DADDY JAKE LANDS ON HIS FEET AT EAGLETON SCHOOL, BUT WAS HE DOUBLE DIPPING AT THE JCR? THE SCANDALS CONTINUE IN THE ONCE-BEATIFUL CITY OF PITTSFIELD … QUICK HITS and SHORT LICKS ADDRESS MANY TOPICS, INCLUDNG BEEPERS AND THE INCOMPETENT BUT UNTOUCHABLE VETERANS AGENT … plus … LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DEAL WITH THE HYPOCRITICAL (NON-CATHOLIC) CLERGY, TAXES, AND RO THE UNTOUCHABLE

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DADDY JAKE LANDS ON HIS FEET AT EAGLETON SCHOOL, BUT WAS HE DOUBLE DIPPING AT THE JCR? THE SCANDALS CONTINUE IN THE ONCE-BEATIFUL CITY OF PITTSFIELD … QUICK HITS and SHORT LICKS ADDRESS MANY TOPICS, INCLUDNG BEEPERS AND THE INCOMPETENT BUT UNTOUCHABLE VETERANS AGENT … plus … LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DEAL WITH THE HYPOCRITICAL (NON-CATHOLIC) CLERGY, TAXES, AND RO THE UNTOUCHABLE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012) — The story begins as so many do, with a dime dropped in the still of the night from someone who knows something. Cyberspace is one of the best innovations yet in terms of its ability to let loose the […]

June 12, 2012 53 Comments

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PUMMELIN’ PAM HURLS PERSON ABUSE AT THE PLANET AFTER EXPOSE … MAZZEO RESPONDS WITH LEVEL-HEADED INFORMATION … WHEN IS A $3.5 MILLION LOSS NOT A LOSS (or “DON’T TELL ‘EM ANGELO SENT YOU”) … WHY IS HERMAN ALEXANDER’S STILL DOING BUSINESS?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012) — Pummelin’ Pam Malumphy, identified by THE PLANET‘s investigation as the “political type” behind Larry Kratka‘s decision to cancel the Bill Sturgeon’s show on WTBR, sent THE PLANET another poison e-mail. It is notable now, in two e-mails, that Malumphy […]

June 12, 2012 39 Comments

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PLANET’S ACE DETECTIVE, HEMLOCK HOLMES, REVEALS RESULTS OF PROBE INTO THE GREAT WTBR FLIP-FLOP STARRING LARRY KRATKA … ‘And the MURDERER is ___________ ‘ … SUNS SET DOWN IN UGLY LOSS SATURDAY NIGHT AT BWP

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012) — This is the part of our three-act play, The Great WTBR Flip Flop, where we gather the suspects in the room and we reveal the killer(s). “They,” as Larry Kratka calls “Them,” tried to throw our men off the […]

June 10, 2012 78 Comments

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SOURCE: SHERIFF BOWLER FIRES HOWARD EBERWEIN II (JAKE’s OLD MAN)FROM JRC … PLANET EXCLUSIVE: SUSAN MOORE REACTS TO NILAN VERDICT …REVIEW OF BOY JAKE’s SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET SHOWS HUGE INCREASE in PERSONNEL and NO ADMINISTRATIVE CUTS … MORE DISBELIEF OVER NILAN VERDICT or WHAT’s A CIVIL TRIAL FOR? … UNIONISM AND THE RAPE OF TAXPAYERS … SUNS COME OUT SHINING … plus … DARKWAVE MEETS STEAMPUNK

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012) — We begin today with this News Flash. Sources report that Sherriff Tom Bowler has fired Howard Eberwein II, Father of Jake, from his position at the Juvenile Resource Center (JRC, aka Carmen’s Harem). While we have not officially confirmed […]

June 8, 2012 125 Comments

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ADD 1: SPECIAL INTERESTS BULLY TAXPAYERS AGAIN, AT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING …MOM AND DAD PLANET: CELEBRATING 68 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TODAY … LETTERS ON PLANET’s D-DAY PIECE … NILAN VERDICT: WAS JUSTICE SERVED … NILAN-MOORE CASE WILL LIKELY PLAY OUT IN CIVIL COURT … CIVIL TRIAL COULD BE EXPLOSIVE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 THURSDAY JUNE 7, 2012 Last night, 150 toadies of the Special Interests attempted to intimidate members of the Pittsfield School Committee regarding the bloated school budget. That budget is not $54 million, as the cowed Boring Broadsheet reports today, but $90+ million. These 150 apparently […]

June 7, 2012 62 Comments

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D-DAY, COURAGE, AND THE EROSION OF AND COMPLACENCY FOR FREEDOM … PLANET FILES PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST IN ‘THE GREAT WBTR FLIP-FLOP’ AND WE HIT PAYDIRT … YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT’s IN THE ‘SECRET E-MAILS’! … KRATKA: KOME KLEAN. YOUR KUNNING KAPER IS KRASHING DOWN

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012) — There is no such thing as wishing someone “Happy D-Day.” Too many soldiers on both sides of the conflict died that day and in that war. D-Day occurred long before we got used to televised war, live and in […]

June 6, 2012 64 Comments

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‘ENOUGH,’ KRATKA KRACKLED ABOUT ‘THE GREAT WTBR FLIP FLOP.’ AU CONTRAIRE, THE PLANET ANSWERS; ‘NOT ENOUGH BY A LONG SHOT’ … EMBATTLED STATION MANAGER MUST COME CLEAN: WHO ORDERED YOU TO PULL THE PLUG ON STURGEON, WHY, AND WHY DID YOU CAVE IN TO THE DEMANDS? … plus … TRIPLE TEEN FATALITY AT GRADUATION A CAUTIONARY TALE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012) — WTBR station adviser Larry Kratka, his impatience growing at THE PLANET‘s persistence in questioning, declared in an e-mail: “Enough.” The story is over. No mas? No way! Everyone Loses When a Journalist Gets Owned Once again, Kratka is wrong on the caper […]

June 5, 2012 47 Comments

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KOWED & KOWTOWED KRATKA KOMES KLEAN (KINDA) ON DECISION TO PULL STURGEON; LK ADMITS HE CAVED INTO TO ‘PRESSURE’ FROM POLITICAL TYPES … QUESTION IS: WHY STAB A GUY IN THE BACK AND WHY HIDE IDENTITIES OF THOSE WHO OWN HIM? … plus … RANDOLPH TO THE RESCUE ON SHAKESEPARE & CO.s DEBUT OF 35TH SEASON IN ‘CASSANDRA SPEAKS’

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2012) — THE PLANET has stripped the cloak of mystery and secrecy off of The Great WTBR Flip-Flop, wherein talk meister Bill Sturgeon, with John Krol riding the point, thought he had station manager Larry Kratka‘s OK for a show to following Krol’s “Good Morning, […]

June 3, 2012 52 Comments

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ADD 2: KRATKA RESPONDS, DETAILS TO COME … ADD1: LARRY KRATKA: TIME TO COME CLEAN ON THE WTBR MESS … WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE: DO NOT SUPPORT THE DICTATORSHIP OF ALANIA, CHARTOCKIA … SCHOOL COMMITTEE HEARING ON LAME JAKE’s BUDGET REQUEST SHEDS LIGHT ON THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME … HEARING SHOWS THAT THIS ISN’T YOUR DADDY’S SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET HEARING … BIANCHI GIVES JAKE A $1 MILLION WOOD SHAMPOO … plus … PLANET COVERAGE PREVIEW

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #2, FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2012 — We have received a lengthy response from Larry Kratka on the situation at WTBR, with the on-off of Bill Sturgeon‘s radio show at that venue. We have some additional investigation and followup, in fairness to all parties, and on Monday […]

June 1, 2012 101 Comments

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‘HELICOPTER MOM’ GETS PANTIES IN A KNOT OVER DAUGHTER’s HOMEWORK-AVOIDING ‘AWARD’ … CAN WORDS HURT ANYONE? CAN BBs SINK A BATTLESHIP? … GUEST COLUMN: WHAT’S WRONG WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION? …

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2012) — This story stems from Arizona, but it could easily be a “concerned parent” of a child in a local public school district. We share this story from ABC News: —– 00 —– The mother of an 8-year-old Arizona girl […]

May 30, 2012 45 Comments

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FIRE DEPARTMENT BUS TRIP FAIR GAME FOR SCRUTINY … TWO LETTERS FROM DEEP INSIDE PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL REFLECT DISMAY AND DISCONTENT WITH RAY OF HOPE, MAYBE, VIA STATE D.O.E. …

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2012) — To clarify our commentary on yesterday’s PLANET regarding the fire department’s bus trip to NYC, by no means do we indict anyone or cast aspersions on anyone in that heroic line of work. We add that the men in the […]

May 30, 2012 55 Comments

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PLANET NEEDS WRITERS (DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?) … MORE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT’s ‘911 TRIBUTE’ a.k.a., RAUCOUS BOOZE CRUISE (“SHOW US YOUR TITS”) … NEW BCC PRESIDENT, ELLEN KENNEDY, PLANET FETED AT RECOGNITION DINNER … STOCKBRIDGE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: WHAT A HOME TOWN PARADE SHOULD BE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2012) — THE PLANET, in its search for stringers, stingers, and strongers to cover arts and baseball this summer, has turned up one writer. We would like more. If you would like to cover topics in these two areas, if you […]

May 29, 2012 28 Comments

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PLANET LEARNS IDENTITY OF OFFICER BEHIND ORCHARD STREET CRASH … POLICE CRUISER CRASH HAS AN ODD FEEL TO IT … PLANET’s REQUEST TO CHIEF WYNN FOR COMMENT UNANSWERED … BBs SULLIVAN RIGHT-ON RE: TT, BUT COPY DESK LETS HIM DOWN … FED LAWYER CALLS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT ‘STUPID’ … ROMNEY SCORES ON EDUCATION … plus … LT. AMUSO PROVIDES INFO ON PFD NYC TRIP

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 […]

May 24, 2012 121 Comments

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WHY SHOULD TAXPAYERS COUGH UP FOR ALLEGRONE TO DEVELOP TWO BUILDINGS IT OWNS, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT COMMERCIAL LENDERS WON’T TOUCH, HMMMM, CZARINA RUFFER? … PITTSFIELD’S WEBSITE BACK IN DARK AGES, or, TRY GETTING ‘THERE’ FROM ‘HERE’ … plus … LEVINE’S GAZETTE DIGS UP THREE GEMS (GREYLOCK LOSES $3.76MM, CHICKENS COME TO ROOST, and ‘ALF THE DELUSIONAL’)

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 […]

May 24, 2012 55 Comments

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BRAWL, ‘ELEMENT X,’ SHOW IT’S TIME TO PULL PLUG ON NOW-DANGEROUS THIRD THURSDAY … WTBR LANDS A STURGEON, BUT ISN’T HIGH SCHOOL RADIO MEANT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS, NOT ADULTS? … PITTSFIELD SUNS GEAR UP FOR OPENING NIGHT AT BWP … QUICKIES INCLUDE PONTERRIL SOLAR (YUCK) APATHY AND ‘LEFTOVER’ FUNDS (YUCK YUCK), AND CHAMPIONSHIP SPELLERS (SORT OF)

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 […]

May 23, 2012 63 Comments

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SOURCES: THIRD THURSDAY BRAWL WAS A PLANNED RUMBLE; DID BIANCHI HAVE POLICE INTEL THAT CAUSED HIS ORIGINAL DECISION TO CANCEL? EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, ANALYSIS HERE … 15-YR. OLD GANG MEMBER MAKES GUN-TOTING CLAIM … plus … BB FOLLOWS GOB ORDERS IN ANONYMOUS COMMENTS

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 […]

May 21, 2012 67 Comments

Planet Valenti

PUMMELIN’ PAM HURLS PERSON ABUSE AT THE PLANET AFTER EXPOSE … MAZZEO RESPONDS WITH LEVEL-HEADED INFORMATION … WHEN IS A $3.5 MILLION LOSS NOT A LOSS (or “DON’T TELL ‘EM ANGELO SENT YOU”) … WHY IS HERMAN ALEXANDER’S STILL DOING BUSINESS?

PLANET’S ACE DETECTIVE, HEMLOCK HOLMES, REVEALS RESULTS OF PROBE INTO THE GREAT WTBR FLIP-FLOP STARRING LARRY KRATKA … ‘And the MURDERER is ___________ ‘ … SUNS SET DOWN IN UGLY LOSS SATURDAY NIGHT AT BWP

D-DAY, COURAGE, AND THE EROSION OF AND COMPLACENCY FOR FREEDOM … PLANET FILES PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST IN ‘THE GREAT WBTR FLIP-FLOP’ AND WE HIT PAYDIRT … YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT’s IN THE ‘SECRET E-MAILS’! … KRATKA: KOME KLEAN. YOUR KUNNING KAPER IS KRASHING DOWN

‘HELICOPTER MOM’ GETS PANTIES IN A KNOT OVER DAUGHTER’s HOMEWORK-AVOIDING ‘AWARD’ … CAN WORDS HURT ANYONE? CAN BBs SINK A BATTLESHIP? … GUEST COLUMN: WHAT’S WRONG WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION? …

FIRE DEPARTMENT BUS TRIP FAIR GAME FOR SCRUTINY … TWO LETTERS FROM DEEP INSIDE PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL REFLECT DISMAY AND DISCONTENT WITH RAY OF HOPE, MAYBE, VIA STATE D.O.E. …

PLANET NEEDS WRITERS (DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?) … MORE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT’s ‘911 TRIBUTE’ a.k.a., RAUCOUS BOOZE CRUISE (“SHOW US YOUR TITS”) … NEW BCC PRESIDENT, ELLEN KENNEDY, PLANET FETED AT RECOGNITION DINNER … STOCKBRIDGE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: WHAT A HOME TOWN PARADE SHOULD BE

SOURCES: THIRD THURSDAY BRAWL WAS A PLANNED RUMBLE; DID BIANCHI HAVE POLICE INTEL THAT CAUSED HIS ORIGINAL DECISION TO CANCEL? EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, ANALYSIS HERE … 15-YR. OLD GANG MEMBER MAKES GUN-TOTING CLAIM … plus … BB FOLLOWS GOB ORDERS IN ANONYMOUS COMMENTS

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