BHS Opens Registration for Annual Fourth of July 5K Race

07:18AM / Monday, June 15, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Registration has begun for the highly popular annual Berkshire Health Systems 4^th of July 5K Race, held just prior to the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade.

In 2025 over 1,300 runners participated in the 5K, which runs along the parade route in downtown Pittsfield.

Registration is $35 for adult runners who register prior to July 1, and $40 for adult registration on July 2 or 3. Online registration is open and can be completed by visiting www.berkshirehealthsystems.org/bhs5k. As with the 2025 BHS 5K, children in Berkshire County schools from K-12 can register and race for free through June 30. In 2025, over 370 children ran in the 5K, at no charge.

Berkshire Health Systems thanks our many race sponsors, who are covering the cost of children’s registration, including: Ashley Associates, LLC; B and G Restaurant Supply; Barile Environmental Inc.; BBE Office Interiors; Berkshire Community College; Greylock Federal Credit Union; Guardian Life; Hillcrest Educational Centers; Hill-Engineers, Architects, Planners, Inc.; J.H. Maxymillian, Inc.; John’s Excavation; Lipton Energy; MacFarlane Office Products, Inc.; Moresi and Associates and Shields Health.

The BHS Fourth of July 5K Race starts at 9 am sharp on the July, 4, ending at Wahconah Park.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder.

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma.

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024.

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero.

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.

View Full Story