Pittsfield to Host Free Monthly Walk-In Wellness Clinics

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Health Department will be hosting free monthly wellness clinics at designated locations throughout the city.
 
The clinic, which do not require appointments, will be staffed by the city's public health nurse and will include wellness screenings, medication review, check for mobility issues, diabetes and hypertension management, parent-child health and growth/development, COVID-19 guidance and tests, and nutrition counseling.
 
The city's social worker, who is also fluent in Spanish, will be on hand to provide information and assistance in the following areas of need: housing/rent, food, utilities, mental health counseling/support, substance use treatment/support, perinatal health resources, child care needs, employment and unemployment assistance, health insurance, and domestic and intimate partner violence support.
 
There will be a walk-in clinic at the Health Department 1-3 p.m. every Wednesday. The Health Department is located on the mezzanine level at 100 North St. The monthly schedule at other locations is as follows:
  • 9 – 11 a.m., first Tuesday of the month, Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North St.
  • 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., first Thursday of the month, Epworth Arms Apartments, 350 West St.
  • 9 -11 a.m., second to last Wednesday of the month, Christian Center, 193 Robbins Ave.
  • 9-11 a.m., second to last Thursday of the month, Capitol Square Apartments, 379 North St.
  • 8-10 a.m., last Wednesday of the month, South Congregational Church, 110 South St.
 
For more information, please call the Health Department at 413-499-9411.
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Pittsfield Subcommittee Considers E-Bike Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

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

On Monday, the Ordinances and Rules Subcommittee 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 received reports of kids riding motorized bikes at 15 to 20 mph on the sidewalk while people are trying to back out of their driveways, and she fears someone might get hurt.  

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

"Do I think we need to put 10 police on trying to find e-bikes throughout the city? I don't," she said. "But there are enough calls that I'm getting, and other councilors are getting, that we have to say, ‘OK, 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."

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 mph and a motor of 750 watts or less is classified as a traditional bicycle. State law defines two e-bike classes: 

  • "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 assist when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
     
  • "Class 2 electric bicycle" is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.

Riders 16 years or younger must wear a helmet by law.  

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