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Saturday November 21, 2009
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What's Playing

Vampire Weekend

The Drury Drama Team presents "Dracula" on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21.

If you don't know who these guys are, just stay home. Holy batmania! "New Moon" surpasses "Dark Knight's" opening numbers.


'Pirate Radio': Good Movie Ahoy, Mateys
Movie schedules and times

Bazaars

Nov. 21

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.

Sales Fliers

 
 

Daily Digest

Hooray for Vermont's Sanders and his battle against credit card companies.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Clarksburg Crime Watch Signs



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.

Obituaries

Paul Sandler, 64
Robert J. Heideman, 73
Carol V. Vallieres, 75
More obituaries

Sports

Williams College Men's Basketball Season Outlook
2009 MIAA Girls Soccer - State Division 2

Final: Wahconah vs Cardinal Spellman
Date / Time: 11/21/2009; 3:30pm
Location: Foley Stadium, Worcester
MCLA Picked Last in Men's Preseason Coaches Poll

Media Partners

Berkshire News Network (WNAW;WUPE)
WJJW Charlie in the Morning

Election


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Adams Flood Chutes Need Cleaning

By Jen Thomas
07:48PM / Sunday, September 23, 2007

ADAMS - The town will have to clear sediment buildup and vegetation along the banks of the flood control chutes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted its annual inspection of the chutes last week and, according to Town Administrator William Ketcham, the team had few concerns.

"Generally, I'd say the inspection went well," said Ketcham, noting that the town will receive a full report in the coming months. "There were only a few concerns that I know of."

After their Sept. 17 visit, the engineers cited vegetation and sediment deposits as potential problems in the concrete flood chutes that run from Commercial Street to the Lime Street bridge.

"The engineers were concerned about vegetation and making sure it was kept cut down at the levee banks. Also, they noticed an accumulation of rocks and sediment in the concrete wall channels," Ketcham said.

The town is looking for an engineering firm to determine what can be done about the buildup of sediment.

Completed in 1958, the flood chutes were constructed in response to severe flooding in the 1930s and '40s. The concrete chutes harness 1.2 miles of the Hoosic River in town and features a gravel bottom and concrete walls along most of that length.

This year, the inspection took nearly four hours, longer than that of past years.

"Over time, USACE is becoming much more concerned about the flood control facilities across the nation, so this year's inspection was much more thorough than other years," said Ketcham.

Environmental Impact

Since 1999, several action plans have been outlined by both state and local agencies to help minimize the environmental impact of the flood chutes.

According to a report presented to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in 2004, the river is no longer able to support the trout populations that thrive in the south branch of the Hoosic River, as a result of reduced water depth, increased temperatures and lack of natural gravel substrate. In collaboration with the town, several local organizations, including the Hoosic River Watershed Association, have worked to develop a new flood protection plan that would improve aquatic habitat and public access and enjoyment of the river.

"There's been a good deal of discussion within the USACE about balancing the improvement of the fish habitat and maintaining the amount of water that flows into the Hoosic River," said Ketcham. "I understand the desire to remove the concrete and the town supports the concept of improved habitat and aesthetics as long as the capacity of the system to prevent floods is not reduced."

While feasibility studies have been completed, plans have stalled for the revitalization of the river.

"No one is talking about removing concrete at this point," said Eileen Fielding, HooRWA's executive director. "We want ecological soundness for every inch of the river but we can't support it at the cost of huge property damage."

Fielding said some of the options for restoring the river include widening the channel and converting some of the sheer drops in the chutes into ramps, but she did not know whether those ideas had gained any momentum.

"There's a lot of bureaucracy and regulations in the way," she said.

Director of Public Works Thomas Satko and Superintendent of Parks and Grounds David Nuvallie, who attended the inspection, were unavailable for comment.
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