'Haunted Streets' To Air On PCTV

09:34AM / Friday, October 23, 2020Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television has teamed up with the city's Recreation Program for a television event to air in place of the canceled 2020 Pittsfield Halloween Parade.

"Once it became clear that the Halloween Parade could not happen in its usual form, we realized we needed to do something to keep this annual tradition alive in some fashion as it brings much joy to the community," Becky Manship, recreation and special events coordinator for the city of Pittsfield said. "Since PCTV has been covering the parade for twenty-five years, the decision to do a retrospective of past parades was simple. We hope the community will enjoy a look back in time as we have."

PCTV will present "Haunted Streets: A Celebration of 25 Years of Halloween Parades" in place of when live coverage of the parade as it stepped off on Tyler St would have begun. The program will look back at some of the best floats and moments of the past 25 years of PCTV's parade coverage.

The television event is hosted by Manship and PCTV's parade commentator Jody Spielmann and will debut on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m. airing on PCTV Access Pittsfield Channel 1301, and also on the PCTV Select App available on Roku, Apple TV, and on the web at PittsfieldTV.org.

"In working with the Halloween Parade Committee on this retrospective program, and seeing all the amazing ways our community has celebrated this spooky and child-like season, I can see all of the tangible ways that we have brought each other fun and joy," Matthew Tucker, public access coordinator for PCTV said. "While it can be hard to see, with the tragedy caused by the coronavirus all around us, programs like this remind us of the community we have always been - and what we're going to do to show that community when we come out on the other side of this."

The virtual Halloween Celebration will continue on Halloween when PCTV will air past year parades in their entirety, starting at 7:30 am with the 1995 Halloween parade. The following years' parade will air immediately afterward, finishing with the parade special airing again at 8 pm.

The parades will air on PCTV Access Pittsfield Channel 1301, and on PCTV Select.

Tags: Halloween,

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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