St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
Staff reports iBerkshires 03:57PM / Friday, December 05, 2008
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Conte Middle School is expected to reopen on Monday, a week after it was closed because of a mercury spill.
City officials say a student at the school dumped a small amount of the toxic material — about the size of a half-dollar — so he and other children would be sent home. Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco said the city would bring charges against the juvenile.
The boy's home on Barbour Street was found to have high levels of mercury contamination and was condemned; another child connected with residence had to go through decontamination procedures at North Adams Regional Hospital.
Extensive testing has been done at another school, homes, 1st Congregational Church to which students were evacuated Monday, two locations in Pittsfield, a number of private vehicles and buses and on student clothing that may have been contaminated. Conte, the Barbour Street house and some clothing were found to be contaminated.
The cost of the cleanup is expected to cost thousands of dollars, although the city is insured for such incidents.
Mayor John Barrett III told media on Thursday evening that condemning the Barbour Street residence was a safety measure to ensure no one entered the building. The family was forced to leave everything behind.
The 8-year-old girl affected is the daughter of Michael P. Fillion Jr., boyfried of the juvenile's mother. Fillion told WNYT News Channel 13 the boy got the mercury from a North County farm.
School officials, the district attorney's office and police are discussing what charges will be filed against the boy, who they say was caught in the act on the school's hallway security camera.
Mercury, once commonly used in thermometers and other devices, begins to evaporate at room temperature and can be inhaled. Prolonged contact can cause neurological and organ damage. Health officials, however, say swift cleanup of mercury spills greatly minimize any health issues.
