Pittsfield Community Television Relaunches Website

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television announced the relaunch of its website at www.pittsfieldtv.org
 
According to a press release, the new site has been completely revamped with a fresh modern look and many design improvements and delivers easy access to all of the local video content provided by PCTV. 
 
"These improvements to our main website were long overdue," according to Shawn Serre, executive director of PCTV.  "We know that our audience needs quick online access to the local programming we provide, and the old design was really no longer up to that task."  
 
Serre went on to say that the redesign was brought about due to feedback from a recent strategic planning process.  
 
"The strategic planning gave us some great direction, and then our viewers spoke up to let us know they are watching," said Serre.
 
In addition to the new design and layout, the site makes it easier to become a member of the organization, quickly find popular PCTV programming on demand, and easily access the organization's live-streaming programming.
 
Both live and on-demand video programming are available through the PCTV website. In April 2020, Pittsfield Community Television launched its PCTV Select App, which provides access to thousands of hours of video content on popular streaming hardware such as Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, and also on iOS and Android mobile devices. The new pittsfieldtv.org website now offers a consistent level of access to this programming.
 
The website was designed by Gemini Creative, a local branding, website design, and digital marketing agency located in Stockbridge. Matthew Tucker, PCTV's engagement and experience coordinator, coordinated the year-long re-design efforts and transition for the organization.

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Two Men Found Guilty of Marijuana Trafficking

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, May 6, Yebin Mai, 32 of Staten Island, NY and Dem Wu, age 52 of Staten Island, NY, were found guilty by jury of their peers in Berkshire Superior Court.
 
Yebin Mai was found guilty of two charges: Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds and Witness Intimidation. Dem Wu was found guilty of Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds.
 
According to a report, on July 30, 2020, State Police responded to a request for assistance from the Eversource Electric Company. The emergency dispatcher stated that two Eversource linemen were attempting to fix an electrical problem when they had a confrontation with individuals at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy. The residence belonged to Bin Huang after he purchased it in 2017 for $200,000 cash.
 
When state troopers arrived, the linemen stated that they responded to a report from a resident at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy claiming that power was fluctuating. When the linemen arrived at the house, they observed severely damaged wires and insulators leading from the roadside poles to the residence. When the Eversource linemen approached the house a man came out to meet them. The man, later identified as Yebin Mai, spoke limited English; therefore, communication between the Eversource linemen and resident became difficult. The linemen tried to explain that they would need to turn the power off to conduct a safety check of the electric meter and surrounding electrical connections. Mai became agitated. He handed the linemen an envelope filled with money later determined to be $600. The linemen attempted to return the envelope multiple times, but Mai would not take it. The linemen decided to leave the property. They called the police and waited for them to arrive, stated a report.
 
A trooper and Eversource supervisor arrived on the road at the end of 72 Jackson Road's driveway. A short time later, Mai drove down the driveway and attempted to leave in a pick-up truck with New York plates. There were two other passengers in the truck, including Dem Wu.
 
The trooper instructed Mai to stop and turn off the truck which he obeyed. All the individuals returned to the residence so the linemen could complete their inspection.
 
In a police report, the following items were observed at and around the house:
  • 4 separate electrical meters in poorly constructed boxes on the side of the house
  • Some melted wires and metal around the meter boxes (believed to be due to an excessive amount of energy being drawn through the wires)
  • Evidence of a small fire around one of the meter boxes
  • A smell of fresh grown marijuana (which grew once power was cut to the house and fans in the residence stopped running)
  • The sound of multiple fans inside the residence with no visible air ventilation system on the outside of the house
  • Windows with curtains drawn and boarded shut
  • A backyard covered in debris from a renovation, green planning pots, and large florescent light fixtures
  • Ring door cameras
  • A small path in the woods that ended in a pile of used potting soil and roots and stalks of freshly harvested marijuana plants

Additionally, Eversource reported that the monthly electric bill for 72 Jackson Road was approximately $10,000 per month, much higher than the average homeowner's bill.

The individuals on the property were questioned and ultimately allowed to leave. On July 31, 2020, Massachusetts State Police, including the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office, and a member of the DEA arrived at 72 Jackson Road to execute a search warrant. 
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