Planet Valenti

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, FEB. 27-MARCH 1, 2015) — As we inch ever closer to spring, we approach a time when the snows of yesterday shall be forgotten. Winter, which Mayor Daniel Bumstead thinks happens once every 50 years in The Berkshires, shall be consigned to […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2015) — We had intended for you to join us tonight as we presented another live, in-real-time, fearless edition of PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION. PV-TV normally commences at 7 p.m. and runs the hour, broadcast from the studios of PCTV on Time Warner […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015) — For those interested in such things, the large, angry bull mistaken by city Highway Department director Kevin Swail (rhymes with “fail”) for The Big Red Magic Pothole Machine won an honorary Oscar the other night in the new category: […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, FEB. 24, 2015) — With the impending lunar surface that comprises the mileage of Pittsfield roads, side streets, and byways about to get more pothole ravaged with March looming, THE PLANET has heard you. Unlike the buffoons running city government, THE PLANET cares about […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, FEB. 23, 2015) — There has been speculation culminating in a warning about the recent uproar over poor performance by Pittsfield’s Public Services Department led by commissioner Bruce “Colon” Collingwood and Highway Division head Kevin Swail (rhymes with “fail.”). The line of thinking warns citizens not […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ——– 000 ——– THE PLANET will let this column suffice for THE WEEKEND EDITION. The information about Snowgate will be allowed to simmer in advance of the city council meeting, where and when, if our Right Honorable Good Friends do their job, citizens and taxpayers will get […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2015) — The winter of 2015 didn’t roll in until about mid-January. Prior to then, The Berkshires — particularly Pittsfield, the county seat — received a handful of nuisance snowfalls with temperatures seasonal or warmer. That all changed when the Polar […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 2015) — First, THE PLANET has some interesting letters to share from the mailbag. These were sent to us via e-mail, not posted, but for sharing, which we do in our periodic “Letters to the Editor” feature. ——– 000 ——– Hold […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, FEB 16, 2015) — Hey, guess what. THE PLANET has President’s Day reserved in celebration, holiday style. Whenever we fire up a new column blank, we are sorely tempted to peel off ribbons of commentary of a multitude of issues. For example, why […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, FEB. 13-15, 2015) — Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. Fell the love. Feel it, too. Because remember two things, (1) THE PLANET is all about love and (2) you can’t spell “Valentine” without “Valenti.” As we went into the final two minutes of […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2015 — In this update, THE PLANET can tell you that we have heard from all 11 councilors. We shall present their views tomorrow. We can tell you that this council is split on the question of whether or not We The People should […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FEB. 10, 2015) — Good gosh! It snowed yesterday. In February. In Pittsfield. Predictably, Mayor Dumbvil Bebumchi went into full panic mode. He ordered the city vaporized, ending All Life As We Know It. This, alas, included another snow day for The Children. Part of Dumvil’s […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2015) — THE PLANET has sent the following request for comment to each of our Right Honorable Good Friends on the Pittsfield City Council: ——– 000 ——– I want to ask you a simple yes or no question. After you answer […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEEKEND EDITION, FEB. 6-8, 2015) — Given that the low-wattage Pittsfield mayor loves to spend YOUR money, it comes as no surprise that the city has installed “Video Conferencing!” at 100 North St. and now in Room 203 at city hall. How George Jetson! […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 2015) — Another fearless and !live! edition of PLANET VALENTI TELEVISION comes your way tonight. The fun begins at 7 p.m. and goes for the hour. PV-TV can be seen on Channel 16 of the Time Warner dial. We are the […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary Third of Three Parts (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 2015) — Soon, unless there is a change in plans, there will be an announcement of a petition drive to put a direct vote on the Taconic High School construction project — up or down — on […]