Planet Valenti

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, DEC. 19, 2011) — It’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas. Take a gander at this list, based on research compiled by MASSPIRG. The “average” Massachusetts resident paid $10,062 in federal taxes each year from tax years 2008 through 2010. As […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, DEC. 17, 2011) — In a sense, the timing of the welfare fraud story you will read in just a bit (below) is perfect, given the hefty tax increase Mayor Ruberto proposed and the city council set in stone Wednesday night in Pittsfield. […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, DEC. 15, 2011) — Another day, another injury at the Folly Skatepark on East and Appleton in Pittsfield. Sometime yesterday, a 12-year-old kid without a helmet wiped out on a skateboard while attempting a maneuver well above his skill set. Result: Hyperextended elbow, […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 2011) — With the opening of the new skatepark at the corner of East Street and Appleton Avenue across the street from Pittsfield High School, THE PLANET yesterday asked a series of questions. One we didn’t ask was: How long will […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011) — Pittsfield can learn from the experience of Boston when it comes to not-for-profit organizations. Non-profits reap huge tax benefits denied to the rest of us. What they don’t contribute to the “fair share” has to be made up by […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY We are (Larry) Fine, Thank You.  (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, DEC. 12, 2011) — As some of you noted, THE PLANET did not post this past Friday. In fact, from Thursday noon until Sunday night, we did not so much as light one photon on a computer […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, DEC. 8, 2011) — The two topics that have taken up the majority of THE PLANET‘s interest recently, as well that of the values commentators to this site, have been the Pittsfield School Department and the complex financial and political position Berkshire Health […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7, 2011) — As the not-for-profit Berkshire Health Systems still has not responded to our series of questions,THE PLANET has done a little digging. We asked several key questions: (1) What is the value of the entire BHS holdings? (2) What, specifically, […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, DEC. 6, 2011) — Happy 43rd anniversary, Linda, wherever you may be. Yes, we still remember. PERRY MASON SENDS IN QUESTIONS — A “connected” local attorney sent into some interesting comments on the BHS articles THE PLANET has featured. They came as a […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD 1 MONDAY, DEC. 5, 2011 Fatal Shooting Brings Crime Situation in City of Pittsfield to the Front The city of Pittsfield’s latest shooting, this one fatal and looking now like a murder, brings us around again to the crime wave sweeping through town. A 23-year-old man […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, DEC. 2, 2011) — On the tax filing of Berkshire Health Systems dated Aug. 15, 2011 — Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax with BHS’ employment ID # 04-2442944 — question 4 asks for a description of the organization’s achievement. […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, DEC. 1, 2011) — Welcome to December, final month of the year and the last month in office for the city of Pittsfield’s current lame-duck government. The new government will have to decide on the issue of regulating future meth and suboxone clinics […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 2011) — At the invitation of Pittsfield superintendent of schools, Howard “Jake” Eberwein, THE PLANET went online to review the latest posted annual report. It’s a 76-page document, full of interesting facts, suppositions, and assertions. As a way of continuing to […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary —————————————————- Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, NOV. 29, 2011) — In keeping with the hurry-up nature of the season, which has been rushing you along into Bing Crosby Christmas since the day after Halloween, THE PLANET tells you that the annual lighting of […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, NOV. 28, 2011) — In case you missed it, Pittsfield School Supt. Jake Eberwein sent THE PLANET a lengthy commentary in reaction to our recent series on city schools. Several posters commented on his message, and Eberwein has, to his credit, engaged them […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, “BLACK FRIDAY” NOV. 25, 2011) — No. We shall not buy a single item today. We choose to keep our souls intact, to stay out of the consumeristic tidal pull, and enjoy a day for itself (and not for what we can buy). We […]