Top Story
The city has proposed an increase in the water and sewer rates for the coming fiscal year. The increases have been set by a new formula that city staff believes will help them to "fairly adjust rates."
In the latest in his series looking back on a long career in sports journalist, The Eagle's Richard Lord remembers covering Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and the '84 NBA Finals.
A second public allegation by a school alumna is made against history teacher Matthew Rutledge. Hilary Simon, class of 2005, says Rutledge groomed and exploited her.
Heather Bellow
Reporter
The Stockbridge Select Board approved 14 one-day alcohol licenses for the series at the 5,100-seat Koussevitzky Music Shed.
Latest News
The future for the much-anticipated museum is unclear, but one thing is for certain: its offices are empty.
Springfield general contractor Fontaine Brothers was the low bidder for the Lenox public safety complex project. Groundbreaking is expected within several weeks.
The town is fine-tuning a Housing Production Plan aimed at creating up to 25 new houses over five years.
A portion of Holmes Road was closed after a car struck a fire hydrant then rolled over a number of times before coming to rest off the busy roadway.
In the course of four years, North Street has had two major redesigns and been the subject of countless hours of debate and political drama. A recent study could point the city's main corridor in a different direction altogether.
TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES
LOCAL NEWS
Shell casings are being tested to see whether there is DNA evidence connecting them to Eric C. Cable, who is charged with firing the 9 mm handgun at a fleeing truck.
Amanda Burke
Cops and Courts Reporter
A chat with Guthrie and Penn about a cult classic involving trash, and an arrest and some trouble with the draft board.
Heather Bellow
Reporter
The Select Board and Finance Committee have approved a $18.8 million town budget for fiscal 2025, a 3.62 percent increase over the town's current spending plan.
Greg Sukiennik
News Editor
A federal judge found that the high-end Wheatleigh hotel withheld tips and overtime from the former employees. The ownership plans to appeal the settlement.
This summer one heavily trafficked stretch of roadway along Pecks Road will get its fix, while another — the Dan Casey Memorial Drive causeway — is still inching toward a solution of its own.
Meg Britton-Mehlisch
Pittsfield Reporter
Sylbert was the sixth town manager since 2013. He replaced Kevin Flynn, who quit without explanation.
Jane Kaufman
Community Voices Editor
A trooper pulled over a car that had a light out over the weekend then arrested a passenger who had a handgun but no license to carry, state police said.
Amanda Burke
Cops and Courts Reporter
Out of four residents who took out nominating papers for a vacant Select Board seat, Ari Zorn is the first to return them signed to Town Hall. He says he wants to end division in town and listen to all residents.
Heather Bellow
Reporter
Claire Collery, 35, has purchased the hotel for a total of $3,385,000 and hopes to make it a community gathering place as well as a destination for guests.
Featured Businesses
Subscriber Exclusives
“What To Do If Your Balloon Pops,” a narrative work of circus-dance-theater touring across New England, stops in Pittsfield for a performance at The Colonial Theatre, 7:30 p.m. May 3.
Aaron Simon Gross
Arts & Entertainment Reporter
I learned that by applying a “balanced” synthetic fertilizer for the past many springs, one that supplied all three of the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), I had poisoned my soil.
Min Khant and Mahnin King spent most of their careers making sushi, but dreamed of opening their own restaurant. Two years ago, they opened Burmese Bowl, in Lee, where they serve up dishes from their native Myanmar.
Aaron Simon Gross
Arts & Entertainment Reporter
National Alliance on Mental Illness Berkshire County, in conjunction with the Berkshire Coalition on Suicide Prevention, is sponsoring two performances of “Every Brilliant Thing,” a one-woman play about a daughter growing up in the shadow of her mother's struggle with depression.
Pittsfield High School has announced its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2023-2024 school year.
Herberg Middle School has announced its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2023-24 school year.
The Friends of the New Lebanon Library are accepting donations for the library book sale slated May 17-19 at Church of Our Saviour.
Local History
For nearly 85 years Besse-Clarke had been a popular North Street business from when it opened in 1910. The store closed in 1994 and was the very last of the 42 stores in the Besse System to close.
The construction of the new Union Station in 1914 brought two other changes to the area around it that also remained until the terminal was razed: a steel footbridge over the tracks and a park.
Eagle Archives, April 25, 1960: A census enumerator has to know more than just how to count — she has to be a bit of a diplomat, too.
Eagle Archives, April 24, 1971: The sport of Ping-Pong is no longer a cause for smirks following a visit by the American Ping-Pong team to China.
Eagle Archives, April 23, 1960:
Eagle Archives, April 22, 1939: Frank D. Burke, dean of bricklayers in Pittsfield, worked on the original England Brothers Block in 1891, Pittsfield's first brick pavements, Lanesboro Town Hall and Library, and the Government Mill and Bay State Mill in Dalton.
Eagle Archives, April 20, 1950: About 50 painters will race against time in an effort to paint the entire City Hall Annex building on School Street in less than one hour.
Arts and Culture
When I mentioned the idea that different birds sing different songs it seemed to resonate in the minds of my students. But then, I mentioned the idea that different frogs also sing different songs and that produced blank stares and puzzled looks. One student even asked, “Don’t frogs just say ribbit?”
“What To Do If Your Balloon Pops,” a narrative work of circus-dance-theater touring across New England, stops in Pittsfield for a performance at The Colonial Theatre, 7:30 p.m. May 3.
I learned that by applying a “balanced” synthetic fertilizer for the past many springs, one that supplied all three of the major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), I had poisoned my soil.
Min Khant and Mahnin King spent most of their careers making sushi, but dreamed of opening their own restaurant. Two years ago, they opened Burmese Bowl, in Lee, where they serve up dishes from their native Myanmar.
Sponsored Content
AccessPlus announced that it is adding new multi-gigabit fiber broadband Internet to its existing optical network in Pittsfield. Lightning-fas…
Our original store is in the heart of the beautiful Berkshires. We brought the Berkshires to Boston with our second retail location in the “Eastie” neighborhood. Our knowledgeable, friendly team is ready to guide you or order online before your visit and you’ll be in and ou…
Business
Confidence among Massachusetts employers stumbled in March for the first time in four months, but remained in optimistic territory, according to the latest survey from The Associated Industries of Massachusetts.
Lindsay Maynard was named executive director of Second Street Second Chances April 1, but she’s been in on the planning and development of the nonprofit since before it was named.
Local cannabis merchants promote their products in the lead up to the industry's "420" celebration on April 20.
For their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to the people who work in the nonprofit sector, seven area individuals will be feted on May 21 at the 7th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards, held by The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle. A panel of 21 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors deliberated via Zoom to choose the seven honorees in each of 7 categories from among 62 nominations.
The new offensive coordinator for the Minutemen will make his debut at Saturday's spring game at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
Monument Mountain, Pittsfield, Taconic and Lenox took to the track in Great Barrington on Wednesday.
Wahconah and McCann Tech baseball and Pittsfield, Lenox and Lee softball all got big wins on Wednesday.
Former Monument Mountain standout Dion Brown has committed, but not yet signed, with Boston College.
Former Boston Symphony CEO Mark Volpe cites changing audience expectations focusing on "total experiences."
After 86 years on earth, I’m entitled to worry, but what does worrying accomplish? My climate worry stems from the possibility that my children, grandchildren, per stirpes, would not be able to enjoy the natural world as I have and in fact might be hard pressed to survive in ways I never had to experience.
The official acrimony in Sandisfield's Town Hall certainly has its uniquely local contours, but by our lights it fits into a concerning countywide trend: As small towns in overlooked regions like ours need responsible and competent local leaders more than ever, it's getting more and more difficult to find — and retain — capable leaders.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., recently told Politico "I would argue it’s a lack of respect for the institution …. This is a 234-year-old institution." Cole was referring to the behavior of his fellow congressional colleagues.
Both the federal government and the state have taken efforts to streamline the process to approve new immigrants to work in the U.S. Here's an inside look at that process.
While negotiators remain at odds over how much they want to draw from state savings and exactly what kind of time limits to place on shelter stays — plus whether restaurants should resume takeout drink sales — funding could run out in less than two weeks, a Healey administration official confirmed Thursday.
Money for the state's emergency family shelter system could run out sometime between Monday and the end of April, according to a top senator, who is part of a six-person group of lawmakers trying to come up with funding solutions.
The steady stream of rain and snowstorms has state and county environmental advocacy groups keeping a wary eye on potential flooding threats. More stormwater infiltration is a major step in the right direction as a step to prevent flooding.
Things to do this week in Berkshire County
A tribute to those we have lost, December 2023 - February 2024
Guidance and resources to help you take big steps and manage big changes, across every stage of life
An annual look at the state of education in Berkshire County
A tribute to those we have lost, September - November 2023
Helping people understand the basics of disposal and sustainable options.
The best of the best of Berkshire County, chosen by Berkshire Eagle readers
The annual guide to preparing your home for the coming New England winter.
1Berkshire presents the official guide to the 67th Annual Fall Foliage Parade.