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
Mount Pleasant, NY
Obituaries
Officer Killed In Capitol Attack Was HS Athlete From New England Officer Killed In Capitol Attack Was HS Athlete From New England
Officer Killed In Capitol Attack Was HS Athlete From New England The police officer killed in a car attack at the United States Capitol was a native of Western Massachusetts who was a high school athlete. Berkshire County native William "Billy" Evans, who grew up in North Adams and neighboring Clarksburg, graduated from Western New England University. He was 41 years old and served for nearly two decades in the US Capitol Police Force. He was killed when a 25-year-old man rammed the car into two officers at a barricade outside the Capitol building on Friday, April 2.  The knife-wielding suspect, identified as who authorities said then lunged t…

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by Joe Lombardi
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
Lifestyle
Fresh Menu, Unique Drinks Praised At Berkshires' Gastropub Fresh Menu, Unique Drinks Praised At Berkshires' Gastropub
Fresh Menu, Unique Drinks Praised At Berkshires' Gastropub The concrete slabs and iron-looking frames around dark windows that make up the District Bar & Kitchen’s exterior belie the warm and upscale-casual atmosphere inside. District on West Stree in Pittsfield serves modern American cuisine influenced by the eccentric gastropub movement. If you want rosemary in your cocktails, chorizo on your nachos, and truffles on your fries, this is the place to be. And, yes, I want all of that. District has been around since the mid-2010s and is owned by the same man who owns Public Eat + Drink in North Adams - Jared Decoteau. The menu is slim and r…

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by Kristin Palpini
Mount Pleasant, NY
Police & Fire
Traffic Stop Of BMW On Taconic Parkway Leads To Felony Drug Charge Traffic Stop Of BMW On Taconic Parkway Leads To Felony Drug Charge
Traffic Stop Of BMW On Taconic Parkway Leads To Felony Drug Charge A 43-year-old Massachusetts man was nabbed for alleged possession of drugs during a traffic stop in New York. Berkshire County resident Jahart Moore, of North Adams, was arrested around 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, said Trooper AJ Hicks. According to Hicks, troopers conducted a traffic stop of a 2014 BMW 335I for a violation of the vehicle and traffic law on the Taconic State Parkway in Dutchess, in the town of East Fishkill.  An investigation discovered Moore was in possession of approximately 155.6 grams of cocaine, Hicks said. Moore was charged with criminal possession of a contr…

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by Kathy Reakes
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
Worcester, MA
News
Third Berkshire County Man Arrested In Connection With Jan. 6 Capitol Attack Third Berkshire County Man Arrested In Connection With Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
Third Berkshire County Man Arrested In Connection With Jan. 6 Capitol Attack A third Berkshire County man has been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol Building. On Tuesday, March 9, it was announced that the FBI had arrested Troy E. Sargent of Pittsfield, according to WesternMass News. Sargent is accused of assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers. Two other men from the Berkshires were previously arrested in connection with the right-wing assault on democracy. On Feb. 4, the FBI announced the arrest of Brian McCreary, 33, of North Adams. In January, the FBI arrested David Lester Ross, 33, of Pittsfield, in connection with…

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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
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Second Local Man Arrested By FBI Over Jan. 6 Capitol Building Attack Second Local Man Arrested By FBI Over Jan. 6 Capitol Building Attack
Second Local Man Arrested By FBI Over Jan. 6 Capitol Building Attack A North Adams man was recently accused of participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol Building and arrested. On Thursday, Feb. 4, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that Brian McCreary, 33, of North Adams. He is one out of 5 New England people who have been arrested since the pro-Trump Jan. 6 siege - and the second Berkshire County man busted for alleged participation. In January, David Lester Ross, 33, of Pittsfield, was arrested in connection with the riot, as well. McCreary is being charged with: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grou…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Weather
Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA
Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA A passing Nor'Easter left about 3-17 inches of snow across the region with snowfall totals varying greatly in communities all over Central or Western Massachusetts. The National Weather Service has put a winter weather advisory into place until Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. Before the late afternoon, people can expect to see light snow showers and pockets of freezing drizzle. A glaze of ice developing on top of the snow is possible. Wind gusts may reach as fast as 40 mph. Below are snowfall totals from the Monday, Feb. 1 winter storm. The totals are reported as inches are as of 8 a.m. Tuesday,…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Schools
COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates
Covid-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates Two local school districts experienced COVID-19 flare-ups over the last week, according to the most recent state data. On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released how many COVID-19 incidents were reported by students and staff from Jan. 21-27. Most of the Central and Western Massachusetts, as well as the Berkshires, had school districts where no COVID-19 incidents were reported that week. However, Shrewsbury and Hampden-Wilbraham school districts each reported 12-15 students and faculty that had become il…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Advocates Win More Vaccines, New Vaccination Sites For Central, Western MA COVID-19: Advocates Win More Vaccines, New Vaccination Sites For Central, Western MA
Covid-19: Advocates Win More Vaccines, New Vaccination Sites For Central, Western MA In a turn of events, Central and Western Massachusetts and the Berkshires will be receiving thousands of more COVID-19 vaccine doses - and establishing more vaccination sites -  than previously scheduled. On Thursday, Jan. 28, Sen. Jo Comerford and Rep. Mindy Domb said in a joint statement that Western Massachusetts would be receiving 3,000 additional COVID-19 vaccines per week starting Feb. 1. In a Jan. 21 report of vaccination distribution, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health doled out COVID-19 vaccines to counties in the following amounts: Worcester - 69,825 Hampden - 34…

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by Kristin Palpini