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Thursday, November 20, 2008
North Adams Board Of Health Rules "All Private Clubs" To Be
Smoke Free.
The North Adams Board of Health has extinguished the smoking lamp at private
clubs in their city. The Board of Health has ruled that all private clubs in
North Adams need to be smoke-free by June 1, 2009, a move that many club members
- smokers and nonsmokers alike - feel infringes on their rights. Members of
various clubs say the new no smoking rule won't work but all they have to do is
look at the same rule in the City of Pittsfield….where there is no smoking in
private clubs either. In Pittsfield…and now in North Adams, patrons will have
to go outside for a smoke. The Board of Health said that smoke eaters and other
ventilation systems aimed at removing smoke from the private bars are not
enough and obvious health concerns remain.
Long Time Pittsfield City Councilor Peter Arlos Dead At 82
The City of Pittsfield has lost a longtime public servant. Former Pittsfield
At-Large City Councilor Peter Arlos died on Sunday at the age of 82. Arlos
served the city of Pittsfield for 28 years. He was the longest sitting city
councilor the city ever had being elected for the first time in 1972, eventually
defeated for re-election in 1999 and then won a single term in 2001 but was
defeated for re-election in 2003 and 2005. Arlos also owned Pace Vending Company
in Pittsfield for 35 years. His obituary listing was in the Boston Globe, and
according to that publication, memorial services are being arranged at the
convenience of his family.
Driver Sustains Minor Injuries After Crashing Into Utility Pole
The driver of a car that smashed into a utility pole on State Road near Price
Chopper in North Adams early yesterday morning, was lucky. Police said Susanne
Rose of North Adams received only minor injuries during the crash. Police said
Rose somehow veered her car off the road and smashed head-on into the utility
pole, snapping it off at the base. Traffic on State Road was diverted for
several hours so workers could remove and replace the utility pole.
Police Look For Suspect In Attempted Child Abduction
Police in Pittsfield are on the lookout for an unidentified man suspected of
trying to lure a Williams Elementary School student into a
van on Doreen Street in Pittsfield Tuesday afternoon. According to the student,
an older white male with gray hair and glasses pulled up to him in an older
model, dark green, Dodge Caravan - opened the driver's side door and told him to
get in the van. The student ran directly home and told his mother what happened.
That was approximately 3:15 pm. The mother immediately notified the Pittsfield
Police department. Officers responded to the area and were unable to locate the
van. Patrol officers in the area have been told to keep a sharp lookout for the
suspect vehicle. Police are asking anyone who might have any information on the
vehicle, or anyone who may have seen a similar vehicle in the area of any school
to call them at 448-9700. Police say that if you see the vehicle in the area of
young children, you should immediately call 911.
Fire Departments Need Volunteer Help
Fire Departments in the towns of Williamstown, New Ashford and Lanesboro are
in need of some new volunteers. Each department has a good number of volunteers
already but more are needed. Williamstown has roughly two-dozen, New Ashford has
12 and Lanesboro has 18 but the fire chief's in each town say that they could
still use some additional help. If you live in one of these three towns and are
interested, you are encouraged to contact your local fire department. In the
meantime, the Massachusetts Call and Volunteer Firefighters are working on a
commercial encouraging people to volunteer for their town's volunteer
departments.
Bousquet/Jiminy Peak Making Snow.
Local ski areas are not waiting for Mother Nature to bring snow to the
Berkshires. Bousquet Ski area in Pittsfield, Jiminy Peak in Hancock and Ski
Butternut in Great Barrington are taking advantage of a blast of cold air to
create a manmade base of snow on their slopes. Jiminy Peak officials say they
are aiming for a November 22nd opening. Ski Butternut officials said they're
hoping to open with 10-15 trails during Thanksgiving weekend. Over at Bousquet,
they've been lighting up the night ski over Pittsfield while cranking out a good
manmade base of snow and according to their webpage, planning to open on Friday
November 21st.
PATRICK-GAS TAX
DiMasi: Gas tax hike fairer way to share costs
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi says raising
the state's gasoline tax "is a fairer way to share our costs"
than nearly doubling tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike and the
tunnels leading to Logan International Airport.
The Boston Democrat issued a statement after Gov. Deval
Patrick said he was willing to consider a gas tax hike but any
discussion wouldn't come in time to prevent toll increases.
Rep. David Linsky, a Democrat from Natick, is planning to
file a bill to get rid of all Pike tolls in exchange for a
6-cents-per-gallon tax hike. And 36 House members have signaled
their support for a bill filed by Democratic Rep. Steven Walsh
from Lynn that would block the toll increases.
The current gas tax of 23.5 cents a gallon has not changed
since 1991. The national average is 30 cents.
WILKERSON CORRUPTION
Mass. Sen. Wilkerson resigns after bribery charges
State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has resigned from
office one day after being indicted on eight counts of attempted
extortion.
Wilkerson delivered her resignation in a brief handwritten
letter to Senate President Therese Murray, who had repeatedly
called on the Boston Democrat to step down.
Wilkerson left her Statehouse office at about 6 p.m.
surrounded by four men who kept reporters away. She did not
comment on her decision to resign.
Wilkerson was arrested last month after she was
photographed by the FBI allegedly stuffing bribe money under her
sweater. She's accused of accepting $23,500 in bribes from
undercover agents she believed were businessmen.
Murray said on the Senate floor that Wilkerson's actions
had placed a "temporary shadow" over the chamber that is now
lifting.
Wilkerson is the second senator to resign in the past week,
following James Marzilli, who is charged with sexually harassing
four women in Lowell.
GOP LEADER CHALLENGE
Mass. GOP House leader facing challenger
The leader of the rapidly dwindling
contingent of House Republicans is fielding a challenge from
within the party.
Rep. Brad Jones of North Reading currently holds the post
of Minority Leader in the House, where the number of Republicans
shrunk to just 16 after the elections earlier this month.
Jones is up for reelection to the post in January and he'll
face a challenger, Holden Republican Lew Evangelidis.
Evangelidis said he considers Jones a friend, but feels the
party needs changes at the top to help reinvigorate it.
Jones said he's planning to run again in January and
expects to be reelected. He said the party needs to focus on
rebuilding itself rather than getting involved in a leadership
fight.
BRAIN-INJURED GIRL
Prosecutors rest in Mass. stepdad's abuse trial
Lawyers for Jason Strickland will
begin presenting their case today in the trial of the man accused
of severely beating his 11-year-old stepdaughter.
Strickland, a 34-year-old auto mechanic from Westfield, is
expected to take the stand in his own defense.
Haleigh Poutre, now 14, became the center of a right-to-die
case after doctors thought she would never recover from the
severe brain injury she suffered. Her case would lead to a major
overhaul of the state's child welfare system.
Prosecutors say Strickland and his late wife, Holli, both
participated in repeated abuse of the girl.
Strickland's lawyer has told the jury Strickland believed
his wife's claims that Haleigh suffered from a psychological
disorder that caused her to injure herself.
PRISONS-STOLEN FUNDS
Mass. prison employee charged with stealing funds
A Massachusetts Department of Correction
employee has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 in
state money to purchase semiautomatic firearms and other law
enforcement equipment for personal use.
Gary Mendes, a lieutenant in the department's special
operations, pleaded not guilty to larceny and fraud charges in
Greenfield District Court. He was released on personal
recognizance.
Attorney General Martha Coakley said the 48-year-old
Berkley resident was arrested at his home Wednesday morning.
Coakley said Mendes ordered more items than needed from
vendors and use vendor credit to purchase other equipment.
Coakley said he also purchased firearms for other
employees, but she didn't believe any other workers broke laws.
Mendes has been suspended with pay from his $75,000-a-year
job.
NEWSSTAND STRUGGLES
Iconic Harvard Square newsstand may close
The iconic Harvard Square
newsstand, Out of Town News, could soon close as it struggles
along with the rest of the newspaper business.
Laura Samuels of Hudson News, which runs the kiosk, said
the company just received a 60-day lease extension.
That gives the city of Cambridge until the end of January
to find a new tenant or reach a deal with Hudson.
Samuels said Out of Town News is not profitable and no
longer fits the company's business model, which focuses on
airports. But she said there was still a chance Hudson will reach
a new contract to run the stand.
The kiosk, known for having a wide selection of daily and
international papers, is on the national register of historic
buildings.
WORCESTER FIRE
Station opens at site of deadly Worcester inferno
The site of one of Worcester's
greatest tragedies is now a site of hope.
Family members of six city firefighters who lost their
lives in a massive blaze nearly nine years ago were on hand
yesterday to dedicate a new fire station at the site once
occupied by the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse building.
James Lyons Jr., the father of firefighter Lt. James Lyons
III, says the $8 million station will stand as a symbol of the
courage and valor shown by his son and the five other fallen
firefighters.
The Dec. 3, 1999, blaze in the vacant warehouse was started
by a homeless couple. The men became trapped after going into the
building to make sure that no one was inside.
A monument to the firefighters in front of the new station
will be unveiled next month on the anniversary of the blaze.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Home Heating Oil Price Update
Let's take a look at home heating oil prices and it appears that the downward
trend for heating oil prices is slowing down. Oil prices in North Adams range
from $2.84 to $2.99…down a little from last week. Home heating oil prices in
Pittsfield range from $2.89 to $2.97. Dalton has the only heating oil company in
the Berkshires still charging above $3-dollars a gallon…$3.05 to be exact.
Great Barrington has the lowest home heating oil price in the Berkshires with
$2.80 a gallon. Prices are compiled by NewEnglandOil.Com.
Downing Appointed To Relief Commission
State Senator Benjamin Downing has been appointed to represent the Senate on
the Special Municipal Relief Commission. The commission examines the feasibility
of innovative local revenue-generating measures in an effort to provide revenue
relief to municipalities. Senate President Therese Murray said she chose Downing
because he understands that every community across Massachusetts is struggling
to make ends meet and that she was confident that Downing will bring an
important voice to the discussion of how cities and towns can find some economic
relief. The commission is made up of 14 members and consists of seven state
senators and seven state representatives. Senator Downing represents 48 western
Massachusetts communities-more cities and towns than any other member of the
Massachusetts Senate.
Troy Ny Man Arraigned On South And North County Sexual Assaults
A former catholic priest from Troy, New York was arraigned yesterday in
Berkshire Superior Court on sexual assault charges. 60 year old Gary Mercure had
not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of rape of a child: with
force and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in
connection with an incident involving a man who is now 33 years of age. The
incidents are alleged to have occurred in Great Barrington or Monterey between
September 1st and December 31st of 1986. Mercure has also been charged with one
count of rape of a child: with force in connection with an incident involving a
man who is now 32 years of age. That incident is alleged to have occurred in New
Ashford between February 1st and February 28th 1989. Mercure was released on
personal recognizance on the condition he have no contact with the alleged
victims.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Dumping Sewage.
35-year-old John Duquette of the Town of Florida recently appeared in
Berkshire Superior Court and pled guilty to dumping sewage in the North Adams
sewer system last year. Duquette was ordered to pay a $2-thousand dollar fine to
the state, a thousand dollars in restitution to the City of North Adams and
serve two years probation. Berkshire News Network Media Partner IBerkshires.com
reports that Duquette was indicted by a grand jury on February 29 and arraigned
on March 24 in Berkshire Superior Court where he pled not guilty to the charges.
Duquette owns Berkshire County Construction in North Adams and ordered his
employees to empty sewage from the company truck into the North Adams sewage
system via a manhole cover on the construction company's property on Ashland
Street.
Police Heighten Security At Trial Of Gang-Related Incident.
Security at the Berkshire Security Court trial of 21-year-old Marcus Fowlkes
was beefed up yesterday but officials would not say why. Security guards
confiscated all cell phones and searched people before they entered the
courtroom. Normally, you go through a simple scanner and security check before
entering the courthouse. Such was not the case yesterday in what police describe
as a gang-related shooting trial. Fowlkes is charged with three counts of armed
assault with intent to murder in connection with the July 28, 2005 shooting in
which three people were targeted outside a Lincoln Street home but only one
woman was hit. She later recovered from her wounds.
MASS COMPETITIVENESS
Report: MA returns to top spot in competitiveness
A new study claims Massachusetts is the most
economically competitive state in the nation.
The Bay State moved from second place to first in the
latest edition of the Beacon Hill Institute's Competitiveness
Report. Throughout the report's eight-year existence, the state
has never ranked lower than third and usually has been first or
second.
The state improved its ranking in part through its strong
showing in human resources, technology, business incubation and
security. It also rose from ninth to first in the number of
residents with health insurance coverage.
Gov. Deval Patrick will discuss the findings at a news
conference later today.
The report's author, Suffolk University Economics Professor
Jonathan Houghton, said Massachusetts does have plenty of
weaknesses -- including expensive housing and electricity.
WILKERSON-CORRUPTION
Sen. Wilkerson indicted on attempted extortion
State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, photographed by
the FBI allegedly stuffing bribe money under her sweater, has
been indicted by a federal grand jury on eight counts of
attempted extortion.
Prosecutors filed a criminal complaint in October alleging
Wilkerson accepted cash payments between June 2007 and October
2008.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of the more than
$23,500 in payments allegedly made to the Boston Democrat by
undercover agents and a cooperating witness during the 18-month
investigation.
If convicted, Wilkerson faces up to 20 years in prison,
three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each of
the eight charges.
Wilkerson, who is free on a $50,000 unsecured bond, has
said there is "more to this story."
Wilkerson lost her re-election bid in the September primary
to fellow Democrat Sonia Chang-Diaz.
BRAIN-INJURED GIRL
Mass. jury sees video of brain-injured girl
A girl who was at the center of a
right-to-die case in Massachusetts has been shown in a videotape
writing her name and feeding herself.
The video was shown to jurors at the trial of Haleigh
Poutre's stepfather, Jason Strickland, who is accused of
participating in a beating that left her with a severe brain
injury.
The video was the first public glimpse of Haleigh since she
was hospitalized in 2005.
The 14-year-old was shown using her left hand to write her
name, feeding herself with a spoon and pointing out letters and
symbols on a board.
Prosecutors say Strickland and his late wife beat Haleigh
so severely that doctors thought she would never recover.
The state was criticized for seeking to remove her from
life support. The case sparked a massive overhaul of the child
welfare system.
MIT CUTS
MIT announces spending cut for next year
The Massachusetts Institute of
Technology says it will cut next year's budget by 5 percent,
about $50 million, because of the declining global economy.
MIT President Susan Hochfield and Provost Rafael Reif said
in a letter to the university community Tuesday they also plan to
cut spending by 10 to 15 percent over the next two or three years
and delay a dormitory renovation.
Similar moves also have been announced by other
universities as the economic downturn hits endowments and is
projected to reduce income from tuition, donations and grants.
Hochfield and Reif said MIT remains committed to need-blind
admission and need-based undergraduate financial aid.
Last week, Harvard announced possible spending cuts.
Stanford also is slashing its budget by $45 million.
DRIVING WHILE SNEEZING
Driver loses control after sneeze, end up in river
An untimely sneeze nearly cost Andrew Hanson
his life.
The 42-year-old Weymouth man told authorities that a sneeze
caused him to lose control of his pickup on Soldiers Field Road
and plunge into Boston's Charles River.
Hanson was able to wade to shore after escaping from the
truck, which was partially submerged in 4 feet of water. He was
not seriously injured but was taken to a hospital as a
precaution.
Lawrence Callahan of the Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation said Hanson told him that after he
sneezed, "the next thing he knew he was in the river."