BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY DEC. 9, 2023) — The Picklefield city council’s recent tax-rate deliberations remind THE PLANET of the prescient words of the 20th century’s greatest prose stylist, H.L. Mencken: “I believe that all government is evil, and that trying to improve it is largely a […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 NOV. 29, 2023 — Former Pittsfield Cooperative Bank VP Victoria May — who is suing the bank, mayor-elect Peter Marchetti, bank president Jerome “Jay” Anderson, and senior VY Henry “Chip” Moore — filed a motion on Nov. 22 in federal court opposing the defendants’ request […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THANKSGIVING WEEK, 2023) — Why bother? Right? THE PLANET‘s on hiatus this week and perhaps beyond, whatever we feel. THE PLANET wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Hasta mañana. ————————————————————– “Tofu not turkey” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath. “OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 20, 2023) — Through the office of Berkshire County District Attorney Tim Shugrue, THE PLANET recently placed with the state a Freedom of Information pertaining to the Sept. 27, 2019 alleged racial attack reported by a student at Simon’s Rock College. Andrea […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 17-9, 2023) — And now ladies and gentlemen, from high atop the Aragon Ballroom in beautiful, downtown Picklefield, for your dining and dancing pleasure, THE PLANET presents our latest exclusive: The Top 100 city salaries. It’s exclusive because no other […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY NOV. 13, 2023) — Memo to mayor-elect Marchetti: incorporate Best Practices early into your administration. Specifically, beg, borrow, or steal one of John Krol’s best ideas from the now-mercifully-ended campaign. Take his plans for (a) general audit, (b) ARPA audit, (c) to be […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION, NOV. 10-12, 2023) — Odds and ends, leftovers from a sagged Election Day and the pre-Holiday cheer. Suit Yourself: THE PLANET privately predicated the Pittsfield Co-Op’s response to fired VP Victoria May’s sexual harassment lawsuit fingering, if that be the right […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY NOV. 8, 2023) — That long, hot shower felt good. THE PLANET has an excellent supply of hot water. And some like it hot! Nice to rinse off the crud, though, and emerge into sunlight, like one of those old TV commercials for […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY ADD 1 TUESDAY Election Day — It’s been a long, tiring campaign for both candidates. It culminates today. THE PLANET hopes that if you have the vote, you exercise that precious franchise. We won’t get into the rah-rah about how men and women have given their lives. […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY —UPDATED— (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION NOV. 3-5, 2023) — First this announcement. THE PLANET shall be posting next Monday and Tuesday, Election Day. Our Tuesday column will be a special campaign edition. Our regular Wednesday column will follow. Pass the word along, all those who […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY Nov. 1, 2023) — Did the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank fire Peter Marchetti? Is Marchetti no longer considered “on leave” from his VP position but out the door entirely? Will he have a job waiting for him at the bank should he lose on […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 30, 2023) — Pittsfield mayoral candidate and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank VP Peter Marchetti, along with company CEO Jay Anderson, and Senior VP Chris Moore, have been charged in Federal District Court in a complaint filed by a former employee. Collectively, the allegations […]
ADD 1, OCT. 28, P.M. — THE PLANET has unearthed bombshell allegations against mayoral candidate and Pittsfield Co-Op VP Peter Marchetti, Co-Op president Jay Anderson, and bank VP Harry Moore. THE PLANET has dug up the complaint of Co-Op VP Victoria May, who was fired by the bank in February. She alleges that Marchetti and […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY OCT. 26, 2023) — At the NAACP debate Monday, mayoral candidate Peter Marchetti feigned outrage and exasperation at his opponent John Krol’s use of the phrase “boots on the ground” in reference to downtown policing. We’re with Marchetti, but not for the same […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY OCT. 24, 2023) — Picklefield, founded in 1761, made history Thursday. For the first time in its political history, there were not one but two mayoral debates on the same day, both of which were not televised or taped for broadcast. Suppose they […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION OCT. 20-22, 2023) — One of the many rigged votes that has swamped Picklefield taxpayers was the “approval” of the Community Preservation Act, forever known as the Community Pickpocket Act, a named laid on it by Terry Kinnas. The CPA’s euphemistic […]
