POETRY MONDAY, WITH A CLASSIC YOU’VE NEVER READ BEFORE … FOUR BANDS ROCK CHAMELEON’s TO BENEFIT ANIMAL SHELTER … plus … QUICKIES: LENOX BOARD WIMPS OUT ON FIEDERSPIEL ASSESSMENT; A PROTEST FOR A PHONY WAR; and LETTER-TO-EDITOR SHARES INFORMATION ON DOROTHY MACK

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POETRY MONDAY, WITH A CLASSIC YOU’VE NEVER READ BEFORE … FOUR BANDS ROCK CHAMELEON’s TO BENEFIT ANIMAL SHELTER … plus … QUICKIES: LENOX BOARD WIMPS OUT ON FIEDERSPIEL ASSESSMENT; A PROTEST FOR A PHONY WAR; and LETTER-TO-EDITOR SHARES INFORMATION ON DOROTHY MACK

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 MONDAY MAY 21, 2012 Let’s share a couple of items left over on the desk: — LENOX BOARD WIMPS OUT ON TOWN MANAGER ASSESSMENT: In the recent assessment of Lenox Town Manager Greg Federspiel, the town board gave him a sister’s kiss. How else can […]

May 21, 2012 28 Comments

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HAS DOUG McNALLY BEEN SECRETLY NAMED ACTIVE SUPT. OF PITTSFIELD SCHOOLS? … JOE PINHEAD LAYS IT ON THE LINE … THE PLANET, EVENING THE SCORE FOR THE LITTLE GUY, CHALLENGES THE GOB TO A LIVE DEBATE … THE EDUCATION SCAM EXPLAINED … UNEASY QUESTIONS NOW BEING ASKED OF SCHOOLS … WE HEAR, FIRST HAND, FROM A TEACHER WHO DARES TO SPEAK OUT … plus … ADVICE TO PARENTS: PULL YOUR KIDS OUT OF PITTSFIELD SCHOOLS NOW, BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012) — First item: apropos to nothing and maybe everything, we are hearing persistent rumors that Doug McNally (after the usual nationwide search) will step in as interim superintendent of the Pittsfield School Department. If this is true, it show you […]

May 17, 2012 84 Comments

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SCHOOL COMMITTEEMAN KINNAS RESPONDS WITH POINTS OF CLARIFICATION … SOURCES PROVIDING MORE PIECES FOR THE PUZZLE … WORDS OF THE OPPRESSED WITHIN THE PPS … plus … A FLY ON THE WALL GIVES A GLIMPSE AT WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE MERCER (SCHOOL DEPT. HQ)

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012) — THE PLANET will lead today with star billing to the lone school committee member who has to date commented directly to this site on the incendiary discussion that’s been raging at this site this week concerning the Pittsfield School […]

May 17, 2012 58 Comments

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SIR TIBERIUS RESPONDS TO PLANET’s ‘ENEMIES’ … MINNESOTA STADIUM DEAL WOULD HIDE THE BOOKS FROM TAXPAYING PUBLIC (SOUND FAMILIAR?) … MINUTES OF LAST 3 SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS STILL NOT POSTED … OLD MINUTES REVEAL SNEAKY BUSINESS, AND ONLY THE PLANET DARES TO EXPLORE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY16, 2012) — THE PLANET‘s Poet Laureate has again been at work. On commission, he has crafted a response to our enemies. First, though, we present a point of clarification. THE PLANET has no enemies. We only have friends who remain unconvinced. We […]

May 16, 2012 73 Comments

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SCHOOL MINUTES OUT OF DATE … LITTLE WIN ON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET SMALL CONSOLATION FOR BEDRAGGLED TAXPAYERS … EBERWEIN ADMITS TO USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO BALANCE SPENDING … MEANWHILE, TEACHERS UNION WILL SQUEEZE THE LITTLE GUY FOR $1.25 MILLION IN RAISES AND COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCES in FY13

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012) — Before we begin, THE PLANET let’s you know that the school committee meeting minutes have not been posted for April 11, 25, and May 9. Is it too much to ask from a department taking $90 million of a […]

May 14, 2012 52 Comments

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D.H. LAWRENCE GROUNDS US ON LOVE … PEDA BOARD SHOWS TRUE COLORS, THE PHONY BASTARDS! … THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S REJECTION OF DR. NAMIN … plus … RED SOX GO TO BAT FOR AREA VETERANS ON FRIDAY, MAY 18

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, May 14, 2012) — As a way to ground ourselves before stepping into the mystery and madness of local politics, we present a poem by D. H. Lawrence. SEARCH FOR LOVE Those that go searching for love only manifest their own lovelessness, and […]

May 13, 2012 59 Comments

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BUST AT LOCAL DIVE TURNS UP COPS, FIREMAN, GUARDS, BUT NO ARRESTS … WERE THEY TIPPED OFF IN ADVANCE BY A DISPATCHER? … PEDA BOARD TELLS CITY COUNCIL TO #$%^ ITSELF AFTER MAZZEO REQUESTS PUBLIC HEARING … THE STOOLEY REPORTS ON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT SOILINGS, INCLUDING WHAT MAY BE JAKE’S NEW GIG

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012) — Through sources, we heard that one fireman, one police officer, and three guards at the Berkshire County House of Corrections were involved in an incident at Herman Alexander‘s on Lyman Street in Pittsfield, an establishment that gives insult to […]

May 11, 2012 35 Comments

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IN BATTLE OF THE “BUTCHES,” BIANCHI BLITZES BARRY’S BULLYING in COUNCIL CLASH … CELEBRATION BASH AS THE PLANET TURNS 500!!

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012) — When Alabama’s Joe Namath signed with the New York Jets for the-then astronomical sum of $400,000, he created a lot of enemies in pro football at a time when most players were making the league minimum ($6,000 a year) or […]

May 9, 2012 25 Comments

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BIANCHI BADLY BLUNDERED IN BACKING DOWN or “I SAW WHERE IN A NORTH STREET DITCH DID LURK” … LETTERS FROM THE PLANET MAILBAG …

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012) — It wasn’t bad enough that Mayor Dan Bianchi blundered so badly on 3rd Thursday. No. To rub lava into the wound, Cultural Pittsfield issued a press statement yesterday with no reference to the teapot that had cracked to pieces […]

May 8, 2012 55 Comments

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3rd THURSDAY: IT’S ON, IT’S OFF, AND THEN IT’S ON AGAIN — MAYOR SHOWS WEAKNESS BY BACKING DOWN … THE DOLLARS FOR McKAY STREET GARAGE INCLUDE UNJUSTIFIED TAXPAYER CONTINGENCY … APRIL’S GONE, CORYDON, SO WHERE’s THE WATERSTONE ‘BIG BOX’ UPDATE ON PEDA??? … ROMNEY SLUGGING IT OUT WITH SLOGANS

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012) — Whither, 3rd Thursday? It was on, then it was off, and now it’s on again. So much for political expediency and standing your ground. When Mayor Dan Bianchi decided to cancel the May 3rd Thursday, here were the possibilities: […]

May 8, 2012 32 Comments

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!!PLANET IN FIRST!! BIANCHI REVERSES 3rd THURSDAY DECISION … REMEMBERING A ‘LILAC’ DAY … ON STURGEON, WBRK PARTING; STURGEON SAYS RADIO STATION DID NOT ACT IN GOOD FAITH … MR. MITT TIES OBAMA IN KEY STATES OF OHIO AND FLA. … BEEPERS MEET, or, HOW DRY I AM

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary ADD #1 (5-7-12) MAYOR BIANCHI REVERSES DECISION ON 3rd THURSDAY … IT’S BACK ON! We the People spoke, and Mayor Dan Bianchi listened. Bianchi ate crow and reversed a hugely unpopular decision to cancel 3rd Thursday after a deluge of protest. Here is a statement just released […]

May 7, 2012 36 Comments

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OUTRAGEOUS N.J. BULLYING CASE, WITH MULTIMILLION OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT, RAISES COsTLY QUESTION FOR PITTSFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT; PSD OWES TAXPAYERS THE ANSWERS

Bt DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012) — How much does your school district keep you, the taxpayer, informed? Do they share all that they need to share for you, We The People, to run your own government? True, the question smacks of idealism, since we know […]

May 2, 2012 77 Comments

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‘IT MAY YET SANCTIFY SAVAGE SOULS’ … THE PLANET BRINGS YOU ONE OF THE BEST … plus … WHO AND WHAT WILL SHOW UP IN OUR ‘QUICKIES’ TODAY?

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012) — Shut up, slow down, sit up, and enjoy. Poetry is not cod liver oil, though it is more beneficial. It may yet sanctify the savage souls, one at a time, and if but one, then a universe. THE PLANET‘s […]

April 30, 2012 10 Comments

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PUTTING THE CAKE ON THE ICING OF ‘LENOXOLOGY’ IN LENOXYMORONIA, AND OTHER WEEKEND ADVENTURES … plus … PLANET NEEDS A FEW GOOD WRITERS FOR SUMMER COVERAGE

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012) — My, but how we have kicked the hornet’s nest known as Lenox. Actually, wording it properly, we should say we have kicked the hornet’s neXt in the Town Formerly Know As Lenox. We say “next” because there is more […]

April 27, 2012 78 Comments

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READERS AND COMMENTATORS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON THE PLANET TODAY … WE NAME THE ‘MURDERER,’ HONOR ‘FAN DAN GO’ WITH A DINNER, AND MIX IT UP SOME MORE ON ‘LENOXOLOGY’

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012) — From the Fortress Ballroom, high atop a mountainside overlooking the city, we present a few reader and commentator notes to begin with, for your dining and dancing pleasure. We shall emit the dulcet tones of Johnny Polio and the […]

April 26, 2012 50 Comments

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‘LENOXOLOGY’ — THE VOMIT COMET OF MARKETING SLOGANS HAS LACQUERED LENOX IN A CIVIL WAR

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012) — “Lenoxology.” Have we put you off your toast? Sorry, then, but it can’t be helped. This word is the vomit comet of slogans. It makes men want to leave and heave. Women want to give it chicken soup … […]

April 25, 2012 32 Comments

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