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.
State Must Overcome $953M Gap as Fiscal Year Runs Out
Staff reports iBerkshires 07:48PM / Monday, May 04, 2009
BOSTON — With April revenues falling some $100 million below even the expected shortfall, the state will have to come up another $953 million in reductions for this year's budget.
Some $2.5 billion has already been sliced since last fall, forcing cuts in local aid and slashing state jobs, as state officials sought to close a $3 billion gap caused by the global financial crisis.
"The economic downturn we have faced this year has had a significant impact on every area of state government and on the individuals, families and businesses it serves," said Gov. Deval Patrick in a statement Monday. "Every one of our priorities has been affected through each round of cuts we have made to balance the budget. We will continue to make the necessary tough choices to keep our budget in balance and manage the commonwealth through this challenging period responsibly and effectively."
The governor said he would work with the Legislature and file plans to solve this latest shortfall for fiscal 2009, which ends June 30.
April revenue collections fell $456 million below the benchmark, bringing the fiscal 2009 total budget gap to nearly $4 billion. April, traditionally the commonwealth's biggest revenue month, declined nearly $1 billion compared to last April.
The state only has $1.3 billion in its reserve account, but a Patrick administration spokesman told The Boston Globe that further cuts to local aid are not on the table.
House and Senate leaders met this afternoon to discuss the bleak outlook. The House on Friday approved a sales tax increase for next fiscal year of 1.5 percent, from 5 percent to 6.5 percent, which does not include necessities such as food and clothing. That's expected to raise nearly a billion dollars next year.
But the precipitous drop in revenues in what is traditionally the state's strongest month could increase pressure to raise more taxes.
To close budget gaps earlier in the fiscal year, the governor used spending cuts and controls, personnel reductions and furloughs, new revenues and reserves. Since October, more than $1.3 billion has been cut from the budget and $236 million in new revenues has been proposed. With less than two months left in the fiscal year, state agencies have spent more than 80 percent of their budgets, leaving little room for additional cuts.
