Fall Foliage 5K, Berkshire Half Marathon Set for Oct. 8-9

Community submission10:24AM / Monday, August 29, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- One finisher of the inaugural Berkshire Half Marathon will win a brand new 2023 Subaru.

The half marathon will be part of a two-race weekend that kicks off with the first Fall Foliage 5K on Saturday, Oct. 8. The 13.1-mile race will be Sunday.

Berkshire Running Center owners Kent and Shiobbean Lemme; Race Directors of the MountainOne Steel Rail Races; have once again brought another weekend of running events to the Berkshires and the newly expanded Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

The event is co-sponsored by Haddad Subaru, MountainOne, John’s Ace Hardware and UNICO. The races will be newly structured renditions of the company’s previous Ramblefest races held on the trail.

“Haddad Subaru is pleased to partner with the Berkshire Running Center for the Berkshire Half Marathon on October 9," Haddad General Sales Manager Ben Pigott said. "Not only will someone win a new car but all proceeds from the race will be donated to the Pittsfield portion of the bike trail."

Sunday's race will begin at 8 a.m.

“We are thrilled to have yet another event on this beautiful resource, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail," race director Siobbean Lemme said. "This gorgeous bike path serves as a tremendously conducive route for the safest of running events. We are excited to share the beauty of our foliage season with the participants Saturday at the 5k and Sunday for the Half Marathon.“

Berkshire Running Center has proudly enlisted the support of one hundred local businesses to provide 100 prizes that will be randomly awarded to participants who complete the Half Marathon course in four hours or less. The prizes range from gift cards to local restaurants up to a brand new 2023 Subaru Crosstrek provided by Berkshire Running Center and Haddad Subaru.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the City of Pittsfield towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Pittsfield portion of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

John’s Ace Hardware and Building Supply will once again host the after race events. The start and finish for both events will be at the Crane Ave trail head to the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

Berkshire Running Center is a family owned run specialty store, training center and and race production and timing company. Having served the Berkshires for 11 years, the Lemme family has proudly raised and donated over $150,000 in community donations thru their races and events. Proudly hosting the Boston Qualified Marathon Course in the May MountnainOne Races in which that event brought in runners from 25 different states to participate.

Newly located in the Allendale Shopping Center’s lower level, Berkshire Running Center has found a wonderful home near the Rail Trail as well as the Appalachian Trail, which has brought a bevy of customers from all around the country.

Registration is available here or by stopping in the store during their business hours Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The store is located in the Allendale Shopping Center Suite 119, 5 Cheshire Road.

For any information or if any businesses would like to join the sponsorships may contact Shiobbean Lemme at info@berkshirerunningcenter.com

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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