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.
News & Notes: Pittsfield Man Killed in Quarry Crash
Staff Reports iBerkshires 10:24PM / Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pittsfield Man Killed in Quarry Crash
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A driver whose truck ended up at the bottom of a deep quarry in Adams on Monday died from traumatic injuries in the crash.
The autopsy was performed Tuesday afternoon at Berkshire Medical Center on 36-year-old Martin Selby of Pittsfield by Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Jessica Krochmal.
The truck Selby was operating was found at the bottom of a limestone quarry at Specialty Minerals in Adams at about 7 a.m. Monday by an employee at the plant. Martin was not an employee at the plant; police were investigating how he end up there.
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless said the death does not appear to be the result of foul play.
The investigation is being conducted by state police detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and members of the Adams Police Department.
Satellite TV Customers Hit With 5 Percent State Tax
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As of July 1, the state's 2010 budget includes a 5 percent excise tax on satellite TV services such as Dish Network and DirecTV.
The excise tax was part of the municipal relief package amendment adopted in the Senate budget debate. The proposal had very little if no publicity, except to those who already had satellite services. DirecTV, for example, had an entire channel offering information on the tax and how to customers could contact their lawmakers about it.
State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing's office said cable television subscribers in Massachusetts pay a 5 percent fee on their monthly bill and, up until this point, satellite subscribers did not have to pay such a tax. Now, they do.
A representative in Downing's office also said the additional revenue generated for the commonwealth under this proposal would be approximately $22 million. Massachusetts is not alone in taxing satellite TV subscribers; at least six other states have adopted similar taxes.
Housing Authority Head Leaving
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority will be searching for a new leader.
Executive Director James Baldwin is resigning his post effective July 10 after two years here. Baldwin said he's accepted a new job closer to his Guilderland, N.Y., home, citing the 90-minute drive back and forth to North Adams as a factor in his decision.
"I've enjoyed my time here," said Baldwin. "It's been a real interesting time and, hopefully, we've done some good."
