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.
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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.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mayoral candidate Dick Alcombright discusses property tax increases:
I have heard that if I am elected I will raise taxes. I ask you to remember that I am a homeowner and taxpayer in this city and have been for over 30 years. I don't like property tax increases any more than you do. The fact remains that property taxes in this city have increased each and every year since 2005 and maybe beyond that.
These records are available on the Department of Revenue Web site. Additionally, taxes in North Adams according to one Department of Revenue source indicate that taxes (on average) have increased over the past five years a total of 23 percent as compared to the state average of 19 percent. Additionally, Adams, Williamstown and Pittsfield were all at or below the state average.
Why would the fact that I might have to increase taxes to maintain city services be any different from the fact that Mayor Barrett has done it every year? Mayor Barrett has increased property taxes even in years when state aid has been increased. Please feel free to contact my campaign headquarters for the facts and figures on this. It's all a matter of public record and available on the Department of Revenue Web site. When state aid is drastically reduced, as it has been this year and will likely be next year, there are very few options for local governments.
My preference would be to grow the local economy by attracting businesses and development to increase the tax base. This is the only way to slow the reliance on property tax and our ever increasing dependency on state aid.
Until we are able to achieve those goals, property taxes are likely to increase, as they have every year, unless local services are cut. Unfortunately, for the last several years of the current administration property taxes have not only increased, but local services have decreased. I do not consider that to be an acceptable solution. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions on my position. I will be happy to discuss it with you in detail.
