Pittsfield: Wild Acres Fishing Derby

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. (April 28, 2025) - The City of Pittsfield's Conservation Commission, Recreation Program and Lyon Aviation have announced a free Fishing Derby for youth ages 14 years old and under on Saturday, May 10, at the Wild Acres Conservation Area (rain or shine).
 
Volunteer support will be provided by the Onota Fishing Club to assist with dressing fish, providing fishing tips and techniques, baiting, etc. The derby will begin at 8:00 a.m. and last until noon. Trophies will be awarded during a ceremony between 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to those who catch the largest fish (length & weight).
 
The Onota Boat Livery has donated fishing poles as part of a giveaway during the event. Bait will be provided and the accessible trail down to the pond will be open.
 
The first 100 children will receive a free food voucher, and food will also be available for purchase from Ozzie's Steak & Eggs.
 
Wild Acres Conservation Area is located off South Mountain Road in Pittsfield.
 
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Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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