SCHOOL DEPARTMENT “CHOO-CHOOS” AROUND COUNCIL FINACE SUBCOMMITTEE $$ QUESTIONS … TAXPAYERS GET HOSED WITH BEHNKE CONTROLLING THE SPIGOT … TECHNOLOGICAL DIVIDE POINTS OUT ACCOUNTABILITY GAP … AUTO BODY, METAL FAB PROGRAMS KEPT … BENSON LEAVING PHS … plus … “HUMAN SERVICES,” BUT AT WHAT COST?

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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT “CHOO-CHOOS” AROUND COUNCIL FINACE SUBCOMMITTEE $$ QUESTIONS … TAXPAYERS GET HOSED WITH BEHNKE CONTROLLING THE SPIGOT … TECHNOLOGICAL DIVIDE POINTS OUT ACCOUNTABILITY GAP … AUTO BODY, METAL FAB PROGRAMS KEPT … BENSON LEAVING PHS … plus … “HUMAN SERVICES,” BUT AT WHAT COST?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, IDES OF MARCH, 2013) — The Wednesday night Chowder Roast and Clam Fest of the Pittsfield School Department (PSD) Bund — attended by the Pittsfield school committee and, by special invitation of interim McSuper Dr. Gordon Noseworthy after having declined one of theirs, […]

March 15, 2013 50 Comments

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WHERE THERE’s SMOKE, THERE’s A FIRE OF CONTROVERSY, BUT IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY SUPPORTS SMOKE-FREE PUBLIC SPACE … SMOKE-FREE CAMPUSES ON A HUGE UPTICK … BCC’s ANTI-SMOKING POLICY THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT CALL

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013) — Our praise of the anti-smoking initiative at BCC met with much scrutiny, judging by the numbers and the comments. On campus today, we found unanimous support for the ban, and although our “walking survey” can by no means be […]

March 13, 2013 40 Comments

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ONE MILLION BUCKS ON THE TABLE AS COUNCIL FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, AND PPS ADMINISTRATION PLAY HIGH-STAKES GAMES OF TEXAS FOLD-‘EM … CAN’T MISS MEETING 6 P.M. WEDNESDAY AT PHS … BCC GOING SMOKELESS ON AUG. 1, THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT CALL … NEW McSUPERINTENDENT TO PULL DOWN ‘VICINITY’ OF $150K+ … NOT A BAD VICINITY

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013) — If it’s a choice between the anti-bullying propaganda hour sponsored by the PPS and Berkshire County DA David Capeless‘ office and the school committee meeting, both coming up this Wednesday, the latter must win out. Beginning at 6 p.m. […]

March 12, 2013 33 Comments

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PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! CALIFORNIA PLANNER REJECTS BIANCHI OFFER FOR OCD POSITION; JOB SEARCH STILL ON … OCD NEEDS NEW MISSION, RE-VISION … UPDATES ON FBI’s PROBE INTO LEE POLICE, HALPIN’S CLOSING … plus … PPS ANTI-BULLYING STANCE A CHARADE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013) — Fresh off a visit to the Carrier Dome in Syracuse to see our Orangemen take care of DePaul, it’s amazing to be in a building as cacophonous as the Dome, otherwise known as The Loud House. The student sections […]

March 11, 2013 27 Comments

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!!PLANET EXCLUSIVE, PT 2!! COUNCILOR’S ANALYSIS SHOWS $1 MILLION SURPLUS IS SCHOOL DEPARTMENT’s FY13 BUDGET … NO WONDER WHY NOSEWORTHY & BEHNKE DIDN’T WANT A ‘ONE-STOP-SHOPPING,’ COMPARATIVE BUDGET REVIEW … MARCH 13 SCHOOL COMMITTEE SHOULD BE A HUM DINGER … AT STAKE, A COOL MILLION THAT SHOULD BE COMING BACK TO TAXPAYERS!

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013) — As an attachment to his invitation to the Pittsfield School Department to join a late-February budget review by the city council’s finance subcommittee of the FY13 spending plan, subcommittee member Barry Clairmont sent seven “questions” to the school department […]

March 8, 2013 40 Comments

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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REJECTS COUNCIL FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE’s INVITATION FOR ONE, JOIN BUDGET REVIEW … SCHOOLs’ SLAP-IN-THE-FACE RESPONSE DRIPS WITH DIVISIVENESS, ARROGANCE … EXCHANGE BETWEEN COUNCIL, SCHOOLS REVEALS OFFICIALS ONLY INTERESTED IN POLITICS, POWER PLAYS, WE-THE-PEOPLE BE DAMNED

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary First of a two-part series (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013) — In January, councilor-at-large Barry Clairmont sent and invitation to the Pittsfield School Department to attend the Feb. 27 meeting of the city council’s finance subcommittee (Jonathan Lothrop, chair; Melissa Mazzeo, Kevin Morandi, and Clairmont). […]

March 6, 2013 67 Comments

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A DAFFODIL SPEAR PUNCTURES THE DIRT: O, SPRING, O NEW LIFE! … PITTSFIELD SCHOOL DEPARTMENT GETS ‘CAUGHT IN THE ACT’; PLANET’S EXCLUSIVE TWO-PART SERIES BEGINS TOMORROW!! … CITY’s WEBSITE LIKE SOMETHING FROM 1984 or WHAT’s AN OCD DIRECTOR FOR? … plus …BIG BROTHER CONTINUES RELENTLESS PUSH ON PERSONAL FREEDOM

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013) — This is the time of year when we begin thinking spring. THE PLANET saw the first daffodil spear — several of them, actually, this morning. They had punctured their way through the soil after a long winter’s rest, ready […]

March 6, 2013 25 Comments

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PLANET TALKS TO DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS: THEY BACK POLICE FOOT PATROLS, BLAST DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD INC., BIANCHI … PLANET INTERVIEW, FROM BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE … plus … FEMALE KICKER FALLS FLAT IN NFL TRYOUT or SOMETIMES, BIOLOGY IS DESTINY

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013) — Do you think the administration has crime under control? It wants you to think that way, of course, and so does the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, home of the $35 powdered-egg breakfast … but, interestingly, not everyone else who depends […]

March 5, 2013 43 Comments

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HE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM WINDOW: NAKED MAN’s ACT OF ‘GROSS LEWDNESS’ A SICKENING (AND PREVENTABLE) ‘ADVERT’ FOR DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD … THE SOLUTION? POLICE FOOT PATROLS … WITHOUT POUNDING THE BEAT, DOWNTOWN WILL BE SEEN AS A DANGER ZONE … plus … GOOD NEWS ABOUT SEQUESTERING: FLYOVERS TO STOP

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013) — Perhaps at the next Berkshire Chamber of Commerce “Good News” breakfast, C of C Grand Cheese Mike Supranowicz can share the following story with all the business types. It might not help them get down their $35 powdered-egg breakfasts, […]

March 4, 2013 49 Comments

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TFB OFF THE MARK WITH “PAY AS YOU GO” TAX BILL … 3RD BERKSHIRE REP RESPONDS QUICKLY TO PLANET’S REQUEST FOR INFO, THOUGH SHE DODGES KEY QUESTIONS … NEW TAX, RIGHT NOW A PILOT PROGRAM, THREATENS TO BITE BERKSHIRE MOTORISTS IN THE WALLET

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013) — Yeah, we know. March: In like a lion, out like a lamb, except in our case today, “In with the lying, out with the Trash.” Our name is PLANET. We cover politics. THE PLANET thanks Joe Blow for bringing Andy […]

March 1, 2013 101 Comments

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GUESS WHAT, PITTSFIELD: 2013 IS AN ELECTION YEAR — TIME, PEOPLE, TO TAKE BACK OWNERSHIP OF YOUR GOVERNMENT … KINNAS, KATH-eters, and KANGAROO KORTS … plus … THEY’RE EATING OUR LUNCH, or, WHY THIS ELECTION ISN’t a JOKE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 2013) — On this final day of February, we hearken to the upcoming spring, sensing a new wind moving in from the south, mounted with firm, unyielding tread. This just may be the wind of change the city of Pittsfield has […]

February 28, 2013 31 Comments

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QUICK HITS & HOT LICKS: ONE SUPER IS ENOUGH … BART, or, GOOD GUYS WIN, FOR ONCE … PITTS SHOULD BID FOR 2024 OLYMPICS … STYROFOAM LATHER … KINNAS ‘PAYBACK’ CONTINUES, AS HE GETS KATHeter-ized … DEMS CAUCUS, METOER MISSES EARTH

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY FEB. 27, 2013) — Time to empty out the notebook and address some issues point blank in this edition of THE PLANET‘s Quick Hits and Hot Licks. And yes: the current issue of Berkshire Magazine has an interview with THE PLANET. You’ll want to […]

February 27, 2013 38 Comments

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MAZZEO RESPONDED EARLY IN ’12 TO HER PROMISE RE: CONSENT AGREEMENT, BUT THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO FOLLOWUP … STILL, AT THAT, SHE DID DO SOMETHING

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, FEB. 26, 2013) — The answer to yesterday’s quiz on whether councilor-at-large Melissa Mazzeo kept her 2011 campaign promise about pushing for a reopening of the GE Consent Agreement is: ( x ) All of the above. To refresh your memory, on Feb. 17, […]

February 26, 2013 33 Comments

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THE PLANET PUTS THE QUESTION TO MELISSA MAZZEO: DID SHE LIVE UP TO HER 2011 CAMPAIGN PROMISE REGARDING A REOPENiNG OF THE GE-PITTSFIELD CONSENT AGREEMENT? … plus … AND ANOTHER THING WE DONT GET ABOUT NASCAR

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, FEB. 25, 2013) — In the 2011 municipal campaign, THE PLANET ran a series of articles connected to the GE Consent Agreement, hammered out during a one-sided wrestling match between two buildings of GE lawyers — some of the highest priced legal talent […]

February 25, 2013 18 Comments

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WELFARE VACATIONS, COURTESY OF TAXPAYERS!! … WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE FORMER HIBBARD SCHOOL? PLANET HAS THE EXCLUSIVE … plus … CHARTER COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND PAY FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE … and … MOTOWN IS A DIRE OBJECT LESSON FOR PITTSFIELD

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 2013) — Okay, now that THE PLANET has your attention on the massive amount of money — at least $330,750,000 million — taxpayers owe in future pension and OPEB obligations to public employee retirees, we share another way in which Mary […]

February 22, 2013 49 Comments

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TACONIC MOM’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR TOO STRONG FOR BB, BUT PLANET DARES TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY … ‘ZERO-TOLERANCE’ DRUG POLICY A JOKE … TOBACCO, TRANSPORTATION, AND DRESS CODES ALSO ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MEANINGLESS WORDS ON PAPER … $PPS a $90MM JOKE, BUT WHO’S LAUGHING?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 2013) — Do you think the situation in the Pittsfield Public Schools is what they lead you to believe? For example, here’s the PPS official drug policy: G. POLICY ON DRUGS For the purposes of this handbook, the term drug includes […]

February 20, 2013 40 Comments

Planet Valenti

WHERE THERE’s SMOKE, THERE’s A FIRE OF CONTROVERSY, BUT IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY SUPPORTS SMOKE-FREE PUBLIC SPACE … SMOKE-FREE CAMPUSES ON A HUGE UPTICK … BCC’s ANTI-SMOKING POLICY THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT CALL

PLANET EXCLUSIVE!! CALIFORNIA PLANNER REJECTS BIANCHI OFFER FOR OCD POSITION; JOB SEARCH STILL ON … OCD NEEDS NEW MISSION, RE-VISION … UPDATES ON FBI’s PROBE INTO LEE POLICE, HALPIN’S CLOSING … plus … PPS ANTI-BULLYING STANCE A CHARADE

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT REJECTS COUNCIL FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE’s INVITATION FOR ONE, JOIN BUDGET REVIEW … SCHOOLs’ SLAP-IN-THE-FACE RESPONSE DRIPS WITH DIVISIVENESS, ARROGANCE … EXCHANGE BETWEEN COUNCIL, SCHOOLS REVEALS OFFICIALS ONLY INTERESTED IN POLITICS, POWER PLAYS, WE-THE-PEOPLE BE DAMNED

PLANET TALKS TO DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS: THEY BACK POLICE FOOT PATROLS, BLAST DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD INC., BIANCHI … PLANET INTERVIEW, FROM BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE … plus … FEMALE KICKER FALLS FLAT IN NFL TRYOUT or SOMETIMES, BIOLOGY IS DESTINY

TFB OFF THE MARK WITH “PAY AS YOU GO” TAX BILL … 3RD BERKSHIRE REP RESPONDS QUICKLY TO PLANET’S REQUEST FOR INFO, THOUGH SHE DODGES KEY QUESTIONS … NEW TAX, RIGHT NOW A PILOT PROGRAM, THREATENS TO BITE BERKSHIRE MOTORISTS IN THE WALLET

GUESS WHAT, PITTSFIELD: 2013 IS AN ELECTION YEAR — TIME, PEOPLE, TO TAKE BACK OWNERSHIP OF YOUR GOVERNMENT … KINNAS, KATH-eters, and KANGAROO KORTS … plus … THEY’RE EATING OUR LUNCH, or, WHY THIS ELECTION ISN’t a JOKE

QUICK HITS & HOT LICKS: ONE SUPER IS ENOUGH … BART, or, GOOD GUYS WIN, FOR ONCE … PITTS SHOULD BID FOR 2024 OLYMPICS … STYROFOAM LATHER … KINNAS ‘PAYBACK’ CONTINUES, AS HE GETS KATHeter-ized … DEMS CAUCUS, METOER MISSES EARTH

MAZZEO RESPONDED EARLY IN ’12 TO HER PROMISE RE: CONSENT AGREEMENT, BUT THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO FOLLOWUP … STILL, AT THAT, SHE DID DO SOMETHING

THE PLANET PUTS THE QUESTION TO MELISSA MAZZEO: DID SHE LIVE UP TO HER 2011 CAMPAIGN PROMISE REGARDING A REOPENiNG OF THE GE-PITTSFIELD CONSENT AGREEMENT? … plus … AND ANOTHER THING WE DONT GET ABOUT NASCAR

WELFARE VACATIONS, COURTESY OF TAXPAYERS!! … WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE FORMER HIBBARD SCHOOL? PLANET HAS THE EXCLUSIVE … plus … CHARTER COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND PAY FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE … and … MOTOWN IS A DIRE OBJECT LESSON FOR PITTSFIELD

TACONIC MOM’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR TOO STRONG FOR BB, BUT PLANET DARES TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY … ‘ZERO-TOLERANCE’ DRUG POLICY A JOKE … TOBACCO, TRANSPORTATION, AND DRESS CODES ALSO ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MEANINGLESS WORDS ON PAPER … $PPS a $90MM JOKE, BUT WHO’S LAUGHING?

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