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The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
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


Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

 

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Broadband Bill Unanimously Passes House

Staff reports
iBerkshires
12:10PM / Tuesday, July 01, 2008

BOSTON — The state House of Representatives not only overwhelmingly passed a broadband initiative aimed bringing Internet service to underserved areas, it upped the pricetag by $15 million.

The measure was approved 144-0 on Monday afternoon. Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, earlier filed an amendment raising the bond bill's funding to $40 million.

"The additional $15 million in funding will allow us to reach further in our efforts to provide broadband access to both unserved and underserved communities, rather than having to choose one or the other," said Guyer in a statement. "This is incredibly important for my constituents and the commonwealth as a whole."

Many of the communities Guyer represents have no access to high-speed Internet.

The bond bill was unveiled last August by Gov. Deval Patrick as a way to encourage investment in broadband capacity in rural and suburban areas.

The legislation would create a broadband incentive fund for developing public and private partnerships to invest in broadband infrastructure tools like conduits, fiber and wireless towers. The fund would be managed by a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.

Some 32 communities statewide have little or no Internet access, primarily in Western Massachusetts. Other regions are locked into monopolies with no choice of provider.


To view larger map, click here
Advocates say dedicated, dependable high-spped Internet access is critical to economic development, likening broadband efforst to the massive federal initiative more than 70 years ago that brought electricity to small communities across the nation. As more and more financial and govermental transactions are being accomplished online, it also is becoming a primary way to deliver services and information to constituents and consumers.

Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, a strong proponent of the measure and House chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, called the limited access to broadband "a detriment not only to those individual communities but to the state as a whole." 

"Every day that they don't have access, we're losing the ability to cultivate our state's greatest asset – the ingenuity, creativity, and motivation of the state's residents," said Bosley in a statement. "I am very happy that the House has made such a strong commitment."

Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, said, "This is great news for our state. This is important for my district and the western part of the state in general. I share my colleagues excitement and look forward to a speedy implementation."

The bill awaits action in the Senate before being sent to the governor's desk. State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, is also a strong backer of the measure.
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