Pittsfield's Historic 4th of July Parade to Return

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a two-year hiatus, the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade will return with a fitting theme: "Back With a Bang."

The Parade Committee wants to make sure this event is extra special to thank the community for its ongoing support.

Consultant Ray Pulver from Upbeat Parade Productions will help to recruit more music groups, entertainment groups, and local or nation personalities will be added to the agenda. Pulver ran the parade more than 20 years ago.

Committee President Peter Marchetti said they would like to hire the Mummers' string band from Philadelphia.

Marchetti said musical units and celebrities of varying degrees were always a part of the show but have dwindled over the years. To come "Back With a Bang," the committee would like to amp up those aspects.

From the late 1970s to 2020, Pittsfield — and beyond — residents lined North Street on Independence Day to enjoy floats, marching bands, large balloons, and other parade hallmarks.

The event fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. With the promise of vaccinations, planners were hopeful that the parade would happen for 2021 but, in May, Mayor Linda Tyer determined that it couldn't be safely held because of the virus.

Marchetti said planning has commenced because there are no current restrictions that prevent the parade from happening.

According to the Pittsfield Parade website, the parade dates back to the early 1800s and, in 1947, the Pittsfield Permanent Fireman's Association took it over and ran it until 1976.

In 1978, a group of volunteers held their first parade with seed money from the City of Pittsfield and grew to be the committee that runs the show today.

Funds can be sent to Pittsfield Parade Committee, Inc, PO Box 1738, Pittsfield, MA 01202, or donations can be made through PayPal on its website. 

The committee is seeking new members to assist with parade planning and will also be launching a new website.

New volunteers are always welcome to the meetings held the third Wednesday of each month except December at the Polish Falcons on Belair Ave at 7 pm.  
 
The proposed 2022 meeting dates are 2/16/2022, 3/16/2022, 4/13/2022, 4/27/22, 5/11/2022, 5/18/2022, 6/1/2022, 6/8/2022, 6/15/2022, 6/29/2022.

Float and Vehicle Safety Workshops will be held in March, April, and May 2022.   

 

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.