BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 7, 2025) — From the outset of the PHS/PSD scandal–and it is that, make no mistake about it–THE PLANET called it: “The fix is in.” We’ve been around long enough to know. This one’s a doozy … and a don’tzy, big enough […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MAY 5, 2025) — Groucho, the Secret Word for today is “synthetic.” THE PLANET will explain why to conclude today’s column. Meanwhile … Back at the turn of the millennium, native son Larry Bossidy, at the end of a long career hitting it […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 2-4, 2025) — One of the best positives coming out of the recent school department scandal has been the lesson in civics. When citizens in sufficient number express outrage over corruption, The Suits get the message. Of course, what they […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2025) — THE PLANET is heartened by the actions of parent Ciara Batory, who refused to accept the Bitchfield slocho department’s refusal of her request for information. We should also mention in this respect Angel Breault, who made public on social […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENT (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY APRIL 28, 2025) — Seems that helzapoppin’ with respect to the PHS/school department/school committee scandal. Drugs, sex, and rock’n roll? Used to be confined to the rock-star life. Now, courtesy of Bitchfield school administrators, it’s the way of school corridors. A reasonable question: […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 25-7, 2025) — The city council’s hand-wringing over the slooch committee’s refusal to release the report on the investigation into the multiple scandals plaguing Pittsfield High School can be taken with a crumb of Saltines. Moldy Saltines. Don’t get fooled […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY APRIL 23, 2025) — When it comes to the school department/PHS scandal, the Pitiful pols of Pissfield, aka the bereft blockheads of Bitchfield, want it both ways. They want to keep the report hidden, and they want the public to stop pressuring them […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY APRIL 21, 2025) — Today, THE PLANET dedicates our column to our friend, colleague, collaborator, and compatriot, Dave Bubriski. How does one sum up the loss of a friend in a way that conveys the depth of feeling and strikes the right tone, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 18-20, 2025) — In Bitchfield, where down is up and over is under, the sinking ship is fleeing the rats. Typically, it’s the other way around, but the city breeds mighty dumb political rats. Seems that The Suits have given […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY APRIL 15, 2025) — The coverup often overshadows the actual malfeasance. Bitchfield’s entire political cadre is about to learn that painful lesson, one that history teaches with eagerness, force, and certainty. Already the cost has been enormous: The continuing erosion of public trust […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 11-4, 2025) — Sara “Miss Jane” Hathaway, the overripe failed mayor and old maid Les Miserable, now mucks up We The People’s business as a member of the Bitchfield Ship of Fools known as the school committee … rather, soholc […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY APRIL 7, 2025) — Now that Bitchfield officially stands without a representative city council, school committee, or mayor, the mannequins occupying those offices feel fully free to act unencumbered by Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski. Sure, this has been the case somewhat in […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 4-6, 2025) — THE PLANET looks at the current situation of Bithfield public schools: Level-5 “achievement” 90% of students unable to read or write at grade level Unprecedented levels of scandal Said report on scandalous allegations will be kept hidden […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 31, 2025) — Secrecy. That’s what school committee chair Bill Cameron promises citizens with respect to the findings of the “independent” investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of students at Pittsfield High School. It shouldn’t come as any surprise. THE PLANET called […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 28-30, 2025) — They caved, 4-1. You knew they would. THE PLANET speaks of the city council’s jellyfish ordinance and rules subcommittee (O&R), rejecting mayor Peter Marchetti’s proposed regulation to ban panhandling at five key intersections in the city. The […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 24, 2025) — Mayor Peter Marchetti’s initiative to ban people from standing in the medians of major roadways, the “Median Safety and Pedestrian Regulation in Public Roadways,” sets up an interesting political situation with respect to the mayor himself and the city […]
