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The new building is built more for retail.
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Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor has a New Name and Space

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass – Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor (PLT)  recently moved their location and changed their name to Western Mass Power Equipment.

The new location, 1685 West Housatonic Street, is just up the road from their former spot.

The business is still owned by the Wojtkowski brothers. The name, website, and phone number were bought by United Rentals, prompting Pittsfield Lawn and Tractor to rename.

"One of the owners has a niece that's in the advertising business out in Chicago, so she came up with name, logo, stuff like that. So that's where Western Mass Power Equipment came from. We are still owned by the Wojtkowski family. That the ownership has not changed, just the name has changed, the address and and the phone number," said the store's general manager, Chris Gingras.

United Rentals is also renting out Western Mass Power Equipment's former building. Because of the sale, Western Mass Power Equipment will no longer do rentals and heavy construction equipment sales. 

"Pittsfield lawn and tractor was founded by the Wojtkowski brothers in 1986, and grew over the years. And the decision was made last year to sell the rental portion of the business and the heavy construction equipment sales to United rentals," Gingras said.

The new building is built more for retail.

"This building was built for retail. You know, there's, even though we're currently only using one, it has two showrooms. It has gobs of space back there for parts and service. Has the ability to have us on one property and under one roof, which we were and we weren't before." Gingras said, "Sales, parts, and service was all on the property up the street. Service was in a separate building, but we had our trailer display law across the street, and so now we're going to be all under one roof. The guys are still servicing in the building we own across the street from the old PLT, that's where we moved our service department back in December. But that's not permanent."

The new building was bought by one of the owners three years ago with their son, making it the most logical place to move,

Western Mass Power Equipment started moving into the new location in December and about a month ago they were finally able to open their doors after securing a certificate of occupancy from the city. 

The store provides lawn equipment like mowers, chainsaws, snow blowers, ATVS and more. They also service equipment and vehicles.

The store is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

Their new website is https://www.wmape.com/ the new phone number is 413-344-8777.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months. 

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November. 

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past. 

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained. 

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open. 

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage. 

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said. 

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