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Wander Berkshires Cuts Ribbon on Inclusive, Sober Space

Mayor Marchetti, left with owners Jay Santangelo and Kate Payne and their daughter, Frances, and Rebecca Brien of Downtown Inc. pose after the ribbon cutting on the cafe and event space.  

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members Wander-ed downtown Tuesday morning to celebrate a new, inclusive cafe and event space.

Wander Berkshires is a queer and transgender-founded, recovery-focused cafe that has established itself as a community hub since opening in the fall. A ribbon cutting officially celebrated the Depot Street business.

While temperatures were below freezing outside, there was plenty of warmth inside.

"It's a community space, first and foremost," founder Jay Santangelo said.

"… This is like, magical, especially considering everything that's going on in the world right now. I wanted everybody to know that this is a safe place for all, no matter who you are, and everybody is welcome here."

Mayor Peter Marchetti said the city and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. are here to make sure that Wander shines, just as they did for the other 12 businesses that opened in the last year. He has been to two events and confirmed "Jay, you created a safe space here and a welcoming and warm space."

"As you said, today kind of is ironic that we are here and celebrating an opening but we need to stand strong and stand tall and continue to be ourselves and not let some government change who we are," the mayor said.

Wander is a cafe by day and an event space at night. This month it has hosted sober dance parties, workshops, drag shows, and opportunities to connect with fellow creatives and community members.

The menu features local coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, teas, freshly baked goods, and grab-and-go food options. Notably, Wander makes its own syrups for sodas including a coffee soda.

Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder. 

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma. 

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024. 

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero. 

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. 

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.