Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook LLP Welcomes Partner

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Cohen Kinne Valicenti Cook LLP announced that Jaan Rannik has joined the firm as a partner, effective January 1, 2026.
 
Rannik is an experienced civil and commercial litigator who handles a range of disputes, including contractual matters, business torts, real estate disputes, intellectual property issues, and construction litigation.  He has obtained more than $20 million in judgments and awards for his clients.
 
Prior to joining Cohen Kinne, Rannik practiced in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was a partner in the boutique commercial litigation firm Epting & Rannik.  Over the past decade, he has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts in South Carolina and handled arbitrations and appeals across the country.
 
"We feel incredibly fortunate to welcome Jaan to the firm," said Kevin Kinne, partner at Cohen Kinne. "Not only because Jaan is an outstanding attorney, but also because he is a wonderful person who will fit in well with our firm culture and in the community.  We are pleased our clients will have the opportunity to work with another first-class litigator and trial attorney."
 
Rannik brings with him an established client base and will also support Cohen Kinne existing clients in complex litigation and trial matters.
 
Before pursuing a legal career, Rannik was a performing classical guitarist.  He met his wife, Lydia Chernicoff, while attending music conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland.  Lydia grew up in the Berkshires, and the couple has long hoped to make the region their home. 
 
"It's a dream to be living and working in the Berkshires.  I'm thrilled to have joined such an outstanding group at Cohen Kinne, who are great human beings in addition to being great professionals, and look forward to our work together to serve our clients."
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Pittsfield Holds Second Master Plan Workshop

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Participants added notes to the sectors  such as transportation, open space and neighborhoods  being reviewed by the Master Plan Steering Committee. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The city is about halfway through developing its new master plan, and held a second community workshop this past Thursday. 

"Basically, we're talking to people from Pittsfield and trying to figure out, among a broad sector of issues that affect us, what is our goal and vision for the next 10 years, where we want Pittsfield to be in 10 years, and what changes do we want to see?" Director of Community Development Justine Dodds explained to about 20 community members and city staff at Conte Community School. 

"That will be broken down into some goals and objectives and then some measurable action items that we can all take as a community to move that forward."  

The Pittsfield Master Plan is the policy guide for future physical development, covering land use, infrastructure, sustainability, and more. The plan was last updated in 2009, and Pittsfield has engaged the VHB engineering firm and CommunityScale consultants to bring it through 2036. 

There have been two public listening sessions, a Master Plan Advisory Committee guiding the work, and small focus groups for each section. On poster boards, residents were able to see and mark the draft goals and actions under six themes: economic development, housing opportunities, transportation and infrastructure, environment and open space, neighborhoods and community, and governance and collaboration. 

In November 2025, community members participated in a similar exercise at City Hall. 

Transportation and infrastructure had several notes on them. Suggestions included using infrastructure to address the urban heat island effect, a light rail system, and continuing to implement Complete Streets standards for roadway construction projects. 

"I want to ride my bike to my friend's house safely," one respondent wrote. 

Under economic development, people suggested digital business infrastructure for the downtown, food hall opportunities, and nightlife opportunities. 

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