White Cane Day Celebration Planned at PHS

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district will recognize White Cane Day at Pittsfield High School in two weeks with an event to celebrate the accomplishments of visually impaired people.

On Friday, Oct. 14, students of all ages with visual impairments will participate in activities, join a virtual presentation through the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, walk to City Hall to be greeted by Mayor Linda Tyer, and have lunch at PHS's culinary restaurant.

The national day of awareness is on Oct. 15 and has been celebrated since 1964. The cane is an essential tool used by this population to move around freely and safely.

"It’s a day to really recognize the accomplishments and the independent skills of those that are visually impaired," Lynn Shortis, a schoolteacher for the visually impaired, said about White Cane Day.

The event will run from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include around 50 people. Students from the Gateway Regional School District in Huntington will also join.


Shortis said people who are blind or visually impaired can do anything they want to do and it is important to present this. She is in her 23rd year with the school district and has seen a great deal of success with the students over the years.

There are about 35 visually impaired students in the district right now.  Several are high achievers with straight As and many former students have continued on to college.

"It's all a matter of what people's perception is," she explained. "So we try to educate the public on just the overall perception."

The district has a great relationship with the state Commission for the Blind, she said, and it does a lot for the students and to make Pittsfield more aware.

Shortis said the event is really to give the kids an empowering moment to be themselves and feel proud and important. It will also allow the students to meet and bond over shared experiences, as the pandemic has previously hindered gatherings.

Additionally, she said it is important to highlight the visually impaired in Pittsfield, as the city is often forgotten because it is the farthest west in the state.


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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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