Planet Valenti

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2012, HOLIDAY WEEKEND EDITION) — THE PLANET has learned the identity of the police officer who crashed his cruiser on Orchard and Second streets, hitting two parked cars and ramming into the back end of a pickup truck. According to our […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012) — Pittsfield is a “gateway” city. Sounds great, doesn’t it? That’s the term the Patrick Administration uses to describe cities long in the tooth. Gateway? Yes, but to Where? In a recent letter to Mayor Dan Bianchi, Community Development Czarina […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012) — Should Third Thursday continue? No, THE PLANET says. The riot on May 17 provided a tipping point, adding now a tangible element of risk to TT that wipes out its benefits that, though considerable, have diminshed in proportion to […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012) — Men  will keep on laughing and children will love their shouts, and there will be joy in Pittsfield even after the first 3rd Thursday strikes out. Admittedly, THE PLANET would not rank this heroic couplet in the manner of “Casey […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 MONDAY MAY 21, 2012 Let’s share a  couple of items left over on the desk: — LENOX BOARD WIMPS OUT ON TOWN MANAGER ASSESSMENT: In the recent assessment of Lenox Town Manager Greg Federspiel, the town board gave him a sister’s kiss. How else can […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012) — First item: apropos to nothing and maybe everything, we are hearing persistent rumors that Doug McNally (after the usual nationwide search) will step in as interim superintendent of the Pittsfield School Department. If this is true, it show you […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012) — THE PLANET will lead today with star billing to the lone school committee member who has to date commented directly to this site on the incendiary discussion that’s been raging at this site this week concerning the Pittsfield School […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY16, 2012) — THE PLANET‘s Poet Laureate has again been at work. On commission, he has crafted a response to our enemies. First, though, we present a point of clarification. THE PLANET has no enemies. We only have friends who remain unconvinced. We […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012) — Before we begin, THE PLANET let’s you know that the school committee meeting minutes have not been posted for April 11, 25, and May 9. Is it too much to ask from a department taking $90 million of a […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, May 14, 2012) — As a way to ground ourselves before stepping into the mystery and madness of local politics, we present a poem by D. H. Lawrence. SEARCH FOR LOVE Those that go searching for love only manifest their own lovelessness, and […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012) — Through sources, we heard that one fireman, one police officer, and three guards at the Berkshire County House of Corrections were involved in an incident at Herman Alexander‘s on Lyman Street in Pittsfield, an establishment that gives insult to […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012) — When Alabama’s Joe Namath signed with the New York Jets for the-then astronomical sum of $400,000, he created a lot of enemies in pro football at a time when most players were making the league minimum ($6,000 a year) or […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012) — It wasn’t bad enough that Mayor Dan Bianchi blundered so badly on 3rd Thursday. No. To rub lava into the wound, Cultural Pittsfield issued a press statement yesterday with no reference to the teapot that had cracked to pieces […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012) — Whither, 3rd Thursday? It was on, then it was off, and now it’s on again. So much for political expediency and standing your ground. When Mayor Dan Bianchi decided to cancel the May 3rd Thursday, here were the possibilities: […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 (5-7-12) MAYOR BIANCHI REVERSES DECISION ON 3rd THURSDAY … IT’S BACK ON! We the People spoke, and Mayor Dan Bianchi listened. Bianchi ate crow and reversed a hugely unpopular decision to cancel 3rd Thursday after a deluge of protest. Here is a statement just released […]

Bt DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012) — How much does your school district keep you, the taxpayer, informed? Do they share all that they need to share for you, We The People, to run your own government? True, the question smacks of idealism, since we know […]