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Tuesday, March 09, 2010
North Adams Super Wal-Mmart Plans Approved By Planning Board.
The North Adams Planning Board has OK’d plans for a 160-thousand square foot
Wal-Mart Super Center planned for the Curran Highway. The project still needs to
receive approval from the city’s Conservation Commission and cut through a lot
of Massachusetts environmental red tape before it can proceed but developers
don’t anticipate any problems. The Super Wal-Mart would contain a grocery store,
pharmacy, general merchandise and a seasonal garden center. It would be
constructed in a former gravel pit on the Curran Highway directly across the
road from Greenburgs. An earlier plan for the Super Wal-Mart had been rejected
because the Planning Board wanted the new store to have more of a “New England”
look. Upon completion, the old Wal-Mart store down the road, would be closed.
Clarksburg Elementary Principal Retiring.
Clarksburg Elementary School principal Karen Gallese is retiring at the end
of the current school year. Gallese made the announcement yesterday and said she
is looking forward to a new challenger in her life outside of the school system.
The 58-year-old Vermont resident has been principal at Clarksburg Elementary for
nine years and said yesterday she may continue teaching in Vermont.
Thunderbolt Ski Race Set For Saturday
The 75th Anniversary Thunderbolt Ski Race is now scheduled for this Saturday,
March 13, 2010 from 9AM - 2PM. Mt. Greylock. The race, originally scheduled for
February 20, 2010 was postponed due to lack of snow. Despite temperatures in the
40’s with plenty of snow-melt going on, organizers say there should be enough
snow for the race. Organizers had said that IF there wasn’t enough snow for the
new date, the race would be cancelled until next winter
Two Men Arrested For Saturday’s Murder In Pittsfield.
Pittsfield police have made two arrests connected with Saturday’s murder on
Wendell Avenue Extension and a third suspect is being sought. 28-year-old Trevor
Pryce of North Adams and 26-year-old John Spratling of Pittsfield both pled not
guilty yesterday in central berkshire district court, to single counts of murder
and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. Both men were ordered
held without bail and will be back in court for a pre-trial hearing on April
8th. It is alleged that Pryce and Spratling stabbed and assaulted 26 year-old
Jahda M. Martin, of Pittsfield in the Burger King parking lot by Wendell Avenue
Extension during the early morning hours of March 6th. Martin died later that
day at Berkshire Medical Center. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of
death has yet to be scheduled at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in
Holyoke. Police also have an arrest warrant out for 26-year-old Terrance Brown
in connection with Martin’s death.
Martin, a 2002 graduate of Lee High School, was an All- Eagle selection in
basketball his senior year. He was also named MVP of the2002 Berkshire County
All-star basketball game.
Pittsfield City Council Meets Tonight.
The Pittsfield City Council will meet tonight at 7:30 and on the agenda
tonight will be the items that were originally scheduled for the February 23rd
meeting…which was cancelled to inclement weather. Even with those items on the
agenda, tonight’s schedule is very light. Among some of the items scheduled for
tonight include a petition from Ward 7 City Councilor Joe Nichols to invite two
water quality experts to attend the March 23rd meeting to talk about the
“Sandfloat” system used by the city’s water filtration operations. Mayor James
Ruberto is also scheduled to submit the names of four people he would like
approved for the city’s Green Commission.
Pignatelli Supporting Local Aid Resolution
As the annual town meetings season in the Berkshires get closer, State
Representative Smitty Pignatelli is throwing his support behind a Local Aid
Resolution which is being circulated in the House of Representatives. The
resolution was used during the budget season in years past to give cities and
towns a clear picture of what the coming year’s fiscal situation looks like and
also what they might expect in terms of money from the state. The Local Aid
Resolution is an important tool for municipalities in the Berkshires as they
prepare for annual town meetings and the budget decisions which come along with
them. It proposes establishing a minimum level of Chapter 70 and Unrestricted
Local Aid equal to the amount proposed by the Governor for FY2011. The
resolution also establishes level funding for Reimbursement to Cities in Lieu of
Taxes, Regional School Transportation and Reimbursement for Special Education
Residential Schools.
Doyle Stepping Down In Alford
Alford Selectmen Thomas Doyle has announced that he will not be running for
re-election in May when the town holds its annual meeting. The Berkshire Eagle
reports that Doyle made that announcement at a recent selectmen’s meeting. Doyle
sites the need to spend more time on personal business and on his commitments to
several local nonprofit organizations. Doyle was elected to the unexpired term
of the board’s late chairman, Clyde Brown in 2002.
Monday, March 8, 2010
DA’S Office Releases Name Of Murder Victim
The Berkshire County District Attorney’s office has released the name of
Saturday’s stabbing victim in the parking lot of Burger King on Wendell Avenue
Extension. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Jahda Martin of 26 Hamlin
Street in Pittsfield. Police were called to the scene after receiving several
911 phone calls around 1:40am Saturday. Martin was rushed to Berkshire Medical
Center where he died Saturday night. An autopsy to determine the cause of death
will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke but the
time and date for the autopsy has not be set. Pittsfield police continue to
search for a suspect with several State Police officers patrolling the area
Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The stabbing death is the first
homicide in Pittsfield this year. Anyone with any information is asked to call
Pittsfield police.
Stop And Shop Avoids Union Strike
A strike by union workers at Stop & Shop supermarkets in three states has
been averted. Officials from the United Food and Commercial Workers union
representing nearly 40,000 workers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode
Island overwhelmingly approved the contract in voice votes yesterday. The
workers have been without a contract since Friday. Stop & Shop had been
negotiating with the locals since January. The company says it's pleased to have
met its goal of tentative agreements offering workers competitive wages and
retirement benefits and access to quality, affordable health care. Stop & Shop
has three stores in Berkshire County. There two in Pittsfield and one in North
Adams.
Candidates Line Up For State Representative Seat
Candidates for the 1st District State Representative seat being vacated by
Dan Bosley, are throwing their hat in the ring. So far, the candidates are:
North Adams City Councilor Gailanne Cariddi, former Adams Selectman Edward
MacDonald and Margie Ware, Regional Director of the “Serving Health Information
Needs to Elders” programs at Elder Services of Berkshire County. Any candidate
needs to collect 150 signatures and return the papers by April 27th before their
names can appear on the ballot. All three candidates face months of close
scrutiny by the media and voters before the November election.
Four People Sent To BMC After Sunday Afternoon Cheshire Crash.
Four people were transported to the hospital after an early Sunday afternoon
crash on Rt. 8 in Cheshire. State Police said 59-year-old Geoffrey Duval of
Adams was making a left-hand turn from the parking lot of Whitney’s Farm Market
just before 1pm when he struck a northbound vehicle driven by 54-year-old David
Malacarne of Pittsfield. Malacarne and two other passengers in his car were
transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield where they were treated
and released. Duval was transported to North Adams Regional Hospital with minor
injuries. State Police cited Duval for failure to use care when turning.
Pittsfield 2010-2011 School Calendar Adopted
It’s official…..the Pittsfield School Committee has approved the 2010-2011
school calendar. The Pittsfield Gazette reports in their latest issue that
Pittsfield School Superintendent “Jake” Eberwein said they had to take a closer
look at how they placed professional days and half days. The start of school in
Pittsfield will take place prior to Labor Day, on Thursday September 1st.
Thursday December 23rd will be a half-day of school and most half-days of school
will take place on Fridays. Eberwein said that instead of holding high school
open houses in late January, they’ll be held on October 28th instead.
Lenox Announces Nomination Papers Are Available For Town Positions
The town of Lenox has announced that nomination papers for various elected
offices are now available at the town clerks office Monday through Friday from
8:30am to 4pm. Positions that will be on the town ballot this year include
moderator, selectmen, school committee, board of assessors, board of health,
planning board and housing authority. Nomination papers need to be returned to
the town clerks office by 5pm on March 22nd. The annual town election is Monday,
May 10th with polls open from 7am to 7pm. If you haven’t registered to vote yet
at the annual town meeting or the town’s annual election, you will have until
April 16th to do so.
