Letter: Alex Blumin for City Council

To the Editor: I am excited to endorse Mr. Alex Blumin for Ward 2 City Council. When we elect Mr. Blumin, we continue Ward 2's tradition of self-governance. We consistently choose the independent voice to represent our interests. We have a tradition of preserving a philosophy of reasonable inquiry of elected officials, and we demand responsible financial governance.

Ward 2 awaits the city's fulfillment of its promises to complete roadwork and fix abandoned homes. Mr. Blumin will push the city to achieve these promises. The mayor aggressively hiked water and sewer rates twice in the last two years, and she promised more increases. Ward 2 residents worry about the ever-expanding city budget they are forced to fund. Alex Blumin shares your worries and will fight for responsible budgets. Mr. Blumin will continue to promote reducing your taxes and reducing water rates by using your tax dollars locked in free cash and the cannabis reserves.

City Hall spending lacks transparency. The next councilor will see the $41 million in ARPA funds spent down. The ARPA Advisory Committee meets in secret and spends money on projects that do not appear to benefit Ward 2. The City Council has not had any input on a single dollar spent. Mr. Blumin would dare to ask the hard questions: What did the ARPA Committee discuss in their secret meetings? Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA) has new funding coming up. Will it support the destitute business environment in Pittsfield and Ward 2? Mr. Blumin will insist that it does.

When Mr. Blumin whispered "corruption" in his debate, he dared to state a fact of our government that many councilors privately discuss. I saw a man display his love and admiration for our legal traditions and institutions. You saw his courage to hold our leaders to high standards and principles.

Mr. Blumin has a long involvement in city politics, and the time is now for him to lead. He has the intelligence and courage to do the job. Ward 2, you must turn out on Sept. 19, and I strongly urge you to vote for Alex Blumin for your councilor.

Charles Kronick
Pittsfield, Mass.

Charles Kronick is the current Ward 2 councilor and is not running for re-election.

New Pittsfield Shop Offers Nontoxic Scented Candles & Cozy Decor

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:02AM / Monday, November 09, 2026

Holmes Candle Co. is located at 210 Elm St. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Alyssa Sena loves scented candles. But she found lighting them in her home was aggravating her asthma. 

 

So she set to work to find a healthier option for herself, and her home. 

 

"I realized how bad they are for you and the paraffin and how harmful it is to your lungs, and I have asthma, and I've always had issues with that," she said. "And apparently, the candles were contributing to it, which I didn't know. So I kind of started test playing around with the idea of making my own."

 

Sena has been making candles from home for about two years, trying out recipes and wicks that would also not leave sooty residue on walls and cabinets. 

 

The result is the newly opened Holmes Candle Co., named after the street she lives on. It sells hand-poured, 100 percent soy candles that Sena described as paraben- and phthalate-free. Other products include wax melts, car air fresheners, room and linen sprays, perfumes, and home décor.

 

Sena said she taught herself to make candles by testing different ratios.

 

"I researched and tested for probably a year and a half to two years before I launched. Because it's as weird as it sounds. I feel like people think you just buy some wax, dump some oil in it, put it in a jar, call it a day," Sena said. "But there's actually a science behind it.