Williamstown's Ali Fedotowsky took a powder on Monday night, ending the latest Berkshire connection to reality TV.  She stayed long enough, however, to get Williamstown some screen time when her bachelor stopped at the Village Beautiful to meet family

While the iBerkshires staff didn't get a chance to watch the almost-rose ceremony (working on real news, not reality news), we hear she ended her run on "The Bachelor" on her own terms.  Well, in a manner of speaking anyway.

The advertising accounts manager was reportedly told to get back to work by her boss (great advertising there, FACEBOOK). With Bachelor Jake unable (because of his network contract) or unwilling (because, hey, magic phone) to pledge his troth with four potential brides left, Ali took the high road back to San Fran.

Fedotowsky's decision may have been forced by circumstance; Pamela Ptak's auffing from "Project Runway" a couple weeks ago was forced by her decision to turn a potato sack - into denim.

The judges liked the blue coloring of her strapless dress but were less than whelmed by its plain blue-jeans style. The Pittsfield native ended up being the second designer "out."

Color us disappointed. We were rooting for Ptak to go further. But you can see some of what might have been at www.pamelaptak.com.

Want to walk Rome's Appian Way  or glide along the Venetian waterways? Have we got a trip for you!

North Adams Regional Hospital's Recreation Committee is opening up its 10-day trip to Italy in the fall to community members.

The escorted tour includes visits to Rome, Florence, Venice, and other destinations and runs from Tuesday, Oct. 12, through Friday, Oct. 22.

The price is $3,056 per person, double occupancy; it's $3,776 if you're going alone but $2,891 if you can find two friends to share the room.

The price includes roundtrip flight; transportation to and from the airport here in the U.S.; full breakfast each day; seven dinners, including four special dinners with entertainment; transportation within Italy via luxury motor coach; many side trips, including walking tours of Rome, Venice and Florence, admission to the Accademia in Florence, the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City and more; and accommodations in four-star hotels (including the Grand Plaza in Venice, the Grand Hotel Baglioni in Florence, and the Cicerone Hotel in Rome).

For information on the trip and to reserve a spot, contact Lisa Pisano at 413-664-5405; Paul Kulp in the NARH Human Resources department at 413-664-5304 or Darlene Blanchette in the Quality Department at 413-664-5096.

Ciao!

We're told the North Adams SteepleCats will return once more to Joe Wolfe Field come 2010.

But what about that other county team? The Pittsfield American Defenders' sister team in the Can-Am League lost the battle for Holman Stadium in Nashua last week when the city parked a bulldozer on the field and the changed locks.

Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau told the UnionLeader.com last week, "They have a responsibility and obligation to the city that hasn't been met."

The American Defenders of New Hampshire owe $45,000 in back rent and fees for police and fire details. The team was cleaning out its offices ahead of the Aug. 31 eviction and finishing up the season on the road.

We wonder what this means for the collegiate team here in Pittsfield, which had to cut its season short win Wahconah Park turned into Wahconah Lake.

Update:  Sept. 11, 2009. The Eagle's reporting that the team has "cash flow" problems in Pittsfield, too, to the tune of $35,000 owed to the city.  "There's no deadline but I expect it in the near future," Mayor James Ruberto told The Eagle.

The team signed a three-year contract for the use of Wahconah Park that includes a $13,500 license and $400 per game, along with other user fees. A concert planned to pump up revenues turned into a disaster when only 10 percent of the hoped-for 4,000 to 5,000 attendees showed up.