image description — The side door at St. Joseph's Church was burned in early August. A parishioner says it happened again.

Pittsfield Police Investigating Attempted Arson at St. Joe

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:32PM / Thursday, August 19, 2021Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating an attempted arson that occurred on the property of St. Joseph's Church in the early morning of Aug. 4.

Over half of one of the southern rear doors is charred from top to bottom and part of the window is melted. There are also signs of char on the ground beneath.

Lt. Gary Traversa reported that the investigation is active and detectives are making progress, but further details need to be withheld to maintain investigative integrity.

Parish attendee attorney John Bernardo said this fire was attempted twice, the second time occurring earlier this week.

Traversa said there has not been a second report of the incident and there is only a report from Aug. 4. Fire Chief Thomas Sammons said only one fire was reported to his department.

Bernardo is disappointed that this occurrence has not received public attention, he told iBerkshires, and wants the community to be aware of what happened.

A regular churchgoer, he described the act as "atrocious." He speculated that the situation may not be publicized because of city efforts to frame the area as a cultural hub.

"The night before last, they burned the doors again," Bernardo said. "Nobody's doing anything."

Any suspicious activity should be reported to the Pittsfield Police Department at 413-448-9700 or on the PPD website.

Tags: arson,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Breathing Room

0% APY for 12 months balance transfer offer. Apply today! Click to learn more. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Human Service Funding Applications Open Soon

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:16AM / Thursday, November 05, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Applications for human services funding open next week, and membership space is available for anyone who wants to be involved in the process.

Last week, the Human Services Advisory Council laid out a timeline for the next year's grant awards. It provides funding recommendations to the mayor on how Pittsfield should allocate its human services funding, a mix of Community Development Block Grants and general fund money.

Request for proposal applications will be available at the Department of Community Development on Nov. 9; there will be three bidders conferences in November and December, and public comment on human service needs will begin in the new year.

Proposals are due to the Department of Community Development on Jan. 8, 2027. The public comment period closes at the end of January, and in the spring, the Human Services Advisory Council will recommend funding.

"We typically get about 20 to 30 applications each year," reported Nate Joyner, Pittsfield's community development and housing program manager.

He explained that the schedule of activities proposed for the upcoming cycle is similar to last year. Though, any references to American Rescue Plan Act funding were removed, as the nearly $41 million funding infusion during the COVID-19 pandemic has been exhausted.

The council will also need a new chair, as Rosalind Kopfstein has retired. In January, it will vote on nominations. Jenny Bell was welcomed as a new member at the Oct. 29 virtual meeting, and there are additional openings.

Last year's human service funding benefitted more than 4,000 community members. A total of $154,500 in CDBG funds was allocated to 13 different agencies, and $51,750 from the city general fund was granted to ten agencies.

View Full Story