Pittsfield Farmers Market To Open In Person

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a year running their Virtual Farmers Market, Roots Rising announced that their in-person Pittsfield Farmers Market is back. 
 
The opening of the outdoor season kicks off on Saturday, May 15. It will run weekly, rain or shine, from 9am to 1pm in the First Street Common through Oct. 9. 
 
"We couldn't be more excited to have our in-person market back in action. Our Market Crew is ready to get to work in expanding food access and building community through their teen-powered farmers market," Jamie Samowitz, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Roots Rising.
 
Roots Rising has set up some pandemic protocols to further decreases the chances of the transmission of the virus. They will continue to evolve in accordance with government guidelines. These pandemic guidelines include:
 
  • Stay home if you're sick, or under quarantine.
  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
  • There will be no eating or drinking allowed at the market. Any prepared food that is purchased must be eaten outside of the market.
 
Vendors may not handle or fill reusable bags, but shoppers may put their purchases in their own reusable bag.
 
Shoppers will find fresh, local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, flowers, artisan goods, and more. 
 
Farmers and food producers include: Abode Farm, Cricket Creek Farm, Green Heron Farm, Holiday Brook Farm, JC Bakes, Lion's Tooth Farm, Square Roots Farm, Uprising Farm and Windy Ridge Farm.
 
Artisans change weekly, but those who will vend monthly or for a half season include: Gilded Rose Thrift, Pepper Plant Studio, Shire Fire Candles, Stephen's Pen Turnings and The Berkshire Pine.
 
SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior FMNP benefits as well as debit and credit cards will be accepted at the Pittsfield Farmers Market. The market will also run Market Match, a nutrition incentive program for low-income residents using SNAP, WIC, and Senior FMNP benefits. This program doubles the purchasing power of those benefits and makes nutritious, local food affordable to everyone in our community. 
 
"This past year has highlighted the inequities in our food system. Massachusetts saw the largest increase in childhood food insecurity in the nation, more than doubling pre-pandemic numbers. Roots Rising is committed to ensuring that access to fresh, healthy, affordable food is a right and not a privilege," Jessica Vecchia, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Roots Rising. 

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Pittsfield Council to See 2-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council will consider a two-year data center moratorium from the Community Development Board. 

The board endorsed the moratorium on Tuesday; it had previously voted to become the petitioner. 

"I still think that it is a necessary, proactive, responsible measure by the city in order to take some time to assess the potential impacts of these improvements on Pittsfield and on the county, and make sure that we understand these systems and create some really truly responsible regulations that take into account all the different aspects of this technology," City Planner Kevin Rayner said. 

The petition would amend City Code Chapter 23 and create Article 23-4 Section 4.332, "Data Center, Temporary Moratorium." 

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order that gives municipalities the power to say "no" to data centers, and earlier this year, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren petitioned to explore implementing a moratorium on the establishment and siting of data centers.

Based on web results, there are as many as 75 data centers or projects in Massachusetts, none in Berkshire County. 

Rayner explained that he brought forward the same petition as before; it was sent to the council and then back to the board for a public hearing as part of the zoning amendment process. 

It defines a data center as a building or group of buildings where the primary use is to house computer systems, servers, data storage equipment, networking equipment, and associated infrastructure necessary for the processing, storage, and distribution of data and digital applications. 

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