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The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
Saturday November 7, 2009
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Sports


High School Football
11-07-09 - Hoosac Valley beats Drury.
More photo's on Monday
Thursday, Nov. 06

Boys' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
McCann Tech 3, Keefe Tech 2

Girls' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
Blackstone Valley 8, McCann Tech 0
Fall Basketball Clinics

Election

Barrett Reflects on Accomplishments with Capital News 9
Alcombright's Victory Speech

Which election's more important?
Pittsfield
North Adams
Neither, nothing will change
  
pollcode.com free polls

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

Daily Digest


This is Jake
He's been lost in Pittsfield for weeks but frequently sited. He was last seen heading toward the fire station on Peck's Road. He's tired, dirty and needs seizure medication. He's chipped. If you see him, call Julie at 413-537-5616, the vet 24/7 at 413-499-2820 or animal control at 413-448-9700.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Thanks to Gabriella Bond for sharing her memories of the Quincy Street house torn down last week.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.

What's Playing


The popular anime character "Astro Boy" searches for acceptance on the big screen.


'Serious Man':
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Confounded
Movie schedules and times

Obituaries

Alice R. Filiault, 87
Lucille Burt, 92
More obituaries
Mary M. Hanlon, 82
George F. Sarrouf, 73

Sales Fliers

 
 

 

Bazaars

Nov. 7:

VNA & Hospice, Community Room, North Adams

North Adams Elks
10-4; Nov. 8, 9-2
Crafters, Chinese auction, bake sale
For vendor information, Melanie at 413-743-5562.

Nov. 14

Berkshire Community Church, Richmond
10-4; Crafters, bake sale. Contact Evelyn Goggia at 413-445-5747

Lanesborough Elementary School annual Fall Craft Fair from 10 to 4. Free admission, huge variety of arts and crafts, raffles, food and more. Proceeds go to sixth-grade trip to Cape Cod.

Vendors can contact Deb at 413-738-5349 or debhutton@aol.com or Lori at 413-499-0065 or lorittod@yahoo.com to secure a spot.

Dec. 12-13

North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Contact Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.

Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.

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Western Mass. Gets Higher Profile in DeLeo's House

Staff reports
iBerkshires
04:22PM / Friday, February 13, 2009


iBerkshires file
Robert A. DeLeo makes a point during a visit to the Crane Museum in Dalton last summer. Western Mass. representatives who supported the Ways and Means chairman for speaker made out well; others, not so much.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The change in speakers at the State House has also brought some changes for the region's delegation, including a bump in leadership positions for districts west of Worcester.

Rep. Daniel E. Bosley has found himself demoted while two early supporters of House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo have landed plum roles as vice chairmen.

Rep. Denis E. Guyer informed his sprawling and largely rural district of his new position as vice chairman of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture in an e-mail Thursday, saying "I am honored to serve on this committee, which is so important to my district and I am particularly humbled that Speaker DeLeo has entrusted me with this leadership position."

Pittsfield Democrat Christopher N. Speranzo was appointed vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee. "Given my background as an assistant attorney general this appointment is a natural fit for me," said Speranzo in a statement. "Serving as the vice chair of Judiciary gives me the opportunity to tackle some of the most serious issues impacting the entire criminal justice system of the commonwealth."

Bosley, of North Adams, had tried to stay out of the speaker's race, backing DeLeo over John H. Rogers of Norwood only after embattled Speaker Salvatore DiMasi stepped down. He was rewarded by being bumped from his position as House chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies to a vice chairman spot on the Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditure and State Assets.

DiMasi had been of like mind with the veteran North Adams Democrat when it came to casinos, helping kill attempts by lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick to expand gambling through casinos or dog track slots. DeLeo, of Winthrop, has Suffolk Downs in his district.

Under Bosley's leadership, the Committee on Economic Development had rejected the governor's bill for three casino licenses but he had also been instrumental in the passage of other initiatives, such as the Green Communities Act, broadband for rural communities and the $55 million science building planned for Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

The Berkshires won't lose a voice on that committee because Guyer has also been appointed to it and to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Speranzo, who served on Ways and Means under DeLeo, will continue on that committee giving the Berkshires two seats on Beacon Hill's most powerful panel.

Also gaining a seat on the Economic Development and Emerging Technology Committee is Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli. The Berkshires lost a chairmanship but gained two seats as well on that influential panel.

The Lenox Democrat retained his seats on the Higher Education and Cultural Development committees.

Other Western Mass. delegates had lined up behind DeLeo last summer as the battle lines were being drawn over DiMasi's alleged ethics violations.

DeLeo made a rare trip to the Berkshires last July at the invitation of Guyer and Speranzo. The powerful House Ways and Means chairman had been courting support in what had long been predicted as a showdown between he and Rogers, the majority leader.

According The Republican, DeLeo's ascension has nearly doubled the number of Western Mass. representatives in leadership positions, from six to 10, which carry salary bonuses. (Chairman and vice chairman get an extra $7,500 to $15,000 on top of their $58,000 salaries.) All those appointed had backed DeLeo early on.

Guyer had previously served on the Environmental Committee as well as the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling and Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

Speranzo had previously served on the Joint Committees on Community Development and Small Business and on Health Care Financing.

In another boon for the region, Sen. Benjamin B. Downing was named to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Revenue.

(As of Friday afternoon, new committee assignments had not been updated on the representatives' Web sites.)
Your Comments
Post Comment
The Bosley thing was all about the two racetracks in deLeo's district that want to become "racinos".
from: anonon: 02-13-2009

DeLeo's new ethics reform plan has also been released....he will now only accept cash in a white envelope. Unwrapped cash will directed to Rep. Petrolotti who will make the appropriate disperesments to Sen. Wilkerson, Rep. Swan and Councillor Turner.
from: ctremon: 02-13-2009



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