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.
By Catherine Williams 06:00AM / Tuesday, October 30, 2007
State House News Service
BOSTON - Opponents of Gov. Deval Patrick's casino legislation gathered outside the capitol Monday morning to issue a call to arms and protest the plan, warning that if passed, it would lead to more individuals and families coping with the ramifications of gambling addictions.
Leaders representing the mentally ill, women voters and churches held a news conference to launch a coalition aimed at preventing the advent of casino gambling in Massachusetts. The group, known as Casino Free Mass, plans to hold a series of regional meetings across Massachusetts and is calling on casino opponents to connect with each other at www.casinofreemass.org.
Patrick is betting the casino measure will bring in much-needed revenue into the state and spur economic growth in communities outside of the 495 belt. Supporters of Patrick's plan say casinos will bolster the economy and create stable revenue sources for transportation spending and property tax relief.
Opponents, including Leo Maley, a community leader in Amherst, said casino gambling would fail to provide a steady flow of dollars into municipal coffers and would damage local small businesses.
"This is not a good way to raise government revenue," said Maley. "It sucks the life out of communities instead of revitalizing communities."
Coalition members include the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, community activists from Western Massachusetts, and representatives from 1,700 Bay State congregations across 17 religious denominations, said Laura Everett, associate director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts first voiced its opposition to casino gambling in 1982, said Diane Jeffery, president of the league. The league opposes casinos because casino jobs are short term, such as construction jobs, or low paying. In addition, casinos sprout crime, gambling addiction and traffic, according to studies conducted by the league.
"At a time when cities and towns are looking for money, this is not the time to bring in gambling," said Jeffery, in an interview. "We need to focus on industries that don't drain the economy."
Opponents also fear casinos breed gambling addiction and related mental health problems.
"Casinos hurt families," said Louis Derry-Wells, a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
House leaders, including Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, who is the co-chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, have expressed serious reservations about the plan, which has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing.
Casino Free Mass plans to hold its first regional meeting on Nov. 12 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
