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Officers take to the roof of Walmart on an annual basis to raise money for Special Olympics.

Cop On Top Returns to Pittsfield On Dec. 1

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Cop on Top will return to the roof of the local Walmart on Dec. 1.
 
In a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, law enforcement officers from throughout the county will be camp out on the roof Walmart in the Berkshire Crossings shopping plaza. The officers will stay there until the goal of $55,000 is reached.
 
There will be food, prize raffles, and giveaways in the parking lot during the event. There will also be numerous police vehicles on display.
 
"The event will kick off at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, with the Pittsfield Fire Department hosting the first brave group of officers on the roof and local Special Olympic athletes will light the ceremonial Special Olympic cauldron that will burn throughout the event," reads a release sent out by Pittsfield Police Investigator John Bassi.
 
The event is in its ninth year as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Program. In the last five years, Bassi said local officers have raised more than $500,000 for Special Olympics through a series of events. Cop on Top is the organization's longest standing program to be launched by local officers and it led police to add more events throughout the year.
 
"The Berkshire County LETR Program is the highest grossing fundraising program in the state of Massachusetts," Bassi said.
 
The money goes to Special Olympics Massachusetts and allows some 600 athletes from Berkshire County to participate at no cost because of the fundraising efforts.
 
In March, the Law Enforcement Torch Run's polar plunge will return. Hardy area residents will take a dip in the icy cold waters of Onota Lake to raise another $100 each for the program. The organization added a super plunge option so those who want to raise $1,000 can take a plunge every hour for 24 hours.
 
The super plungers will start on Saturday, March 30. The polar plungers will take their dip on Sunday, March 31.
 
Those are the two largest events for the organization but it sprinkles a number of other fundraisers throughout the year. 

Tags: fundraiser,   polar plunge,   Special Olympics,   torch run,   

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Flushing of Pittsfield's Water System to Begin

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Department of Public Utilities announces that phase 1 of the flushing of the city's water system will begin Monday, April 22.
 
Water mains throughout the city will be flushed, through hydrants, over the upcoming weeks to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
 
  • The upcoming flushing for April 22 to May 3 is expected to affect the following areas:
  • Starting at the town line on Dalton Avenue working west through Coltsville including lower Crane Avenue, Meadowview neighborhood, following Cheshire Road north.
  • Hubbard Avenue and Downing Parkway.
  • Starting at the town line on East Street working west through the McIntosh and Parkside neighborhoods.
  • Elm Street neighborhoods west to the intersection of East Street.
  • Starting at the town line on Williams Street, working west including Mountain Drive,
  • Ann Drive, East New Lenox Road, and Holmes Road neighborhoods.
Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that proper levels of treatment and disinfections are maintained in the system at all times. If residents experience discolored water, they should let the water run for a short period to clear it prior to use.
 
If discolored water or low-pressure conditions persist, please contact the Water Department at (413) 499-9339.
 
Flushing is an important operating procedure that contributes significantly to the maintenance of the water quality in the water distribution system. 
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