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Hey Berkshire County, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Gold’s strongest run, Cornell leader on reciprocity, and Nintendo Switch free play + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Berkshire County protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Big changes taking shape: Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has signed an agreement for 99 West St. and expects to move its headquarters there this year, with planned renovations plus recent tech and balance sheet upgrades — get all the details.

Building permits shift in-house: Pittsfield will switch its permitting software to OpenGov in the new fiscal year, after the Finance Subcommittee approved $199,269 for the move. Annual costs are projected around $83,000, officials said — get details on costs and plans.

Reimagining our bond with nature: Cornell Indigenous leader Wahieñhawi “Hawi” Hall will speak at MCLA’s Green Living Seminar Series on March 4, sharing Haudenosaunee views on reciprocity and stewardship. Free and open to the public — get all the details.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Master quick, stress-free weeknight dinners
• Sip and paint sunshine daisies porch leaner
• Discover herbs to calm your nerves
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🏆 Gold and silver are heating up

Together with our sponsor American Hartford Gold

Gold just posted its strongest run in decades… and the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility.

While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning.

If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, AHG has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now.

It’s free and worth reading before the next move.

🫶 We got your back

Midweek pasta fix: Grazie in North Adams serves dependable comfort: rigatoni bolognese, lemon-garlic shrimp scampi, and choose-your-pasta meatballs, plus shareable flatbreads. Meet midweek cravings with saucy satisfaction, the kind that turns “one more bite” into two. Familiar, unfussy, and exactly what you wanted.

Sustainable closet refresh: ABC Clothing Shop keeps Williamstown wardrobes lively with constantly rotating, preloved finds, and every purchase supports local community grants. It’s a low-pressure way to test a new look this week, quietly doing good while you do you. Inventory turns fast, so expect pleasant surprises.

Three-minute chill fix: Whether you’re nursing ski legs or need a midweek reset, Lenox Fit offers full-body cryotherapy that cools quickly and leaves you light. Pair it with the infrared sauna and compression for a clean, simple recovery circuit that hits the spot.

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Learn more about my favorite online options here.

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎮 Nintendo Switch Free Play @ Berkshire Athenaeum | Tuesday (3/3) at 3:00 PM – Let the library entertain your teen with open Nintendo Switch play, featuring Smash, Mario Kart, and a little co-op chaos like Overcooked. You can cheer from the stacks, join for bragging rights, or ask the Young Adult Librarian to queue up more games.

📚 Community Read: Wild Dark Shore @ Stockbridge Library Association | Tuesday (3/3) at 6:00 PM – Stockbridge Library is hosting a community read on Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore with Director Wendy Pearson and Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Jennifer Patton leading the chat. Think stormy island intrigue, real conversation, zero homework beyond turning pages. It’s free, no registration, and copies are everywhere.

🎈 Lenox Stay & Play @ Lenox Community Center | Wednesday (3/4) at 10:00 AM – Wrangle your tiny negotiator to the Lenox Community Center upstairs ballroom for a free, drop-in playgroup. Wednesday mornings, expect free play, table-top tinkering, and circle time, also known as you chatting with grownups while your kid burns energy. Best for toddlers and preschoolers, all welcome.

🩺 Ask a Community Health Worker @ North Adams Public Library | Wednesday (3/4) at 10:00 AM – On the first and third Tuesdays, swing by NAPL’s front parlor to chat with a Community Health Worker from the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, a.k.a. the person who actually knows where to send you for help. Real answers, warm handoffs, fewer bureaucratic headaches.

🍲 Monthly Community Potluck @ WANDER Berkshires | Thursday (3/5) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats a first-Thursday potluck with the Rainbow Seniors, where the casseroles are confident and the conversation even better. Slip in through the alley to WANDER Berkshires, bring a dish, store-bought counts, then linger for community, laughs, and shameless second helpings.

💻 Senior Technology Tutoring @ Berkshire Athenaeum | Saturday (3/7) at 2:00 PM – Bring your phone, tablet, or the laptop you trust for solitaire, and stop by the Berkshire Athenaeum for free tech help from Williams College’s Senior Center Tutoring group. In the Berkshire Authors’ Room, inside Local History. Space is limited, so RSVP at 413-499-9480 ext. 4.

🐺 Howl @ Unitarian Universalist Church | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – Grab a pew at the UU Church on Wendell as WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation turns up the volume on HOWL, 85 seconds to midnight and ticking. No crystal balls, just poets wrestling with whatever life tosses onstage, free to attend, rich in truth.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Industry-leading home warranty protection ($150 off right now)
• 62+? See how much tax-free cash your home could unlock → free calculator
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Berkshire County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 32°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 85%

Snow likely and a chance of freezing rain between 11am and 4pm, then rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. South wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Later: Freezing rain and rain and snow before 7pm, then freezing rain and rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

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Tomorrow – High: 48°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 34%

A chance of rain before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Northwest wind around 3 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain between 1am and 4am, then a chance of freezing rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind around 1 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Beautifully updated and free-standing, this one-level home offers an open layout linking living, dining, kitchen, and den, all in natural light. The chef’s kitchen has quartz counters, stainless appliances, and an island. Three bedrooms and two baths complement wood floors, a gas fireplace, and an oversized garage. Amenities include a clubhouse, pool, tennis, and fitness center, with easy Berkshires access.

Take a peek inside →