BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 27, 2025) — THE PLANET extends congratulations to Emily Escalon-Brizuela from Reid Middle School for winning this year’s Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee. Same to second-placed Averi Olds from Herberg and all the young scholars who competed. Spelling bees were standard […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JAN. 22, 2025) — The recent news that former Berkshire Bank CEO Mike Daly came out of retirement to head Pittsfield Cooperative Bank is good news for the local institution. It’s a move THE PLANET applauds. Daly is a proven entity, taking Berkshire […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, TRUMP INAUGURATION DAY, 2025) — For those who may not have attended mayor Peter Marchetti’s state-of-the-city speech, THE PLANET presents this copy. It has been notarized as “true to form” by the accounting firm that annually examines the city’s books, so you know […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 JAN 17 p.m. — THE PLANET received this from the office of D.A. Tim Shugrue. It illustrates the state of the state in Pittsfield. The action took place on King Street, behind Robbins and Dewey avenues, and John Street. Password is: Laquan. Good work by […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JAN. 13, 2025) — The funniest part of the Pedofield School Committee’s meeting last week had to be when His Rotundness, mayor Peter Marchetti, blew kisses to the students who spoke. That the kids were “coaxed” (not “bribed,” mind you) to do this THE […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 10-2, 2025) — Once again, THE PLANET called it, and we have the witnesses to prove it in any kangaroo court. Prior to Wednesday’s Pittsfield School Committee meeting, we predicted that supt. Jumpin’ Joe Curtis, with his bag lady PHS […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 WEDNESDAY JAN 8 — THE PLANET has received this from the office of Tim Shugrue, Berkshire County District Attorney: On Tuesday, January 7th, Alex Kemp (19 years old: New Jersey) was pronounced deceased at Baystate Medical Center following a ski accident. The incident occurred on […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JAN. 3-5, 2025) — On Dec. 27, 2024, THE PLANET contacted Bill Cameron, chairman of the Pittsfield School Committee with questions pertaining to the hiring of the Springfield law firm of Bulkley Richardson Gelinas to conduct an “independent investigation” into the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY DEC. 30, 2024) — After angry citizens packed the previous meeting of the city school committee over the growing, alledged drugs-pedi scandal, the character of “Official” Pedofield has been revealed. The enablers there got wise. The PSC’s “special meeting” is scheduled for tonight […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 27-9, 2024) — (1) “Accountability”: The action of taking responsibility for decisions and accepting the consequences therefrom. (2) “Accountability, lack of”: Failure to do that. Which of these describes “Official” Bitchfield? THE PLANET realizes the rhetorical nature of this question, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 2 DEC. 23, LATER–There is only one man who has the power to get to the bottom of the Bitchfield sludge: ADD 1 DEC. 23— Tonight at 6p.m. the Bitchfield city council will conduct a special meeting in chambers to air (actually, it needs fumigation) community […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MONDAY JAN. 15, 2025) — Lavante Wiggins, Pittsfield High School’s Dancin’ Dean accused by the Feds of bring a major drug dealer, was placed on administrative leave “at least twice” since his hiring in 2021, a former high-ranking PSD administrator, who has direct knowledge, […]
BY DAN VALENTI (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 13-5, 2024) — The great city of Two-Pete Bitchfield has not one but two–yes, two (like Doublemint gum)–types of DEI policy. THE PLANET knew this going back to the spring. City side has Didn’t Earn It. This is for persons hired simply because of skin […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 6-8, 2024) — At a recent duck-and goose soiree, someone asked THE PLANET why we weren’t covering Bitchfield politics as much these days. We put down our Macallan No. 6 single malt and pondered. It was a good question. Macallan […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 4, 2024) — THE PLANET would have done it, too. If our son had been convicted of gun and tax crimes, and we could prevent years of prison with a mere signature, we’d sign in less than two seconds. Loving fathers do […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 2, 2024) — The opportunity for pure joy doesn’t come often these days–outside of the Fortress, that is. Black Friday enthusiasm has disappeared, the pussyhats have exchanged “woke” for a funereal wake, and Peter Arlos isn’t going to be taking his seat […]
