Holiday Wreath Art Auction to Benefit Pittsfield Food Pantries

07:57AM / Friday, November 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Office of Cultural Development announces the 11^th annual Holiday Wreath Art Auction on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025 at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts from 4-6:30 p.m.

Approximately 50 wreaths will be on display during this ticketed event. There will be wreaths available for grab and go with a live auction of the featured wreaths at 5:30pm. All proceeds will benefit the Pittsfield Community Food Pantry. Since its inception in 2015, the Wreath Art Auction has raised more than $30,000 for the South Community Food Pantry.

The Wreath Art Auction is a $10 suggested donation ticketed event with refreshments. The highest bidder during the live auction will receive a special gift. This year the office once again has partnered with the Springside Greenhouse Group who will be decorating many of the donated wreaths, centerpieces and more. Prices for grab and go wreaths start at $30.

This event is part of the Festive Frolic taking place in Pittsfield December 5-6 with the Holiday Tree Lighting; the Berkshire Bazaar hosted by Thistle and Thorn at the Holiday Inn and Suites; a free Children's Paint & Sip at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; an appearance from Santa Claus in Dunham Mall and more hosted by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. The Holiday Shindy takes place Saturday, Dec. 13.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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