BEAT Welcomes Volunteers to Housatonic River Cleanups

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PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) are inviting volunteers to take part in this year's Housatonic River West Branch Cleanups.

Over the years, volunteers have helped make a visible difference. The piles of trash collected each year have steadily shrunk, reflecting cleaner riverbanks and the ongoing commitment of community members who care about the river.

The West Branch of the Housatonic River flows south from Pontoosuc and Onota Lakes before joining the East Branch in Pittsfield. This stretch of the river supports wildlife and offers opportunities for fishing, paddling, and enjoying the outdoors. Removing litter from the river and its banks helps keep this important community resource healthy, clean, and safer. 

BEAT will host river cleanups on Saturday, June 27 and Saturday, July 25, with a rain date of August 22. Volunteers will meet at Westside Riverway Park, 181 Dewey Ave., Pittsfield, MA, at 9:00 AM before heading to cleanup sites along the river. Participants will return to Riverway Park at 12:00 PM, where lunch will be provided for all volunteers. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for outdoor conditions.

Volunteers are required to register for one or both cleanup days at:

https://tinyurl.com/Housatonic-River-Cleanups-2026

 


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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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