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Otis police warn of kidnapping scam after resident receives hoax call
OTIS — The Otis Police Department issued a scam alert today after a resident received a distressing phone call claiming a loved one had been abducted and demanding a ransom. The call, which included a voice resembling that of the alleged abductee, turned out to be a scam. Authorities...
Pittsfield School Committee OKs $82M Budget, $1.5M Cuts
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school budget is less grim than the original proposal but still requires more than $1.5 million in cuts. On Thursday, the School Committee approved an $82.8 million spending plan for fiscal year 2025, including a city appropriation of $80.4 million and $2.4 million in Chapter 70 funds.
Berkshire County contractor found guilty on 25 counts of larceny from victims in 6 states
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. (WRGB) — A Berkshire County contractor has been found guilty of dozens of counts of larceny under false pretenses, with 18 victims in six separate states. According to the Berkshire County DA's Office, Fred Senter began operating Northern Steel Buildings and Structures in Lee Massachusetts during...
Greenfield police identify homicide victim, suspect detained
GREENFIELD — Authorities have identified the victim in the Greenfield homicide discovered Monday night as Christopher Hairston, 35, of Pittsfield. Greenfield Police were dispatched to a Chapman Street apartment after reports of a foul odor. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of Hairston. Investigation led to the identification of...
Family of domestic violence victim honor her memory through scholarship fundraiser
BLANDFORD — Sarah Powers had just turned 11 years old when both her parents died in 2002. Powers’ father, Henry Trudeau, fatally stabbed her mother, Karen Hart, and died by suicide shortly after. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our...
Monterey residents join ambitious national effort to bring the mighty American chestnut back from functional extinction
Monterey — “You are now all official extension agents of the Granville Research Orchard,” declared John Meiklejohn at a chestnut tree-planting demo and giveaway at the Monterey Community Center on April 20, leading up to both Earth Day and Arbor Day. Many of the two dozen or so attendees had signed up beforehand to receive chestnut seeds to plant at home, courtesy of the orchard where Meiklejohn is a volunteer orchard manager.
Berkshire International Film Festival announces complete festival lineup
Great Barrington — The 18th annual Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) announces another blockbuster weekend line-up of films, events, and very special guests. The festival runs from May 30 through June 2, in Great Barrington and Lenox. Marked with strong international programming and an ongoing commitment to presenting the best in documentary, independent film, the festival brings together films, filmmakers, industry professionals, and fans for a four-day celebration. The lineup features 24 documentaries, 26 narrative features, 18 short films, and a free animated-shorts selection for kids. The festival brings stories from 22 countries, including Germany, Argentina, India, Austria, Sweden, France, Eritrea, Israel, Hungary, Iceland, Canada, Palestine, UK, Spain, Ukraine, Ireland, Brazil, Norway, and South Africa. This year’s festival promises to not only transport film fans to foreign lands but also deliver important, engaging, powerful, and entertaining stories from around the United States and here in the Berkshire community. BIFF is also proud to have expanded to the Lenox Town Hall where films will be presented throughout the weekend. And finally, BIFF will present a curated selection of feature films and three short film slots being presented at the in-person festival, to be screened virtually. For the complete selection of films and events, please visit BIFF’s website.
BCC Student Discovers Rare Osprey Nest
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Danielle Lemieux was on her routine commute to class at Berkshire Community College when she spied a rare sight. The ornithology student discovered the third osprey nest on record in the county. While it isn't rare for the birds of prey to be seen in the...
Search On For Cubs After Bear Killed On Taconic Parkway
The Columbia County incident happened Friday evening, April 19, on the Taconic State Parkway near Exit 99 in the hamlet of Spencertown. Two or three 10-pound cubs that are still nursing were left orphaned when the adult bear was hit and killed, according to the wildlife nonprofit Lucky Rehabilitation Center.
Selectboard to review independent report on ‘Gender Queer’ police investigation at April 29 meeting
Great Barrington — The possible last chapter of the controversy over the Police Department’s handling of an investigation at W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School is scheduled to play out at the Selectboard meeting on Monday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. Back on December 8, in an incident that...
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