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GOVERNMENT
Update: Severe thunderstorm watch affecting Berkshire County Sunday evening
An updated severe thunderstorm watch was issued by the National Weather Service on Sunday at 6:51 p.m. in effect until 7 p.m. for Berkshire County. Preparing for approaching lightning: Expert safety advice. Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges...
Pittsfield July 4 Parade 2024: Sparking Honor and Bittersweet Endings
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For William "Bill" Sturgeon, being the grand marshal of the historic Fourth of July parade "means everything." Meanwhile, it's a bittersweet time for Mayor Peter Marchetti, who's stepping down as parade leader after more than two decades. During Pittsfield Community Television's "Parade in Preview" program, it...
State Boosts North Street Housing Project With $4M
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A North Street housing project was awarded more than $4 million through the state's Housing Development Incentive Program. Mayor Peter Marchetti and Community Development Director Justine Dodds traveled to Lowell on Tuesday for the announcement of $27 million in HDIP awards — $4,099,686 going to Allegrone Construction Co.'s redevelopment of the historic Wright Building and the Jim's House of Shoes property.
Massachusetts Musician Celebrates 50 Years at Iconic Music Venue
There is so much to love about the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in the summertime. Whether it's hiking one of the area's many beautiful trails like Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, swimming in our natural bodies of water, checking out the county's variety of summer concert offerings, enjoying ice cream, or experiencing a North Adams SteepleCats game there is much to love about the Berkshires during the warm weather months.
Wahconah Park Committee Moving Forward with $28M Design
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The proposed reconstruction of historic Wahconah Park has been trimmed by $2 million. "We do have a budget issue," architect Salvatore Canciello told the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee on Thursday. The panel has recommended a move from the schematic design to the design development phase for...
Pittsfield 4th of July Parade Parking and Traffic
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Police Department announced that the following parking and traffic restrictions will be in place for the 4th of July Parade to be held on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 10 A.M. The Parade route will run from South Street...
CBRSD Working on Regional Agreement Education
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee agreed to start an education campaign after the proposed regional agreement failed in three of the district's seven towns. The item failed during the Hinsdale annual town meeting on May 15, the Peru town meeting on June 1, and Cummington's...
Dalton Fire District Navigates Future Fire Station
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District is considering re-engaging the prospect of purchasing the former Dalton Garage, located at 385 Main St. The district considered purchasing the building in 2022 because the fire station, located at 20 Flansburg Ave., is too small for its needs, especially with the addition of the ambulance service. However, the prospect was not fully explored and was pushed aside.
Pittsfield Panel Supports $280K Winter Maintenance Deficit
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The finance subcommittee recently OK'd a $280,000 transfer to the Department of Public Services for winter maintenance overages with the understanding that the ask may be higher when it goes to the full City Council. The account is permitted to operate a deficit and has overspent...
State awards Construct with $3.1 million grant for Cassilis Farm
Great Barrington — Construct Inc., the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and support services in the Southern Berkshires, has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration’s 2024 Affordable Housing Development program. The state funds will help construct and subsidize 11 units at Cassilis Farm, a Gilded Age estate in New Marlborough, making them affordable to families and workers at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Start Time Changed for Pittsfield July 4 5K
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire Health Systems 4th of July 5K start time has been moved to 9 a.m., the Berkshire Running Center announced on social media on Saturday. The organizer of the annual road race said that the time was changed by half an hour in order to accommodate parade road closures.
Wild West Fun at the North Adams Library
Yipee Ki-Yay! We had a wonderful time roping hay-bale cows, petting and brushing horses, learning about these magnificent animals, and watching a fun western-themed film on Saturday, June 29, at the North Adams Library. Thanks to Forgotten Way Farms for bringing the horses and everyone who attended our event! We had a jolly good time! Thanks to the Friends of the North Adams Library for sponsoring this event!
After years of labor, a sweeping update to North Adams’ fees and fines ordinances is imminent
The council’s vote on the years-long effort to untangle the city’s antiquated and labyrinthine fee system came at its June 25th meeting. “The papers that are in front of you tonight have been through committees, department heads, administrations – three – administrative officer – three – city solicitor, general code, the entire council for a few years, the finance committee multiple times, which I think has been probably a total of seven members on that finance committee since this process started," said councilor Keith Bona, who chairs the finance committee. “I can't guarantee everything has been caught in the ordinances, because obviously this is going through our entire ordinances trying to find every place there was a fee mentioned, and pulling it out and putting it into the schedule, Appendix D. But I do believe we've had many, many eyes. And the thing is, if we find one down the road, and as there will be changes to the appendix, we will just make those amendments later.”
Businesses in downtown Lenox excited for boom in customers with Tanglewood's summer events
LENOX, Mass. — The sidewalks are full of people checking out downtown Lenox. The early summer weather is great and Tanglewood is getting ready for their summer concert series, which brings in people from all over to Lenox. What You Need To Know. Tanglewood summer concert events are starting.
New Lebanon’s long-time judge retires
NEW LEBANON – If you have done business with the Town of New Lebanon’s judicial system, for whatever reason, you most likely at least met Justice Jack Nevers, who has been on the bench for nearly 30 years. Mr. Nevers officially stepped down on May 30, partially for health reasons and as part of an agreement with the NYS Commission of Judicial Conduct. Mr. Nevers was under investigation for alleged misconduct. The commission agreed to drop the proceedings and accept Mr. Never’s resignation. At the June Town Board hearing, Mr. Nevers was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the board by Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling.
MASS MoCA, North Adams say eighth Solid Sound festival went off without a hitch
Around 7,600 attendees were in town for the sold-out biennial celebration of music, comedy, food, and art thrown by Chicago indie rockers Wilco on the sprawling museum campus. “We started seeing entertaining guests late Wednesday night into Thursday. Traffic patterns were great. We had a fantastic weekend with Wilco. I always get excited when we see the streets of North Adams filled and the businesses bustling. So overall, it was a fantastic weekend- A little bit of rain, but the Wilco followers didn't really care. They just went on with the show," Mayor Jennifer Macksey told WAMC. “I spoke to many business people over the weekend, and they used comments like, oh, we're out straight, this is the best weekend we've had in a long time, this is the best Wilco festival we've had in a long time, and speaking from the city's perspective, we netted about $17,000 in new revenue from event parking. So that always helps us, and that goes towards police cruisers. So, when I talk about profitability, it's not only from the dollars and cents in our businesses, but it's also just showcasing the city.”
Berkshires Gets $600K in Bike Path Grants
ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshires received more than $600,000 for improvements and planning of recreational trails. The funds are part of some $12 million in awards announced recently for 65 projects across the state by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's MassTrails program. "At DCR, we witness firsthand...
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