350Mass Berkshire Climate Action: Bringing Climate Action Home

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 350Mass Berkshire Climate Action, is presenting Bringing Climate Action Home, on April 7, 2026, at Wander, 34 Depot St. Suite 101, Pittsfield, MA. 
 
Doors open at 5:30 to provide time for attendees to meet with and learn more about participating community organizations. Speakers begin at 6:00. This event is free and open to the public.
 
This program will provide resources for anyone considering home renovations, new construction, and upgrading to energy-efficient electrical appliances. It will include information for homeowners, landlords, and renters.
 
Wendy Brown, AIA, CPHD, Owner/Architect at Terra Design-Build will address critical energy-efficient design issues for new and existing homes, Mass Save, and how climate disruption impacts us locally.
 
Joe Carry, Decumanus Green Design-Build, will offer sustainable building insight based on his local home building experience which includes net zero design/construction.
 
Amanda Parker, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, will discuss the adoption of   residential battery storage, window heat pumps, plug-in balcony solar, and more with a focus on the needs of renters and low-income households. In addition Amanda will outline current available financial incentives including rebates for implementing energy efficient measures.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Parole Granted to Pittsfield Man Sentenced for Killing Toddler Son

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man serving a life sentence for killing his 2-year-old son 43 years ago has been granted parole. 
 
According to the Boston Globe, the Parole Board on Monday voted to release Richard N. Mayes Jr., 78, to a halfway house.
 
Mayes was charged with beating his son to death in 1983 when he wouldn't eat. The child, Lawrence Richon, had received blows to his head, body, arms and legs. Mayes also told police he'd hit his son four times with a plastic baseball bat. 
 
According to media reports at the time, Mayes tried to resuscitate Lawrence when he later collapsed and cried to police that he did it when arrested. 
 
The boy was taken by life flight to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he died from blood clots in his head. 
 
Mayes was found guilty of second-degree murder by a Superior Court jury and sentenced to life in state prison.
 
According to the Globe, Mayes had been denied parole five times previously but told the board he had been sober for three decades and had not had a disciplinary report in a dozen years. 
 
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