image description — City councilors got in on the fun with scary toters in the Pittsfield Halloween Parade on Friday night. Look for more pictures this week.

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Ghouls, Goblins Turn Out for Pittsfield Halloween Parade

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:48PM / Sunday, October 27, 2024Print Story | Email Story

Lisa Torrey, Darin Torrey and Jen Glockner were judges for the floats this year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ghouls, goblins, and pop culture icons lined Tyler Street on Friday night for the city's annual Halloween Parade.

The "Spooky Hollywood" theme brought characters from "Ghostbusters," the "Wizard of Oz," and slasher icons. This was the 78th Halloween parade in the city and the last one led by Special Events Coordinator Maddy Brown, who will vacate the position next month.

"It's bittersweet. I've loved my time with the city and I couldn't be more grateful to everybody here," Brown said. "This was the first big event I did last year, ironically, it's my last now but I'm glad to be able to see it through."

Parade planning began at the end of summer and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Executive Director Rebecca Brien was credited for helping to make it happen.

The event is a draw for Halloween lovers from all over the county, attracting about 5,000 people in 2022.

Participants included the City Council, Pittsfield Public Schools, some local businesses, and a group of local drag performers. There were 25 units in the procession.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi dressed as characters from "Hocus Pocus." They incorporated a call to action into the group costume, pushing a recycling toter with a sign that read "Real witches recycle."

RSVP Director Lisa Torrey, Darin Torrey of the Highway Department, and Cultural Development Director Jennifer Glockner were among the float judges. They were tasked with ranking by theme, effort, originality, and costumes.

Glockner explained that she was looking for a "fun factor" in the winner.

Winners of the float contest were Capeless Elementary (Haunted Halloween, Allendale Elementary School (Coco!), and RSI Signs (Ghostbusters.)

The parade ran from the intersection of Tyler Street to the roundabout. Superintendent of Schools Joseph Curtis and Ellen Spear hosted Pittsfield Community Television's coverage of the event from the site of the former Hess Station.

Trick-or-treat is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. rain or shine. Participants are asked to leave their porch or exterior light on.

Tags: Halloween, parade,

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State Wins $130M to Advance West-East Rail

03:03PM / Saturday, October 17, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Some $130 million in federal monies is being invested into passenger rail along the so-called Knowledge Corridor and for laying the groundwork to establish West-East Rail from Albany, N.Y., to Boston.

The funding for the Springfield Hub Modernization Project was announced on Friday by Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Richard Neal and James McGovern.

The project is part of the state's Compass Rail vision, centered on Springfield Union Station and building on existing Amtrak Vermonter, Hartford Line and Valley Flyer service.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was awarded the funding through the Federal Railroad Administration's Fiscal Years 2025-2026 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program to support modernization of the rail infrastructure around Springfield Union Station.

"This is a major win for Western Massachusetts and a big step forward for West-East Rail," said Healey in a statement. "This $130 million investment in Springfield will help us improve transportation, reduce congestion and connect more communities to jobs, housing and economic opportunity. I'm grateful to Senators Markey and Warren, Congressmen Neal and McGovern, and all of our partners for helping us secure this critical funding and move us closer to expanded passenger rail service across Massachusetts."

The project will upgrade tracks, signals and other infrastructure to address a major rail bottleneck, reduce conflicts between freight and passenger trains, and allow more efficient operations and expanded rail service. This work is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce delays and provide more schedule flexibility for Amtrak Vermonter and Valley Flyer passengers. The project will also create capacity for future passenger rail service while reducing unnecessary train idling, emissions and operating costs.

"Building West-East rail is a once-in a-lifetime investment to connect Massachusetts' communities and our regional economies like never before. It will mean lower costs, less congestion, and access to opportunity for families across the state," said Markey. "I'm proud to have secured this $130 million in federal funding alongside Governor Healey, Senator Warren, Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern, bringing our total federal investment to more than $280 million to date, which will build the track to this more affordable, cleaner, better connected future."

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