Pittsfield Halloween Parade Attracts 5,000 Attendees

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  — The city's annual Halloween parade rose from the dead on Friday after a two-year absence.

Around 5,000 people lined Tyler Street to watch a procession of floats, schools, and other organizations dressed to the nine in their spookiest garb for the 76th parade.

There was undeniable excitement — and fright — in the air for the return of the event that fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

"This is one of our largest parades we have had in quite some time," Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Rebecca Manship said.

"We have a bunch of new participants, too, so that tells me that the community has missed this parade and is so excited that it's back."

See parade photos here.

Taconic High School won first place for its float titled "It’s a scary world out there without skills," which featured ghoulish creatures as various different tradespeople to represent the vocational school.

Allendale Elementary School came in second place with "Allendale's Dog House/101 Dalmatians,"  Capeless Elementary School third with its "Superheroes" float, Fran Morin Painting & Property Maintenance fourth with "Flying Hocus Pocus," and Carpenters Local 336 fifth with "Shot to the Moon: Captain Crook & Ghouls."

The five floats received awards ranging from $100 to $325 that were provided by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Halloween parade coverage was co-hosted by Superintendent Joseph Curtis and Jody Spielmann of Pittsfield Community Television.

"I think it's critical because it’s been two years since we've had a Halloween parade," Curtis said.

Dalton Public Safety Advisory Committee Ranks Potential Properties

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:26AM / Saturday, January 04, 2025

Use of town-owned lots near the Senior Center would require a town meeting vote as housing had been designated a priority for the former school property. 

DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Advisory Committee has ranked four properties to consider during its feasibility study on locations for a new police station. Two have existing structures, including a residential property, and the others are vacant lots.

 

The committee ranked the locations based on a quantitative scoring and weighting process, considering the properties' location, projected cost, size, and whether it is purchase or lease and whether it's vacant or has an existing structure. 

 

Jacunski Humes Architects LLC of Berlin, Conn., selected to conduct the study, will assess what is needed for an efficient and accredited public safety facility at each site. This will include cost estimates and consideration of scenarios such as building a new facility on a green site, remodeling an existing building, and demolishing and rebuilding potential sites. 

 

The property that obtained the highest rank was First Congregational Church's addition, which has offices in the basement with a walkout and some offices on the second floor on the south end. 

 

According to committee co-Chair Craig Wilbur, purchasing or leasing the property is up for negotiation. The congregation has the 2,600 square foot space listed on for lease on its website. 

 

There is also the possibility of constructing a building farther to the east of the existing church using some of the green space and parking lot. 

 

The committee is unsure if the parking lot is available for consideration but opted to keep it on the list so the architect could evaluate all the potential options for the property.