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Hardy Volunteers Plunge Into Icy Waters for Special Olympics

Pittsfield Police spearheaded the organizing of the event. More photos can be found here.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of hardy souls dove into a frozen Onota Lake on Saturday to raise money for Special Olympics.

The inaugural Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge raised more than $10,000. The event drew dozens of residents and businesses to the first plunge in the area.

"This was more successful that I thought it would be," John Evon, regional director for the torch run, said. "We didn't start planning this until December."

Those who hopped into the lake needed to raise a minimum of $100 each for the cause but some had raised much more.

Spearheaded by the Police Department, the event is the newest addition to the fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics. The torch run program raised about $42 million nationally last year with some $225,000 being raised in Massachusetts, according to Steve Huftalen, director of special events for Special Olympics Massachusetts. Most notably, the LETR program raises funds through the annual Cop on Top program.

At a national conference, Police Officer Darren Derby heard that other communities raised money through plunges and since there wasn't one in Western Massachusetts, he organized one with other officers and the Hampden County sheriff's department.

Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
08:59PM / Monday, December 23, 2024

A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.

 

At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.

 

"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

 

About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.

 

Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."

 

Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.

 

Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.