Pittsfield Announces Disability Awareness Walk

04:03PM / Monday, July 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield, in partnership with the Commission on Disabilities and a local community advocate, Brian Fitzpatrick, announces a community downtown walk to raise awareness of disabilities.

This downtown walk is scheduled for Thursday, July 10 at 3:00 p.m. starting at City Hall, located at 70 Allen Street in Pittsfield. The walk will travel from City Hall, through Dunham Mall and head towards St. Joseph's Church with a return to City Hall. This walk is expected to take one hour.

"I am thankful for opportunities to join members of the Commission on Disabilities, the Mayor and other community members to identify areas of that present challenges and areas that we want to replicate because they provide safe and secure passage for all modes of transportation," said Brian Fitzpatrick, assistant planner and coordinator of this awareness walk.

"It is important for the city to understand the challenges of people with disabilities and find ways to make their travels within our downtown easier," said Catherine Carchedi, chair of the city's Commission on Disabilities.

This walk takes place following a proclamation issued by Mayor Peter Marchetti recognizing the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was signed on July 26, 1990.

The proclamation will be presented at the Commission on Disaibilities meeting that is scheduled for July 10 at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall in Room 203.

"The ADA is a critical piece of legislation that has expanded opportunities for people with disabilities by reducing barriers, changing perceptions and increasing opportunities for full participation and inclusion in community life," said Mayor Peter Marchetti. "I look forward to being a part of this awareness walk and discovering ways Pittsfield may make improvements within our downtown to accommodate all needs."

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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.

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