BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 30, 2020) — The best part of last night’s first presidential debate wasn’t even there. THE PLANET refers the silent, socially-distanced, audience. Who won last night? The audience. The spectators at the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western University remained quiet, a remarkable […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 28, 2020) — Today marks the 60th anniversary of Ted Williams hitting a home run at Fenway Park off Baltimore’s Jack Fisher. The day before, we sat behind the Red Sox dugout for The Kid’s penultimate game. Ted’s 521st in his final […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 25-7, 2020) — THE PLANET needs help. We’re trying to figure out why the city won $238,826 in grants from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). On Tuesday , the state approved and funded Pittsfield’s grant application under the Shared […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 23, 2020) — THE PLANET, while quick to acknowledge the late Ruth Ginsberg’s achievement in the field of law, can’t help but wonder about the overreaction to her death. The adulation of the young and woke masses reflects one simple phenomenon,that has, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 21, 2020) — THE PLANET tips the Hamburg to the first day of fall. We also tip the derby to the Berkshire Eagle‘s Jenn Smith, whose final day there is Oct. 2. After that, she heads to bigger and better things at […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 18-20, 2020) — It’s not been the best of times for Berkshire County district attorney Andrea Harrington. She appears for a photo-op with Joe Kennedy and the homeless at Springside Park. Not long after, one of the park “residents” commits […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE WEDNESDAY SEPT. 16, 2020) — Today begins Pittsfield’s official water restriction. Apropos, given that our discussion today involved water. First, here’s the city’s release on the details of the water plan: City of Pittsfield – Mandatory restrictions in effect, Wed, Sept. 16 ———- ooo […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY SEPT. 14, 2020) — THE PLANET has obtained a copy of the civil action Barry Clairmont, husband of Mayor Linda Tyer, has filed against for council president and mayoral candidate Melissa Mazzeo. We present it here in its entirety without comment, except to […]
BY DANVALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE LU, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 11-13, 202) — Who got the Kovid Kash? THE PLANET and others interested in honest government have been asking that question since Peter Arols was knee-high to Zeus. Mayor Linda Tyer, for reasons unknown, kept the list hidden as if […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE LU SEPT. 9, 2020) — Don’t fill your squirt guns, folks. Pittsfield has water problems. THE PLANET has waited for the right moment to share a message sent to us by Daniel Miraglia regarding the sprinkler system at Deming Park South Little League field […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENT (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE LU, LABOR DAY SEPT. 7, 2020) — When a citizen submitted a petition wanting Ward 4 councilor Chris Connell removed because of residency questions, THE PLANET and most others of sound mind scoffed. Rumors swirled that the petitioner was acting as a front for […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE LU, THE WEEKEND EDITION SEPT. 4-6, 2020) — THE PLANET was saddened to learn of the death at a too-young 75 of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. I had the fortune to meet Tom Terrific when he came to the Red Sox in […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE–LU, WEDNESDAY SEPT. 2, 2020) — While the homeless languish in Springside Park at night and bums overrun downtown Pittsfield by day, Mayor Linda Tyer continues to hide. ServiceNet abruptly closed the homeless facility at St. Joseph’s High School on Maplewood Avenue months ago and […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE LU, MONDAY AUG. 31, 2020) — Even in Lands Unknown, word reaches THE PLANET of the hopelessness of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, those archetypal Pittsfield taxpayers. Once again, they face higher taxes, higher fees for lower service, and more incompetence. The latest example […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION (LU) AUG. 28-30, 2020) — Breona Taylor, George Floyd, Jacob Blake. All blacks. All done by cops. All “turning their lives around.” All an aftermath of “peaceful protests.” THE PLANET makes three points at the outset: 1.) None “deserved” to be […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY AUG. 26, 2020) — THE PLANET has ventured to Lands Unknown (LU) for R&R, but we stay wired to events and happenings, from the insignificant nothings that make like miserable for Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski to the hurricanes and wildfires that, as […]
