Licensing Board: Thistle & Mirth Rebrand Proper Response to Stabbing

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Licensing Board is satisfied with Thistle and Mirth's rebranding after a violent incident on Thanksgiving Eve.

The matter was filed on Monday during a show cause hearing for a stabbing on Nov. 22 after the panel determined that the owners have taken full responsibility and are moving the establishment in a positive direction.

"For me, I see that you took full responsibility and want to do business differently and you are," board member Kathy Amuso said.

Co-owner Austin Oliver agreed, "We don't want to invite those types of behaviors and things into Pittsfield. That doesn't do any good for us or downtown Pittsfield for the state that it is in currently."

Police were dispatched to the former ramen restaurant around 9:40 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving for a reported stabbing and found patrons exiting from the front and rear entrances.

"As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined that an altercation had occurred between two parties inside the bar. This altercation turned physical and one of the parties received a stab wound as a result. The victim and the alleged perpetrator left the scene prior to the police arrival," Lt. Matthew Hill explained.

"Due to the severity of the incident within Thistle and Mirth on that day, I brought this matter before the Licensing Board as I would any other establishment that had something like this take place."

About an hour before the incident, Hill and investigators visited the restaurant while doing compliance checks with members of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and found no violations. Because they were in plainclothes, the investigators were initially denied entry due to capacity.

Thistle remained closed for weeks as Oliver and co-owner Joad Bowman planned a rebrand. It reopened at the end of December with a smaller footprint, earlier closing hours and a pizza menu.

The hope is to be a restaurant that also serves craft beer instead of a bar that also serves food, Oliver said.

"You've always been responsive when there have been issues there," board member Jody Phillips said.

"I would normally have suggested a reduction in hours which you've imposed on yourself as well. Certainly, no shortage of challenges when you're a bar owner to begin with, and kudos for adhering to your capacity limit."

Campoli agreed, though he wished they could hear more details about the incident. Because it is still under investigation, Hill was limited in the information he could share.

"You have taken those steps," he said. "I think it is important. I think it’s smart from a business standpoint. I think it's the right thing to do for public safety."

Five Local Firefighters Graduate From Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

05:32PM / Monday, January 06, 2025

Cody Doyle, left, and Owen Hoffman of Dalton hold their axes after graduating from the academy on Monday. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five local firefighters were among the 20 graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy on Monday. 

 

Jahyde Bullard, Phourasamy Din and Matthew Tobin, all of Pittsfield, and Cody Doyle and Owen Hoffman of Dalton completed the academy's 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program.

 

Bullard, Din and Tobin were appointed permanent firefighters by Mayor Peter Marchetti last July. 

 

"Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely."

 

The graduating firefighters of Class  No. S39 represent the fire departments of Amherst, Chicopee, Dalton, Monson, Northampton, Palmer, Pittsfield, South Hadley Fire District 1, Springfield, Ware, and Westfield.

 

The Richard N. Bangs Outstanding Student Award, which is presented to one recruit in each graduating career recruit training class, was presented to Dylan Sliech of Springfield Fire and Emergency Services. The award is named for the longtime chair of the Massachusetts Fire Training Council and reflects the recruit's academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the 10-week program.

 

The graduates received classroom training in all basic firefighter skills during the course. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires.