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Lanesborough Winterfest Returns, Work Planned for Route 7

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town's winter festival will return, and the state plans to repave more than half mile of Route 7. 

Town Administrator Gina Dario delivered several town updates during Monday's Select Board meeting. The second annual Winter Fun Fest hosted by the Community Development Committee is on Sunday, Feb. 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at The Venue at Skyline. 

There will be food, kids' activities, a coffee and hot cocoa bar, a cash bar, and music by Lance Entertainment. The Community Development Committee launched the winter festival last year as a way to get people together the snow season. It is a smaller version of Lanesborough Day, which is held in warm weather. 

"We'd love volunteers," Dario said. 

Residents are asked to email Lanesboroughday@gmail.com with any questions or to volunteer. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has advised Lanesborough that a complete resurfacing of the road and sidewalk along 0.682 miles of Route 7 is proposed.  


The project extends from Town Hall north to Bill Laston Memorial Field, and work includes roadway resurfacing, new sidewalks, new guardrails, pavement markings, upgraded utilities and drainage, resurfaced driveway aprons, and erosion control measures. 

There is also movement on the town's effort to craft a new open space and recreation plan. 

The Open Space and Recreation Plan Advisory Committee is working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on the town's new plan. Hundreds of people responded to the committee's survey on local priorities, and a community conversation will be held at Town Hall on Jan. 27, where the committee will also discuss next steps. 

"They wanted to thank the community and everyone who responded to the survey. They got about 300 responses, which is a fantastic turnout, especially given other surveys that we've had," Dario said. 

Additionally, all-ages technology training classes will be offered on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Dario explained that this is part of a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, and the time has been adjusted to capture people who may work during the day. 

In other news, the Select Board voted to have joint meetings with the Finance Committee to review the upcoming budget and meet with department heads. Chair Deborah Maynard explained that this would allow department heads to present their budget to both entities simultaneously over two meetings on March 2 and March 16. 

"One of the agreements, as I understand, was that they would allow some of the standard agenda items for the Select Board and Finance Committee on that joint meeting so that we wouldn't duplicate unless absolutely needed," Dario explained. 


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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the  POST Commission. 

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission. 

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted.  On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April. 

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday. 

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.  

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads. 

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline." 

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