Berkshire Athenaeum Short Story Contest

07:46AM / Wednesday, June 04, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum are thrilled to announce the 47th Annual Short Story Writing Contest for Children and the 28th Annual Short Story Writing Contest for Young Adults.

This annual event, fostering imagination and literary talent, officially opened on Sunday, June 1, 2025, and will close promptly at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 1, 2025.

"We are incredibly excited to launch another year of our Short Story Writing Contest," said Youth Services Supervisor, Sara Russell-Scholl. "This contest provides a wonderful platform for young writers in our community to explore their creativity, develop their narrative skills, and share their unique voices. We can't wait to read the inspiring stories that emerge!"

The Library accepts submissions in multiple convenient ways: in person at the Library, via mail (Berkshire Athenaeum, ATTN: Short Story Contest, One Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201) or by email. Children's entries can be emailed to childrens@pittsfieldlibrary.org and Young Adult entries to youngadult@pittsfieldlibrary.org.

For more information, including official contest rules and guidelines, visit www.pittsfieldlibrary.org, email childrens@pittsfieldlibrary.org with "Short Story Contest" in the subject line, or call the Children's Library at (413) 499-9480, option 5.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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