Berkshire Community Mobilizes for Harm Reduction 'Days of Action'

02:29PM / Thursday, October 16, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, over two dozen community members will participate in a weekend-long Harm Reduction "Days of Action" across Berkshire County.

Volunteers will distribute lifesaving overdose prevention supplies, resources, and knowledge to residents in areas with higher ratios of opioid-related emergency 911 calls.

Members from Berkshire County public health agencies and substance use awareness groups will partner with community members to raise awareness of changes in the opioid and stimulant supply, particularly among people who use more recreationally. The initiative will also distribute naloxone and fentanyl test strips, promote reducing substance use alone, connect individuals with support services, and combat the stigma surrounding addiction.

Outreach efforts will take place in Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, and the surrounding areas from noon to 4:00 PM. Participants will have completed a training session and will carry identification and leave-behind materials. This follows a highly successful Day of Action in May.

The "Day of Action" is in partnership with Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative, Berkshire Harm Reduction and Safe Spot. It aims to reduce overdoses and connect neighbors to vital resources.

Supported by a grant from Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership and the town of Hancock funded by the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and powered by RIZE Massachusetts Foundation.

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Opening of Ultimate Body Factory Longtime Dream of Owners

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:04PM / Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Some 55 pieces of equipment are being installed at Ultimate Body Factory.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fitness has been a big part of Geoff Powell and AJ Bowman's lives.

The two men struck up a friendship at Berkshire Nautilus and began working out together. After realizing they both had the same dream of operating a gym, they joked about doing it together.

Their dreams are coming true with the opening of the Ultimate Body Factory on Monday, Dec. 1, at 5 Cheshire Road.

"We want to be a very broad, positive, friendly gym. We want people that it's their first day through the doors of a gym, and when they come in, they're going to be welcomed at the front door," said Powell. "They're going to be seeing the owners in here working out as well. There's going to be constant people around to help. They can ask questions. They'll be guided to what they want to do, or they'll be left alone."

The new gym will welcome patrons of all fitness levels. Powell said it will be somewhat similar to the Retro Fitness on Merrill Road that closed several years ago.

"This is basically our dream gym of 35-plus years of fitness experience between us that we're trying to create, our dream gym that we want to work out with, work out in, and basically open our doors to other people to experience what we want," Powell said.

"When Retro closed, I went to work out at Berkshire Nautilus ... We started to slowly work out together and train together and things like that. And then, honestly, it just became a joking conversation. We should just do our own thing."

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