Deadline Approaching For Pittsfield Parade

PITTSFIELD, Mass. The deadline for participating in the 4th of July Parade is June 1.

There are typically about 170 units in each parade which is comprised of community groups, veterans' groups, fire departments, floats, balloons, musical units, and elected officials.  

A form may be obtained by calling 413-447-7763, by going to the web site, pittsfieldparade.com (scrolling down on the landing page), or by sending an email to pittsfieldparade@aol.com.

"It's a big parade," said Committee President Pete Marchetti. "But each and every participant must fill out and submit an application or we have no way of knowing about their intentions, can't work them into the line of march or let the telecast hosts know about them." 

The volunteers who work to feed the various units into the line of march have a list of all units under their responsibility.  The list is prepared using the formal applications which must be submitted with descriptions of their participant for broadcast purposes and for use in the program.  

Float operators and builders must attend workshops prior to the parade to learn and understand rules and regulations on construction and use. Future workshops for floats are:  Polish Falcons, Belair Ave. May 15 and 6/12 6:30pm; St Mark's Church, Father Leonard Hall, 400 West St. Pittsfield 5/20, 7pm and 5/25 10 am.

Donations are also sought and may be made on the committee's website pittsfieldparade.com.

Berkshire Habitat ReStore Overwhelmed With Unwanted Donations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
07:21AM / Saturday, March 22, 2025

The lot is under surveillance and the stores is considering cracking down on dumpers.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity ReStore won't be taking any donations on Saturday — because it's already overloaded with items dumped on its property.

 

ReStore on Hubbard Avenue sells donated furniture, building supplies and home improvement materials to help keep bulky items out of landfills and to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

 

But people have been dumping their unwanted items on the property without an appointment and sometimes after hours. That's left a pile of trash for the nonprofit to deal with. 

 

"So people just, you know, came and even if it's closed, I personally catch several people in the camera out of hours," said ReStore general manager Alex Valdivieso.

 

Valdivieso has been the general manager for less than a year but says last summer was a big problem with dumping and with the weather getting nicer, people have started to come again to dump their unwanted items. 

 

To help get rid of the waste, 20 to 25 teens are volunteering from Lenox High School to help fill dumpsters and clean up the lot that's now littered with items needing to be thrown away.

 

Valdivieso says he has two 30-foot-long trash roll-offs that will be filled this weekend.