Pittsfield Councilor Moon To Be Honored By MWPC

11:38AM / Tuesday, November 03, 2020Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus will honor Pittsfield City Councilor Helen Moon as an elected woman of color.

This year MWPC will honor and award Public Service Awards to Mayor Yvonne Spicer of Framingham, Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, and Pittsfield City Councilor Helen Moon.

MWPC, an advocate for equal representation for women in all areas of society, presents these awards to recognize that their goal of attaining equality can only be reached through the concerted efforts of both men and women in all areas of professional and political life. The MWPC wants to specifically recognize the achievements of women of color as they have historically been un- and/or under-represented in public policy spaces.

Mayor Spicer took office in 2018, officially becoming one of the eight Black female mayors in the country. She has a Doctorate of Education and is a former advisor to the National Governors Association. As "The People's Mayor," she is committed to forming a fair and transparent government that values full community participation.

City Councilor Moon is one of Pittsfield's 11 councilors; she is one of two Asian-Americans and one of three women who currently sits on the Council. Her key policy issues are the environment, education, and health care and she is a tireless advocate for youth.

City Councilor Edwards built her career as an activist and advocate for the City of Boston's most vulnerable populations. As a public interest attorney, she focused on labor issues and as a councilor, she is committed to fighting for homeless and tenants' rights, ensuring all students have access to a quality education and supporting small and local businesses, among other key issues.

The celebration will be held via zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 6 to 7 pm.

Proceeds from the Celebration will benefit the MWPC Education Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of qualified women elected to public office and appointed to public policy positions in the Commonwealth by providing resources these candidates need for effective participation in the political process and public policy, while also supporting MWPC's internship program and educational programs throughout the year.

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Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:57AM / Friday, October 02, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments.

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work.

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks.

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed.

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.