News & Notes: Credit Crunch Halts Taconic Auction
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The auction of the Taconic Restaurant on Route 7 has been put on hold.
Yesterday's scheduled auction of the vacant property was postponed when only one bidder was able to secure financing up front. The current crisis in the credit market affect the two dozen other bidders who showed up for the action.
Owner Ariel Sutain decided to reschedule the auction until Dec. 4, hoping the financial world will calm down by then. The minimum bid to purchase the Taconic Restaurant was $200,000 dollars.
Poll: Voters saying yes to pot, no to tax cut
BOSTON — A new poll finds that supporters of a ballot initiative to kill the state income tax are having trouble winning over voters.
The poll released Thursday by Suffolk University and WHDH-TV found 59 percent of voters oppose the question, 26 percent support it and 14 percent are undecided.
Local officials have said passage of Question 1 would devastate local budgets that rely heavily on state aid and lead to increases in other funding sources, such as property taxes. Several lawmakers and local leaders are expected to speak at a forum on the question at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams this evening at 5 on the second floor of Murdock Hall.
A second question that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana appeared to be doing better, with 51 percent supporting it, 32 percent opposing, and 16 percent undecided. Berkshire County District Attorney David F. Capeless has come out strongly against the initiative.
Voters appeared most split over the question of whether to ban greyhound racing, with 44 percent supporting the question, 43 percent opposed, and 13 percent unsure.
The poll of 400 registered voters was conducted Oct. 20 through Oct. 22 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.
Town Election Coming Up In Washington
WASHINGTON, Mass. — The election season in the town of Washington doesn't end with presidential and statewide elections on Nov. 4 — a special town election is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15.
While it's too late to register to vote in the presidential election, Washington residents still have time to register in the upcoming town election. A voter registration session will take place at the town clerk's residence at 1214 Lover's lane on Monday from 2 to 4 and at Town Hall on Summit Hill Road from 7 to 9. These are the
last scheduled times that you will be able to register.
North Adams Registry Office Set to Move
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Registry of Motor Vehicles is preparing to move from its current location on the Curran Highway to the former Robert's Co. building at 33 Main St.
The move is set to take place at the end of next month. The Registry will take up a section of the first floor of the building. There are no plans to cut any jobs at the registry, and the move is on schedule despite recent budget cuts made by Gov. Deval Patrick this month.
Office hours at the registry will be changing slightly. The registry will open at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. as part of a statewide plan, and the office will be close between noon and 1 daily so that employees may have a lunch break.
