Berkshire County Historical Society Celebrates Plant a Tree Day

11:45AM / Wednesday, September 27, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Join the Berkshire County Historical Society on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 pm as they celebrate Plant a Tree Day with a ceremonial planting of a young American elm "Jefferson" on Park Square.

The tree will be planted to honor the Berkshires' first known environmentalist Lucretia Williams. Williams threw herself before the woodsman's axe to save a towering elm known as the Pittsfield Elm on Park Square in 1789.

"BCHS is very grateful to the Pittsfield Parks Department and George and Alice Wislocki for helping make this possible, said Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "It is a fitting and lasting tribute to Lucretia Williams whose story resonates with us today over one hundred years after her efforts to save the Pittsfield Elm."

This free event is open to the public.

Tags: park square, trees,

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Girls Inc. Members Get Firsthand Look at Local Government in Pittsfield

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Monday, October 19, 2026

Evelyn says what she likes about Girls Inc. She was one of three girls who spoke from the podium during the visit.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Members of Girls Inc. of the Berkshires visited City Hall, where they learned about local government, civic engagement, and discovered how their voices matter at any age.

Girls Inc., a subsidiary of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, has a holistic curriculum aimed at empowering and inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Elected and appointed officials recently welcomed the girls, giving them a tour of the municipal building and answering questions they had from election processes, responsibilities and terms of elected officials, to how ward and at-large councilors represent residents.

"I'm really pleased to see how engaged they are and interested in how government works, and their interest in hopefully understanding the impact that local government has on their everyday lives," at-Large City Councilor Alisa Costa said.

The power of the people is stronger than that of an elected official and sometimes people forget that, Mayor Peter Marchetti said, emphasizing the influence residents can have by speaking during public comment periods at government meetings.

"It's the power of the people. So, I hope they learn to use their voices wisely," he said.

It's important to encourage you to speak up and be public, rather than taking the "back seat" and being quiet, Marchetti said.

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