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The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
Saturday November 21, 2009
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What's Playing


The Drury Drama Team presents "Dracula" on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21.

If you don't know who these guys are, just stay home.


'Pirate Radio': Good Movie Ahoy, Mateys
Movie schedules and times

Bazaars

Nov. 21

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.

Sales Fliers

 
 

Daily Digest

Hooray for Vermont's Sanders and his battle against credit card companies.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Clarksburg Crime Watch Signs



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.

Obituaries

Paul Sandler, 64
Robert J. Heideman, 73
Carol V. Vallieres, 75
More obituaries

Sports

Williams College Men's Basketball Season Outlook
2009 MIAA Girls Soccer - State Division 2

Final: Wahconah vs Cardinal Spellman
Date / Time: 11/21/2009; 3:30pm
Location: Foley Stadium, Worcester
MCLA Picked Last in Men's Preseason Coaches Poll

Media Partners

Berkshire News Network (WNAW;WUPE)
WJJW Charlie in the Morning

Election


Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

 

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Patrick Unveils Health Insurance Plan for Legal Immigrants

04:41PM / Monday, August 31, 2009

BOSTON – Gov. Deval Patrick revealed on Monday a plan to provide comprehensive health insurance to the 31,000 legal immigrants who were previously enrolled in Commonwealth Care and scheduled to lose their coverage because of budget reductions.

"We must maintain our commitment to the promise of health care reform in Massachusetts," said Patrick. "This innovative solution ensures hard-working individuals and families have access to the care they need."

CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts will provide health benefits for legal immigrants whose Commonwealth Care benefits were terminated starting on Oct. 1. This plan will offer virtually full coverage and utilize the $40 million appropriated by the Legislature to sustain health care for this vital population.

The program's implementation will be staggered geographically over three months. It is expected that a significant number of members will be enrolled for October, and all members of the new plan will be enrolled in CeltiCare by Dec. 1 and have access to the Health Safety Net or to MassHealth Limited for any coverage gaps that may occur.

"I am very appreciative that we are able to provide health care coverage for the entire impacted tax-paying, legal immigrant population. I look forward to working together with providers whose support will be critical in ensuring continuity of coverage for members," said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby.

MassHealth, the Commonwealth Connector Authority, and the Health Safety Net will be working closely to ensure that information is available to members with questions, and that individuals with immediate health care needs are directed to appropriate sources of care.

In implementing its historic health care reform plan in 2006, the commonwealth made a decision to pay the full cost for health insurance coverage of legal immigrants, including "aliens with special status." While the governor proposed to continue this coverage in his 2010 budget submission, the Legislature eliminated Commonwealth Care coverage for this population. 

Patrick vetoed this provision and offered an amendment to find a way to continue meaningful coverage with proposed funding of $70 million. The Legislature further modified the his proposal, reducing funding to $40 million in a supplemental budget. Given that it cost $130 million to cover legal immigrants in fiscal 2009 and that the governor proposed to create some level of coverage for them with $70 million, it has been very challenging to craft a coverage option with only $40 million in funding.
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