Berkshire Athenaeum Announces Summer Reading Program for All Ages

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, announced this year's Summer Reading Program (SRP) theme for all families, kids, teens, and adults: "Plant a Seed, Read!"

The theme celebrates all things gardening, ecology, and the idea that reading nourishes minds, stated a press release. 

"This year's Summer Reading Program is such a fitting theme for the spirit of our community, which is always growing, sharing, and nourishing one another at the library and beyond our walls,” stated Olivia Bowers, adult services and programming supervisor.

The adult program kicks off with a celebratory event at the Athenaeum on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 4 to 6 pm. Both the teen and children's programs launch on Monday, June 22, 2026. All kick-offs will take place at the Berkshire Athenaeum. 

More information below:

ADULT SUMMER READING PROGRAM

TEEN SUMMER READING PROGRAM

CHILDREN'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

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