Pittsfield 2022 Citizens Academy Cohort

12:00PM / Tuesday, December 27, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The 2022 Citizens Academy cohort were recognized and presented with certificates at the Nov. 29 City Council meeting for successfully completing the 12-week program, which is designed to help community members understand the operations of local government.

Participants included: Abigail Allard; Emma Barishman; Matthew Belanger; Laura Cabrera; Lorena Dus; Tonya Frazier; William Garrity; Benjamin Gelb; Thomas Gelb; Jose Gonzalez; Michael Kalmbach; Mario Kelsey; Susan Krantz; Maria Menaca; Patricia Molina; Philip Nelson; Jamyal Newton; Travis Norrgard; Jody Skrocki; and Pat Tremblay.

“With the completion of the 2022 Citizens Academy, close to 75 individuals have participated in the program since its inception four years ago. Each person that participates in the program walks away with additional knowledge of municipal government and ways in which they can be involved,” said Catherine VanBramer, executive assistant to the mayor and founder of the program. “I extend my congratulations to the class of 2022 and look forward to seeing what is ahead.”

The program began on Aug. 24 with a government overview on presented by Mayor Linda Tyer, City Council President Peter Marchetti, William Cameron, chair, School Committee, and Joseph Curtis, superintendent of Pittsfield Public schools.

In the following weeks through Nov. 16, participants learned about the following departments and offices:

• Airport

• Berkshire Athenaeum

• Building Inspectors

• Building Maintenance

• City Clerk

• Community Development

• Council on Aging

• Cultural Development

• Department of Public Services and Utilities

• Finance

• Fire Department

• Health Department

• Human Resources

• Mayor’s Office

• Police Department

• Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)

• Veterans’ Services

Tags: local government,

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Wahconah Park Grandstand Leveled, Close to Shovel-Ready

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:01PM / Friday, October 23, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wahconah Park is expected to be shovel-ready next month, with just a couple of outstanding permits remaining.

The 75-plus-year-old grandstand was deemed unsafe in 2022 and demolished at the end of the summer. Now, the space where the large structure stood has been leveled, though some accessory buildings, such as the dugouts, remain.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath reported that the site, which "looks a lot different," will be shovel-ready in mid-November. From there, the city needs to do financial planning and sourcing.

"Again, I sound like a broken record, but it becomes a matter of identifying the funding strategy that will advance the project," McGrath told the Parks Commission on Tuesday.

In the meantime, the city hopes to return baseball to the site in 2027.

Planners determined that starting from square one is the best option with the grandstand; a $15 million design was last on the table.

McGrath reported that all but two permits approved through the Community Development Board and Zoning Board of Appeals remain. One relates to the use because stadiums are not zoned by-right in that area; Wahconah Park is considered "non-conforming" or "pre-existing," and a parking spot waiver.

He does not foresee the boards denying these permits.

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