Market 32, Price Chopper Donates to Disabled American Veterans

07:11AM / Sunday, January 18, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 and Price Chopper presented a $53,817 donation to DAV (Disabled American Veterans), reflecting the generosity of customers and teammates who supported the company's November fundraising campaign.

Shoppers across all 129 stores contributed $43,817 by rounding up their totals at checkout. Market 32 and Price Chopper added a $10,000 corporate match.

These funds will help DAV to provide no-cost, lifetime assistance to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. DAV assists more than one million veterans each year through benefits assistance, employment opportunities, transportation to VA medical appointments, and more.

"At Market 32 and Price Chopper, our mission is to help people feed and care for their families, and our broader purpose is to support the well-being of the communities we serve," said Blaine Bringhurst, the company's president. "DAV's commitment to helping veterans live healthy, dignified, and secure lives aligns with that purpose. We're proud to stand with our customers in supporting an organization that offers life-changing assistance to those who have served our country."

In 2024, DAV filed over 560,000 Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims and provided more than 235,000 no-cost rides to VA medical appointments for veterans. In addition to providing direct services, DAV advocates on Capitol Hill, educates the public on veterans' issues, and strengthens communities through its local chapters—ensuring America's heroes receive the benefits they earned.

"Thanks to Market 32 and Price Chopper's continued commitment to veterans, DAV can expand its reach and deliver critical support to ill and injured veterans nationwide," said Barry Jesinoski, CEO and national adjutant of DAV. "Funds raised through this campaign directly advance our mission to help veterans access the benefits they have earned, including health care, employment, and education."

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New Pittsfield City Council, School Committee Meets

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:25PM / Sunday, January 18, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new City Council and School Committee met for the first time last week, and were met with some hope from the public.

The council is largely the same as the last term, with Cameron Cunningham now representing Ward 2 and Kathy Moody Ward 7. On the other hand, the School Committee is all new aside from longtime member Daniel Elias.

Resident Paul Gregory, a regular at public comment, told the council, "I stand here tonight, I'm excited. I'm not complaining." Gregory said that with challenges come opportunities, and he is confident that the elected officials are up for it.

"I'm really, really looking forward to the leadership and the roles that each of you will play in order to bring out the best that Pittsfield is and can be," he said.

"We need to stress our values as a city. We need to recognize and identify why people should live in this city and what opportunities there are both for entertainment, for employment, and for activities."

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III was elected council president during the inauguration ceremony earlier this month, and Mayor Peter Marchetti was elected to chair the School Committee. During the committee's meeting on Wednesday, Marchetti noted that this would be the last time "communication by the chair" will be placed on the agenda because he will deliver comments as other members do.

United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond, also offered well wishes to the School Committee.

"It's going to be an interesting time working with so many new faces, and the UEP is looking forward to a very positive working relationship with you as we go into negotiations and any other business that we bring forward to you," she said.

Gregory, who also addressed the School Committee, hopes they work collaboratively to support each other, especially with the district's "ambitious" efforts to restructure the middle school levels and build a new school in the West Side.

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