Eight PHS Musicians Accepted into Senior District Orchestra

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Eight Pittsfield High School orchestra students have been accepted into the Western Massachusetts Senior District Orchestra - with four of those students having high enough scores to receive an All-State recommendation.

PHS orchestra students will perform in Western District Symphony orchestra in January at UMass Amherst Performing Arts Center with other students in Western Massachusetts who were accepted through auditions.

Students with All State recommendations will audition at the state level at Shrewsbury High school on Saturday, Jan. 25, for a chance to perform at Symphony Hall in Boston in March.

The students are: Gerdlie Jean-Louis, principal of viola section, All State; Gerdrose Jean-Louis, cello; Heather Cruz, cello; Joseph Weinberg, bass assistant principal, All State; Nathan Cracolici, assistant principal of viola section, All State; Lilli Ouilette, violin, All State; Katarina Livermore, violin; and Leila Paredes, violin.

Dalton Fire District Votes OK All Articles, Return Incumbents

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
09:27PM / Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Fire Chief Christian Tobin explains the Fire Department budget at Tuesday's annual district meeting. 

DALTON, Mass. — Voters approved all 22 articles on the warrant unanimously at the annual Fire District meeting on Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory.

 

Approximately 75 voters attended the meeting, which lasted a little more than a half hour, to vote on the proposed $3,524,680 budget for fiscal year 2025. 

 

The Fire District and town are two separate governing bodies. The Fire and Water departments are the Fire District's responsibility. The Board of Water Commissioners and the Prudential Committee govern the district.

 

A number of the budget hikes are caused by increases outside the district's control, specifically insurance, Water Commission Chair James Driscoll said during the meeting. 

 

Ambulance and fire proposed a combined budget of $1,873,608, up approximately $360,000. The department's increase is related to competitive wages and stipends, and personnel, all of which aim to improve the district's Property Protection Classification. 

 

In addition to that, just like the other department's in the district, insurance hikes contributed to the increases.

 

Article 9 raised $370,560 to pay the principal and interest on several district loans.