Berkshire County Historic Buildings Receive Preservation Grant Funding

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two historic preservation projects in Berkshire County have been awarded matching grants through a program administered by Preservation Massachusetts in partnership with The 1772 Foundation. 
 
The grants, totaling a portion of the $125,000 awarded statewide, will support exterior work on significant historic buildings in the region.
 
The Elizabeth Freeman Center in Pittsfield will receive funding for work on the Old Central Fire Station. Additionally, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington has also been selected as a grant recipient.
 
15 grants have been awarded in total throughout the state.
 
Jessica Rudden-Dube, President and Executive Director of Preservation Massachusetts, noted the strong demand for preservation funding across the Commonwealth, with over $600,000 requested in the initial inquiry phase. She emphasized the importance of supporting historic resources to ensure the continuation of the stories embedded within Massachusetts' built environment.
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Pittsfield Woman Arrested for 'Machete' Armed Robbery at Big Y

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A city woman is being charged after allegedly threatening a grocery store clerk with a machete before stealing groceries. 

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, the Pittsfield Police responded to Big Y Supermarket at 200 West St. for a report of a woman who pulled out a bladed object described as a "machete," pointed it at the employees in a threatening manner, and left the store with a cart full of items. 

Police Capt. Matthew Hill reported that the person, later identified as Collette Davis of Pittsfield, has been asked to leave the store by employees due to previous incidents. 

Additional charges were added the next day during her booking due to an alleged attack on officers. 

"Officers located Ms. Davis the following day (6/11) and [she] was subsequently placed under arrest on a warrant for the 6/10 incident. The "machete" that may have been used in the incident at Big Y was recovered & seized as evidence," he wrote. 

"Following her arrest, she assaulted two officers in the booking room of the PPD. 2 counts of Assault & Battery on a Police Officer were added against her. She was scheduled to be arraigned at Central Berkshire District Court." 

An eyewitness provided iBerkshires with an account of the incident, explaining that they saw a woman trying to steal a cart full of groceries pull out the large blade when asked to pay.  The person expressed a fear of Big Y becoming unsafe over the years and reported seeing a decrease in security. 


 

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