Berkshire Athenaeum Hosts Seed Library Opening Celebration

07:14AM / Monday, March 16, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. – noon, the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, will host an event to celebrate the season opening of the Berkshire Seed Library.

The centerpiece of this event will be a ribbon-cutting for the Seed Library at 11 am, after which anyone with a library card may select up to 10 packets of vegetable or flower seeds to take home, free of charge.

If those interested do not have a library card, patrons can sign up for one for free anytime the library is open. In the spirit of a community library, users are encouraged to learn how to save seeds from plants they grow and donate them to the library next season.

The Season Opening celebration will also include a Seed Exchange area. Anyone may bring seeds they have at home to share with their neighbors. Particularly welcome are seeds that are unique, saved from previous harvests, or hold special meaning to growers. No library card is required to share or collect seeds from the Seed Exchange.

Finally, community organizations including Roots Rising, Master Gardeners, and the Common Seed Project will be available to answer questions and discuss resources related to gardening and healthy food. The Berkshire Seed Library is supported by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, and with donations from John's Ace Hardware, Carr Hardware, and the Pittsfield community. To learn more about the Seed Library, visit www.pittsfieldlibrary.org/seedlibrary.

For more information about the Seed Library Opening Celebration, call 413-499-9480 ext. 202 or email info@pittsfieldlibrary.org.

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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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