UPDATED: A cyclist suffered potentially life threatening injuries Friday night after he was struck by a car on Cheshire Road the cyclist was in critical but stable condition.  Subscribe today to access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access Subscribe now for $3.99/month Subscriber Sign In | Return Home Mitchell Chapman is The Eagle's night news editor.  Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Greylock Federal Credit Union is accepting applications from students ages 11-22 for its new program PITTSFIELD — Greylock Federal Credit Union is accepting applications for its new program will include up to 20 Greylock members ages 11-22 as well as in-person Greylock-themed events participants will expand their awareness on financial literacy and serve as brand ambassadors Those selected will receive a $300 stipend and a letter of commendation for their academic/professional records Visit tinyurl.com/3j78xmd5 for the application and more information To learn more about membership, visit tinyurl.com/yxbcaftt Berkshire Hills Regional School District Superintendent Peter Dillon speaking to residents at annual town meeting on Saturday Dillon continues to face pressure from taxpayers over mounting school costs and declining enrollment.  Town residents also approved a new zoning district that will make it possible for the Bard College at Simon’s Rock campus — which is closing at the end of the summer and is for sale — to be used for purposes other than education.  Washington voters are seen gathering in Town Hall at the 2024 annual town meeting Washington voters will gather in Town Hall on Wednesday to vote on town expenditures for fiscal 2026.  TOP ISSUES AT TOWN MEETING: The proposed town operating budget for fiscal 2026 of $2,370,618 • A $57,764 allocation for capital costs to the Central Berkshire Regional School District • A $775,265 allocation for the school district transportation and a “basic budget balance.” • $203,015 for vocational education tuition and transportation Quality local journalism needs your support Access this story and all of our stories with 24/7 unlimited access Subscribe now for 99¢ Maryjane Williams can be reached at mwilliams@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6139 Dalton's annual town meeting will begin at 7 p.m The town election will be May 12 at the Dalton Senior Center Lee voters will consider the fiscal 2026 operating budget an amendment prohibiting ADUs and the principal dwelling from becoming short-term rentals and various other items.   Mount Washington's Annual Town Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m The Tavern at the A in Pittsfield is preparing to reopen for food service this May even as the fate of its liquor license remains uncertain after Monday afternoon's Licensing Board meeting  Hancock residents will vote on a 20-item warrant at the 2025 Annual Town Meeting 7 p.m The town election will be held noon to 6 p.m At least 70 job-seekers connected with 18 employers at Lenox's annual job fair three men discussed plans for a secret raid that would become America’s first offensive victory in the Revolutionary War locals gathered to commemorate the largely forgotten meeting that helped shape history Becket voters will consider the proposed fiscal 2026 budget adopting the seasonal community designation a bylaw regulating outdoor lighting and other items at the annual town meeting on May 10.  Latinas413 Mentorship Program Coordinator Carmen Guevara speaks during the Latinas413 graduation program in 2024 The nonprofit is opening a creative space in downtown Pittsfield for its members A creative space for the Latinx community is set to open in downtown Pittsfield at the end of the month PITTSFIELD — A creative space for the Latinx community is set to open in downtown Pittsfield at the end of the month Latinas413 a nonprofit organization focused on empowering Latina women in the Berkshires is launching CreáHub & Makerspace for its members though organizers eventually want to open it up as a community space “This space is a sense of pride of the 21 countries that we represent and how much immigrants bring into our economy into our community,” said Liliana Atanacio Garcia The hub will offer maker tools such as sewing machines and art supplies workshops hosted by members and a collaborative environment A multi-use dance area will occupy the center of the hub with an equipped makerspace in the back the final goal is really bringing that sense of belonging and empowerment to our community,” Garcia said With Garcia’s background in engineering in mind the organization also hopes to collaborate with the Berkshire Innovation Center to purchase equipment to make more high-tech creations including microcontrollers for building digital devices and 3D printers that opens that space for us to bring our ideas,” said Garcia Latinas413 has been operating remotely for five years so members will also use the space to host their typical activities providing mentors with a space to meet with their mentees as well as program administrator at Latinas413 Dias’ background is rooted in traditional arts While working for a nonprofit organization in her hometown of Brazil she taught people of all ages how to create and design costumes act and play instruments inspired by their culture and others Since moving to the Berkshires five years ago Dias has worked as a dance and fitness instructor for several community organizations and has also collaborated with Latinas413 as an artist “I’ve known Latinas413 since the beginning … so I'm very excited to add on in the fantastic work that they're doing.” The board is still determining how membership will work — whether through fees donations or a tiered system — but members must identify with the Latinx community “Our goal [is] to create this brave space for our community [where] we can have those tough conversations learn from each other and thrive together as a community,” said Garcia “We are also an asset for immigrants,” Dias added “It's a big asset to be able to navigate all the struggles and to give support and guide and mentor through the difficulties of immigration.” Due to safety concerns, the organization is not yet sharing the address publicly. For more information, please contact info@latinas413.org The Gallo family’s Prime Italian Steakhouse and Bar had been for sale at nearly $2.5 million but it’s now offered as a “turnkey” restaurant for a five-year lease at $6,500 a month plus other costs Mill Town Capital assigns veteran Nudel and Bistro Zinc chef to revitalize the Gateway Inn’s public dining room The Garden skate and snowboard shop is being put up for sale by its owners Bill Whitaker and Luke Kessler. After 24 years serving the Berkshires the shop will close if they don't find a buyer.  The Berkshires’ 2025 housing market has kicked off with a slight increase in home sales and the highest dollar volume since the pandemic-driven peak in 2022 But inventory continues to pose a challenge for would-be homebuyers as home prices continue to rise across the county Mike Spelman can no longer be found selling appliances at his store on Gordon Street Mike’s Maytag Home Appliance Center is now Manny's Appliances A "No Kings" billboard will be in place for the month of May and is going to be near the AT&T store near the Allendale intersection in Pittsfield The cost was underwritten by an anonymous Dalton resident An anonymous Dalton resident has underwritten the cost of a “No Kings” billboard that will be going up on Monday at Berkshire Crossing in Pittsfield PITTSFIELD — Local activist Jim Mahon thinks that Democrats have to alert Republicans and people who may not think about politics that a foundational part of America is in danger An anonymous Dalton resident has helped lead the charge underwriting the cost of a “No Kings” billboard that will be going up on Monday at Berkshire Crossing in Pittsfield “If you think about what the word Republican means, it means you don’t have a king,” said Mahon, co-chair of the Berkshire Democratic Brigades The billboard will be in place for the month of May and is going to be near the AT&T store on Dalton Avenue near the heavily traveled Allendale intersection in Pittsfield It reflects Democrats' belief that President Donald Trump has been trying to rule with absolute authority and using the power of his office to target his enemies which will depict Trump wearing a crown in a circle with a "no" sign reflects the efforts of the Dalton Democratic Town Committee and the Berkshire Democratic Brigades “No Kings in America” and “Real Americans don’t bow down.” “We wanted to do our part in support of democracy,” said Tony Pagliarulo vice chair of the Dalton Democratic Town Committee “We hope that it’s a statement for Berkshire County.” The groups have joined forces, working with the Rural Freedom Network to craft a strong political message against Trump “We’re certain that our billboard message reflects not only the strong beliefs of Berkshire County Democrats but also the position of the American people at large,” said Michele Marantz chair of the Dalton Democratic Town Committee Pagliarulo is not sure which side of the building it will be on but says he is expecting it to cause a reaction and I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Pagliarulo said Mahon acknowledged that some may be against the billboard and even offended “It will be an interesting moment to see what people think and this is the whole idea of political speech,” he said The Berkshire Democratic Brigades' mission is to organize elect and reelect Democrats at all levels of government The group also looks to build the Democratic base in Berkshire County by improving communication education and participation by people of all ages who teaches political science and comparative politics at Williams College said that it takes time to wake people up regarding political issues “We don’t want to find ourselves in a position where everything is changed beyond recognition and beyond repair,” Mahon said The primary mission of the Dalton Dems is the election of worthy Democrats but they also value educating voters about important political issues and ways that voters can effectively get involved A donation of a graphic from Ben Hillman of the Rural Freedom Network helped publicize the Brigade’s “No Kings” event in March at the Colonial Theatre Hillman helped reconfigure the event logo to meet the billboard's dimensions Mahon noted that many people who may not have been following politics a few months ago are now getting involved “If you’ve been someone who’s been taking it for granted … What’s the natural reaction when it looks like your faith has been violated?” Mahon said and suddenly you think … What is going on here?" Dylan Thompson can be reached at dthompson@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6105 Environmental Protection Agency has conditionally approved General Electric’s revised transportation plan for the Rest of River cleanup As the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program faces uncertainty Berkshire residents share their stories of how the program has kept their heat on and their families afloat during difficult times the Berkshire Carousel will open to the public In the library room of Reid Middle School Friday night Lake Onota Village residents moved another step towards purchasing their community and a Cumberland Farms truck carrying 12,000 gallons of gasoline had crashed into a guardrail on the hairpin turn outside the Golden Eagle gift shop and restaurant on the Mohawk Trail by Stephanie Ryan (WRGB) — A cyclist has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a crash Friday night in Pittsfield Pittsfield Fire Department and Action Ambulance responded to Cheshire Road in front of Berkshire Gas Company for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist Preliminary investigation showed the 18 year-old driver of a 2008 Subaru Impreza the cyclist was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for potentially life threatening injuries to his head and was admitted Cheshire Rd was closed for approximately four hours between Williamsburg Terrace and Greenwich Street while the accident was investigated and cleared up The roadway was opened up at approximately 12:30 a.m The accident remains under investigation by the Pittsfield Police Traffic Unit Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Sergeant David Hallas at 413-448-9700 Ext three revolutionaries met at Easton's Tavern and planned a raid that would substantially alter the course of the American Revolution At an event commemorating the meeting on Thursday There is a plaque that commemorates the meeting near the site of Easton's Tavern which is now the Berkshire Museum parking lot Reenactor Tim Abbott wore the attire that Pittsfield's John Brown likely would have donned to raise troops in Berkshire County and but it would have held about three days of food Although the meeting commemorated an event from two and half centuries ago the event had an undercurrent that felt very much alive Artisan Lesley Beck presented and spoke about the replica of John Brown's vest she is in the process of making which Vivori said was more likely from Brown's lawyer days than his fighting ones will be part of a new Museum Mobile Unit that will go on display later this year.  The Berkshire Museum also passed around a replica of a beer flagon which they excavated in 2020 from the former site of the tavern "It's remarkable that it came up it one piece," said Vivori Tim Abbott gave a presentation from John Brown's perspective where he touched on the hardships Brown would have endured during his initial expedition to scout out the fort earlier that year executive director of the Berkshire County Historical Society emphasized the multitude of the events that the historical society and Berkshire 250 have planned leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence The commemoration drew a group of about 30 local historians history buffs and curious residents to celebrate the important role Pittsfield played in the American Revolution PITTSFIELD — Two hundred and fifty years ago in a small tavern in the heart of Pittsfield three revolutionaries quietly hashed out plans for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga the raid they helped shape — and fight — became the first American offensive victory in the Revolutionary War Berkshire Athenaeum and the Berkshire Museum commemorated the semi quincentennial history buffs and curious locals celebrated the meeting and its far-reaching impacts alongside a familiar face from the past: John Brown who returned — sort of — thanks to reenactor Tim Abbott Edward Mott of Connecticut and a crew of about 15 men set out north from Hartford on a mission to capture Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point in New York The forts had substantial stores of cannon and artillery making them ideal targets for the burgeoning rebellion Mott planned to keep his band small until he reached modern-day Vermont “because we meant to keep our business a secret,” Mott wrote in his journal published 75 years later by the Connecticut Historical Society he hoped to join forces with the Green Mountain Boys and raise a few more men before sneaking across Lake Champlain and taking the forts by surprise he changed his plans after passing through Col Easton and the lawyer-turned-spy Brown convinced him that because the area farther north was “generally poor it would be difficult to get a sufficient number of men there,” wrote Mott of the encounter Mott raised around 40 recruits in Pittsfield and Williamstown before converging with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys on the shores of Lake Champlain who had requested money and horses from the Massachusetts provisional government for the same purpose Early on the morning of May 10, the combined forces successfully captured Fort Ticonderoga in an attack that — thanks to its secrecy — was “almost bloodless,” according to Abbott “It basically involved scaling the back of the fort and walking through the gate at night.” Several months later, Col. Henry Knox, using draft horses and sledges, dragged the spoils of the captured forts to Boston, along a route now known as the Knox Trail The captured firepower proved critical as the war grew more intense “The importance of taking Fort Ticonderoga cannot be understated,” Jonathan Lane, Revolution 250 coordinator “The provincial forces could not have driven the British from Boston without the heavy artillery and mortars that they captured.” Thursday’s commemoration kicked off in Park Square with a retelling of that pivotal night in 1775 “James Easton and John Brown are largely forgotten in popular history,” said Roberts “but when you string together the events their actions caused reenactor Abbott stepped into character as Brown offering the spy’s view of the meeting and its aftermath the crowd crossed the street to the plaque marking the site of Easton’s Tavern — now the Berkshire Museum parking lot “Learning that a small tavern in a small town played such a critical role is incredible,” Abbott told The Eagle who knows how different things might have been?” where attendees passed around two artifacts destined for the museum’s Mobile Museum Unit: a reproduction of a beer flagon unearthed during 2020 renovations and a soon-to-be-completed replica of Brown’s embroidered vest “It’s exciting to get this wealth of information,” said attendee Amanda Murtaugh a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution “knowing that it all happened right here in town.” As the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence approaches next year, the Berkshire County Historical Society and Revolution 250 have a variety of events planned that together will highlight the myriad ways the revolution touched the region “There is a lot that will be coming down the pike,” said Lesley Herzberg executive director of the historical society “So many parts of the revolution touched or played out in the Berkshires.” the Norman Rockwell Museum and Chesterwood Thursday’s commemoration had an undercurrent that felt very much alive reflecting on the meaning of the gathering ongoing story of defiance and civic responsibility “I think what makes this moment feel particularly powerful is that we are looking at the resistance of people from an overreaching authority,” he told The Eagle “It's an interesting opportunity to look back and think: What did it take to do that That connection wasn’t just theoretical for everyone present I can protest because of the sacrifices and the vision people like John Brown had all the way at our country’s beginning.” Roberts summed the feeling underlying the event up with a quiet warning: “If we don’t remember the foundations of our democracy — moments like this largely forgotten one — I think we have to ask ourselves Lauren Dorsey can be reached at ldorsey@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6190 Pittsfield Police say Cheshire Road was closed for about four hours between Williamsburg Terrace and Greenwich Street due to a motor vehicle crash involving a cyclist Friday they responded to the area in front of Berkshire Gas Company for a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist Authorities say preliminary investigation determined the 18-year-old driver also traveling northbound from behind the vehicle The cyclist was taken to Berkshire Medical Center for potentially life-threatening injuries to his head Pittsfield Police say the accident remains under investigation and anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Sergeant David Hallas at 448-9700 The station representative that can assist any person with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public file is Brittany Moroukian. She can be contacted at bmoroukian@wnyt.com or 518-207-4710 At the Tavern at the A restaurant at the General Electric Athletic Association golf course in Pittsfield a new operator is preparing to reopen the space and untangle the current issues with its liquor license At the Tavern at the A restaurant at the GEAA golf course in Pittsfield a new operator is preparing to reopen the space around May 14 and untangle the current issues with its liquor license Inside the Tavern at the A restaurant at the General Electric Athletic Association golf course in Pittsfield Golfers hit the links at the General Electric Athletic Association golf course in Pittsfield on Tuesday Carts are ready for golfers outside the pro shop at the General Electric Athletic Association golf course in Pittsfield on Tuesday PITTSFIELD — The Tavern at the A has six months before the liquor license attached to it — one still held by a previous owner — is revoked but that hasn’t stopped plans for a reopening under new ownership Located on the General Electric Athletic Association golf course at 303 Crane Ave. has been incommunicado and has not filed any of the required tax returns for the transfer according to Bill Martin, the attorney for GEAA which owns and leases the building for the restaurant business “So we've had absolutely no luck trying to transfer the Satrape license,” Martin said at Monday’s Licensing Board meeting “So we have effectively exhausted all possible avenues of accomplishing what we would need to accomplish with the [state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission] to transfer that license.” The commission manages liquor licenses in Massachusetts With a new leaseholder — Jim Mitus, the former owner of the Skyline Country Club in Lanesborough — signed on to take over the restaurant space and with a liquor license transfer from the former Pittsfield restaurant House of Seasoning lined up the only obstacle left for Mitus is the fact there's an existing liquor license attached to the property “If there's a prior license on that property you cannot bring in another license to operate at that same premises,” said Thomas Campoli This restriction does not apply once the Satrape license is transferred or revoked so the Licensing Board started the commission’s required six-month countdown to revoke Satrape’s license on Monday afternoon after months of failed transfer attempts Still, surrendering or revoking the license has its consequences. If the rare and expensive license is surrendered or revoked it effectively dies — and the city cannot create another to replace it Pittsfield passed up a one-time offer from the state to remove liquor license limits a decision that now leaves the city unable to create any more licenses Since the city is already over its population-based cap of 46 all-beverage liquor licenses Although Martin discussed drafting up a notarized surrender document to send to Satrape who received a notice to appear before the Licensing Board through her company A.H communication between the parties has been difficult “She's gone from being cooperative to non-responsive,” Martin said Tavern at the A is set to open on or about May 14 “We're gonna get opened and serve food before we get our [liquor] license," Mitus said who has a three-year lease on the property said he plans to offer much of the same menu as before “[We're going to serve] just basic pub food and then [we’re] gonna start doing events again,” Mitus said Martin and GEAA representatives are planing to file the liquor license transfer application in time for the May 19 Licensing Board meeting with hopes that Satrape will sign the surrender document in time for the June 30 meeting “We've got a not-for-profit golf course," Martin said "We really want to keep the liquor license in a for-profit entity." The Berkshire Carousel's grand reopening is set for June 14 granddaughter of Berkshire Carousel certified maintenance mechanic Morgan Davis and artist Teri Davis takes a spin on opening day of the 2018 season at the Berkshire Carousel in Pittsfield board President Jim Shulman and his wife Jackie are sponsoring the June 14 grand reopening in addition to covering its operating expenses "My wife Jackie and I made a commitment to fund the start-up for the carousel and as a thank you to the many supporters "The two of us are also funding the opening day with complimentary rides We hope to see others consider the same as the summer season unfolds." According to carousel coordinator Janet Crawford the organization is looking for businesses that are interested in sponsoring future free days Crawford told The Eagle the carousel was on track for a May reopening "it made more sense to open in June." The carousel featuring 40 hand-carved thoroughbreds and hand-painted scenery paying tribute to the region's history and people was produced over several years and first opened in 2016 the carousel will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m plans to operate it through the fall and holiday season the carousel features a newly renovated patio area that will host food vendors Volunteers have been hard at work installing a brick garden The nonprofit will also run a "carousel cart," which will feature branded T-shirts for children and adults "The local business community has been generous in their support of this plan to have a nice spot outside the carousel to enjoy some refreshments and relax while they visit," Crawford said Sponsors and supporters will get a first look at the volunteers' handiwork during a preview party on May 24 at 6 p.m., which will be catered by Zucchini's. Tickets are $20 and those interested in attending should contact Crawford at equineartwork2@gmail.com Crawford said she hopes the preview will give people a glimpse at how the property can be used as a space for events like birthdays and reunions its group of about 25 volunteers are busy preparing for the carousel's big day back with future sessions geared towards orienting ticket sales and gift shop volunteers planned next week "It's great to have a large amount of volunteers so that we can work around everyone's summer plans," Crawford said The carousel obtained its license to operate last week but is still waiting on building and fire safety inspections from the city Jim Shulman credited Jules Gillette of the Gillette Shows which hosts a yearly carnival at the Berkshire Mall for helping the carousel obtain its operation license has been involved in every step of the way by providing resources and support," Jim Shulman said "But it has really been a team effort under Janet’s leadership to keep this incredible gift and work of art in the Berkshires and once again operating." "We joke about creating a spot worthy of a Hallmark movie," Crawford said email Janet Crawford at equineartwork2@gmail.com Their contracts were canceled before the end date It's resulting in the firing of a combined 14 AmeriCorps members doing service work in the Berkshires We keep our menu simple and let the dough and other high-quality ingredients speak for themselves North Adams Regional Hospital is North Berkshire's choice for healthcare services - Your Hospital With another dozen articles still left, voters elected just before 11 p.m. to suspend the annual town meeting and reconvene on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. click for more He has led the Department of Higher Education through a time of historic investment by the state Legislature and Healey-Driscoll administration in affordability and access for all learners in the commonwealth. click for more © 2025 Boxcar Media LLC - All rights reserved Pittsfield Little League celebrates it's 75th anniversary season with an opening day ceremony at Deming Park on Saturday To purchase these photos and more, click here. Last year’s 9-11 year-old District I champions take a lap around the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday “Little League’s Number One Fan,” Ricky Ostellino throws the first pitch at the 2025 opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Gabriel Ramirez and Sophia McCluskey read the ‘Little League Poem’ at the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Teams enter the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Members of the East Side Cafe team enter the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Members of the Pittsfield Fire Department team enter the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Members of the Sheriff’s Department team enter the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Members of the Teo’s team enter the field during the opening day ceremony for Pittsfield Little League's 75th anniversary season at Deming Park in Pittsfield on Saturday Residents of Lake Onota Village in Pittsfield need just one more signed petition to move forward with purchasing the community PITTSFIELD — In the library room of Reid Middle School Friday night residents have amassed an additional 28 petitions If they can collect at least one more petition by May 15 the residents will have enough signatures to trigger the law that allows manufactured home park residents in Massachusetts to buy their communities before an outside buyer does but I think it’s clear that you have enough interest for us to talk about the next steps,” said Nora Gosselin market development and acquisitions specialist for Cooperative Development Institute the nonprofit that has been guiding residents through the process alerted residents of the park that they were selling it to Crown Communities a private equity firm based in Wyoming for $5.5 million in cash manufactured home park residents have the right of first refusal giving them first dibs to purchase their park if they can match the sale price some park residents have been organizing alongside the institute to educate their neighbors about the resident-owned model and build enough support to exercise their right of first refusal Residents who have attended the weekly meetings have expressed their concern that if Crown Communities purchases the park rents will go up and conditions at the park will deteriorate “I really feel bad for the elderly people who live here because a lot of them live month to month on Social Security and they couldn’t afford a big rent increase,” said resident Renee Marcantel who was voted president of the resident board Friday night After counting the petitions and learning they had hit the necessary signatures count residents paid a $5 membership fee that will allow them to vote on issues that may come up through the purchasing process After residents nominated themselves or their neighbors to serve on the board of directors the membership voted in favor to elect a president operations director and directors at-large The board will represent residents through the purchase process and take the next steps to inspect the property and procure funding Residents also reviewed and voted to adopt the articles of incorporation and acquisition bylaws that will govern them through the purchase process residents will need to submit an offer to purchase the park that matches Crown Communities’ offer of $5.5 million the institute will work with the resident cooperative to survey assess and appraise the property and obtain financing “It feels wonderful [to be moving forward],” said Marcantel “I think it’s a positive when residents can be part of the decision making process to improve their park.” Claire O'Callahan reports on housing in Berkshire County. She can be reached at cocallahan@berkshireeagle.com To kickoff May Bike Month on Friday night in downtown Pittsfield Berkshire Bike and Board hosted a Big Air Bike Jam as part of the city's First Friday event To view a full gallery or purchase photos, click here. The Big Air Bike Jam in downtown Pittsfield on Friday We were glad to hear the state Division of Public Records' ruling that the city's school district must release a minimally redacted version of the full Pittsfield High School report That ruling is in line with our previous calls for the people of Pittsfield to be able to see the results of an investigation paid for with their tax dollars Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data The decision rejects the Pittsfield School Committee’s assertion that the report which shares the results of an investigation kicked off by alleged misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School was exempt from the state public records law We were glad to hear the state Division of Public Records’ ruling that the city’s school district must release the Pittsfield High School report That ruling is in line with our previous calls for the people of Pittsfield to be able to see the results of an investigation paid for with their tax dollars — a big step forward for transparency after the School Committee’s concerning steps backward toward secrecy in recent weeks announcing that city school officials would only release an “executive summary” of the report’s findings We all owe it to the students we must protect and the facts we must seek to resist the ugliest urges that rage and indignation provoke That means not only holding the School Committee accountable for a transparent investigation but having the discipline to not prejudge that investigation and let the full fact-finding process play out When this investigation first took shape, we highlighted the potential pitfalls of hiring a law firm to do the job If a law firm is compiling a report stemming from an investigation into deeply controversial matters that firm will err on the side of extreme caution in determining what should be shielded from public view in order to maximally protect its client — in this case We’re not knocking Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas or any other law firms over this reality — that is their job But as the Division of Public Records stressed in its ruling there’s good reason to err on the side of transparency when it comes to public records — and an investigative report on grave misconduct and managerial concerns at PHS funded by the city’s school district (i.e. taxpayers) is definitely a public record that the people of Pittsfield deserve to see We are strong advocates for official transparency as an important principle in itself it’s not just transparency per se that is at issue The subject of this report and whatever facts it has unearthed are of legitimate public concern especially for student families who deserve to know exactly what’s been going on in the Berkshires’ biggest high school and what the district can do to correct course after a string of disruptive and potentially dangerous controversies within Pittsfield’s public education system That critical public concern is underscored by the event that prompted the state’s ruling sought the PHS report through a public records request When the district summarily denied that request from a concerned constituent which resulted in the Division of Public Records ruling that the report must be released Batory explained why she pursued the records request: “Pittsfield residents deserve transparency when it comes to the actions of public officials within taxpayer-funded institutions,” she wrote “I am speaking out because I believe our community must demand accountability and prioritize the safety of its youngest members above all else.” Batory for standing up on behalf of not just her family but the entire school community to demand the requisite transparency from the part of Pittsfield’s government to which parents entrust their children nearly every day but those principles particularly matter here and now in a district that is only in this position because it has lost public trust and must now take the difficult but necessary steps to regain it that will require complying with the state’s order to publicly release a minimally redacted version of the PHS investigation report there could be legitimate privacy and liability exposure concerns to consider when releasing the findings of an investigation like this one Those concerns can be addressed by making minor redactions to the report before publicly releasing it rather than blocking the public’s view of the report while releasing an “executive summary” of the facts that district officials find suitable for general consumption such a summary released in lieu of the report itself would be received by the school community with all the skepticism the district has stirred around itself — a primary reason why this investigation was necessary in the first place state law holds that “Every government record in Massachusetts is presumed to be public unless it may be withheld under a specifically stated exemption.” While Chairman Cameron has claimed that Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 214, Section 1B would provide such an exemption in this case the Division of Public Records’ ruling strongly disagrees nor by implication exempt any particular records from disclosure,” Public Records Supervisor Manza Arthur said regarding the ruling “Where the public interest in obtaining the requested information substantially outweighs the seriousness of any invasion of privacy the private interest in preventing disclosure must yield.” Committee member William Garrity said he was in favor of that “neutral third party” option — allowing the Division of Public Records  to decide what parts of the report can and cannot be released At the Pittsfield School Committee’s first meeting since the state’s ruling Chairman Cameron said he would be “seeking further clarification of this matter” with the Division of Public Records Fair enough — so long as this is truly an exercise in seeking clarity rather than a stalling tactic Let the chairman put his arguments about what and how much should be redacted from the released report to state public records officials and let them objectively assess those arguments on balance with the need for the utmost reasonable transparency the chairman and the rest of the committee should follow public records law and the principles of transparent governance which both demand the same thing: Let the people of Pittsfield see the report on the state of their school district paid for with their tax dollars Members of the United Educators of Pittsfield made a strong showing at the Pittsfield School Committee meeting at City Hall in December 2024 An apparent misunderstanding left the two sides ratifying two different versions of a tentative contract agreement.  The School Committee made a change it understood the union wanted But the union didn't make that same change leaving the two sides ratifying different versions of the deal.  PITTSFIELD — The School Committee on Wednesday night voted unanimously to ratify a three-year contract with the United Educators of Pittsfield which runs through the 2026-27 school year But that may not be the end of the monthslong process In an apparent fit of last-minute confusion the committee made a change designed to correct an error in the language.  the change was not reflected in the agreement that the union ratified earlier this week That means the two sides voted for different contracts.  "My legal team is talking to [the School Committee's] legal team about what needs to happen," UEP President Jeanne Lemmond said "Not only the UEP but I'm sure the School Committee and [the administration] would like this to be finalized as rapidly as possible so we can move on." Cameron said the committee could call a special meeting or deal with the change at its next regularly scheduled meeting to remedy the situation.  is an agreement that raises salaries by 3 percent retroactive to the start of this school year It also gradually eliminates half-day professional days over the next two years and asks teachers to work three professional days before the start of the school year.   Committee members said they were pleased by those changes "I know my kids' teachers do an excellent job to squeeze in instructional half days and make them meaningful," committee member Donna Belair said "But it's very hard for families … to coordinate work with half days that seem to come constantly I'm grateful to UEP for agreeing to that." "Pittsfield is no longer a poor relation in Berkshire County in the salaries it's willing to pay its teachers." The change apparently holding up ratification centered on whether the role of teacher of deportment — a faculty member who helps students understand the behavior required in school — should be included in UEP's bargaining unit Cameron said the draft agreement contained a proposal to remove the deportment position from the collective bargaining unit But the teachers union had agreed to revisit that question later committee member Sara Hathaway said Wednesday night.   William Garrity moved to remove the clause and it passed unanimously — as did the contract as a whole.  That clause was in the agreement teachers voted on Monday and finalizing its terms in writing took several months — both delays that led the union’s members to attend School Committee meetings in significant numbers Reach Greg Sukiennik at gsukiennik@berkshireeagle.com or at 413-496-6249 The School Committee will vote again Wednesday on its tentative agreement with the city teachers union to accomplish what it set out to do earlier this week: Ratify the three-year deal Pittsfield Township residents head to the polls Tuesday to vote on a pair of millage increases for parks and public safety Township officials say the hikes are needed to keep up with the increased costs of maintenance and other expenses It’s a one-mill hike for the public safety millage and 0.13 mills for parks Township Supervisor Trish Reilly says as Pittsfield continues to grow Reilly says it could be severely detrimental to services in Pittsfield Township She says they’ll be forced to reevaluate what can be done and likely return with another millage request in November Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support.  Make your donation to WEMU today to keep your community NPR station thriving Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on X (Twitter) Contact WEMU News at 734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org Residents in Pittsfield Township and the Dexter Community Schools District are voting Tuesday on several ballot measures Pittsfield Township voters will decide on public safety and parks millages, while Dexter Community Schools District residents will vote on a school improvement bond Director of Elections for Washtenaw County Rena Basch says the election board is centralizing voting locations for residents in Freedom and Lodi Townships and those in Northfield Township will vote at Webster Township Town Hall This year has already seen higher voter turnout as it is the first election since last November’s to use the permanent absentee ballot list Basch says while there have been discussions to consolidate voting dates to June and November the county has no plans to change the number of election days Former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski who served in that capacity for nine years Former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski salutes toward the reviewing stand Thursday during the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade spent 32 years at the Pittsfield Fire Department Robert Czerwinski worked as a firefighter in his home town before moving to Pittsfield in 1983 Following four years in the East Longmeadow Fire Department he joined the Pittsfield Fire Department in 1987 Former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski on the scene of a fire in 2019 One fire official said Czerwinski was "a permanent presence in Berkshire County firefighting." Former Lanesborough Fire Chief Charlie Durffe and former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski discuss a fire in 2013. Durfee described Czerwinski as “my best friend.” who served the Pittsfield Fire Department for more than 30 years PITTSFIELD — Former Pittsfield Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski was remembered Tuesday for his friendship his skill as a fire science instructor and willingness to serve and protect who served the Pittsfield Fire Department for 32 years "Those that are familiar with Chief Czerwinski know just how integral he was not only to the City of Pittsfield Fire Department but also to surrounding communities," the city firefighters union, International Brotherhood of Fire Fighters Local 2647, said in a social media post "Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers." Pittsfield Fire Chief Thomas Sammons said Czerwinski had a long battle with cancer from workplace exposure. According to the IAFF 72 percent of its members' line-of-duty deaths in 2023 were occupational cancers.  Former Lanesborough Fire Chief Charles Durfee described Czerwinski as “my best friend.” He said he had been at Czerwinski’s home "every other day" over the past month and a half as his health declined along with state Regional Director of Emergency Management Pat Carnevale and Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office Lt became a tight-knit group of friends who traveled together to professional conferences They gathered again over the weekend and on Monday “I couldn’t ask for a better friend,” Durfee said Friends and former colleagues remembered Czerwinski for his command of fire science and hazardous materials topics and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of firefighting leaders I've met very few people as intelligent as Bob was in public safety and emergency management," Grady said "He was a go-to guy for a lot of people here and across the state in hazardous materials." Czerwinski was also well known for his sense of humor "He knew the virtue of a good joke," Lee Fire Chief Ryan Brown said.  Carnavale said Czerwinski was devoted to his family and friends Then I would say his friends — who were almost like family." who rose through the ranks after joining the department in 1987 was appointed chief in 2010 by then-Mayor James Ruberto.  He served as interim fire chief in Granby in 2020 as interim chief of Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Service following a period of turmoil in the Dalton department “He was interim chief when we were going through some tough times,” current Dalton Chief Chris Cachat said “We’re forever thankful that he helped get us on the right path.” Czerwinski was also remembered as a passionate educator in fire science classes at Berkshire Community College and in hazardous materials he offered as a for-hire instructor Cachat said Czerwinski’s class sessions were always well-attended “His knowledge was second-to-none about fire science His approach to delivering a class was better than anybody else I’ve ever seen,” Cachat said “Usually fire classes are boring and redundant … his classes were entertaining and generally standing room only.” Czerwinski tended to meet and befriend people in professional settings assistant deputy superintendent of the Berkshire House of Corrections worked with Czerwinski when he was the city's emergency management director Carnevale met him when they were both responding to a hazardous materials incident.   he had an infections laugh that made you want to laugh "I would call him a permanent presence in Berkshire County firefighting as long as I've known him." Brown said He was on the assessment board for my promotion to chief [in 2017]." Czerwinski worked as a firefighter in his home town before moving to Pittsfield in 1983 He was appointed lieutenant in 1993 and deputy chief in 2003 “Chief Czerwinski dedicated 32 years of service to Pittsfield I had the pleasure of getting to know him throughout my years as a member of the City Council and President of the Pittsfield Parade Committee,” Mayor Peter Marchetti said in a prepared statement “We spent a lot of time together coordinating every detail that was needed to put on a large-scale event in the heart of our downtown “Chief Czerwinski should be remembered for the care and compassion he not only provided to this community but to his team at the Pittsfield Fire Department I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know him and express my deepest condolences to his family and friends.” Grady said Czerwinski was "really focused on trying to mentor up other chiefs He was predeceased by a sister and his parents.  United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond addresses the School Committee on April 9 The committee will hold a revote on the new teachers contract next week to correct an error in the version it initially approved Wednesday The School Committee will vote again Wednesday on its tentative agreement with the city teachers union to accomplish what it set out to do earlier this week: Ratify the three-year deal PITTSFIELD — The School Committee will vote again Wednesday on its tentative agreement with the city teachers union to accomplish what it set out to do earlier this week: Ratify the three-year deal When it took up the contract earlier this week the School Committee amended the document to remove a clause that it believed was a mistake But when the union overwhelmingly approved the contract in a membership vote on Tuesday the contract it voted on still contained that clause That left the union and the district with two different versions of the same contract — and hence Cameron said the committee will revote at the start of a special meeting which it called to interview candidates for interim superintendent.  "The Committee believed that in correcting what it thought was an error in the document it was thereby accommodating the UEP's request," Cameron said in a prepared statement "That turns out not to have been the case." The re-vote will be on the contract the union approved — including the clause in question That clause calls for the removal of teachers of deportment from the bargaining unit represented by the United Educators of Pittsfield and to the UEP's membership for understanding how a mistaken interpretation of the pertinent provision in the document could have occurred," Cameron said for their support of our intention to vote promptly on an unamended version of the agreements the parties reached." Lemmond was similarly pleased that the School Committee pledged to fix the mistake quickly "The UEP is thankful that the School Committee was able to address the settlement agreement so quickly for our members," she said.   Cameron said he's been assured the revote will not affect the timing on union members receiving retroactive pay raises provided by the new deal They had been working under the terms of their previous contract The new contract raises pay by 3 percent for the 2024-25 school year It will also gradually eliminate the scheduling of half-days for professional development the union representing city teachers is one step closer to reaching a contract agreement.  The School Committee is asking the Division of Public Records for clarification of its order requiring the release of the report on an investigation into alleged misconduct at Pittsfield High School.  We were glad to hear the state Division of Public Records' ruling that the city's school district must release a minimally redacted version of the full Pittsfield High School report A pickup truck ran into Samel's Deli on Elm Street in Pittsfield after being struck by another car.  Two people were transported to Berkshire Medical Center after a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli on Wednesday morning.  PITTSFIELD — Two people were transported to Berkshire Medical Center after a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli on Wednesday morning.  said a white Honda CR-V hit the passenger side of his truck while Saunders was traveling westbound on Elm Street causing him to lose control and crash into the front of the deli I couldn't steer out of it," Saunders said "It hit me so hard it put me sideways."  who was in the passenger seat of the truck The extent of their injuries is unknown.  According to Pittsfield Fire Captain Mitchell Kellar the crash occurred sometime between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m.  The accident resulted in significant property damage to the front of Samel's Deli The deli will be closed until further notice and no bystanders or people inside the building were injured The Elm Street motor vehicle accident was the second of the morning for first responders in the southeast neighborhood of Pittsfield.  a Chevrolet sedan was struck by a westbound Honda sedan on Williams Street at 7:08 a.m when its operator attempted to cross the roadway from Whittier Avenue onto Revere Parkway was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening A pickup truck ran into Samel's Deli on Elm Street in Pittsfield after reportedly being struck by another car.  The school committee’s handling of the crisis has been much criticized by both community members and other elected officials in Pittsfield. As first reported by WAMC William Cameron’s initial stance to only release the outcome of the investigation into the matter but not its complete findings stoked more outcry in March Things intensified when the investigation’s original March 31st deadline came and went without a conclusion Of the staffers put on leave, at least one administrator has already returned to Pittsfield High School after being cleared by two investigations — much to the chagrin of some parents and students the Massachusetts Public Records Supervisor ordered the district to release a redacted version of the reports after an appeal from a local parent against the bid to withhold them she addressed the school committee directly “The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has already directed this district to release the investigative report regarding PHS," said Ciara Batory You are legally required to release the report families affected and this entire community are still being denied the truth they deserve.” Batory’s children are among the almost 4,900 students in the school district “Withholding that report after a direct order from the state is not only unethical every excuse you give further destroys the public's trust in the school system It does something else- It discredits the many teachers and staff who work hard every day to support and protect their students who care deeply but are too afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation Your silence sends a message that doing the right thing comes at a cost Protecting the system is more important than protecting the people in it.” While Cameron has argued that releasing the full reports will leave innocent people vulnerable to harassment Batory said holding back information would worsen an already out of control situation “What happened at PHS is not just a single incident but whether the people in charge believe students and families deserve honesty or whether damage control comes first," she told the committee Pittsfield families deserve to know what happened Students deserve to know that their safety will never again be treated as a public relations problem and teachers deserve to know that they are not alone when they are standing up for what is right You still have a chance to do the right thing Cameron announced that the firm conducting the investigation “It seemed wiser to have impartial people who had actually done the investigations do the reports," he said I expect to have them by the end of the week.” Cameron also responded to a communication from the Pittsfield city council, which spent the majority of its April 22nd meeting bitterly criticizing the school committee over the ongoing scandal “We've also received correspondence from the city council," said the committee chair "The school committee authorized that these summaries be prepared on a motion that was made by the mayor on the 9th of April the city council passed a resolution urging the school committee to do what it had voted to do on the 9th of April I'm simply reporting that we received a copy of that resolution from the city clerk.” The committee is looking to fill Curtis’s role by July Be one of the first to know what's coming up on WAMC See additional subscription options Downtown Pittsfield is getting a high-energy makeover tonight as BMX and freestyle riders gear up for the city’s first-ever Big Air Bike Jam The event is part of the city’s First Fridays at Five celebration and extreme sports are taking center stage on North Street for the first time Riders across the region are expected to launch off a six-foot ramp and land on a giant airbag showing off aerial tricks designed to wow the crowd organizers say the event is about more than stunts and spectacle It’s about building a biking culture in the Berkshires and inspiring kids to ride outside “We are encouraging kids to ride their bikes downtown and hang out in town on their bikes,” said Jay Elling, manager at Berkshire Bike and Board and one of the event organizers “I wanna get the younger riders out here to see others flying high through the air—and hopefully they’ll jump on board too.” Organizers hope it will become an annual tradition—and a launchpad for the next generation of local cyclists Directors Meggin Dail and Jeff Crowell-Gregoire are pleased to present to “The Laramie Project” by the Techtonic Theatre Project on May 2 Accompanying this Pittsfield Players show is an opening act of music by Loose Ground the winners of the Players’ Mic Competition 2025 “The Laramie Project” is a play written by The Techtonic Theatre Project of NYC after the troupe visited Laramie Wyoming following the nation’s first recognized hate crime in 1998 The show consists of “moments” instead of scenes that are made up of snippets from the troupe’s interviews done between the troupe’s members and Laramie’s residents The moments consist of the telling of both sides of the story finishing with a message of hope for the future The Pittsfield Players invite you to be a part of this unique performance – both a work of art and a work of the heart — and advise you that the performance contains strong language and adult themes and is not intended for children. Our website www.pittsfieldplayers.org has more information about this play Tickets are also available online and by reservation This project is fully sponsored by Darrah Enterprises  of Pittsfield you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users Big Lots in Pittsfield closed March 16 after the company filed for bankruptcy Pittsfield's Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2023 Its storefront is now occupied by Raymour & Flanigan Staples recently closed its Pittsfield location Burlington Stores is set to occupy its space next who oversaw construction of the Berkshire Crossing shopping center in Pittsfield stands in front of in-progress construction in 1995 shortly before the plaza opened The space where Riley was standing now houses Market 32 A continued decline in retail would also reshape the local economy More residents will have to seek jobs in other sectors and the region will face fewer shopping options Pittsfield needs to take control of its own destiny the city will need to answer one big question: What kind of community does it want to be PITTSFIELD — Is Pittsfield’s big-box store boom over It’s also been nearly six years since city residents lost the Berkshire Mall This coincides with difficult headwinds nationally for retail. Last year, store closings across the country outpaced openings, driven largely by big-box volatility. Recent research tracking retail and consumer trends predicts it will only get worse in 2025 forecasting that 15,000 retail stores will close — about double the total in 2024 Meanwhile, online shopping has seen sustained growth since 2020, with Amazon at the forefront of the e-commerce wave I moved here as a child in the early 2000s and the city I grew up with has been fading slowly my ideal day might have begun with a trip to Buster’s — the closest thing we had to Chuck E followed by picking out a (physical) movie to watch at Hollywood Video The big-box stores loomed large and played an important role in the local economy — not just as places to shop affordably it was one of the few industries that would hire someone with no prior work experience I remember when Zayre first opened in Pittsfield back in 1959 I had never been in such a big store with so much merchandise on display on one floor It was probably Pittsfield's first real "big box" store What also really impressed me was what I … According to Eagle columnist Jim Shulman, Pittsfield’s big-box era began in 1959, when Zayre came to the city its legacy lives on — its parent company opened T.J Maxx and HomeGoods locations in 1979 and 1999 Most of the retail chains I remember arrived between the late 1980s and early 2000s That boom was driven by two major developments: the opening of the Berkshire Mall in 1988 — which Pittsfield benefited from — and the 1995 launch of Berkshire Crossing shopping center where Walmart became one of the anchor stores This wave of expansion brought both benefits and consequences to the region these stores helped stabilize unemployment in the 1990s as General Electric was leaving Pittsfield Their bulk-buying model allowed them to drive down prices empowering consumers — but at a cost to local businesses A 1992 series in The Eagle titled “Up Against the Wal-Mart” captured this tension The reporting examined the benefits the new store might bring and the risks it posed to smaller merchants “Some merchants are dreading Wal-Mart,” one article declared But Wal-Mart’s coming may signal a new wave of strip developments along Berkshire highways.” Walmart and stores like it had a massive impact in Pittsfield and beyond A 2003 article on the closure of North Adams’ last local shoe store captured the shift: “I think people have left the downtown for the malls and convenient shopping,” said Eileen Clark Martin’s closed that year after more than 100 years in business While big-box retail still has several strongholds in Pittsfield and the Berkshires what once gave these stores an edge over local shops — their ties to vast multinational corporations with complex supply chains — is now contributing to their decline If consumer and retail researchers are correct in their forecasting more closures are coming — meaning more empty storefronts and lost jobs Some of the very “strip developments” The Eagle warned about in 1992 — such as the Dalton Avenue Plaza in Pittsfield and the former Steeple City Plaza in North Adams — have struggled to fill vacancies landlords might give up on recruiting retail tenants and instead redevelop the properties as has been proposed for the Berkshire Mall Mitchell Chapman is The Eagle’s night news editor Change is perhaps the most difficult — and rewarding — part of growing up It’s something I’ve come to appreciate both in myself and the Berkshires One of the challenges of getting older is the realization that many places you hold dear no longer exist PITTSFIELD — As someone who is a bit of a history nerd one scenario has always held my interest: What if the now-shuttered Berkshire Mall was … Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti has always called his city home he expressed deep pride in the community and emphasized the importance of the people and local organizations shaping Pittsfield’s identity like Third Thursday and First Friday’s Arts Walk He also addressed North Street’s transformation and the city’s successful efforts to revitalize downtown with fewer vacant storefronts the mayor said he remains optimistic about Pittsfield’s future urging people to come and enjoy what the city has to offer See the full interview by watching the video The historic Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield opened on September 28 1903 with a performance of “Robin Hood.” It has become an iconic venue within the community The theater initially flourished for over three decades before closing in the 1930s and falling into disrepair They converted part of it into an art supply store and preserved it from demolition A significant revival effort began in 1998 when the theater was designated a National Historic Treasure First Lady Hillary Clinton also visited around that time It all culminated in a $21 million restoration and reopening in 2006 The Colonial Theater has welcomed prominent figures since then including First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris fosters self-confidence and provides a platform for families and children’s programs It stands as a reminder of the importance of supporting the arts for the community’s cultural vitality by watching the video of Subrina Dhammi’s story NEWS10 ABC Police investigate alleged crash involving cyclist in Pittsfield Off the Beaten Path: Far Shot Axe Throwing Hochul signs proclamation for 50th anniversary of Willowbrook documentary People in the Capital Region are used to seeing movies filmed around here but what happened in one local city was a horror movie scene that came to life One brave citizen helped save the day before police arrested a man in a clown mask who was carrying an electric chainsaw Local restaurant owner speaks in Washington about tariff impact Knee replacement won't stop local woman from running 5k Multiple cars had their windows smashed in at an apartment complex in Watervliet last October Police just recently charged the suspect tied to this case with a felony A team is investigating Monday to see if there was any further damage to the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse foundation after a tugboat and barge crashed into the monument last week New York is recognizing the deadly epidemic that’s impacted Indigenous people for generations May 5 is the National Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (M.M.I.P.) Awareness Day but the state is now acknowledging an awareness week Proposed rebates for electric landscaping equipment For the relatively scant cost of a couple buckets of paint and some traffic cones the city could let residents try out these design options and gather greater public input before breaking ground After years of back and forth and more than a few complaints about the current configuration of Pittsfield's busiest roadway — particularly the painted bicycle lanes — city officials are once again revamping North Street’s layout Here's a look at what the four options are .. The tentative plan to reconfigure North Street presents a double-edged blade for Pittsfield leaders and they should take great care in unsheathing it there’s certainly plenty of public will to do something about the state of the city’s downtown centerpiece rendered clunky and confusing by the current morass of bike lanes Yet the fact that this thoroughfare’s last facelift produced mostly frowns and furrowed brows has left plenty of residents skeptical of city planners’ ability to wisely rework this critical artery at the heart of Pittsfield it’s good to see city officials welcoming a more robust round of public feedback this time around compared to the last redesign which seemed to come out of nowhere amid the blur of the COVID pandemic pursued in two phases from late 2020 to early 2021 seemed driven more by grant availability than common sense and user experience especially the inscrutable decision to cram painted bike lanes between a motor vehicle traffic lane and parking spots frustrated many residents and visitors as well as the downtown merchants who depend on them Yet all that gets lost between the lines when the primary reaction provoked among downtown visitors is frustration City leaders should be keen to avoid repeating such a quagmire when re-reimagining North Street The city is considering four design alternatives all of which would wisely remove the bike lanes from between automobile traffic lanes and parking spots and replace them in a more reasonable location All of them also appear to promise a somewhat greener downtown landscape The differences between the options largely come down to whether bike lanes would be sidewalk-level or street-level and whether to do away with the street’s center median to increase pedestrian space It’s often said that everyone becomes a traffic engineer when a major roadway reconfiguration is up for consideration We’ll freely admit we aren’t traffic engineers though you certainly don’t have to be one to have a strong and informed opinion as to what might be best for the future shape of North Street While we won’t endorse any particular option we might suggest a particular method for augmenting public input on the choice: Try out these options in temporary form first to generate actual user feedback rather than first impressions about renderings Last time the city redesigned North Street they were only able to get user feedback — most of it negative — after the project was literally set in stone That should prompt a more thoughtful and careful consideration this time Letting downtown visitors experience the contours of these design options before they’re fully implemented would provide good data: Which option prompts the most positive or negative feedback What design depresses or promotes the most downtown car whose livelihoods and unique perspectives are so important to downtown experience the new paradigm each option offers Such an experimental approach might even reveal preferences for another configuration not covered in the options currently under consideration Pittsfield can’t afford to get this wrong twice in a row Just as “everyone’s a traffic engineer” is a cliche so too is the adage “measure twice and cut once.” Pittsfield would be wise to measure (at least) twice before cutting into the curbs of North Street for the second time in a decade UPDATE: The pedestrian who died Monday after being struck by a car on Barker Road has been identified as Shawn Ouillette Pittsfield School Committee held a meeting Wednesday night where parents voiced their concerns Parents at the meeting were frustrated with the lack of communication from the school district over recent investigations into misconduct at the schools The Massachusetts Public Records Division has ordered Pittsfield Public Schools to release a redacted version of the investigative report, which had been withheld following the 2023 arrest of former Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins on federal drug charges “There’s so much drama and mistrust in the school district right now there’s things that they come home and say I just feel like totally inappropriate that they would know And some of it is coming from teachers,” said one parent Another parent worries that some of the things she’s hearing from her child crosses the line “I don’t want any teacher student relationships I don’t want I’m just saying explicit photos of the principal going around in my son’s email  I’m not asking for too much,” said another parent The school committee said Wednesday night they can’t release the findings from the investigation yet because of privacy concerns Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti tells NewsChannel 13 he wants to have transparency with parents “I made the motion to refer the report to the supervisor You tell us what should be crossed out and what should be left no matter what we’re saying or who we’re saying it to people are having less faith in what we’re doing,” said Mayor Marchetti The state's public records supervisor has ruled that an investigator's report into alleged educator misconduct at Pittsfield High must be made public.  Pittsfield crews battled a structure fire on Tuesday Firefighters responded to 233-235 First St. and they saw heavy fire and smoke coming from the 235 side of the five-apartment building Pittsfield Deputy Fire Chief Ron Clement said Firefighters do not know if the building was occupied at the time of the fire It took around one hour to get the fire under control The station representative that can assist any person with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public file is Brittany Moroukian. She can be contacted at bmoroukian@wnyt.com or 518-207-4710.