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A couple and their child from Arizona attended the festivities and highlighted how this was everyone's first time sledding
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Tanner Eugene Brenna, Arabelle Rose and Blaise Hanger
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Pittsfield's WinterFest Celebrates Community

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. Community members and Berkshire County visitors braved the cold on Friday morning for the city’s second annual Winter Festival. 
 
The event featured various activities, including a fire pit, sledding, s’more-making, a sled design contest and race, and more snowy activities. 
 
The festival aims to bring the community together and provide fun activities for kids on winter break. 
"It's been really great. There's a great turnout, a lot of kids, a lot of families, all smiling and having fun. I think it has a big impact. It's something fun for the kids to do while they're on school break for winter," said Jennifer VanBramer, recreation and special events coordinator.
 
"We've had a lot of community organizations come on out, like [RSI Signs, a Girl Scout troop, and Patriot Pop,] so it's bringing in the community together to have some fun and just enjoy the outdoors."
 
Several attendees emphasized how the event has fostered community bonding. 
 
Participants in the cardboard sled race, Arabelle Rose and Tanner Eugene Brennan shared that they made friends with another contestant, Blaise Hanger. They mentioned that they had spent the entire day together and formed a friendship.
 
Also, a couple and their child from Arizona attended the festivities and highlighted how this was everyone's first time sledding. 
 
The event continues the legacy of the Pittsfield Winter Carnival, VanBramer said. 
 
The carnival was established in 1946 by then Pittsfield Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Jackson Perry and had been coordinated by the recreation department since. 
 
In its heyday, it hosted speed skating and downhill championships and Olympic speed skating trials.
 
After more than half a century, the event’s committee was disbanded in 2011 due to the lack of volunteers and time. 
 
The event not only brought community members together but also introduced some Berkshire County visitors to sledding. 
 
 
 
Photos from the event are here

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Pittsfield Council OKs $15M Borrowing for Drinking Water System

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council last week approved borrowing $15 million for drinking water system upgrades, and heard a commitment from the Department of Public Works to consider solutions for the intersection of Onota and Linden Streets. 

Last month, the council supported the borrowing for the city's two drinking water plants during its regular meeting. 

Commissioner of Public Services Ricardo Morales explained that the decades-old filtration units need to be babysat "much more" than usual, and the city is due for new technology. 

Pittsfield's two Krofta water treatment plants were installed in the 1980s and are said to be beyond anticipated useful service and at risk for catastrophic failure that could result in a shortage of potable water. Krofta is a compact filtration system that Pittsfield will continue to use, with four new units at the Cleveland WTP and two at the Ashley WTP.  

"When the Krofta was built in 1980, I was there on the council, and here we are looking to repair or replace certain parts," Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren said. 

"So 40 years later, I think we need to do that." 

The full drinking water project is expected to cost $165 million over the next eight years, with $150 million for long-term construction and $15 million for near-term needs. The initial ask would fund the final design and permitting for Phases 1-3 and Phase 1 of interim updates. 

The $15 million borrowing breaks down into $9.2 million for the design and permitting, $2.4 million for the construction of Phase 1, and $1.4 million in city allowances, including owner's project manager services, land acquisition, legal fees, and contingency. 

Pittsfield's water system includes six surface water reservoirs, five high-hazard dams, one low-hazard dam, two water treatment plants, two chlorinator stations, and gravity flow from the plants to the city. It serves Pittsfield, Dalton, Lenox, and the Berkshire Mall property. 

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