State Treasurer Warns of Scam Calls

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BOSTON — The state treasurer isn't calling you looking for money. 
 
State Treasurer Deb Goldberg issued a scam warning on Monday cautioning Bay Staters about fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from her office. 
 
The illegitimate calls claim "you owe money to the Treasury to avoid an arrest for drug possession." 
 
We're pretty sure you can't pay your way out of a drug possession charge and the Office of the State Treasurer does not call people to collect money. 
 
In her statement, Goldberg said she and her office want to ensure that no citizen is taken advantage of as part of this scam. If you receive a call like this, contact the Treasurer's office immediately at 1-617-367-6900 to confirm legitimacy.

Tags: scams,   

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Passenger Rail Advocates Rally for Northern Tier Proposal

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

Stan Vasileiadis, a Williams College student, says passenger rail is a matter of equity for students and residents. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Community, education and business leaders are promoting the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Restoration Project as a critical component for economic development — and say it's high time that Western Mass gets some of the transportation infrastructure money being spent in the eastern end of the state. 
 
"What today is all about is building support and movement momentum for this project and getting it done," said state Rep. John Barrett III on Monday, standing behind a podium with a "Bring back the Train!" at City Hall. "I think that we can be able to do it, and when we can come together as political entities, whether it's over in Greenfield, Franklin County, and putting it all together and put all our egos in the back room, I think all of us are going to be able to benefit from this when it gets done."
 
The North Adams rail rally, and a second one at noon at the Olver Transit Center in Greenfield, were meant to build momentum for the proposal for "full local service" and coincided with the release of a letter for support signed by 100 organizations, municipalities and elected officials from across the region. 
 
The list of supporters includes banks, cultural venues, medical centers and hospitals, museums and chambers of commerce, higher education institutions and economic development agencies. 
 
1Berkshire President and CEO Jonathan Butler said the county's economic development organization has been "very, very outspoken" and involved in the rail conversation, seeing transportation as a critical infrastructure that has both caused and can solve challenges involving housing and labor and declining population.
 
"The state likes to use the term generational, which is a way of saying it's going to take a long time for this project," said Butler. "I think it's the same type of verbiage, but I don't think we should look at it that way. You know, maybe it will take a long time, but we have to act what we want it next year, if we want it five years from now. We have to be adamant. We have to stay with it. And a room like this demonstrates that type of political will, which is a huge part of this."
 
The Berkshires is due for a "transformational investment" in infrastructure, he said, noting one has not occurred in his lifetime. 
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