Drag Story Hour Berkshires Free County-Wide Reading Series

02:26PM / Tuesday, June 30, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Drag Story Hour Berkshires announced "Once Upon a Fourth of July: Reading Frederick Douglass Together," a free county-wide series made possible through the Reading Frederick Douglass Together initiative.

The program supports public readings and community conversations centered on Frederick Douglass's landmark 1852 speech, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"

Hosted in partnership with cultural organizations across Berkshire County, the series invites families, neighbors, and visitors to come together to celebrate literacy, history, and civic dialogue through storytelling and shared community experiences.

Each event will feature:

A family-friendly Drag Story Hour
A community reading of selected passages from Frederick Douglass's historic speech
A hands-on craft activity for children and families
A free book for every child in attendance while supplies last

The series is free and open to the public at all three locations:

Friday, July 3 – 4:00 p.m.
Herman Melville's Arrowhead
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Friday, July 3 – 5:30 p.m.
Indie Readery & Records
Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Wednesday, July 8 – 11:00 a.m.
Lee Library
Lee, Massachusetts

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New Trial Denied for Caius Veiovis

Staff Reports01:11PM / Tuesday, October 27, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Caius Veiovis' request for a new trial was denied.

Veiovis, now 46, was one of three men convicted in the murder of David Glasser, Edward Frampton, and Robert Chadwell in 2011. He is also known as Roy Gutfinski.

In 2014, he was sentenced to three consecutive life terms for the alleged kidnapping, killing, and dismembering of the Pittsfield men. They were last seen at a city apartment shared by Glasser and Frampton on Aug. 28, 2011; their dismembered bodies were found in Becket that September.

According to AP News, Veiovis told the jury, "I'll see you in hell" after the conviction.

On Tuesday, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office reported that following a final hearing held on June 26, 2026, Justice Michael D. Ricciuti issued an order on Oct. 23, 2026, denying Veiovis's motion for post-conviction relief.

The motion had requested a new trial based chiefly on claims of ineffective assistance by his trial attorney and newly discovered evidence.

Post-conviction relief is a legal process that allows a convicted person to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence in the trial court after direct appeals have ended or were not filed.

"District Attorney Capeless' unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring it is maintained in this case has been truly remarkable," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said.

"His efforts in handling this difficult and complex criminal matter have helped make Berkshire County a safer place."

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