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Saturday November 21, 2009
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What's Playing


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

If you don't know who these guys are, just stay home.


'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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North Berkshire School Union Losing Superintendent

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
03:47PM / Tuesday, April 08, 2008

John D. Barry
File photo
CLARKSBURG — After more than nine years guiding the North Berkshire School Union, John D. "Jay" Barry is taking a position slightly closer to home.

Barry was selected as the new superintendent last week of the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District, which serves nearly 2,000 students in Grades K-12 near the Connecticut border.

It's almost a straight shot down Interstate 91 from Barry's home in Amherst, and likely a shorter ride than his daily treks back and forth over the mountains to the Northern Berkshire schools and the central office in North Adams.

The drive was one reason, but not the only one that informed his decision to apply for the Southwick-Tolland job, he said.

"It's a good time [to move] in terms of my career," said Barry on Monday. "It's a very nice school district, very student-oriented."

The district is at least three times the size of the union of Clarksburg, Savoy, Florida and Monroe, which serves only up to Grade 8.

David Berger, chairman of the Clarksburg School Committee, said on Monday that his committee was aware that Barry had applied for another position and that the superintendent had called to let him know he'd been accepted.

Barry has a good relationship with the schools and his presence will be missed, said Berger, especially as Clarksburg moves ahead with its school renovation plans.

The union is a loose agreement between the towns to share administrative staff and costs; the committee meets twice a year, with each town represented by three individuals.

Barry said it was hard to pick one thing that occurred in the union of which he was particularly proud.

"The schools are all different, some have worked on programs and others on buildings," he said. "But it's been a collaborative process, all of us working for the kids. It's ending on a nice note."

School officials for the union hope to meet next week to begin the process of replacing Barry. The union will rely heavily on the its field service representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said Berger.

The representative, Pat Correira, will help committee members decide whether it's possible to get a new superintendent in place by fall or if the union should settle on an interim leader for now. She'll also do the advertising, setting up of interviews, and other aspects of the hiring process.

"It's very cost efficient. We just don't have the time that it takes to do all that," said Berger.

Correira's already proven successful — she helped guide the union to Barry back in 1999.

"He's a really good guy," said Correira on Tuesday. "But I feel bad for the School Committee because they're losing an outstanding superintendent."

Barry, who earned his master's and doctorate in education from Harvard University, was hired to replace John Cullinan in 1998. In Southwick-Tolland, he's be replacing Thomas E. Witham, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

There were three finalists for the Southwick-Tolland position, one of whom dropped out. The choice came down to Barry and the current assistant superintendent of schools, Paul R. Petit. Barry was informed of the committee's decision on Tuesday night.

While he won't miss the long drive (and the cost of frequently filling his tank), Barry said he will miss the journey amid the Berkshire foliage in the fall, and the "good people" he's worked with.

He'll also miss his job judging the annual Oh Be Thankful Pie Contest and Auction held by his schools each November. Barry's gotten into some spirited bidding wars over pies.

"Somebody better remember to invite me back for that."
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