Plans for Lanesborough's Tour de Greylock Bike Ride Nearing Finalization

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
12:56PM / Sunday, March 27, 2022Print Story | Email Story

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Economic Development Committee was updated on the Sept. 24 Tour de Greylock bike ride and plans to finalize details soon and begin registrations.

The ride will take bikers around the entire base of Mount Greylock and back to Lanesborough. The exact bike route, as well as promotional and registration materials, are nearing finalization.

The committee expects to have more information finalized by the next meeting. Recording Secretary Patricia Hubbard briefed the committee on the ride on Tuesday.

"Most of what you updated us on covers just waiting on the hard copy of the logo and all paperwork, the registration, ironing out the location," said board Chair Barbara Davis-Hassan. "And then we'll move things next meeting and have a little bit more information to report on."

The committee expects 50 to 100 riders to register and plans on needing about 20 volunteers to run the event.

In other business, the committee has planned the next business-to-business networking event, set from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 12 at Lanesborough Local. The board also discussed doing more similar throughout the rest of the year.

Davis-Hassan said she is excited to begin holding business-to-business events again, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited the ability to run them.

"It's a meet and greet and networking. It's going to be great to be back to doing this," she said.

In addition to the networking events, the committee is also drafting a letter to send to new businesses when they begin operating in town.

"[It's a] welcome and, 'we'd like you to stay and be successful' and 'what we can do to help you? Feel free to mention anything we can do that makes your business thrive better that we can help with,'" Davis-Hassan said.

The committee also discussed the vacant seat previously held by Joe Prince, who resigned due to schedule conflicts. Davis-Hassan said she has worked to get the word out on the vacancy.

"I was at a Selectmen's meeting during the general public comment period, and I did make an announcement that we did have a vacancy there," she said. "And I also gave the information to the town Secretary so it could be posted online. So if and when they do see any applications, I will make sure to bring them forward to this board."

Tags: economic development,

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Lake Management Commission Proposed for Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:29PM / Tuesday, January 27, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Peter Marchetti has proposed a Lake Management Commission to handle issues with Pittsfield's waterbodies.

There are two sizable lakes in the city: Onota, which spans 617 acres, and Pontoosuc, which is more than 500 acres. Pontoosuc is shared with the town of Lanesborough, and both communities have residential and commercial properties around the lakes.

"The Pittsfield Lake Management Commission's mission is to support the preservation and protection of lakes and ponds [from] environmental harm on behalf of present and future generations of Pittsfield residents, while understanding the interests of property owners and the public," the proposed ordinance reads.

"Its goals are to enhance the water quality of Onota and Pontoosuc lakes, while maintaining the natural beauty of lake surroundings."

This includes a focus on items such as water quality, the management of invasive weed species, the fall drawdown of water, zebra mussel control, Cyanobacteria monitoring, and the effects of climate change. The goal is to maintain consistently high-quality water levels that the community can enjoy.

Pittsfield struggled with zebra mussel detections in 2024, as eDNA was detected in both Onota and Pontoosuc lakes. Tuesday's City Council agenda also includes an $18,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to hire boat ramp monitors over the summer, which helps mitigate the spread of invasive species.

Also on the volunteer commission's charge is a five-year lake management and financial budget plan for all Pittsfield waterbodies.

The commission will seek grants, or local/state funding for periodic evaluations of water quality and the overall ecological health of the lakes. It will also review issues that could potentially negatively impact the lakes, and make recommendations to the mayor.