to attract enough qualified candidates and the job was put on hold and reposted at the beginning of this year.

Clarksburg Officials Want Solar Arrays to Pay Taxes

Town officials estimate that taxing the two ground-mounted arrays could bring in upwards of $27,000 but recent rulings by the Appellate Tax Board have found in favor of industrial solar arrays because of a state law exempting solar facilities.

1Berkshire Calls For 'New Narrative' of Berkshire Economy

The Berkshire economy is growing, according to 1Berkshire. The economic development agency said some $1 billion worth of investment has been made in the county in just the last three years. Now, the organization is asking the business community to embrace a "new narrative" of the county's economic future and has put forth Berkshire Blueprint 2.0, an economic development plan for future growth.

@theMarket: Markets Gain on Hope & a Prayer

Investors remain cautiously optimistic that the wall of worry that has been plaguing us for months may now be crumbling. That's no sure thing, but at least we did have some good news this week.

Hinds, Barrett Call on Big Y to Work With Adams Officials

The town's two state lawmakers are calling on Big Y to work more closely with local officials during the grocery's closing and expected transfer to a new owner.

Superior Court Briefs: Feb. 13

Holiday Hours: Presidents Day

Washington's Birthday will be celebrated on Monday, Feb. 18.

Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Feb. 15-21

Williamstown Planning Board Advances ADU Bylaw Proposals

On a vote of 4-1, the planners agreed on a proposal that would create the potential for more detached accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in the town of 7,800.

Adams Board of Health Wants Memorial Building Inspection

The Board of Health want to make sure the Memorial Building meets all standards before allowing it to be the town's emergency shelter.

North Adams Library Resumes Search for Library Director

Rich Remsberg, acting chairman of the library trustees, reported Wednesday's trustees meeting that the initial search did not solicit enough candidates for the mayor to make a selection.

Hinds Given Committee Assignments: Chairing Revenue, on Ways and Means

State Sen. Adam Hinds will serve as the first stop for many of the big initiatives coming from the State House this year. Hinds was given his committee assignments on Thursday in which he'll chair the Joint Committee on Revenue, vice chair Senate Committee on Redistricting, and will serve on the Senate Ways and Means, Joint Committee on Education, Joint Committee on Tourism Arts and Cultural Development, Senate Rules, and Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.