BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JUNE 14 FLAG DAY, 2016) — Unscripted, Linda Tyer is about as interesting to listen to as a hyena with its foot caught in a steel trap. Scripted, she is about as pleasant as a hyena with its foot not caught in a steel […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016) — This is Pittsfield. Instead of developing a site with a proven business that will pay taxes where none are not being paid, let’s oppose it. This is Pittsfield. Instead of allowing a company to build on a site to provide […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JUNE 10-12, 2016) — Two sundry (and sun dried) items have sauntered onto THE PLANET this fine weekend dawn. Consider them, if you will. Home is Where the Hurt Is — On May 13, Jason “Jake” JIV McCandless ($157,000 a year […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ——– 000 ——– ED. NOTE: TONIGHT ON PLANET VALENTI TELEVISON, guest host Terry Kinnas dishes the latest on the city budget and then is joined by State Senate candidate Chris Canning. Live, 7-8 p.m. Channel 16. ——– 000 ——– (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY JUNE 9, 2016) — Have […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JUNE 8, 2016) — Doctor Charles Trzcinka, professor of finance at the Kelly School of Business at the University of Indiana, has an impeccable track record in his field, economics. He is a frequently quoted and sought after economist. He also grew up […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, P&M WEDDING DAY + 72 YEARS) — In the budget proposal submitted by Mayor Linda Tyer to THE PLANET‘s Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council, one thing is clear. Tyer looks to raise taxes on homeowners and businesses. Just how much? That’s […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, D-DAY+72, 2016) — THE PLANET began our career living “the life of the mind” in 1975. Over those 41 years in journalism, writing, broadcasting, and teaching, we have enjoyed exactly our share of success (we can’t say “more than our share” because we […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, JUNE 3-5, 2016) — The Lovely Linda didn’t take long to out-bianchi Bianchi. In her budget proposal to our Right Honorable Good Friends on the city council, Mayor Linda Tyer called for $6 million in new spending, wants to raise your […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2016) — Have you ever entered a contest knowing you would win? For example, you are the only contestant in a 5K road race for those over 80. You have to finish first. Or for a more familiar example, how about playing […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2016) — Soon Pittsfield mayor Linda Tyer will unveil her first municipal budget, heartburn and all. The FY17 budget will determine far better than any other indicator or antacid the direction of her leadership in and from the Corner Office. Early […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016) — There will be pirates and princesses, walking tacos and other shoddy promotions. There will be fireworks and firewalls in the form of over-netting, tin heroes, and inedible hot dogs. There will be plenty of distraction for the Colleens and […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 30, 2016) — Nothing long or ponderous today, just a remembrance of all veterans, especially those who died in service to the country. THE PLANET offers our respects and honors for their sacrifices, for which we shall ever be grateful. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, MAY 27-29, 2016) — THE PLANET begins today with two letters to the editor. The first nicely sums up the cost of the city council’s foolish vote to approve (7-2) five more years of tax breaks for The Beacon Cinema. The […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016) — Not long ago, THE PLANET spurred quite a discussion after our column of the days and plays of yesteryear (“The Battle for Pittsfield Was Lost on Its Empty Playing Fields,” May 10). The column had followed a breakfast with the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016) — THE PLANET found ourselves in beautiful downtown Pittsfield last night and thus, taking advantage of our misfortune, turned lemons into Jolt! cola. We popped in for the beginning of the city council meeting. We heard a few comments from […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016) — By Pittsfield standards, the gathering yesterday at city hall hit its mark — whatever the mark might have been. Was it intended to be press conference? A community forum? A show of force? A message of solidarity? All of […]
