Massachusetts is cut off on this graphic but it looks like rain for sure is headed our way.
Fourteen months after Irene deluged the region, another hurricane is headed our way. The sweetly named Sandy (now dubbed "Frankenstorm") is expected to arrive early next week just in time for Halloween.
We'll be meeting with North Adams officials this afternoon about emergency preparations and checking in with other towns. We'll do our best to keep everyone as up-to-date as possible on cancellations and closures around the county.
Sandy coulddid dampen the opening of the Hoosac Wind Project, which has had its own stormy path to completion over the past decade.
Gov. Deval Patrick and EOEEA Secretary Richard Sullivan Jr. were scheduled to arrive on Florida mountain with other state and local officials on Monday morning to celebrate with turbine-developer Iberdrola the near completion of the state's largest utility-scale wind power project. We learned Friday morning shortly after posting this that the press conference has been been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Meanwhile, the governor is warning state utiltities to have their ducks in row for this storm after complaints during last year's disasters of delays and poor communication with local officials. He's holding a press avail at noon to talk about the storm but no word yet on whether we'll be able to listen in.
None of the contaminated steroids linked to the outbreak are known to have been used in the area, Berkshire Medical Center and North Adams Regional Hospital told us several weeks ago; since then, all products from the New England Compounding Center (now under criminal investigation) have been removed from their stock.
Remember Tom Finneran, once the most powerful man in the state? He's not getting that taxpayer-funded pension.
Oops. Gene Shalit's being charged after hitting a pole in Lenox on Wednesday and ending up in someone's front yard. Shalit, 86, reportedly told police he dozed off. No one was hurt.
A reminder that tonight is the Halloween parade in Pittsfield;road closures can be found here. If you're looking for a scare, try the North Adams Movieplex, which is offering a raft of horror movies and two Halloween-themed comedies.
Gov. Deval Patrick stops by the Rice Silk Mill in Pittsfield this afternoon for a ribbon-cutting and a message about Gateway Cities (of which Pittsfield is one). We were at the mill 10 months ago when developers were getting ready to turn the derelict building into sweet apartments. Can't wait to see the changes.
Looking for some bargains? The state's auctioning off some $435,000 in unclaimed property on eBay beginning Saturday and running through Dec. 22. Some of the items, including a diamond ring worth $17,000 and a 300-year-old brandy snifter were on display in Springfield. You can catch them today in Worcester (from noon to 5) or wait until they show up on eBay.
The Boston Business Journal has a pretty "hot" map: it shows where in the state the millionaires cluster. Dark red indicates fewer than 100 residents per million-dollar earner. Not surprisingly, the Berkshire millionaires are cluster in South County and Williamstown.
Well, the Doc made up for it in his followup, 'I'm from Western Mass," which was released Thursday evening. The newest video features locations throughout the county.
After Thursday's release, Dr. Westchesterson plans on hitting the road, which will take him to the Berkshires. He is scheduled to perform at Chameleon's Nightclub on Saturday, Nov. 24.
