BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 15-7, 2023) — Good things, too, happen on campus. Going back to 1969, when I took my first college classes and continuing to 2018, when I taught my last college course, I’ve been on campuses of higher learning for 50 […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 13, 2013) — Sochols. A recent talk with a teacher friend, call her Miss Rachel, told THE PLANET all we need to know about the state of Pittsfield schools. She told THE PLANET this would be her last year, because “I’m sick […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, DEC. 11, 2023) — Here’s a lede from an AP story filed Sunday (yesterday): Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday defended the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition and also called for quick congressional approval of more than […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 8-10, 2023) — Amidst the recalcitrance of trying times, we find nuggets spread across the rolling lawns of the public’s Lower 40. Hence: O Christmas Tree: THE PLANET, for one, likes the city’s permanent Christmas Tree planted in Park Square […]
BY DAN VALENTI PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY (FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY DEC. 6, 2023) — The Israeli counterpunch against Hamas has gone past the justifiable stage and has entered into genocidal action worthy in quality though not quantity of the Holocaust. THE PLANET hesitates to use numbers because they reduce human misery to a […]
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 […]
