Pittsfield Parks Department Scrapbooks Now Available for Viewing

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's public library, and Pittsfield's Community Development Department announced that the historic Pittsfield Parks Department Scrapbooks are now available for online viewing thanks to a grant from the Pittsfield Community Preservation Committee.
 
Staff of the Parks Department maintained scrapbooks of news clippings, programs, and other documents relating to local sports teams, parades, Winter Carnival Queen contests, diaper derbies, Easter Egg hunts, local playground events, and a host of other city happenings. 
 
In 2008, staff of the Athenaeum's Local History Department accepted 62 scrapbooks, covering the years 1943-2007, that were housed at the Springside House, former headquarters of the Parks Department.
 
Library staff stabilized the volumes and their contents according to archival standards, had them professionally digitized, and made them available for online browsing and searching as a collection in the Internet Archive. The scrapbooks run to over 8700 pages and offer a peek into Pittsfield's rich cultural recreational history.
 
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) was adopted in Massachusetts in 2000. The purpose of CPA is to enable a locally supported fund supplemented with a partial match from the state that could be utilized for projects that involve historic preservation, open space, outdoor recreation, and affordable housing.
 

Tags: berkshire athenaeum,   parks & rec,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories