!PLANET EXCLUSIVE! BOMBSHELL DISCLOSURES IN SPECTRUM CASE: (1) CITY ALSO AGREED TO PAY COMPANY AN ADDITIONAL $76,500 TO RELOCATE and (2) TWO SECRET SESSIONS HELD … WE SHARE WHAT WENT ON OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW … plus … a STEP-BY-STEP WALK THROUGH THE CRUCIAL TIMELINE OF WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN

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!PLANET EXCLUSIVE! BOMBSHELL DISCLOSURES IN SPECTRUM CASE: (1) CITY ALSO AGREED TO PAY COMPANY AN ADDITIONAL $76,500 TO RELOCATE and (2) TWO SECRET SESSIONS HELD … WE SHARE WHAT WENT ON OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW … plus … a STEP-BY-STEP WALK THROUGH THE CRUCIAL TIMELINE OF WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary NOTE: THIS VERSION HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY EDITED AND IMPROVED FROM THE ORIGINAL POST OF EARLIER ON FRIDAY, AUG. 31, 2012. THIS IS THE ‘LIVE’ VERSION, AND WE REQUEST THAT ANYONE WHO IS uSING THE PREVIOUS ONE TO DISCARD AND WORK FROM THIS VERSION OF WHAT IS AN […]

August 31, 2012 45 Comments

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PLANET STILL IN THE BERKSHIRES AND NOT HANGING WITH MITT IN TAMPA … KRATKA KRAPS OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH TODAY’S CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE ON WBEC (KRAT KAVES IN TO NEAL’s $$) … SPECTRUM-CITY PROBE TURNS UP A CACHE OF DOCUMENTS, AND THEREIN LIES THE NARRATIVE … OUR OLD NEWSPAPER ADAPTS WITH THE TIMES … plus … THE MARINE CORPS TAKES ON THE ISSUE OF WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 30, 2012) — No, we are not in Tampa, Fla. No, we didn’t take a chartered jet out of Pittsfield airport last night. We met with that ridiculous rumor yesterday and proved it not true by showing up in the flesh at […]

August 30, 2012 28 Comments

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!BREAKING NEWS: PLANET OBTAINS TEXT OF CITY-SPECTRUM CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT! … ‘THE MAYOR IS A LIAR’ SAY A TRIO OF COUNCILORS. TRUE OR FALSE, EITHER WAY IT’S A POWERFUL AND EXPLOSIVE CLAIM … BEVERAGE COMMISSION ON HERMANN ALEXANDER’S MAKES ONE WONDER: WAS EVERYTHING ON THE LEVEL? … plus … MASSERY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY JUST MORE SOUR GRAPES FROM TWO OF THE SOUREST

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29, 2012) — We begin today’s installation with this exclusive. THE PLANET has obtained what a source has represented as “the entire Confidentiality agreement” agreed to by the City of Pittsfield and Spectrum Health Systems. We will simply present the contents and […]

August 29, 2012 39 Comments

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HARRIS COMES UP BIG AT BCC DEBATE, PHILLIPS FLOPS, PIGNATELLI RISES TO THE CHALLENGE … “TAKE MY CONCERT, PLEASE”: IT WAS 29 YEARS AGO TODAY; BAND LINEUP SET FOR LEGENDS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE REUNION … plus … MORE ON THE KROL-J-LO-CLAIRMONT-BIANCHI RIFT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 28, 2012) — They came. They debated. Harris won. Harris-Phillips-Pignatelli: win-place-and-so what? HARRIS SHOWS WHY SHE’S THE BEST CHOICE FOR REGISTER PATSY HARRIS: Cooking with the best recipe for victory. Last night at BCC, in a debate sponsored by The Pittsfield Gazette, […]

August 28, 2012 67 Comments

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HARRIS, PIGNATELLI, PHILLIPS DEBATE REGISTER’S OFFICE TONIGHT, 7 P.M., AT BCC … QUICK HITS AND HOT LICKS EXAMINES MAYOR-COUNCIL RIFT, KRATKAGATE, AND A FOOTBAWLER’s FAILURE … plus … ‘TOO BIG TO FAIL’ DID A NUMBER OF AMERICA, AND, IN A MICRO SENSE, ON PITTSFIELD …

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 27, 2012) — At 7 p.m. Tonight in the small theater, K-111, at BCC, and important debate takes place. The three candidates for Middle Berkshire County register of deeds — Patsy Harris, Scott Pignatelli, and Jody Phillips — square off. The race […]

August 26, 2012 32 Comments

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE BARELY AVOIDS FLUNKING OUT … CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION SET; FEUDAL SERFDOM A LIKELY OUTCOME FOR PITTSFIELD’S UNWASHED … LIFE AFTER HERMANN ALEXANDER’s A FAMILY AFFAIR, MASSERY CLAIMS, BUT SO WAS HA WHEN IT FIRST OPENED? … plus … NEW STAGE DIES A QUIET DEATH

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 24, 2012) — THE PLANET gets a kick out of the ponderous lengths of honor rolls at the Pittsfield Middle Schools, where every kid is a genius and the star of his or her own bumper sticker. It has nothing to do […]

August 24, 2012 47 Comments

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SCHOOL COMMITTEE BLOWS IT ON KRATKA-STURGEON CASE (‘IT’S THE PLANET’S FAULT’ LARRY-THE-K BLEATS) … CRANE SOURCE SAYS JOB LOSS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME … THE PLANET TAKES A FURTHER LOOK AT REGISTER’S RACE … plus … CHAMBER BOSS SENDS OUT AN ODD POLITICAL MEMO

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 23, 2012) — He put his trust in the officials. They let him down. Thus, Bill Sturgeon is twice betrayed. THE PLANET, which as you know has been closely following the Larry Kratka-Bill Sturgeon Disappearing Act, has heard from our good friend […]

August 22, 2012 30 Comments

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KRATKA ON HOT SEAT TONIGHT AT PITTSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING … LENOX CONTINUES TO SPIT UP ON THE BED; THIS TIME, ALLEGED OPEN MEETING VIOLATIONS ARE THE ISSUE … plus … ‘LENOXOLOGY’ ENDS IN WITH A WHIMPER, NOT A BANG, BUT TOWN IS $100Gs LIGHTER FOR IT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22, 2012) — First items first. Tonight, beginning at 6 p.m., the Pittsfield School Committee meets. One the agenda is an appearance by WTBR mananger Larry Kratka. The meeting will be conducted in city council chambers. Kratka is being hauled in based […]

August 22, 2012 15 Comments

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BORING BROADSHEET AXES GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT, SENDS JOBS TO INDIA … WILL THE REAL PAUL RYAN PLEASE STAND UP … LAUGENOUR VS. PIGNATELLI: SCOTT PICKS UP UAW ENDORSEMENT … KRATKA HAS DATE WITH SCHOOL COMMITTEE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6 P.M.

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 20, 2012) — Here’s a headline you will never see in the Boring Broadsheet: EAGLE FARMS OUT GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT JOBS TO INDIA, NIXES 8 LOCAL JOBS This is the news out of the Boring Broadsheet, according to a source. As of sometime in September, […]

August 21, 2012 19 Comments

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LEGENDS OF THE LIGHTHOUSE REUNION CONCERT SEPT. 9 AT BOYS CLUB; TICKETS ON SALE NOW … AUG. 20 — AN EVOCATIVE DAY … POETRY MONDAY WELCOMES ROBERT BROWNING

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 20, 1967) — We want to bring your attention to a special event that will take place on Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club. The Legends of the Lighthouse reunion concert will play the club from noon to […]

August 20, 2012 15 Comments

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R.I.P. JOHNNY PESKY (1919-2012) … MAYOR CHIDES BB ON SPECTRUM MISQUOTE, CORRECTS THE RECORD IN A PLANET EXCLUSIVE! … plus … WE HEAR FROM SCOTT PIGNATELLI, CANDIDATE FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS AS BATTLED LINES OF CAMPAIGN ARE DRAWN

By DAN VALENTI Planet Valenti News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 17, 2012) — Player, coach, manager, broadcaster, special instructor, ticket salesman, and goodwill ambassador. What did he not do? He has a piece of Fenway Park named after him. He had the perfect name for a leadoff batter. They don’t make them […]

August 17, 2012 63 Comments

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THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT WAS NUCIFORO THINKING WHEN HE COMMITTED LITERARY THEFT? (RICHIE NEAL AND BILL SHEIN AREN’T WONDERING, THAT’S FOR SURE)

NOTE: By a slight electronic routing error, today’s post, for Thursday, Aug. 16, was coded as an “Aug. 13” story. We have reposted in this way. We apologize for any confusion. Article THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT […]

August 16, 2012 51 Comments

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A QUICK NOTE ON SPECTRUM-PITTSFIELD DEAL GETS US GOING, then … SOME ‘BUDGET HAWK’: PAUL RYAN LEAVES DEFENSE SPENDING UNCUT … RYAN ISN’T A ‘BUDGET HAWK;’ HE’S JUST ANOTHER PLAIN, OLD HAWK WHO WILL PROTECT THE FAT & SACRED COW … plus … A CLOSE LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES of AMNESIA’s OBSCENE PENTAGON BUDGET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 15, 2012) — THE PLANET begins with this note on today’s post: Yes, we shall be exploring the various facets of the Spectrum-Pittsfield agreement in detail. We shall ask questions that, we alone (most likely) will dare to ask. Meanwhile, if you […]

August 15, 2012 42 Comments

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MORE INFO ON CITY-SPECTRUM SECRECY … LETTERS TO THE EDITOR … plus … PLANET LOOKS AT THE HOTTEST RACE SET FOR SEPT. 6: THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR MIDDLE COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS … PLANET ISSUES ENDORSEMENT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 14, 2012) — Last week, THE PLANET brought readers up to date on the latest in the secret (and secretive) business between Spectrum Health Systems or Worcester and the city of Pittsfield. Stories like this can sometimes serve to pry other information […]

August 14, 2012 90 Comments

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THREE ITEMS TO PONDER: IS ADDICTION A ‘DISEASE?’ (ANSWER, NO) … DO STATE LAWMAKERS CARE ABOUT TAXPAYERS (ANSWER, NO) … and … WHAT WAS NUCIFORO THINKING WHEN HE COMMITTED LITERARY THEFT? (RICHIE NEAL AND BILL SHEIN AREN’T WONDERING, THAT’S FOR SURE)

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 16, 2012) — Today, THE PLANET presents three local items for your digestion. The Pepto Abyssmal is on the house. First, though, let me say that we had an extensive interview yesterday on the Spectrum situation with Mayor Dan Bianchi. On Friday, […]

August 13, 2012 12 Comments

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PLANET EXPLORES ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST PROPHETIC SPEECHES BY ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, EISENHOWER’s FAREWELL TALK TO THE NATION 1/17/61, WHEN HE COINED THE PHRASE ‘MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX’ … LEARN WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY & WHY THIS MATTER TO YOU

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, AUG. 13, 2012) — When did the U. S. Empire begin its decline? First, about that word “Empire.” Writer Gore Vidal began to use the phrase in the 1960s and employed it relentlessly for the rest of his life. “Empire” had formerly referred […]

August 12, 2012 41 Comments

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