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Ghouls, Goblins Turn Out for Pittsfield Halloween Parade

Lisa Torrey, Darin Torrey and Jen Glockner were judges for the floats this year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ghouls, goblins, and pop culture icons lined Tyler Street on Friday night for the city's annual Halloween Parade.

The "Spooky Hollywood" theme brought characters from "Ghostbusters," the "Wizard of Oz," and slasher icons. This was the 78th Halloween parade in the city and the last one led by Special Events Coordinator Maddy Brown, who will vacate the position next month.

"It's bittersweet. I've loved my time with the city and I couldn't be more grateful to everybody here," Brown said. "This was the first big event I did last year, ironically, it's my last now but I'm glad to be able to see it through."

Parade planning began at the end of summer and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. Executive Director Rebecca Brien was credited for helping to make it happen.

The event is a draw for Halloween lovers from all over the county, attracting about 5,000 people in 2022.

Participants included the City Council, Pittsfield Public Schools, some local businesses, and a group of local drag performers.  There were 25 units in the procession.

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.