BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD-1 FRIDAY 6 p.m.–THE PLANET spoke to D.A. Tim Shugrue’s office today with some questions. We received the following: The investigation was certainly extensive and took great care (as all do). In response to your questions: Ms. Whitacre was very cooperative throughout the entire process. I am […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 22, 2025) — In this land of No Kings, THE PLANET celebrates nonetheless Royalty’s visit last week to Bitchfield. We refer to the Commonwealth’s senior senator Elizabeth Warren. The “grandma with a plan” at least know where the Berkshires are. There’s that. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JUNE 20-2, 2025) — First, THE PLANET wishes to thank all those who turned out at The Stationery Factory Wednesday evening for the book launch of Stanley Kubrick’s Full Mental Straight Jacket: The Siege of Gunnery Sgt. Hartman. We went in […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY IT’S TONIGHT! COME JOIN US AND SEE DAN VALENTI IN PERSON! BUY A BOOK FOR HIM TO SIGN! ENJOY FREE FOOD FROM MAZZEO’S RESTAURANT & GET FEELING GOOD AT THE BAR. (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 16, 2025) — Well, well. So we see that Alison Shepherd, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY JUNE 11, 2025) — THE PLANET may soon be sending a copy of Dan Valenti’s best-selling textbook Taming the Terror of Talk: Becoming a Confident Speaker to Bitchfield Mayor Lumpy. He could use it. Recently, Lumpy issued a proposal–now being endlessly nitpicked by subcommittees, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 9, 2025) — Today, in a blessed break from the mystery and madness of politics, THE PLANET presents a play review for which the Comment Line is closed. BERKSHIRE THEATRE FESTIVAL PLAY REVIEW THE ELEPHANT MAN BY BERNARD POMERANCE DIRECTED BY ERIC […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION JUNE 6-8, 2025) — From the wires: A nationwide coordinated crackdown on retail crime — what authorities are calling the first of its kind — led to hundreds of arrests in 28 states last week. The blitz, led by Illinois’ Cook […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 2, 2025)–Why do you think Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem was in the Berkshires over the weekend? Is the dining room at Wheatleigh–oops, we mean the Hampton Terrace Inn–her new command post? On second thought, no, absolutely not, for […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 30-JUNE 1, 2025 — Today THE PLANET yields the Talking Stick to the most important persons on this board: You and them, as in We The People. Feel free bring up what ever’s on your mind. Up, down, over under, […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 28, 2025) — Take a good look at this iBerkshire photo taken by reporter Brittany Polito. We see four recognizable people in the picture: Kristen “Tex” Behnke, director of finance, school department; Jumpin’ Joe Curtis, school superintendent (not for long); in the […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE MEMORIAL DAY 2025) — Nothing long or ponderous today from this address, just a remembrance of all veterans, especially those who died in service to the country and those who endured combat. THE PLANET offers our deepest respects and honors for their sacrifices, for […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 23-5, 2025) — The Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional beginning of The Season in the Berkshires. It retires on the Tuesday after Labor Day. In between, the barbarians from the south invade Guidos and subject residents to the role […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 21, 2025) — Did the Pittsfield school committee know that in March 2018, newly appointed interim school superintendent Latifah Phillips was fired from her job in the New Mexico Public Education Department? THE PLANET certainly did not know until a tipster slipped […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MAY 19, 2025) — Your esteemed city councilors and THE PLANET‘s Right Honorable Good Friends begrudgingly grant you, We The People, a miserly three minutes at open mic. THE PLANET, on the other hand, grants you full access to speak your mind. We […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MAY 16-8, 2025) — Several UFOs were spotted circling THE PLANET. Our crack team directed them in for landing. Here they be: The Gift Outright–It’s a sign of how desperate Democrats have become when you see them raising a stink about […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2025) — Taxpayers, you know the drill. Budget time rolls around, the FY26 spending plan. Pull down your trousers. Take a deep breath. Try not to complain as Two-Pete government sticks it in once more, another 5%. They don’t even lube […]
