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.
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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.
Staff reports iBerkshires 11:40AM / Wednesday, April 29, 2009
BOSTON — State senators will take unpaid days off before the end of the fiscal year to help close a budget gap that could soar into the hundreds of millions.
"Senators are simply doing what small businesses and families across the commonwealth are doing," said Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, in a statement. "Tightening our belts and finding ways to do more with less. I appreciate the leadership of the Senate president and the minority leader on this issue and look forward to working with them to meet the needs of the commonwealth in these challenging times."
In a bipartisan announcement released this morning, Senate President Therese Murray and Minority Leader Richard Tisei said all the senators will take furlough days.
The cost-savings won't amount to much — there are only 40 senators, 35 Democrats and five Republicans. The total savings will amount to approximately $50,000. Still, it's an important gesture, Murray said. "Every little bit counts."
"This isn't just symbolic. We're all feeling the effects of this economic downturn, and we are all sharing in the pain," said the Plymouth Democrat. "As the Senate moves forward with its reform agenda and continues work on its own budget recommendations and revenue options, we must remember that we're in this together."
The state's financial picture is anything but rosy. Gov. Deval L. Patrick has made millions in cuts over the past six months trying to close a budget gap that keeps widening. April's tax revenue figures indicate Massachusetts could be facing an additional shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in addition to the $2 billion shortfall the state has already experienced this fiscal year.
"Everything is on the table, and every agency, program and line item must be scrutinized," said Murray. "We owe it to the public."
Senators making between $50,000 and $75,000 per year will take three furlough days, while those making $75,000 or more per year will take five furlough days.
"Many Senate members have already decided not to accept their pay raises or have donated the extra money to charity instead," Tisei said. "This is just another way that we as legislators can do our part to help the commonwealth get through these difficult economic times."
Unpaid days have been taken in past fiscal crises by both senators and representatives, as well as state employees.
The furloughs are the latest cost-saving action taken by the Senate. Recent savings include:
■ $25,000 from the reduction of office supplies, including paper and citations;
■ $50,000 from 2008 to 2009 through renegotiation of Xerox lease;
■ $215,000 from a freeze on budgeted wage increases effective Feb. 1 and additional savings from freezes on hiring effective Feb. 1, on all travel as of Oct. 21, 2008, and on future capital improvements to Senate work spaces, except for emergency repairs.
Also, the Senate and House in October 2008 voluntarily reduced the Legislature's collective budget by 10 percent, saving $9.1 million, and made an additional voluntary cut of 2 percent in January, saving another $1.6 million for a total of $10.7 million.
