Community Invited to Volunteer Fair

08:34AM / Thursday, October 27, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires are holding an in-person Volunteer Fair in partnership with RSVP from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Berkshire Innovation Center on Woodlawn Avenue in Pittsfield.

Sponsored by Berkshire Bank, this free event features 30 diverse nonprofit organizations sharing information about their mission, programs, and volunteer needs.

Participating nonprofits to date include: 18 Degrees, Barrington Stage Co., Baseball in the Berkshires, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire County ARC, Berkshire County Historical Society, Berkshire Humane Society, Berkshire South Regional Community Center, Berkshire United Way, BFAIR, EforAll, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Flying Cloud Institute, Gladys Allen Brigham Center, Hospice of Western MA, It Takes a Village, Literacy Network of South Berkshire, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, PCTV, Pittsfield Lions Club, Racial Fairness Berkshires, RSVP, Ventfort Hall, Volunteers in Medicine, and WTBR Pittsfield Community Radio.

"In addition to the ongoing needs at food pantries county-wide, we have seen emerging needs in our schools to help children with reading proficiency. We also need volunteers to help residents file taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), bringing over $2 million back into the hands of our most vulnerable neighbors," said Brenda Petell, director of volunteer engagement at Berkshire United Way.

Tags: Berkshire United Way,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. 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 Subcommittee Considers E-Bike Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
03:49PM / Monday, October 19, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors want to explore ways to encourage safe e-bike use.

The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee earlier this month discussed the request by Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso and Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn to increase enforcement of bicycle and e-bike use on Pittsfield streets, install signage in high-traffic areas, and launch an educational program for kids.

Amuso has gotten reports of kids going 15 to 20 miles per hour on the sidewalk with motorized bikes while people are trying to back out of their driveways, and fears someone might get hurt.

She said if they could start with some of the basics such as riding with traffic in bike lanes and operators under 16 wearing helmets, it would address most of the calls.

"Do I think we need to put ten police on trying to find e-bikes throughout the city? I don't. But there are enough calls that I'm getting, and other councilors are getting, that we have to say, ‘Okay, what can we do?' And we have a lot of bike lanes in Pittsfield, and the e-bikes and all bikes should be in the bike lanes, not on the sidewalk,” she said.

The petition was tabled so that the Department of Public Works can study it and gather further information.

In Massachusetts, an e-bike with a top speed of 20 miles per hour and a motor of 750 watts or less is classified as a traditional bicycle. State law defines two e-bike classes:

A Class 1 electric bicycle is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.