Planet Valenti

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, AUG. 20, 2011) — Today, THE PLANET received an excellent post in response to one of the stories in our series exposing perhaps the main point of contention between the city of Pittsfield and the fire department as they try to find agreement […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 19, 2011 — There are many “eternal debates” in Pittsfield. The rotary around Park Square went on for 60 years before Mayor Jimmy Ruberto set in place the decision to implement the “straight shot” from south-to-north. That’s a rare example of an […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 18, 2011) — On the road, here and there, hither and yon, pursuing our craft, THE PLANET returns to our den in the FORTRESS to share these observations, which have accumulated during our two-day hegira: · THE PLANET has asked presumed mayoral […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 17, 2011) — This morning, Peter Marchetti sent THE PLANET a quick note on Facebook, confirming that he received our question on random drug testing for firemen and other public employees. He wrote that he had only just then checked his FB […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 16, 2011) — A second candidate for office in Pittsfield, this for the office of mayor, has declared his position on drug testing for firemen and other public emplyees. Mayoral candidate Joe Nichols, back from his recent honeymoon, told THE PLANET that […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, AUG. 13, 2011) — The firestorm over THE PLANET’s exclusive coverage of the inside details of the contract squabble between the city of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Fire Department has elicted an avalanche of comment. There have been nearly 100 comments on THE PLANET. […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 12, 2011) — Yesterday, Tim Bartini and Robert Czerwinski sent THE PLANET a letter. Bartini and Czerwinski are, respectively, president of Local 2647 Pittsfield Firefighters and acting fire chief of the PFD. The letter addressed THE PLANET’s recent postings on the contract […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, AUG. 11, 2011) — The controversy over the city’s withdrawal of its 4% pay hike offer to Pittsfield fire fighters in exchange for the union’s agreement to random drug testing continues to burn out of control. No back-up units will be called in […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10, 2011) — First up this morning is a bit of business resembling more a hive upset following yesterday’s post that (we can only assume from the reaction) The Little Guy wasn’t supposed to know. THE PLANET refers to this little item, […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 9, 2011) — Domino effect, anyone? See what a little panic will do. Lenders, who were all too eager to loan money as long as they could do so essentially without risk, once again are acting as they did three years ago. […]

By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, MONDAY Aug. 8, 2011, Game of Sunday, AUG. 7, 2011) — A dirty uniform couldn’t phase New Jersey centerfielder Seth Smith’s performance on Sunday afternoon. Smith’s 5-6 offensive attack against Pittsfield pitching propelled the New Jersey Jackals to an 8-4 victory over the Colonials before 545 fans at Historic […]

By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, SUNDAY, AUG. 7, 2011, GAME OF AUG. 6) — Danny Bomback is  getting used coming through in high-pressure situations. With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Bomback’s liner to center with two outs plated his second game winning hit in as many nights, as the […]

By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, SATURDAY, AUG. 6, 2011, GAME OF AUG. 5) — Banged up and beat up, the Pittsfield Colonials badly needed one of their wounded bandits to come up clutch Friday night. A battered and bruised Danny Bomback answered the bell for the Colonials, blasting a two-run homer in the […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary Am I Blue? No Way! (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, FRIDAY, AUG. 5, 2011) — Today, a well-meaning friend passed along the following e-mail: Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of   America supports our troops. Our idea of […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, AUG. 4, 2011) — THE PLANET recently received information from a source pertaining to possible wrongdoing in the issuance of federal fuel assistance as administered by Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC). We have made checks on the information, and while not uncovering definitive proof […]

By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 3, 2011) — In Pittsfield, it’s considered bad form to ask to many questions. The rulers who secretly call the shots in their tavern-like kabal call questions “uppity.” The proper behavior for The Little Guy is to keep his mouth shut, pay […]