Steve Decker cleans up in front of BankNorth on Wednesday.
More Snow
The Berkshires received several inches of snow this morning, but not enough to close schools, unlike yesterday's sleety mess. Temperatures will drop into the 20s this afternoon. A few more snow showers are expected through the weekend.
Duff'em If You've Got'em North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it.
Wanted: Eagle Eyes MassWildlife's annual eagle count runs Dec. 31 to Jan. 14. Anyone sighting one of the regal birds in Massachusetts is asked to participate.
Send date, time, location and town of eagle sightings, number of birds, whether juvenile or adult and observer's contact information to Mass.wildlife@state.ma.us.
Like to Write? iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail tdaniels@iberkshires.com to find out more.
Mars Rovers Mark 5 Years Spirit and Opportunity have been trekking the red planet for half a decade. Spirit hit the 5-year mark on Sunday; Opportunity will on Jan. 24.
Obama Transition
Your Seat at the Table Track who's meeting with the Obama transition team and what they're proposing.
Gov. Patrick testifies on casino gambling on Tuesday.
BOSTON — Casino gambling's been dealt a bad hand.
Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal for licensing casinos, which he has estimated will bring billions into state coffers and generate up to 20,000 jobs, appeared dead on arrival Tuesday as he testified before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
According to the The Boston Globe, the governor pleaded with lawmakers to change a bill they didn't like instead of killing it outright.
"I believe that allowing resort casinos to operate in Massachusetts has real benefits to working people, to cities and towns, and to the tourism sector," the governor said.
Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, House chairman of the committee has long been an opponent of the casino gambling, which has strained his relationships with the man he had backed early for the state's top office.
Bosley's not alone in his opposition; most of the Berkshire delegation has lined up behind him. State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, quipped recently that the only good thing about the plan was that the hard copy was at least recyclable.
Speaking at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Tuesday, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said gambling wasn't the answer to the state fiscal woes.
"Proponents say casinos will solve all our budget problems, lead to lower taxes, and be the salvation of cities and towns," he said, according to The Globe. "Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island all have casinos — and they all have higher taxes than Massachusetts."
The governor's figures were inflated, he said, painting a rosy picture that doesn't take into account the social effects of gambling. "The cost of creating a casino culture is too high."
The committee is expected to vote on the measure today; it could reach the House by tomorrow.
North Adams Regional Hospital went smoke-free Monday — so did all its sister sites, from Sweet Brook to Northern Berkshire Family Practice to the Women's Exchange. No ashtrays, no smoking: No butts about it.
iBerkshires accepts submissions about local events, news and opinion pieces. There are openings for freelance work, too, for qualified candidates. E-mail 
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