Pittsfield, MA
Weather
Storm Ida: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Massachusetts Storm Ida: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Massachusetts
Storm Ida: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Massachusetts There have now been 42 confirmed fatalities after Ida battered the Northeast with historic rainfall and flash flooding. In New York City, more than 3 inches of rainfall fell in one hour in Central Park on Wednesday, Sept. 1, smashing the previous record. Here is a look at some rainfall totals from throughout Massachusetts compiled on the day after, on Thursday, Sept. 2, by the National Weather Service. Boston, 4.20 inches Berkshire County Pittsfield, 2.16 inches Franklin County Northfield, 2.43 inches Sunderland, 3.02 inches Warwick, 2.35 inches Hampden County Agawam, 5.13 inc…

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by Joe Lombardi
Brookfield, CT
Police & Fire
CT Girl Arrested After Vehicle Break-In Leads To Car Chase, Police Say CT Girl Arrested After Vehicle Break-In Leads To Car Chase, Police Say
CT Girl Arrested After Vehicle Break-In Leads To Car Chase, Police Say A 17-year-old Connecticut girl has been arrested following a car chase with police after several people were seen breaking into vehicles in Western Massachusetts. The incident began around 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 31, Hampden County when a resident in East Longmeadow called 911 to report they could see someone inside their vehicle. Police arrived a short time later and spotted two vehicles, both with Connecticut license plates, at the end of Deer Run Terrace. Officer Rhyan Belisle could see two people in each vehicle, all of them wearing ski masks over their faces, the department said. Th…

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by Kathy Reakes
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Know It? This Pickup Truck Involved In Hit-Run Western Mass Crash, Police Say Know It? This Pickup Truck Involved In Hit-Run Western Mass Crash, Police Say
Know It? This Pickup Truck Involved In Hit-Run Western Mass Crash, Police Say Police in Western Massachusetts are seeking the public’s assistance in locating the driver and truck that may have been involved in a hit-and-run crash that involved injuries. The East Longmeadow Police Department issued an alert on Friday, June 11 as they attempt to track down a potential hit-and-run driver who was in a Chevy Silverado. Police said that the truck (see above) may have been used in a hit-and-run crash that left injuries to another driver before taking off. Investigators noted that the license plate is only on the rear of the pick-up truck, and it may be green and white. No …

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
Lifestyle
Family-Owned Western Mass Eatery Gets High Marks For Authentic Offerings Family-Owned Western Mass Eatery Gets High Marks For Authentic Offerings
Family-Owned Western Mass Eatery Gets High Marks For Authentic Offerings This far from the Mexican border, it’s easier to find Tex-Mex than authentic Mexican cuisine, but at Moctezuma’s Traditional Mexican Restaurant in Springfield, diners can have both. Located on Belmont Street, Moctezuma’s is a family-owned restaurant serving Mexican-ish dishes like nachos as well as old-school Mexican foods like Pollo con Mole. Moctezuma’s first opened in 2014 and has remained popular through the years due to its varied and well-prepared menu, good prices, and friendly service, online reviewers said. Yelp foodie Rob F. of East Longmeadow said he’s been ordering takeout fro…

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by Kristin Palpini
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 8, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

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by Zak Failla
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread
Covid-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 1, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says
Covid-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says Five communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 25, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the lates…

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas
Covid-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas Two communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 18, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the late…

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by Zak Failla
Worcester, MA
Schools
COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week
Covid-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week This past week, 11 Massachusetts public schools experienced COVID-19 outbreaks of 9 or more students and staff coming down with the virus. The largest outbreak was recorded in Leominster. From March 4-10, 21 of the school district’s students (15) and staff (6) reported positive cases. The Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education produces weekly reports on positive COVID-19 cases reported in each school district. The Thursday, March 11 report found about 140 school districts - out of more than 350 - had at least one student or staff member test positive for COVID-19. C…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
Lifestyle
Western Mass Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year In Business Western Mass Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year In Business
Western Mass Eatery Emerges As Go-To Destination For Italian Cuisine After One Year In Business Just ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the Valley’s most popular fine-dining restauranteurs opened a little Italian spot in Longmeadow. Posto by The Federal is located in The Longmeadow Shops and serves “old-school new Italian” dishes. While Posto and The Federal share the same executive chef, Michael Presnal, Posto is more casual than the Agawam fine-dining destination. Whereas The Federal does service with elegance on white lenient, Posto does service with elegance on newspaper tissue printed to look like vintage news articles. Since opening in October 2019, online reviews have pra…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates
Covid-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates Keeping with the trend of declining COVID-19 infections, the Pioneer Valley has only 4 “red” communities - cities and towns with the highest risk of virus transmission. On Thursday, March 4, Massachusetts unveiled its latest weekly update on COVID-19 incidents by the municipality.  Red communities in Western Massachusetts for the week of March 4 are: Chicopee with a rate of 33.4, Hadley, 32 Ludlow, 33.4, and Springfield, 40.3. Springfield was the only city out of the four that was in the red but experienced a decline in COVID-19 incidents, according to state data. Statewide, the…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Pioneer Valley, Berkshires Pharmacies Rarely Administering Vaccine COVID-19: Pioneer Valley, Berkshires Pharmacies Rarely Administering Vaccine
Covid-19: Pioneer Valley, Berkshires Pharmacies Rarely Administering Vaccine Outside of hospitals, CVS and Walgreens are by far the largest distributors of COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts, but the national pharmacy chains have not provided many doses to people in the Pioneer Valley or the Berkshires. According to vaccine appointment schedules maintained by pharmacies at CVS, Walgreens, Stop and Shop, and Big Y, as of Tuesday, Feb. 9, none of the commercial pharmacies - except for the Big Y in East Longmeadow - were distributing the vaccine or were otherwise able to book a vaccination appointment anytime this month in Western Massachusetts. (Vaccination clinics at …

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by Kristin Palpini