2nd Street, OLLI Series of Free Hiking Classes

03:46PM / Saturday, June 03, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College (OLLI at BCC) invites clients of Second Street Second Chances to participate in a series of free guided hikes throughout the month of June.

The hikes will take place in various locations throughout the Berkshires on Tuesdays, June 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 10:30 am to noon. Space is limited and registration is required; to register, contact Samantha Bolio-Kearns at 2nd Street, (413) 443-7220 ext. 1275.

2nd Street clients who participate in the hiking course will receive a scholarship to join OLLI at BCC for one year. Benefits of membership include free courses for each of five semesters, access to all lectures and membership in Shared Interest Groups. Individuals who receive SNAP, WIC, EBT or other benefits can join most OLLI events at no cost.

Katherine and John Kidd will lead hikes of four trails in Pittsfield: the Boulders, Canoe Meadows, Pittsfield State Forest and the Ashuwillicook Rail Trail. Hikes will be approximately 75 minutes and will include time to learn about forests, meadows and wetlands.

All hikes have minimal elevation gain but may feature uneven terrain. Class members should wear good hiking shoes and bring water. Hiking poles will be provided to those who wish to use them.

Katherine and John Kidd are experienced hikers who have coordinated a small hiking group that has been exploring the Berkshire Hills and the Taconics for five years. Katherine is a frequent OLLI instructor and retired educator, while John directed a program in Connecticut for 23 years that worked with returning citizens. Both are volunteers with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) to help steward some of the trails featured in the hikes.

"We are blessed to have so many hiking trails in the Berkshires that are free, open to the public and varied in length and difficulty. By walking these four trails together, we will get to know each other and the environment within which we live," Katherine Kidd said. "For some, it may stretch their understanding of themselves, their capabilities and the rich resources in the community."

Tags: BCC, hiking,

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Pittsfield Wants People to Know Where Free Public Wifi Is

By Brittany PolitoiBerkhshires Staff
04:46AM / Friday, September 18, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city wants it to be clear where people can connect to free public wifi— which expands beyond downtown.

On Tuesday, the Parks Commission approved "Free Wifi" signage at The Common, Riverway Park, and Durant Park. Community members can access the internet without charge in these locations, as well as in downtown areas.

Two years ago, Pittsfield received a $99,972 Digital Equity Implementation Grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. This allowed the city to take a comprehensive look at digital equity and determine where to focus attention.

"That was a lengthy process that we worked on, and there was a lot of public input. We did some surveying. We met with a lot of focus groups; [Berkshire Regional Planning Commission] was the group that spearheaded that for us, and one of the things that came up was the lack of accessible wifi," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported. "Particularly in the westside."

Throughout this process, residents also wanted to see connectivity at the nearby Westside Riverway Park.

In 2023, Pittsfield was selected to participate in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program launched by the state and MBI, focused on ensuring residents can use the internet to conduct day-to-day activities. A digital equity plan also qualifies Pittsfield for additional grant funding.

Around 16,000 city households qualified for the Federal Communications Commission's affordable internet program that ended in 2024.

Dodds said adding Wi-FI and signage to Durant and Riverway Parks is a small piece of the larger digital equity project. Signage is already downtown, and the city plans to hire the same designer for the expanded wayfinding so it is cohesive.

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