BIANCHI’s TREATMENT OF MEDFORD ENTREPRENEUR & PUBLISHER DOREEN WADE RAISES MANY QUESTIONS … WADE SAYS MAYOR ACTED IN A “RACIST” MANNER … WADE HAS MADE HERSELF AVAILABLE AND OPEN; BIANCHI DUCKS PLANET’s QUESTIONS

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BIANCHI’s TREATMENT OF MEDFORD ENTREPRENEUR & PUBLISHER DOREEN WADE RAISES MANY QUESTIONS … WADE SAYS MAYOR ACTED IN A “RACIST” MANNER … WADE HAS MADE HERSELF AVAILABLE AND OPEN; BIANCHI DUCKS PLANET’s QUESTIONS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013) — Is Pittsfield Mayor Dan Bianchi a racist? That is the claim being made by a Medford businesswoman after two contentious meetings in April with the Pittsfield mayor. A preposterous assertion, isn’t it? Or is it? THE PLANET has known Bianchi, […]

May 31, 2013 119 Comments

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PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! PRIVATE BOATING CLUB FORCES BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY SAILING TO CLOSE … CASE RAISES MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT CITY PROCEDURES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013) — When Pittsfield contractor Scott Graves bought the dilapidated YMCA boat house on Pontoosuc Lake for a mere $10,000, it seemed not even Pittsfield could screw it up. The building, long in need of refreshment, would be brought back as […]

May 30, 2013 22 Comments

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TWO TICKING PACKAGES … FIRST STORY INVOLVING CHARGES OF RACISM COULD DOOM MAYOR’S CHANCES FOR RE-ELECTION … HIS ACCUSER SPEAKS; THE MAYOR, MEANWHILE, REMAINS MUM … PLANET AWAITS COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR IN DEFENSE OF DEVASTATING CHARGES BY MEDFORD BUSINESSWOMAN … plus … EYESORE ART SET TO INVADE CITY or ANOTHER FINE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013) — THE PLANET is tracking several important stories, one that could have major impact on Mayor Dan Bianchi‘s re-election bid and another that illustrates, once again, how the city of Pittsfield continues to sleep at the wheel when it comes […]

May 29, 2013 47 Comments

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MEMORIAL DAY: THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS FORGETTING — A LETTER FROM STATE REP. PIGNATELLI … YON ADDS TO HER COMMENTS ON ‘SMARTGATE’; SCHOOL COMMITTEE IN AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR ACTION … plus … ‘GET OUT’ DAY JUNE 8 AT SPRINGSIDE HOUSE TO INCLUDE HISTORIC EXHIBIT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013) — THE PLANET hopes you had a nice Memorial Day weekend. We did, thanks, spent with friends in New York. We even checked out a 1970 VW bug, which may at sone point soon become the PLANETMOBILE. We also have […]

May 28, 2013 29 Comments

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SMARTGATE CONCLUSION: SIX OF SEVEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS RESPOND, ALL BUT MUM BIANCHI … SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IGNORES ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ … CHAIRMAN BARBALUNGA VOWS ACTION … ELIAS, OTHERS ADMIT SCHOOLS DO NOT ENFORCE ‘SMART’ POLICY … HALF OF PPS CLASSROOMS DUMBED DOWN BY ‘SMART’ STUDENTS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY—MONDAY, MAY 24-27, 2013) — First, before THE PLANET get to the conclusion of our story on “Smartgate” in the Pittsfield Public School system, we give you this update on those who took out nomination papers. New names from last week are highlights in […]

May 23, 2013 27 Comments

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PHONY PSYCHICS ARE MEDIUMS BECAUSE THEY ARE NEITHER RARE NOR WELL DONE … A LOOK AT ONE OF PITTSFIELD’S GROWTH INDUSTRIES … including … HOW YOU, TOO, CAN KNOW ALL AND SEE ALL!!

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013) — First off, let us say that THE PLANET heard from school committee chairman Alf Barbalunga on “Smartgate,” and the chairman’s response will, as it did us, prove a glimmer of hope that our quest to have the problem of […]

May 23, 2013 18 Comments

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SO FAR, FOUR OUT OF 11 SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE COMMENTED ON “SMART” GATE, INCLUDING A BOMBSHELL REVELATION BY A SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER … BLOCKING TECHNOLOGY IS AN ANSWER TO KIDS’ MISUSE & ABUSE OF “SMART” DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM; SO IS CONFISCATION … plus … WILL PITTSFIELD BE GETTING ANOTHER HILL 78? THE EPA SAYS IT ‘COULD HAPPEN’

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013) — Thus far, four from the following list of 11 school department officials have responded to THE PLANET‘s request for a statement on the disruptive use of personal “smart” technology by students in the Pittsfield Public School System: Alf Barbalunga, […]

May 22, 2013 16 Comments

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PLANET LOOKS TO PUT PITTSFIELD SCHOOL DEPARTMENT ON THE RECORD ON SMART-DEVICE USE & MISUSE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013) — Yesterday, THE PLANET printed a Letter to the Editor from Varsity Mom, who confirmed what we’ve been hearing about the misuse of smart technology in Pittsfield’s high schools and middle schools. In more than a few classrooms, teachers who […]

May 21, 2013 24 Comments

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DISRUPTIVE CELL PHONES, ‘SMART’ TECHNOLOGY IN CLASSROOMS SPELL DOOM FOR DUMMIES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, MAY 20, 2013) — Before we begin with today’s topic, let THE PLANET be the first to tell you that Christine Yon has taken out nomination papers to run for re-election in Ward 1. THE PLANET wishes Yon every good luck in her quest. […]

May 19, 2013 29 Comments

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CAFUA FATE TO BE DECIDED ON MAY 28; PLANET’s PREDICTIONS DARE TO CALL THE OUTCOME … MEDICAL MARIJUANA: WHAT HIGH PITTSFIELD SILLINESS … plus … A TOUGH WEEK FOR THE PRESIDENT

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 17-19, 2013) — At its final meeting of this month, our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council will in all likelihood decide the fate of the application by Cafua development company to purchase the Plunkett School site in Pittsfield, tear […]

May 17, 2013 40 Comments

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EARLY ACTION IN CAMPAIGN ’13 DRIPS WITH TORPOR, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME TEA LEAVES TO BE READ … 7 OF 11 CITY COUNCILORS TAKE OUT PAPERS EARLY, INCLUDING CLAIRMONT AND LOTHROP … MARK MILLER WILL RUN AT-LARGE … NICHOLS LOOKS TO GET BACK ON COUNCIL, THIS TIME IN 6 … plus … WANTED: A REVOLUTION!

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, , 2013) — Since nominations papers for municipal offices in Pittsfield’s upcoming elections were made available, there has been what THE PLANET might call, in an oxymoronic way, languorous action. Here is the list of people who have taken out nomination […]

May 15, 2013 53 Comments

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THE TALE OF TWO AGENDAS: PUBLIC MUST CALL ON SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO EXPLAIN PRESENCE OF SECRET, HIDDEN AGENDAS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013) — The Pittsfield School Committee‘s dubious practice of issuing two separate agendas for its meetings — one for the public and a separate, secret one with administration recommendations meant for committee members only — raises many questions and at minimum […]

May 12, 2013 27 Comments

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PLANET FIRST TO REVIEW A WORLD PREMIERE: ‘JEWISH JESTER’ FALLS FLATTER THAN A NEBRASKAN PANCAKE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI Arts and Entertainment “The Jewish Jester: A Fable with Music” — A Play Review (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013) — To laugh has been likened to speaking in tongues. One does it in spite of oneself, if the laughter be true. The noise of the activity bears a […]

May 10, 2013 13 Comments

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PITTSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE IS ON THE TAKE … PLANET PRESENTS DISTURBING EVIDENCE, FOUND IN DUAL AGENDAS: THE PUBLIC AGENDA AND THE SECRET GOB AGENDA … EACH MEETING’S ACTIONS ARE COOKED IN ADVANCE … DONE DEALS THWART DEMOCRACY AND KEEP PITTSFIELD SCHOOLS ON THE ROPES

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ” …for each school committee, there are two agendas, not one. The first agenda is the one the public and press see. … The public never gets a view of the second, secret GOB agenda.” (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013) — Keep this in mind as the […]

May 10, 2013 32 Comments

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BUDGETS AND CUTS: SPENDING PLANS REVEAL MUCH, AS IN PITTSFIELD SCHOOL DEPARTMENT’S CONTINUED FISCAL DECEPTION … IT’s ‘FOR THE CHILDREN,” NOSEWORTHY ACTUALLY HAS THE GALL TO SAY … CIVIC BUDGETS DO NOT HAVE TO KEEP RISING — TWO CASES IN POINT FROM GB & STOCKBRIDGE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013) — Budgets are called “living documents” not because they add oxygen to the air and breathe in carbon dioxide but because they represent “guesstimates” of fiscal things to come. They represent educated guesses subject to change based on how the […]

May 8, 2013 16 Comments

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!!UPDATED!! — SCANNING THE HEADLINES: ARTSWALK ANNIVERSARY MUCH ADO ABOUT SELF PROMOTION … COUNCILORS WHIFF ON DONUT VOTE BUT GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO PLUG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE … BCC TO GET $23MM FACELIFT FOR ITS TWO MOST IMPORTANT BUILDINGS … HERE WE GO AGAIN: VISITOR’S CENTER RELOCATING … CHARTER COMMISSION CAVES IN TO MAYOR … NEW STEARNS PRINCIPAL NEEDS TO CHOOSE WORDS MORE CAREFULLY … plus … HUMAN SACRIFICE AT PHS SCHOOL GYM?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 TO MAY 7, 2013, 5/8/13 — There are a bunch of items yesterday, and we shall leave them up for further comments. The discussion among Mike Ward, Dave, and Scott on the Dunkin Donuts drive-through issue produced a crackling good exchange. Each man raised solid […]

May 7, 2013 64 Comments

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