Berkshire Democrats Host Candidate Forum Friday

06:29PM / Monday, April 06, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Democratic town committees and political action groups will sponsor a countywide Democratic candidates forum this Friday, April 10.

The forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the Common Room at Zion Lutheran Church located at 74 First St.

The event will feature elected state and federal officials, especially those running for seats in the 2026 election. Challengers for those seats will also address attendees.

Working in coalition with the Berkshire Democratic Brigades, Berkshire Indivisible, Greylock Together, Indivisible Berkshires, and the Rural Freedom Network, the Democratic town committees of Adams, Dalton, Great Barrington, Sheffield, and Stockbridge anticipate that this event will educate voters about candidates' positions on political issues.

In addition, the forum will give voters the opportunity to network and to meet candidates and discuss legislation that will improve Berkshire County's economy, promote environmental justice, and reduce economic disparity in the region.

Candidates committed to attend include District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, 1st Mass congressional candidate Jeromie Whalen, U.S. Senate candidate Alex Rikleen, and 1st Berkshire representative candidate Andrew Fitch.

Also speaking will be representatives from the campaigns for Edward Markey for U.S. Senate and for Maural Healey and Kim Driscoll for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.

Sherwood Guernsey, former state representative, will be the keynote speaker. Candidates running for local office within Berkshire County will also be welcomed.

Residents interested in attending the forum are encouraged to register on the Mobilize app though registration will also be taken at the door.

For more information, contact Dalton Democratic Committee Chair Michele Marantz at michelemarantz14@gmail.com.

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Adams Community, Pittsfield Co-op Banks Announce Merger

04:35PM / Monday, April 06, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — Two local banks are joining forces to create a financial institution with nearly $1.5 billion in assets.

The boards of directors at both Adams Community Bank and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced on Monday a strategic merger expected to be completed by late fall.

According to a statement from bank officials, the combination reflects a strategic partnership between two well-positioned community banks — each strong enough to remain independent, coming together with a shared vision to better serve the Berkshires.

The combined institution will operate as a mutual banking organization with nearly 200 employees and 15 full-service branches serving communities throughout the Berkshire County.

"This milestone marks an important step forward for both of our institutions," said Adams' CEO Julie Fallon Hughes. "It reflects the shared values that have guided both our banks for generations and the trust our customers place in us every day. Our employees will play a critical role in bringing these two organizations together, serving as stewards of our mission and ambassadors in the communities we call home.

"As we move forward, our focus is on building a unified organization that honors our legacies while expanding our ability to serve our customers and communities."

Hughes will be CEO of the merged Adams Savings' mutual holding company, Pittsfield Co-op's President Gregg Levante and Adams' Chief Operating Officer Andre Charbonneau will continue in those positions in the new entity.

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