Bishop Timothy McDonnell gets a reading on the Facebook use of the graduates.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — At the beginning of the year, the St. Joseph High School class of 2012 sealed away slips of paper recording the thing they most treasured and desired.
On Sunday afternoon, salutatorian Nicole Akramoff pulled out the golden treasure box and ceremonially removed the four pieces of tape — symbolizing the four obstacles to be overcome — to make their dreams become real.
"At St. Joe, we've learned all the skills to defeat these obstacles," said Akramoff from the pulpit of St. Joseph's Church. "Now it's time to put them into practice."
Taken from Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist," the telling of a spiritual journey of a shepherd and required reading this year for the seniors, Akramoff ticked off each obstacle as she peeled off a piece of tape.
First, the support network of school and family made things possible, but she said, "But we need to stop depending on others and be our own decision makers." The second, love, defines us — but that means keeping positive people in your live so that love is a blessing and not a restraint. Third, the fear of failure. "The great thing about failure is it only matters if you let it," said Akramoff. "Don't quit ... by putting yourself out there you've already won."
And fourth: The fear of success. When you're just about reach everything you want, you sabotage yourself.
"Never hold yourself back; take comfort in all the small ways you've succeeded before both in school and out of school," said Akramoff. "Believe you can handle all that life throws at you."
With that, the box was open, and so were the possibilities of her 44 classmates seated before her in the packed church.
"While we were here at St. Joe, these dreams were kept safe but also restrained," Akramoff. "Now they are in our hands. ... From here we make our own futures."
It's a future filled with open doors — opportunities if the class of 2012 just steps through them.
"We entered St. Joe as children and we exit as adults, young still but adults," said valedictorian Michael A. Spiller, of the experiences that formed them not only as students, but as people. That included classes that opened doors to a range of experiences, from history to religion to math.
Valedictorian Michael Spiller urged classmates to open doors to oppurtunity; salutatorian Nicole Akramoff told them they could overcome obstacles to reach their dreams. See more photos here.
Which doors they chose may well determine who they are - or will become. Don't worry about mistakes, he said, they're trials for learning, and through learning you can break the barriers that bind you.
"Where ever you look there are doors open in every aspect of life," he said. "There are always opportunities to further yourself ... There is always a way to redemption. The future is ours for the taking."
The old saying is that every journey begins with the first step, and Spiller urged his classmates to take that step now, to prove "you want to be the best you can be."
Bishop Timothy McDonnell handed out the diplomas and the Rev. James K. Joyce, chairman of the school board, presented the graduates for the school 110th commencement. "I graduated 48 years ago and I welcome all of you to the alumni of our great school," said Joyce.
McDonnell cautioned them not be so entranced by Facebook, texting and other social connecting that they can't hear God.
"Here's my question to you ... where among your [Facebook] friends is God? Are you in touch with him several times a day?" he asked, after nearly every member of the class raise their hands to acknowledge they were on Facebook.
"You've got all the tools to make adult decisions," said McDonnell. "But keep in touch and give yourselves the time, the silence, to hear him speaking back. I guarantee, keep at that, and you won't need Facebook. .... There's one day, face to face, when you really graduate from this life to eternity."
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Pittsfield 2025 Year in Review
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city continued to grapple with homelessness in 2025 while seeing a glimmer of hope in upcoming supportive housing projects.
Founders James Shulman and his wife, Jackie, offered it to the city through a conveyance and donation of property, which was met with some hesitation before it was withdrawn.
Now, a group of more than 50 volunteers learned everything from running the ride to detailing the horses, and it is run by nonprofit Berkshire Carousel Inc., with the Shulmans supporting operating costs.
Median and Camping Petitions
Conversations about homelessness resumed in Council Chambers when Mayor Peter Marchetti proposed a median standing and public camping ban to curb negative behaviors in the downtown area. Neither of the ordinances reached the finish line, and community members swarmed the public comment podium to urge the city to lead with compassion and housing-first solutions.
"If you look at this as a public safety issue, which I will grant that this is entirely put forward as a public safety issue, there are other issues that might rate higher that need our attention more with limited resources," said former Ward 7 councilor Rhonda Serre.
Protesters and public commenters said the ordinance may be framed as a public safety ordinance, but actually targets poor and vulnerable community members, and that criminalizing activities such as panhandling and protesting infringes on First Amendment rights and freedom of speech.
Some housing solutions came online in 2025 amidst the discourse about housing insecurity in Pittsfield.
The city celebrated nearly 40 new supportive units earlier in December. This includes nine units at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
These units are permanent supportive housing, a model that combines affordable housing with voluntary social services.
Pittsfield supported the effort with $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and some Community Development Block Grant funds. Hearthway, formerly Berkshire Housing Development Corp., is managing the apartments and currently accepting applications.
After the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee completed its work with a formal recommendation in 2024, news about the park was quiet while the city planned its next move.
The ice rink was originally proposed for Clapp Park, but when the project was put out to bid, the system came back $75,000 higher than the cost estimate, and the cost estimates for temporary utilities were over budget. The city received a total of $200,000 in donations from five local organizations for the effort.
Last year, there was $18 million committed between grant funding and capital borrowing.
The Parks Commission recently accepted a negotiating rights agreement between the city and longtime summer collegiate baseball team, the Pittsfield Suns, that solidifies that the two will work together when the historic ballpark is renovated.
It remains in effect until the end of 2027, or when a license or lease agreement is signed. Terms will be automatically extended to the end of 2028 if it appears the facility won't be complete by then.
William Stanley Business Park
Site 9, the William Stanley Business Park parcel, formerly described to have looked like the face of the moon, was finished in early 2025, and the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority continues to prepare for new tenants.
Mill Town Capital is planning to develop a mixed-use building on the 16.5-acre site, and housing across Woodlawn Avenue on an empty parcel. About 25,000 cubic yards of concrete slabs, foundations, and pavements had to be removed and greened over.
There is also movement at the Berkshire Innovation Center as it begins a 7,000-square-foot expansion to add an Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Tech Hub and bring a new company, Myrias, to Pittsfield.
Voters chose new City Council members and a largely new School Committee during the municipal election in November. The council will be largely the same, as only two councilors will be new.
Earl Persip III, Peter White, Alisa Costa, and Kathleen Amuso held their seats as councilors at large. There were no races for wards 1, 3, and 4. Patrick Kavey was re-elected to Ward 5 after winning the race against Michael Grady, and Lampiasi was re-elected to Ward 6 after winning the race against Walter Powell.
Nine candidates ran to fill the six-seat committee. Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Daniel Elias, Katherine Yon, Heather McNeice, and Carolyn Barry were elected for two-year terms.
Katherine Nagy Moody secured representation of Ward 7 over Anthony Maffuccio, and Cameron Cunningham won the Ward 2 seat over Corey Walker. Both are new to the council.
In October, Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre stepped down to work for the Pittsfield Public Schools.
In 2025, the city remained challenged by the homelessness crisis, though the development of new supportive housing offered a promising outlook. click for more
The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. click for more
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.
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