BRPC, BDAO to Host Community Forum on Kratom

12:50PM / Saturday, September 19, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Effective Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, Massachusetts has temporarily placed Kratom into Schedule I for one year while additional study and evaluation occur.

Under this temporary order, retailers may not display, sell, or distribute Kratom products, though they may store them out of sight. Local Boards of Health hold discretion on determining municipal enforcement.

To address these changes and discuss community impacts, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, and Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative are hosting a community forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event will take place in person at the Berkshire Innovation Center (45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA) and virtually via Zoom.

The event begins with welcoming remarks from District Attorney Shugrue, followed by a presentation from Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Medical Director at The Brien Center, on Kratom fundamentals and local treatment and recovery resources. Attendees will also hear state and regional perspectives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, followed by a collaborative cross-sector discussion on prevention and recovery strategies.

To RSVP or to receive Zoom meeting information, please email Stacy Parsons at Stacy.Parsons@mass.gov.

For additional state background, regulatory documentation, and health guidance, visit mass.gov/info-details/kratom

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Rev Tor Band Celebrating 30 Years

10:08AM / Saturday, September 19, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Theatre Group presents Rev Tor's 30th anniversary Jam on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. at The Colonial Theatre.

Featuring current and former band members, longtime collaborators, musical friends and special guests, the concert will celebrate three decades of music, friendship and community.

General admission tickets are $30 in advance; $40 on the day of the show. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will benefit The Jake Galliher Foundation.

Since 1996, guitarist and bandleader Tor Krautter, known throughout the Northeast as Rev Tor, has been a consistent presence on the East Coast club and festival circuit, performing from Maine to Key West. Over the course of three decades, he has evolved from performer and bandleader to producer, collaborator and community builder, creating concerts and events that have connected generations of musicians, artists, venues and audiences.

Tor and his band have shared stages with members of The Grateful Dead, Dead & Company, Phish and The Allman Brothers. Throughout his career, he has become known not only for his soulful playing, but also for his collaborative spirit and commitment to creating opportunities for musicians and audiences to come together.

When considering whom to invite to participate in the anniversary concert, Krautter looked to the relationships that have shaped his career: "I wanted to extend an invitation to friends and colleagues with whom I've shared long-standing, mutual collaborations, as well as former members of the band who have performed with me throughout the years."

The Rev Tor Band will be joined by special guests Mark Mercier of Max Creek; Jen Durkin and Fuzz of Deep Banana Blackout; Gary Backstrom of Jiggle the Handle; Brett Connors and Glen Nelson of Flipper Dave; Dan Broad of Moondance and the Rev Tor Band; and Mike Wartella of BTG's productions "Pink Floyd's The Wall: A

Theatrical Experience" and "Rhapsody: The Music of Queen."

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