Pittsfield Community Radio, WBTR To Have On-Air Fundraiser to Support the Station

PITTSFIELD, Mass. Pittsfield Community Radio, 89.7 WTBR-FM, will be holding a one-day on-air fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

All money raised during the on-air fundraiser will go towards continuing the mission of providing the community with a non-profit, non-commercial radio station to present diverse local, entertaining, informative, and educational programming.

The event will also help raise funds for 88.1 WSBR in Lee, which has been simulcasting Pittsfield Community Radio to the Southern Berkshires since January.

The on-air event will be anchored by former Pittsfield morning radio fixture and current Coordinator of Advancement at WTBR, Bob Heck, and Pittsfield Community Television’s Executive Director and Morning Drive host Shawn Serre.  The day will also feature many local radio personalities who currently produce radio programs on WTBR. There will be special guests, including Mayor Peter Marchetti, Pittsfield Public Schools Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips, WTBR-FM board members, and many more.

Shawn Serre, Executive Director of PCTV, says this event is critical to the station's success and continued operation.

"This station survives when the community steps up with its support," said Serre.  "We are grateful to be able to provide this programming every day of the year, and our annual Radiothon fundraiser is one way we can make that happen.  Donations received during this event are what keeps the lights on and the transmitter broadcasting," he said.

Many premium gifts will be given away, including local restaurant and business gift certificates. Every donation of $25 or more will qualify for a chance to win a Thanksgiving dinner from KJ Nosh Catering.

"This year, we have proven the need for our community to continue to have a community radio station," Heck said.  "The independent, participatory community radio WTBR provides is rare in today’s mass media world.  We’re the only radio station in the Berkshires that allows community members from all walks of life to come together to listen, create, react, and engage. Once a year we ask the larger community to come together and help keep us going."

The one-day on-air fundraiser will air all day on 89.7 WTBR-FM as well as 88.1 WSBR-FM in Lee, the WTBR Facebook page, and on PCTV Select, available on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire.

Donations can be made by calling 413-445-4234 during the pledge drive or made online anytime at wtbrfm.com.

State Economic Development Secretary Visits Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:28PM / Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Eric Paley was appointed secretary last year. This was his first time visiting in the Berkshires in that role. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state secretary of economic development visited Pittsfield on Monday to hear about the condition of its economy and downtown. 

Executive Office of Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley joined local small-business owners, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, state Sen Paul Mark, and Mayor Peter Marchetti for a roundtable discussion at the Berkshire Black Economic Council at the beginning of the day. 

"I think supporting downtowns and keeping them vibrant and energetic is a challenge in many parts of the state, and certainly many gateway cities, but I think people want to live where there's lively, strong downtowns," Paley said. 

"And they want to spend their money where they feel there's an energetic, long downtown, and that's a critical factor for Pittsfield that we do see in other gateway cities." 

He said Berkshire County has "extraordinary" strengths as a tourism and cultural leader, but like many other places, its small businesses are struggling with operating costs and affordability, as "Housing is a challenge, childcare, healthcare, these are challenges we see all across the state, but they kind of hit differently in different locations." 

The secretary feels Berkshire County competes "very" well with the nearby Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Adirondacks in New York State because of how strong the cultural community is, but sustaining those communities is a challenge. 

"Making the community fun year-round when so many people come in the summer, but also making sure that resources keep building and growing here is key, and there's been some flattening of some of the key economic indicators, and extending that strength is really important," Paley said. 

"…There were a lot of just a lot of heartfelt, thoughtful comments and things that we need to be talking about every day as we think of different regions of the state and how we support them."