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Leaders of local municipal broadband projects gathered Thursday to thank Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito for their leadership on closing the digital divide in Massachusetts. But access gaps remain — and this is what the state plans to do about it.
The LumiNAMA best holiday lights contest needs votes from community members by Dec. 14.
Gillian Jones
staff photographer
North Adams and other communities in the region have winter parking rules to accommodate snow clearing. But rules in some other communities, including Pittsfield, are less onerous. People in North Adams wonder why.
Greta Jochem
Reporter
Authorities responded to a report of an unarmed robbery at Berkshire Bank on West Street shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday. Pittsfield police later reported via Facebook that they had arrested Louis Hoffman, 32, and charged him in the incident.
Matt Martinez
News Reporter
Latest News
Berkshire Theatre Group's early summer season includes “contact,” a Tony Award-winning dance musical; “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a co-production with WAM Theatre; “Photograph 51,”; and the world premiere of “The Smile of Her,” by Christine Lahti. Tickets go on sale Dec. 2.
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office has dropped lesser charges it had brought against two defendants who have pleaded not guilty to murder in the fatal shooting of Asiyanna Jones.
The Pittsfield man accused of robbing Berkshire Bank on Wednesday will be held without bail until a Dec. 6 dangerousness hearing.
Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll says the new administration is serious about regional equity. “We’re proud of the Berkshire representation on our transition policy committees and know they will help ensure that the unique challenges and opportunities of the region are included in all of our work.”
At Tuesday’s five-hour public hearing, the Planning Board adopted some tweaks aimed at improving the chances to gain supermajority approval at the Dec. 8 special town meeting.
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How can one get any sleep with a frightening wave of antisemitism sweeping the nation?
Yes, hold out hope on a new filtration system and keep one eye on Aquarion — but now is not the time to be dismissing out of hand the potential solution of the town water system taking over Housatonic Water Works.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is a helping of leftover ideas that never turned into a column.
The fire that destroyed an Adams residence and left five people homeless on Thanksgiving reminds us that hardship knows no holiday. Yet from the clouds of smoke that darkened Richmond Street last week, a silver lining extended to remind us of something else: Here in the Berkshires, we're ready, willing and able to help our neighbors in need no matter what day it is.
Rhode Island has become the latest state to allow recreational marijuana sales. Customers started lining up to buy recreational marijuana in the state early Thursday morning, a little more than six months after Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation permitting such sales to people 21 and older. Five stores are currently allowed to sell recreational cannabis products, but the state could eventually have dozens more. They are in Central Falls, Providence, Pawtucket, Portsmouth and Warwick. All five stores had already been selling medical marijuana. The co-owner of Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket said the store opened earlier than normal on Thursday and business has been brisk.
A 21-year-old Vermont man is facing federal charges that he purchased a handgun that was found less than 24-hours later at the scene of a shootout in Springfield, Massachusetts, that resulted in the deaths of two men. Prosecutors say that Cameron Yee, of South Burlington, was arrested Tuesday. He appeared in court Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty. Court documents say Yee was paid $2,000 by a man he knew as “Jay" to buy a .40 caliber handgun and that Yee knew Jay was involved in a dispute with another man. Prosecutors did not specifically say if the man who was killed was Jay. Yee's attorney declined comment.
New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries has been elected House Democratic leader and will become in the new year the first Black American to lead a major political party in Congress. Democrats met Wednesday behind closed doors for the internal party elections as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team step aside. House Democrats are ushering in a new generation of leaders. The 52-year-old Jeffries has vowed to “get things done,” even after Republicans won control of the chamber and relegate Democrats to the minority party in January. The trio led by Jeffries includes 59-year-old Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts as the Democratic whip and 43-year-old Rep. Pete Aguilar of California as caucus chairman.
Federal authorities have arrested a Massachusetts police officer they allege used a baton to strike a man in custody and then failed to mention the incident in two reports. Federal prosecutors in Boston said Wednesday that following an FBI investigation, Fall River Officer Nicholas Hoar was indicted on charges of deprivation of rights and making false reports. His federal public defender in an email declined to comment. Authorities say Hoar was on duty on Dec. 21, 2020, when he struck a man who had been arrested in the forehead with a baton, injuring him.
A Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Veterans Memorial off South Street.
Herberg Middle School has announced its first-quarter honor roll of the 2022-2023 school year.
The Pittsfield High School Class of 1961 recently celebrated its 61st reunion at Bousquet Mountain.
The 86th annual John S. Watson Fund, a holiday fund serving South Berkshire families in need, has received initial donations totaling $2,615 toward this year's fundraising goal of $40,000.
This week, NatureWatch columnist Thom Smith answers readers' questions about wild bird feeding, planting goldenrod seeds and shares his own backyard surprise.
"Home for the Holidays," featuring performances by Wanda Houston, Billy Keane, and Grammy-nominated Matt Cusson, is a benefit concert for the Berkshire Music School and Music in Common, parent organization of the Black Legacy Project.
Berkshire Theatre Group's early summer season includes “contact,” a Tony Award-winning dance musical; “What the Constitution Means to Me,” a co-production with WAM Theatre; “Photograph 51,”; and the world premiere of “The Smile of Her,” by Christine Lahti. Tickets go on sale Dec. 2.
"In the Shadow of the Hills," on view at the Bennington Museum through Dec. 31, is both an exhibition and museum fundraiser featuring the work of 27 regional artists. The exhibition is most intriguing when the artists use their own experiences and imaginations to interpret current and historic events.
"To Shape a Moon from Bone" is a remarkably current exhibition for works that were made more than 25 years ago.
“Oh! It smells so good in here! What is that!?” That’s the exclamation we hear most behind the counter at the country store when folks step ov…
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
Forbes has named Big Y Foods a best in-state employer in Massachusetts for the fourth year in a row.
The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Shop, Sip & Stroll event from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in downtown Great Barrington.
American workers are making more dollars per hour than they did before the pandemic, but inflation is wiping away most of those gains and the rate of wage growth is slowing.
The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office has received $34,975 from the federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment grant program to deliver substance abuse treatment to incarcerated people.
The Williams College men's soccer team will play for an NCAA Division III championship on Saturday. After beating Mary Washington in a national semifinal, the Ephs will play the University of Chicago for the national title.
Change is coming to the co-op hockey team that services three Central Berkshire high schools. After years of the Taconic-Pittsfield-Wahconah h…
The Pittsfield Suns will open the 2023 Futures League baseball season at Wahconah Park on Wednesday, May 24, playing league champion Nashua.
It's off to Virginia for the Williams College men's soccer team, as the Ephs seek their first NCAA Division III championship since 1995. Williams will play the University of Mary Washington in a Final Four game.
The Associated Press tracks down some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals that were shared widely on social media.
Things to do this week in Berkshire County
The best of the best of Berkshire County, chosen by Berkshire Eagle readers
1Berkshire presents the official guide to the 66th Annual Fall Foliage Parade.
The annual guide to preparing your home for the coming New England winter.
Berkshire Community College presents an annual roundup of forty young leaders making a difference in Berkshire County.
Embrace warmer weather with the Berkshire Eagle's guide to backyard improvement.
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires presents the 2022 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards
