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Thursday, July 02, 2009
Excise Tax For Satellite Users In New 2010 State Budget
As of July 1st, the state’s 2010 budget includes a 5% excise tax on satellite
TV services such as Dish and Direct TV. The excise tax was part of the municipal
relief package amendment adopted in the Senate budget debate. DirectTV had a
whole channel dedicated to fighting the Massachusetts tax but it did no good.
State Senator Ben Downing’s office said that currently, cable television
subscribers in Massachusetts pay a 5% fee on their monthly bill and up until
this point, satellite subscribers did not have to pay such a tax. Now, they do.
State Senator Downing’s office said that additional revenue generated for the
Commonwealth under this proposal would be approximately $22 Million.
Massachusetts is not alone in taxing satellite TV subscribers. At least six
other states have adopted similar taxes.
Café Latino Closing At Mass Moca In North Adams
On September 15, Café’ Latino at Mass MoCA in North Adams is closing its
doors after four years of operation. There has been speculation around town that
the owners of Café’ Latino were thinking of opening the café’ in the former
Jae’s Inn on Cold Spring Road…since the owners of Café’ Latino had purchased
that property in April. The Berkshire Eagle reports that the owners of Café’
Latino have no current plans to open in Williamstown. Mass MoCA Marketing
Director Katherine Myers said the restaurant is exercising an option to end
their lease early and the museum is in the process of finding a new tenant for
the space.
Bronx NY Man Held On High Bail After Court Appearance
A Bronx, NY man who was arrested after the execution of a search warrant on
14 Spring Street in North Adams and the Howard Johnson Motel in Williamstown on
June 1, 2009, was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court yesterday. 22-year-old
Ural Robinson pled not guilty to a long list of drug charges including
trafficking in cocaine. Superior Court Judge John Agostini ordered Robinson held
at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50-thosuand dollars cash bail.
BCC TO Hold Fall Registration Sessions At McCann Tech
Berkshires, Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield will be holding courses
at McCann Technical High School in North Adams this fall and is offering two
registration nights for the courses…….Wednesday August 26 and Tuesday September
1st. Courses to be held at McCann Tech include Western Civilization Since 1500,
Introduction To Composition, Human Growth And Development. The courses begin at
McCann Technical High school on September 8th.
First Windsor Lake Concert Of The Season Moved To Sunday
The first Windsor Lake “Concerts at the Lake” series of shows for 2009 last
night, had to be moved to Sunday July 5th at 7PM due to rain. The Eagles Band
from Pittsfield was due to perform before the clouds and rain moved in. The free
concerts are held on the shore of Windsor Lake and Historic Valley Campgrounds.
Throughout the season, any Wednesday concerts that are rained out will
automatically be moved to Sunday at the same time.
Third Thursdays In Pittsfield Voted Top 10 “Free” Things To Do In
Massachusetts
Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto was happy to announce yesterday that
Pittsfield’s Third Thursday events have been recognized by AAA of Southern New
England as being one of the 10 best Free things to do in Massachusetts. The
recognition came in the June issue of the AAA magazine…Horizons. Mayor Ruberto
said that such recognition of Pittsfield’s Third Thursday continues to change
the perception that is transforming Pittsfield into the best small city in the
Northeast. The theme for the July Third Thursday is a summer beach party in
which Palace Park on North Street will be transformed into a sandy beach.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
North Adams Mayor Barrett Running For Another Term
North Adams Mayor John Barrett made it official yesterday. He took out
nomination papers for another term in office…his 14th. Barrett is the longest
sitting mayor in Massachusetts…having been first elected in 1983. Barrett had
told the Berkshire News Network he would not take out nomination papers until
the 2010 budget was settled. Barrett said that North Adams’ finances are a major
reason that would run again. At a budget release press conference last week,
Barrett told the Berkshire News Network that he is more worried about the 2011
budget then the new 2010 budget because there are more uncertainties in the
upcoming year. Barrett is facing North Adams City Councilor Richard Alcombright
for Mayor in the November election.
Identity Of Limestone Quarry Crash Victim Released
Police have released the name of the driver of the truck that drove off the
edge of a road at the Specialty Minerals limestone quarry in Adams early Monday
morning. An autopsy was performed yesterday afternoon at Berkshire Medical
Center in Pittsfield, revealing that 36-year-old Martin Selby of Pittsfield,
died as a result of traumatic injuries sustained in the crash. Berkshire County
District Attorney David Capeless said the death did not appear to be the result
of foul play. The investigation is being conducted by state police detectives
assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and members of the Adams Police
Department.
North Adams Woman Brought Up On Drug Charges
46-year-old Kathleen Lear of 150 Ashland Street, was arraigned in Berkshire
Superior Court yesterday on drug charges. Lear pled not guilty to 3 counts of
distribution of cocaine, 2 counts of drug violation within a drug free school
zone and one count of possession of cocaine. Superior Court Judge John Agostini
ordered Lear held on $20-thosuand dollars cash bail. It’s alleged that Lear sold
cocaine in North Adams on May 26, 2009 and twice on May 27, 2009 and was in
possession of cocaine when arrested on June 1, 2009. The investigation was
conducted by members of the North Adams and Dalton Police Departments and state
troopers assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.
Few Take The Time To Complain To Those Willing To Listen
Members of the Department of Telecommunications and Cable made the trip last
night to Pittsfield to hear complaints from Verizon customers about phone and
internet service. But only a half-dozen people showed up at Berkshire Community
College to tell members of the commission about their problems. IBerkshires.com
reports today that among those who were angry enough to talk to the commission
were Hancock Selectmen Chairman Sherman Derby and Otis Fire Department Captain
and Highway Superintendent, Christopher Bouchard. A number of Western
Massachusetts towns, including Hancock and Williamstown, submitted letters of
support for a regional investigation of Verizon's quality of service earlier
this year.
Windsor Lake Series Of Concerts Begins Tonight In North Adams
The city of North Adams is also starting their summer offering of “Concerts
at the Lake,” with the first one to be held tonight at 7pm and continuing each
Wednesday through August 5th. The series is held on the hillside of the shore of
Windsor Lake and Historic Valley Campgrounds. The kick-off for the Concert at
the Lake series is the 47-piece Eagles band….celebrating over 70 years as the
oldest continuing performance ensemble in the Berkshires. In case of rain, the
concert will be rescheduled for Sunday at the same time.
New Fiscal Year For Area Towns And Cities
The 2010 fiscal year begins for cities and towns throughout the Berkshires
today…July 1st and most budgets are leaner in most areas. North Adams enters the
new fiscal year with a $34.7 million dollar budget which, according to Mayor
John Barrett, will be closely monitored during the year if the recession
continues. In Pittsfield, they’re starting off their fiscal year with a $122.7
million dollar budget, which Mayor James Ruberto says is much slimmer then last
year. In just about every town and city in the Berkshires, budgets were planned
based on projected state revenue.
Outdoor Movies On Four Sundays In Williamstown
Images Cinema in Williamstown will be showing outdoor movies as part of it
“Family Flicks Under the Stars” series beginning in July. The family friendly
movies will be shown on four consecutive Sundays starting on July 12th. The
movies are free and open to everyone to attend and enjoy. The movies that will
be shown include: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Princess Bride,
Charade and Superman. The movies will be shown on the Chapin Lawn of Williams
College off of Route 2 at sundown. If it rains, the movies move inside the
Images Cinema located at 50 Spring Street. The series run through August 2nd.
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Charges From Sheffield Stop
A Canaan, Connecticut man pleaded guilty yesterday in Berkshire Superior
Court to drug charges. 21 year old Sean Crowley of 92 Main Street
pleaded guilty to single counts each of trafficking in cocaine and
possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The charges stem from
a motor vehicle stop in Sheffield on August 22nd of last year. Judge
John Agostini ordered that he serve a 4 to 5 year sentence to the
Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the
trafficking charge. Crowley was given a concurrent 1 year house of
correction sentence on the other charge.
Arrest Made In West Stockbridge Break-In
A Great Barrington has been arrested for a late-night break in occurring
last week in West Stockbridge, one of six that occurred in the area on
Wednesday night. 40-year-old Timothy Welch was arrested on Thursday of
last week and then arraigned the next day for a break-in and larceny at
Rouge on West Center Road in West Stockbridge. Three other restaurants,
two other local businesses and even an unoccupied home were broken into
as well between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The latest
break-ins follow a whole slew of break-ins that have occurred over the
last couple of weeks in the Great Barrington/Columbia County area. State
Police from the Lee Barracks along with local police from area towns met
on Thursday to discuss the recent string of break-ins. Welch is a
suspect in those break-ins, but other suspects are being considered as well.