Greenagers Fundraiser: Dinner, Democracy, and Dancing

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EGREMONT, Mass. — Gov. Deval Patrick and State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli will be featured guests at the Greenagers summer shindig, "Dinner, Democracy, & Dancing" on Aug. 15 at April Hill.
 
The 5:30 p.m. event features dinner outdoors under a tent overlooking Berkshire-Taconic vistas surrounding April Hill, with food grown onsite by Greenagers youth farm crews. Gov. Patrick will deliver a keynote talk and a panel discussion on "why civic engagement matters" will include Greenagers youth, Gov. Patrick, and Rep. Pignatelli. A dance in the historic blue barn will cap off the night, with music by One Blues Revolution. 
 
Tickets can be purchased at greenagers.org/summergala.
 
The fundraiser will benefit Greenagers' outdoor employment and education programs for children, teens, and young adults in the Berkshires. 
 
"There are so many opportunities to engage with the  wide world, yet fewer chances to talk with our neighbors," said Greenagers Executive DIrector Will Conklin. "In addition to skills and workplace readiness, Greenagers’ offers just that–practice in talking and working with folks outside your own bubble or silo while working in community. I can think of no better practice to help engender a more meaningful and caring political discourse and community - and no better people to help guide this than Governor Patrick and Representative Pignatelli. We are so grateful to them for sharing their thoughts and experience with us."
 
Greenagers, based at April Hill Conservation & Education Center at 62 N. Undermountain Road in Egremont, provides jobs, apprenticeships and education programs for children, teens, and young adults interested in environmental conservation, food security, trails management, and community service. Information: greenagers.org/summergala

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Pittsfield School Committee to Again Vote on PHS Report Release

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will again discuss releasing a redacted version of the PHS report after confusion over a March vote. 

On Wednesday, member Ciara Batory, who has been vocal about releasing last year’s investigation into allegations of staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School, demanded a date for its release to the public.  It was indicated that the item can be put on the next meeting's agenda. 

"I am done playing the game. The public wants a date of when the redacted PHS report will be released, and I will not stop until I get a date," she said before a five-minute recess was called on the meeting. 

Last school year, five past and present PHS staff members were investigated for alleged misconduct, and allegations were found to be "unsupported," according to executive summaries released by the last term's committee. 

The School Committee agenda for its March 25 meeting included a "request by Ciara Batory to release the May 2025 Pittsfield High report with required redactions." It was reported that there were threats of legal action if the redacted report were released. 

Batory on Wednesday said she did not request that agenda item, and that the motion had already passed. Mayor Peter Marchetti, also chair, said they voted in January to review the redacted version, not to release it. 

Batory played the motion that passed in January from her phone: 

"I move the committee vote to release a PHS investigation report in a redacted form by February 18, 2026, and I'd like to add to that the School Committee reviews it before its release to the public, to make sure that there is enough to present to the public."

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