Community Conversations Series to Foster Understanding and Empathy

01:27PM / Sunday, September 21, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The public is invited to attend a series of community conversations designed to foster deeper understanding, cultivate empathy and provide an opportunity to ask questions on critical social issues.

These conversations will feature insights from individuals with lived experience and experts in the fields of immigration, domestic violence, criminal justice, substance use disorder, housing insecurity and LGBTQ+ issues.

All sessions will be held on Wednesdays, 4-6 p.m., at Wander, 34 Depot Street, Suite 101, Pittsfield. The schedule is as follows:

September 24: Immigration with Berkshire Immigrant Center
October 8: Domestic Violence with Elizabeth Freeman Center
October 22: Criminal Justice with 2nd Street
November 5: Substance Use Disorder with Berkshire Overdose & Addiction Prevention Collaborative
November 19: Unhoused with Hearthway, ServiceNet and UpSide413
December 3: LGBTQ+ with Berkshire Pride and seeing rainbows

Each conversation is free to attend and all are welcome to learn in this safe and brave space. There will be dedicated time for questions and answers.

Registration is encouraged but not required. For more information and to register, visit berkshireunitedway.org/conversations.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

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

The Grand Coming to North Street, Bousquet Under New Food Management

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
01:06PM / Sunday, August 30, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Grand has secured its liquor license, and the McNinch Restaurant Group now operates Bousquet Mountain’s restaurant, its third eatery in the city.

On Monday, the Licensing Board approved the transfer of all alcohol-seven-day liquor licenses for The Grand on North Street and the ski area at 101 Dan Fox Drive.

The former Iztac Mexican Restaurant has given way to a more subdued, moody facade as local Gordon Hebler prepares to open as an oyster bar and piano lounge with seafood options. Its liquor license was transferred to Chesnut Catering doing business as The Grand, owned and managed by Hebler.

He envisions following the theater and music programs in the county, closing for a couple of months at the beginning of each year. Seating was also reduced from accommodating around 100 patrons to 60.

"We're going to be pretty busy. I have that feeling anyway," Hebler said. "…If the foot traffic is any indication of what we're going to see, I'm very excited."

An entertainment license was also approved for The Grand. A piano and vocalist are planned for Wednesday through Sunday evenings; an opening date has not yet been set.

"It’s not just a run in and grab a quick bite and run out," Hebler said. "It's a little bit more involved."

The board also approved an all-alcohol seven-day liquor license transfer from Fresh Powder LLC to the McNinch Restaurant Group for Drifters Bar and Restaurant, located in Bousquet’s ski lodge, and the ski area.

View Full Story