Pittsfield to Conduct Hydrant Flow Testing Starting June 3

• June 3: Ridge Ave (Dove Street to Fairway Avenue), Hancock Road at Pecks Road, Lakeway Dr. (from Pecks to Bakers Island Rd.), Savoy Ave, Sheffield St., Orlando Ave at Oakhurst Ave, Waubeek Road, Hancock Rd. at North St., North St. (from Broadway to Yarmouth), Sunset St., Lakeview St., Mervyn St., North St. (from Fairview to Sherrill), North St. at Walden Ln., Demont Ave and Bryan St.
• June 4: Clark Rd. and Burke Ave., Allengate Ave, Brighton Ave & Windsor Ave, Broadview Ter, Dickinson Ave and Tanner St, Crestview Dr and Bossidy Dr, Dalton Ave. at Highview Dr., Howe Rd., Asci Dr. from Cheshire Rd., Morningview Dr. and Meadowview Dr., Partridge Rd., Stephen Dr. and Glenn Dr..
• June 10: South St. at Dan Fox Dr., Conte Dr. and Technology Dr West, Holmes Rd. at Vinal Ave. and Lathers Ave., E New Lenox Rd., Anita Dr and Maria Dr and Lucia Dr, Shetland Dr. and Clydesdale DR., Holmes Rd. at Pomeroy Ave., Williams St. at Dalton Division Rd., Williams St and Ann Dr, Alfred Dr. and Brookside Dr., Mountain Dr. at Glory Dr..
• June 11: Ventura Ave, Grand Ave and Brattle St, Richardson St., Naples Ave and Pembroke Ave, Superior St., Reuter Ave. and Ontario St., Maple Grove Dr. and Maple Ln., Elm St. and Williams St., Dodge Ave and Donna Ave., Dexter Ave. and Lillian St, Strong Ave, Cambridge Ave & Hazelwood Ter., Gravesleigh Ter and Cooper Pkwy, Warwick St, Pomeroy Ave and Noblehurst Ave, Northumberland Rd. at Malcolm Ave, Dawes at Waverly St, Dawes Ave, High St. and Appleton Ave.
• June 17: S.Mountain Rd. at Tamarack Rd., Cole Ave., Gamwell Ave. and Velma Ave., Hollister St. and Boylston St Ext., Woodleigh Rd. and Barker Rd., Roselyn Dr and Loumar Dr, Columbus Ave., S John St. and John St., Acorn St. and Woodbine Ave., Pontoosuc Ave. and Lenox Ave, Orchard St. and Lincoln St., North St from Stoddard Ave to Springside Ave, Onota St. and Monroe St., Madison Ave and Seymour St..
• June 18: Elaine Dr. and Harryel St., Dalton Division Rd., East St. and McIntosh Dr., Mcintosh Dr. and Wealthy Ave, Bradford St and Linden St., Pearl St. and Fenn St..

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.