Pittsfield Schools Social-Distancing Practices End April 11

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With masks now optional, Pittsfield Public Schools will end its social distancing practices on April 11.

Superintendent Joseph Curtis announced the change in his regular update to PPS students, staff, and families on Friday. It will apply to instruction, transition, and meal service times.

With the change, signage related to masking, distancing, and room capacity will be removed and students will be able to share a lunch table in the cafeterias.

"The cafeteria transitions will take some time as large amounts of existing individual student desks have to be placed or stored," Curtis wrote in the communication.

"Cafeteria tables have to be removed from storage and moved back into their original locations. We anticipate that all cafeterias will have original cafeteria seating in place by Monday, April 25. Each school cafeteria will have limited seating for students who choose to eat at an individual desk."

The district's mask policy was made optional in March and the city's masking directive was changed to an advisory in late February.

Curtis emphasized the need to respect students and staff's choice in masking, whether it is to wear one or not.

Pittsfield is currently in the yellow incidence for COVID-19 transmission with about 19.5 cases per 100,000 people and a positivity rate of 3.5.  There are currently 81 estimated actively contagious cases in the city and six patients in Berkshire Medical Center with the virus.

The superintendent's update also included dates for the district's graduation and moving up ceremonies. 

Both high school commencement ceremonies will be held on-premise on Sunday, June 5. The Taconic High School ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and the Pittsfield High School ceremony will begin at 4.

Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.