Dr. Melinda Payson has joined the staff of the Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital, 1634 West Housatonic St. in Pittsfield as Associate Veterinarian and is currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Payson has been providing veterinary relief work in Berkshire County after working more than 11 years as Chief of Staff at Allen Heights Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Payson is a 1995 graduate of the Ohio State University Veterinary School. She received her B.S. in biology from Cornell University and attended graduate school at Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University in neuropharmacology.
A Pittsfield resident, Dr. Payson grew up close by in Germantown, NY with dogs, cats, guinea pigs, sheep and she showed horses in 4H. “I decided to return to working in Pittsfield to be closer to my two young sons and so that I could work in the community in which I live.â€
Her family includes her husband Mike a Physical Therapy assistant, two sons:
Liam 7 and Eli 4. They have two older cats Leukocyte and Sterling, a recently adopted black lab named Maggie and a guinea pig named Mo-Mo. “I enjoy being with my family, hiking, bicycle riding, reading books and horseback riding. I have recently returned to riding after many years and am enjoying sharing my passion with my sons who are now learning to ride our wonderful leased horse Renoâ€.
Dr. Payson joins the growing veterinary practice of Dr. John Reynolds who recently built a state-of-the-art 10,000 sq.ft. hospital, which includes a pet resort, retail shop and also offers full service grooming. Other Associate Veterinarians include: Dr. Laura Eiszler, Dr. Yoanna Maitre, Dr. Michelle Looney and Dr. Hanan Caine. The practice sees small animals and exotics. Day and evening office hours are by appointment Monday through Saturday by calling 413-499-1580
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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources
BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures.
Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).
All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;
All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and
All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County.
To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.
In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown have been designated.
"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season."
As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration.
The Affordable Homes Act created several new tools for communities who accept the Seasonal Communities designation to be able to:
Acquire deed restrictions to create or preserve year-round housing
Develop housing with a preference for municipal workers, so that our public safety personnel, teachers, public works and town hall workers have a place to live
Establish a Year-Round Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve affordable and attainable housing for year-round residents
Create year-round housing for artists
Allow seasonal communities to develop a comprehensive housing needs assessment
Permit tiny homes to be built and used as year-round housing
Permit year-round, attainable residential development on undersized lots
Increase the property tax exemption for homes that are the owners' primary residence
Disrepaired houses at 154 Francis Ave. and 224 Fourth St. will be demolished as part of the city's yearly efforts to address condemned properties. click for more
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Northumberland Road.
click for more
The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. click for more
