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.
Schmick Joins Berkshire Money Management of Pittsfield
05:14PM / Friday, June 19, 2009
Bill Schmick
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — William "Bill" Schmick has been named portfolio manager at Berkshire Money Management.
"Everybody in the area knows Bill — either through his weekly newspaper columns, his blog site www.afewdollarsmore.com, or some other, more direct positive impact," said Allen Harris, president and chief investment officer of Berkshire Money Management. "Berkshire Money Management has silently grown to one of the largest and most successful financial firms in the region. Bill is the perfect candidate to help us make some noise by helping the huge number of this area's investors who are looking to make the move from their current situation to an investment management team that offers complete and timely advice."
Schmick will be working directly with Harris in managing client portfolios and establishing the firm as the largest investment adviser in the region. His responsibilities include day-to-day analysis of both the global bond and stock markets while helping to shape the client's portfolio to meet the challenges of today's markets. He will also use his 30 years of financial experience to communicate with and expand the firm's client base in the region.
His recent track record of identifying and helping investors avoid the worst of last year's decline in the markets coincides with Berkshire Money Management's own performance during that period, said Harris.
"We think the same way and agree on most of the variables that will be important in shaping the markets in the years to come," Schmick said of Harris, his new boss. "He is no bull-market baby and has a great team of professionals who are not wedded to the buy-and-hold approach that devastated most investors' portfolios over the last 18 months."
Schmick earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Temple University after serving four years in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He also earned a master of business administration from New York University and a certificate in financial planning from Kaplan University.
Schmick also writes financial columns for some of the largest publications in the tri-state region and is a regular contributor to iBerkshires.com. He resides with his wife, Barbara (who will also be joining the firm shortly), in Hillsdale, N.Y.
Berkshire Money Management manages more than $180 million for clients throughout the Berkshire region. For information about Berkshire Money Management or to contact Schmick, call toll free at 888-232-6072.
Editor: OK children, I am cutting off comments that are repetitious or simply name-calling. Grow up. If you have a grievance or question of either Mr. Harris or Mr. Schmick, I suggest you contact them personally. They are very easy to get a hold off. So am I: Tammy Daniels, 413-663-3384, Ext. 29. See? We use our real names.
Ok for the people in the cheap seats, I am not a broker. I saw an article, which is not an article but an advertisement that is bogus.
Let's disect this article -
"Everybody in the area knows Bill" - That's baloney and inflated he is not even from the area.
"Berkshire Money Management has silently grown to one of the largest and most successful financial firms in the region" - ok you have some assets under management but how do you know where you stand against your competitors, where is the proof?
"He will also use his 30 years of financial experience" - His own blog says different.
"certificate in financial planning from Kaplan University." - Where's the CFP to go with the certificate?
And I am sure if you go over the blog he missed on many things, if he was that great he would be retired and a millionaire.
from: Truth Seeker
on: 06-25-2009
You must also be a shill for Harris because Berkshire MM was not up last year! Why is Harris hiring all these writers?
from: To Jason
on: 06-25-2009
Folks can also find Bill "the Shill" Schmick by doing a yahoo search. If Bill is so smart why is he still working?
from: Yahoo search
on: 06-25-2009
Harris was not up last year and has not participated in this years rally. Time for Harris and Bill "the shill" to look in the mirror before putting other people down. ps. google does have Bill the shill Schmick on their web site.
from: Tell us the Truth
on: 06-25-2009
"Schmick..and Harris... No wonder they did well last year along with Madoff!"
Brokers: Down 50-70%
Schmick & Harris: UP!
No wonder why these no-named brokers are running scared!
from: Jason Avery
on: 06-25-2009
Google , Bill Shill Schmick for details on the Harris shill.
from: Bank Trust Officer
on: 06-25-2009
Yeah, Don, it seems as if all of these brokers perceive Schmick, Harris, & Berkshire as serious threats.
And these brokers are not giving their names. It makes you think that clients are leaving them and are afraid them and that Harris & Schmick will take them.
It sure seems that instead of running scared, maybe these brokers should get back to work and try to start making back some of that money they lost for clients.
from: Terry Brown
on: 06-25-2009
Wow.
There are lot of desperate and fearful brokers whom "doth protest too much."
I guess these Berkshire folks are keeping you guys up at night.
What's wrong, brokers? Are you having trouble dealing with clients now that you lost half their money?
That's why investors should buy CDs in Bank IRAs. No risk, like the market. No losers, like the brokers.
from: Don
on: 06-25-2009
Schmick has problems with 27 vs 30 and Harris is 36 but has 20 years experience. No wonder they did well last year along with Madoff!
from: Years and returns
on: 06-24-2009
Here is something reall funny. I googled Bill Schmick and the 9th item down is an article he wrote on PRLOG.com in the article Bill states he has 27 years experience. Since this article was written less than a year ago how did he end up with 30 years experience this year? Is Bill living in cat years? or is his experience inflated just like his returns are?
from: Truth Seeker
on: 06-24-2009
Hey Reality - Its called a google search. It's not much effort. The Berkshire Money Management website lists under the bios that these people worked at Dion Money Management.
I am not in your category and I don't work in the Berkshires so needless to say questions are being asked and I am seeking the truth and I don't understand how you can connect that Bill the Shill or Bershire Management can provide better management unless you have an interest in Bershire management. (Hello Harris) So please brag again how you doubled your workforce from 2 to 4 people again.
from: Truth Seeker
on: 06-24-2009
Why do Harris and Schmick continue to put other professionals down? What are they hiding?
from: Glass House
on: 06-24-2009
I Googled "Bill the Shill Schmick" Very funny. Looking forward to more of his promotional articles.
from: Hard Working Broker
on: 06-24-2009
It appears as if many sub-par investment managers are becoming nervous and very defensive now that Berkshire is calling them out for not properly servicing their clients.
I applaud Berkshire for doing so. It is about time that firms put their clients first instead of their profits.
If you are not one of managers that fit the sub-par criteria mentioned by Schmick and Harris, then you have nothing to worry about. But I guess if you were in that category, you wouldn't be writing negative comments here.
Semms that some writers know an awful lot about who worked where and when. I'm glad you did your research, but how does that advance the cause of providing people with better management? Perhaps you should focus your energy elsewhere.
from: Reality
on: 06-24-2009
I did some research based on the last poster comments. It appears that Bershire Money Management has 50% of its employees previously working for Dion Money Management, including Mr. Harris. William Schmick also worked there as well.
I also decided to look into his Certificate of Financial Planning from Kaplan University. This certificate is given to people when completing courses to take the CFP exam. Mr. Scmick is not a CFP, so the question is when are you taking the exam? or did you already fail this test?
Something smells fishy in the Bershires.
from: Truth Seeker
on: 06-24-2009
Please help us expose Bill "the Schill" Schmick. The last post asks some very important questions. Does anyone have any background information on Alan Harris or Mr Schmick that we all should know about? By putting Berkshire County investment professionals down they must both be clean as a whistle and model citizens. Please provide us what you know on these two "geniuses"
from: Brokers of Berkshire County
on: 06-23-2009
Hey Bill "the shill",
If you have 30 years financial experience two questions:
1. How come you are not registered with FINRA/NASD under broker check for ever being licensed with a broker dealer or having a securities license like a series 6 or 7. (I looked under William Schmick and Bill the Shill.)
2. How come you haven't been able to manage your portfolio so that you can retire?
from: Truth Seeker
on: 06-23-2009
Its sad you are now known as Bill "the Shill" because I use to enjoy your honest commentary. Why did you promote Berkshire and put other people down without telling you readers you were on the payroll?
from: Former reader
on: 06-22-2009
"Berkshire has never had a client leave". I have a bridge to sell you. My check is in the mail.
from: Gone from Berkshire
on: 06-22-2009
Dear “Left Berkshire for Broker”,
Berkshire Money Management has no clients that have ever left.
Nice try though.
from:
on: 06-22-2009
I can tell you that Harris should not be hiring a shill to put other people down when his track record is not very good. He should spend his time helping his clients not lose money which is what happened to me. Lets be honest, the market has been tough for everyone unless you had your money with Madoff or Stamford!
from: Left Berkshire for Broker
on: 06-22-2009
See the various comments under Bills last article to get a true flavor of Bill and Berkshire. A good and honest broker
from: Problems at Berkshire
on: 06-19-2009
Welcome aboard!
This is a great hire for Berkshire Money Management. Every credible money management firm in the region wanted Bill to join their ranks, and I am excited that he chose to come here.
Over the last 24-months other financial firms have been reducing their payroll, but we have literally doubled our workforce over that time as our business has grown due to our clients telling their friends and family about how happy they have been with our investment returns.
We have always been a national firm, but with the inclusion of Bill to the team we are now opening the doors wider to local high net worth investors.
If you have an investment portfolio and have either been unhappy with your performance or simply are unsure if your current situation is appropriate for you, then I encourage you to contact Bill today to receive a free second opinion.
Warm Regards,
Allen Harris
Owner, Berkshire Money Management
from: Allen Harris
on: 06-19-2009
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