By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JULY 24, 2011) — THE PLANET would like to extend our condolences to Jane Fitzpatrick, daughters Nancy and Anne, plus the entire family on the loss of the family patriach, Jack. THE PLANET feels this loss on many levels, the deepest of which […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011) — The two dominant stories of late, the heat and the debt ceiling crisis, at first seem unrelated. There are, however, X degrees of separation between any two issues or events. “X” in this case = “frazzled.” The heat wave […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, Friday, July 22, 2011) — Today, THE PLANET shares a cornucopia of items that form our horn of plenty under summer’s azure sky. * OK, OK, IT’s HOT — Enough, already, with the over-the-top coverage of the heat. Today’s Boring Broadsheet followed lockstep with […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary The Courts are ‘Funny’ that Way (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, July 21, 2011) — THE PLANET, being open minded as all good journalists and writers must be, has few “nevers” in our orbit. Like “always,” the word “never” is an absolute term, allowing for no exceptions. We do […]
By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, Game of July 20, 2011) — Though the Quebec Capitales came into Wahconah Park Wednesday seeking blood against their archival Pittsfield Colonials to pull off a four-game sweep, Chad Paronto and the Pittsfield offense had other ideas, as the Colonials ran away with a 10-1 victory before 708 […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary Man on the Moon: July 20, 1969 (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, JULY 20, 2011) — Today marks the 42nd anniversay of Man on the Moon. Neil Armstrong planted his lunar boots into green cheese and botched his lines with the first words. THE PLANET vividly remembers the”one, small […]
By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, Mass., July 19, 2011) — After a 2-0 loss Monday night, all the Pittsfield Colonials were looking for Tuesday afternoon were clean innings early in order to help build a lead against the Can-Am League’s first-half champion Quebec Capitales. For Miguel Flores, that plan didn’t exactly pan out, as […]
By CHAD COOPER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, Mass., July 19, 2011, Game of July 18) — The Pittsfield Colonials and Quebec Capitales saw both of their starting pitchers toss phenomenal ball throughout their Monday night contest in the Capitales’ 2-0 win. The Capitales got a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a throwing […]
By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, July 18, 2011, Game of July 17) — Returning home late after a big 4-2 victory Saturday night against Rockland, one might expect the Pittsfield Colonials to come back to the Berkshires looking a little road weary for Sunday afternoon’s matinee. Even if they weren’t tired, the Quebec Capitales […]
ISRAEL’S KNESSET PASSES ‘DISGRACEFUL NEW LAW’ By LARA FRIEDMAN Special to PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (EDITOR’s NOTE): THE PLANET, which values the larger view as much as we do putting the local yokels under the pin and tweezers, presents this guest contribution from Lara Friedman, director of policy and government relations for American for […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2011) — Normally, nothing in Monroeville, Pa., would cause our pause or book a look, but beginning on July 16, McDain’s, an upscale restaurant there, has struck a blow for maturity and given The Children a proper swat in the fanny. […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI Arts (PITTSFIELD, Mass. TUESDAY July 12, 2011) — With director Eric Hill at the controls, you know there will be a whirlwind of swirling action and not one wasted move. Hill could direct The Phone Book, and the endless lines of “Smiths” would be doing the mambo with 1-800 numbers and […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI Arts and Commentary When South County developer Richard Stanley proposed a movie complex for the Kresge Building in downtown Pittsfield, THE PLANET was all for it, providing it was a capitalistic venture. As details emerged, however, it became clear that the city of Pittsfield and Stanley had in mind the […]
By CHAD COOPER Special to PLANET VALENTI Sports (BROCTON, Mass., GAME of SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011) — The Pittsfield Colonials saw the Brocton Rox plate five seventh-inning runs as the Rox pulled away with a 13-6 victory. Brockton would record the first runs of the game in the second inning on an RBI double from […]
By JOSH CUTLER PLANET VALENTI Sports (PITTSFIELD, SUNDAY JULY 10, 2011) — How the tables can turn from one side to another in a flash. Last night, the tables turned in a Wink. Though Pittsfield got out to an early 6-2 lead, a six-run 8th inning by the Bears, capped by a grand slam by Tim […]
By DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary BIACHI SIGN FIRST SHOT ACROSS MARCHETTI BOW (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2011) —The Boring Broadsheet didn’t mention it, of course, because they didn’t know it happened (sound familiar?). THE PLANET, however, couldn’t help but notice the huge “BIANCHI FOR MAYOR” sign placed in direct view […]
