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.
Boston - The Senate passed legislation directing the $50 billion state pension fund to withdraw its investments in companies conducting business in or with Sudan. The legislative intent is to apply financial pressure on the Sudanese government to put an end to genocide in the country's Darfur region.
"I am proud to be a member of the legislative body that spoke in a loud, unified voice against the atrocities occurring in Sudan," stated Downing. "By withdrawing investments from targeted businesses, we send a clear and palpable message that Sudan's blatant inaction to the wide-spread genocide is unconscionable. It is my hope that other states and pension boards see divestment as a real and viable way to take action."
Downing has played a key role in this legislation, as both a co-sponsor and as the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service, to which this bill was assigned.
Within 12 months, the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (PRIM) must divest roughly $69 million in Sudanese assets. This represents investments in six companies or approximately 0.15% of PRIM's total holdings. In addition, PRIM has a significant time frame to divest from these companies and also has the option to opt-out of divesting from a company if it will negatively impact investment returns.
This is a targeted divestment plan requiring the state to divest from any company conducting business in Sudan that substantially benefits the central government, provides little benefit to Sudanese citizens, and which has failed to address ways they indirectly facilitate the practice of genocide in Sudan. This legislation does not bar investments from companies who conduct humanitarian outreach to victims of genocide.
This bill now goes before the House of Representatives for consideration.
