UNICO of Pittsfield 2026 Souper Bowl Community Food Drive

07:41AM / Friday, January 30, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — UNICO of Pittsfield will be holding a Souper Bowl Community Food Drive, beginning January 31, culminating on Saturday Feb. 7.

UNICO will accept donation of non perishable food items that can be eaten from a bowl.

All donations will go to local food pantries in the Berkshires.

Soup, pasta, stews, cereal, tuna, noodles, will be collected at the following locations during their business hours: Balderdash Cellars, Berkshire Fitness & Wellness, Berkshire Mazda, Carr Hardware - Pittsfield, Haddad Toyota, Subaru and Hyundai, Johns Building Supply, L.P. Adams, L'io Beauty & Wellness, Locker Room Pub, Olde Heritage Tavern, Radiance Yoga, Ready Set Learn and Zucchini's Restaurant.

On Saturday Feb 7 at Balderdash Cellars, Richmond, UNICO along with The Berkshire County Jimmy Fund, Kiwanis Club of Lee, and Rotary Club of Pittsfield will collect non perishables from noon - 5 pm.

Feb 3- Feb 6 Students from Richmond Consolidated School, Lenox Memorial School, Pittsfield High School and Taconic High School will participate with each class collecting non perishables.

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

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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