Berkshires Opens Warming Centers, Provides Safety Resources Ahead of Frigid Weekend

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A back-to-back weather threat is developing as an Extreme Cold Warning tonight gives way to a major Winter Storm Warning starting Sunday morning. Dangerously cold wind chills of 25 to 35 below zero will persist through Saturday afternoon, creating a high risk of frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. Conditions will remain life-threatening for those without proper shelter or heating, and pets should be kept indoors.
 
Beginning at 7 AM Sunday and lasting through 7 PM Monday, a long-duration winter storm will then impact all of eastern New York and western New England, bringing 12 to 18 inches of heavy snow. Travel will become very dangerous, particularly Sunday night when snowfall rates may exceed one inch per hour, severely reducing visibility. If you must travel, the National Weather Service advises keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle with a flashlight, food, and water.
 

Regional Warming Centers: Where to Stay Warm

 
Local public safety departments and community organizations have established the following short-term warming sites to provide refuge from the sub-zero temperatures.
 
North Adams
  • Police Station Front Lobby: Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
  • North Adams Public Library: Open Friday (10 am to 5 pm), Saturday (10 am to 1pm) 
  • Living Hope Church: Open Friday (8 am to 1 pm), Saturday (8 am to noon)  
  • First Baptist Church: Open Saturday (9 am to noon) 
  • North Adams City Hall: Open Friday (8 am to 4pm)

Williamstown

  • Williamstown Police: Open Saturday and Sunday (Residents in need of shelter can call dispatch at (413) 458-5733 to gain access).

Pittsfield

  • The Berkshire Athenaeum: Saturday (10 am to 5 pm), Sunday (8 am to 2 pm)
  • 21 Pearl St.: Every night (10 pm to 8 am)

Great Barrington

  • Town Hall

  • libraries 

  • Claire Teague Senior Center

  • Berkshire South Community Center (Standard Hours)

Essential Cold Weather Safety Tips

Home Protection & Water Safety

The Dalton Fire and Water Departments, along with other regional agencies, recommend the following to prevent property damage:

  • The "Drip" Rule: Allow a very thin stream of water to run from faucets located on exterior walls to prevent pipe freezes.

  • Thermostat Consistency: Avoid dropping the heat at night; keep a steady temperature to ensure pipes in walls stay above freezing.

  • Open Cabinets: Keep kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.

  • Pipe Thawing: If pipes freeze, use a hair dryer or space heater. Never use an open flame.

Personal Health & Pets

  • The Three-Layer System: Wear a moisture-wicking base, an insulating middle layer (wool/fleece), and a windproof outer shell.

  • Pet Safety: Keep pets indoors. If they must go out, limit time to a few minutes and wipe paws to remove salt and ice-melt chemicals.

  • Check on Neighbors: Residents are encouraged to check on elderly neighbors or those living alone to ensure their heating systems are functioning.

Winter Storm & Municipal Impact

Following the extreme cold, a Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Sunday and Monday, with up to 16 inches of snow possible.

  • Williamstown Town Hall: Closed Monday, Jan 26.

  • Pittsfield Snow Ops: Moving to 12-hour shifts starting early Sunday. No on-street parking, including on both sides of the street, will be allowed between 7 p.m. Saturday, January 24 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, January 26. Residents in and around downtown Pittsfield are encouraged to use the McKay Street parking garage for parking, which will be open to the public free of charge starting Saturday, January 24 through the duration of the snow event. Non-permitted vehicles are prohibited from parking or standing in any open municipal or school parking lot between the hours of 12 a.m. and 7 a.m. Vehicles found in violation of the above parking regulations may be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense.

  • Road Salt Warning: DPW officials warn that road salt becomes significantly less effective in temperatures below 10°F. Expect icy surfaces even after treatment.

Emergency Contact Directory

  • Emergencies: 9-1-1

  • North Adams Police (Non-Emergency): (413) 664-4944

  • Williamstown Police (Non-Emergency): (413) 458-5733

  • Dalton Fire District: (413) 684-0500

  • National Grid (Power Outages): 1-800-465-1212

  • Berkshire Gas: 1-800-292-5012

 

Tags: snow & ice,   snow emergencies,   

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Pittsfield School Committee OKs $87M Budget for FY27

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee has approved an $87 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that uses the Fair Student Funding formula to assign resources. 

On Wednesday, the committee approved its first budget for the term. Morningside Community School will close at the end of the academic year and is excluded. 

"This has been quite a process, and throughout this process, we have been faced with the task of closing a $4.3 million budget deficit while making meaningful improvements in student outcomes for next year," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said. 

"Throughout this process, we've asked ourselves, 'What should we keep doing? What should we stop doing? And what should we start doing?' I do want to acknowledge that we are presenting a budget that has been made with difficult decisions, but it has been made carefully, responsibly, and collaboratively, again with a clear focus first on supporting our students."

The proposed $87,200,061 school budget for FY27 includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding, $18 million from the city, and $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues.  It is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million. 

The City Council will take a vote on May 19. 

Thirteen schools are budgeted for FY27, Morningside retired, and the middle school restructuring is set to move forward. The district believes important milestones have been met to move forward with transitioning to an upper elementary and junior high school model in September; Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School, and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School. 

"I also want to acknowledge that change is never easy. It is never simple, but I truly do believe that it is through these challenges that we're able to examine our systems, strengthen our practices, strengthen our relationships, and ultimately make decisions that will better our students," Phillips said. 

Included in the FY27 spending plan is $2.6 million for administration, $62.8 million for instructional costs, $7.5 million for other school services, and $7.2 million for operations and maintenance. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland reported that they met with Pittsfield High School and made two additions to its staff: an assistant principal and a family engagement attendance coordinator.

In March, the PHS community argued that a cut of $653,000 would be too much of a burden for the school to bear. The school was set to see a reduction of seven teachers (plus one teacher of deportment) and an assistant principal of teaching and learning, and a guidance counselor repurposed across the district; the administration said that after "right-sizing" the classrooms, there were initially 14 teacher reductions proposed for PHS. 

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