Archive | August, 2011
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BROCKTON TOPS COLONIALS, 2-0; C’s MAGIC NUMBER FOR POST-SEASON STILL AT 3

By CHAD COOPER PLANET VALENTI Sports (BROCKTON, Mass., GAME OF TUESDAY 8/31/11) — The Pittsfield Colonials and Brockton Rox locked up in a pitcher’s duel from start to finish, with the Rox making two early runs hold up in a 2-0 Brockton victory. The Colonials magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains at three. […]

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GO TO BED IRENE, YOU’RE GETTING SLEEPY … plus … IS BERKSHIRE LIFE LEAVING PITTSFIELD? EARLY IN ON THE PLANET!!

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD ONE, 8/31/11 As we said we would, THE PLANET sent out feelers to those who might be in the know on the persistent rumors that Berkshire Like will be pulling out of Pittsfield. We have heard back from one of our sources, who tells us: It’s […]

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PLANET SIZZLES AS IRENE FIZZLES and CRITICS DRIZZLE; WE GOT IT RIGHT, THEY GOT IT WRONG … plus … SORRY, CRITICS, THAT YOU DIDN’T GET THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION YOU APPARENTLY WANTED

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 30, 2011) — Many critics who lashed out at THE PLANET for our comments on the dud Irene seemed upset by what they read. The reason for this, while puzzling to some of our fans, is clear to THE PLANET. For whatever […]

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IRENE FIZZLES, JUST AS THE PLANET SAID IT WOULD … plus … PB IS PUT IN THEIR PLACE, THE ANATOMY OF AN ENDORSEMENT, and, OUR PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 29, 2011) — So much for the Hurricane from Armageddon. Storm of the Millennia, and Big Wind from South. The fizzled Irene, as far as the Berkshires go, packed as much damage as the arguments from one of THE PLANET’s critics, which […]

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GOODNIGHT, IRENE; HOW TFB GOT THE JOB or FOOL US THREE TIMES AND WE SHOULD TAKE THE PIPE … plus … PLANET ENDORSES MARK MILLER FOR STATE REP

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY AUG. 28, 2011) — After taking preparations at the ranch for Irene, THE PLANET will watch with detachment what follows. We will not become “engaged” to this storm but simply act and react to whatever happens. Beyond that, we find it useless to […]

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CAMPAIGN ’11 SHOWS LIFE; BIANCHI ISSUES STATEMENT ON DRUG TESTING, NICHOLS WINS BATTLE OF WEBSITE, and ‘THE STOOLEY’ FILES HIS/HER REPORTS … ALL !!EXCLUSIVE!! TO THE PLANET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, AUG. 26, 2011) — “It’s moving! It’s alive!! Ohhhhh, it’s alive it’s alive!!!” No. That isn’t Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein watching his Grand Experiment come to life on the Universal laboratory table. It’s Campaign ’11 flicking its little finger in Pittsfield. Several items […]

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BIANCHI ANNOUNCES FOR MAYOR … in EARLY ACTION, MARCHETTI WINS BATTLE OF THE WEBSITES … INTEREST IN ‘SIGNGATE’ REVEALS MUCH ABOUT THE MOOD OF VOTERS; TWO COMPETING EMOTIONS WILL DECIDE CAMPAIGN 2011: ANGER vs. APATHY … plus … C’S BATTER WORCESTER AGAIN TO SOLIDIFY PLAYOFF POSITION

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD 1, 8/25/11 FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE BIANCHI DECLARES AT PACKED ITALIAN-AMERICAN CLUB In answer to numerous questions THE PLANET has received about Dan Bianchi’s “Did he or didn’t he?” formally announcing for mayor last night, the answer is yes. Apparently, The Boring Broadsheet made the editorial decision […]

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!!PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! WHAT HAPPENED with MAYOR RUBERTO in ‘SIGNGATE ’11’ … plus, MAYOR FAVORS RANDOM DRUG TESTING FOR ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2011) — It’s amazing. We have huge questions facing candidates and voters in Campaign ’11, and everyone wants to talk about … …Signgate. And what’s the big mystery about Signgate? A mayor takes down the sign of the rival of the […]

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THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN WILL BE COMING OUT OF ITS COMA, AND THE ELECTORATE WANTS SPECIFIC POSITIONS ON A FEW HOT ISSUES, INCLUDING WHAT TO DO ABOUT GE’S POISONOUS PILLAGING OF PITTSFIELD, OR WHITHER AND WITHER, SILVER LAKE?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 23, 2011) — There are several issues that must become pandemic and ongoing to Pittsfield’s Campaign 2011. These include: * Mandatory, random, and unconditional drug testing for all public employees, accepted as a requirement for employment, with no grandfathering. * Adjusting the […]

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PLANET COMMENTATORS ‘BABY’ and ‘JOE P’ RAISE, ADDRESS THE MOST VITAL QUESTIONS OF ALL: DOES THE PRESS HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MISSION? CAN THE PLANET CLAIM TO BE SPOKESMAN FOR ‘WE THE PEOPLE?’ IS DEMOCRACY AN ILLUSION?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 22, 2011) — One of the most vital debates for any so-called free society has occurred in the “Comments” section of THE PLANET in the past few days. The subject: The role of the press in a free society. THE PLANET is […]

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FIRE DEPARTMENT-DRUG TESTING ISSUES FLARES UP AGAIN; READER POSES ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS TO PFD UNION PRESIDENT … ALSO, BIANCHI: COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE … and COLONIALS HOLD ON AGAINST QUEBEC ON ROAD, 7-5

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, AUG. 20, 2011) — Today, THE PLANET received an excellent post in response to one of the stories in our series exposing perhaps the main point of contention between the city of Pittsfield and the fire department as they try to find agreement […]

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DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD: A PICK-UP STIX MAZE OF MISMANAGED UGLINESS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 19, 2011 — There are many “eternal debates” in Pittsfield. The rotary around Park Square went on for 60 years before Mayor Jimmy Ruberto set in place the decision to implement the “straight shot” from south-to-north. That’s a rare example of an […]

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NICHOLS AND MARCHETTI HAVE COME CLEAN ON DRUG-TESTING Q; NOW IT’s BIANCHI’s TURN, plus, OTHER RANDOM OBSERVATIONS ON AN AUGUST PAST-THE-MID-TURN DAY

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 18, 2011) — On the road, here and there, hither and yon, pursuing our craft, THE PLANET returns to our den in the FORTRESS to share these observations, which have accumulated during our two-day hegira: · THE PLANET has asked presumed mayoral […]

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EXCLUSIVE TO PLANET!! MARCHETTI JOINS NICHOLS, KINNAS in SUPPORTING RANDOM DRUG TESTING … plus … PLANET’S ODE TO ‘THE CITIZEN’ … and … C’s FALL TO ROCKLAND, 7-5

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17, 2011) — This morning, Peter Marchetti sent THE PLANET a quick note on Facebook, confirming that he received our question on random drug testing for firemen and other public employees. He wrote that he had only just then checked his FB […]

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NICHOLS JOINS KINNAS ON DRUG TESTING POSITION, plus, PITTSFIELD FIRE FIGHTER SPEAKS OUT … PLANET TO POLL CANDIDATES … and C’S MORAN TOSSES CG ROAD WIN

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 16, 2011) — A second candidate for office in Pittsfield, this for the office of mayor, has declared his position on drug testing for firemen and other public emplyees. Mayoral candidate Joe Nichols, back from his recent honeymoon, told THE PLANET that […]

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300 RESPONSES TO PFD’s RELUCTANCE TO ACCEPT UNCONDITIONAL RANDOM DRUG TESTING SHOW TAXPAYING PUBLIC WANTS THOSE TESTS; FIREMEN out of touch WITH PUBLIC SENTIMENTS; plus … FLORES FANS 14, TIES CAN-AM LEAGUE RECORD AS RED-HOT COLONIALS GET 12th WIN IN 13 GAMES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, AUG. 13, 2011) — The firestorm over THE PLANET’s exclusive coverage of the inside details of the contract squabble between the city of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Fire Department has elicted an avalanche of comment. There have been nearly 100 comments on THE PLANET. […]

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