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.
Williamstown OK's Property Sale for Affordable Housing
By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff 03:29PM / Tuesday, September 29, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A long vacant property on Main Street will hopefully become a new home for a deserving family.
The board approved a motion on Monday night to sell the so-called Danaher property for affordable housing, with the purpose of conveying the title to Habitat for Humanity.
Town Manager Peter Fohlin said he had been approached by John "Jack" Madden, a member of the board of directors for Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and former selectman, that the nonprofit might be interested in fixing up the property.
The house at 37 Main St. was taken in November 2007 for $16,363.18 in delinquent taxes, water/sewer charges and other fees. Interest and maintenance has brought that total to $18,784.01 so far, said Fohlin.
A public auction in January failed to solicit a bid and no other interest in the property has occurred.
The town can place a restriction on the property to promote affordable housing. The motion stated the sale must be to "an individual or family whose income is 50 percent or less of the median in Berkshire County." The restriction should deter anyone seeking to "flip" the house, said Fohlin, although no one has expressed any interest in doing so. The details of the sale will be made by the treasurer/collector and town counsel.
Fohlin said it would be good outcome for the land; four neighbors who attended the meeting agreed.
"Bill Danaher was a lifelong resident of Williamstown," said Selectwoman Jane Allen. "I think he'd be very pleased with this outcome as well."
■ The board also approved one-day wine and malt licenses for four Williams College home football games and a senior class event on the quad in November. An application by Mezze Events at 777 Cold Spring Road for a liquor license was withdrawn because the operation will be a catered function hall not requiring a restaurant or innkeeper license. The former Le Jardin was purchased by Mezze partners Bo Peabody and Nancy Thomas as the restaurant company's headquarters.
■ Signed a water and sewer warrant for $202,881.94.
■ Authorized short-term borrowing of $827,000 in anticipation of state reimbursement of Chapter 90 monies for work at Field Park. The town has spent about $2 million on road projects, including the upfront costs for the rotary, said Fohlin, requiring borrowing at this point until taxes begin to flow into the town's coffers next month.
The Selectmen praised the work and planning down by Fohlin and the Department of Public Works on the project.
"I think there was good thinking and good planning behind it," said Chairman Thomas Costley. "The people coming from Route 2 will slow down and won't fly through that intersection."
"It's not sexy stuff, it's just a road," he continued. "But it's important stuff and it takes a lot of thinking and planning."
