Headlines

Friday February 10, 2012 WILLIAMSTOWN -- While the local school district is expecting a budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year, it's a manageable one that won't demand cutting any positions, according to school officials. Rose Ellis, superintendent of Williamstown and Lanesborough Public Schools, said Wednesday night that a preliminary overview of   Full Story
 
Friday February 10, 2012 CLARKSBURG -- The search committee for a new town administrator is getting to business, having whittled down the candidate pool by more than half during its first meeting Wednesday night. Finance Committee Chairwoman Mary Beverly, who was named chairwoman of the search committee, said Thursday that of the 11 applicants   Full Story
 
Friday February 10, 2012 New England Newspapers PITTSFIELD -- Since its inception 11 years ago, school leaders and lawmakers have criticized the federal No Child Left Behind law as a burden on education in Massachusetts. On Thursday, the Obama administration lifted most of the law’s accountability measures on schools here and in nine other states -- metrics educators here say had   Full Story
 
Friday February 10, 2012 New England Newspapers PITTSFIELD -- An Adams woman who police say walked out of Target with more than $1,000 worth of items on Christmas Eve had her case continued without a finding of guilt Thursday in Central Berkshire District Court and was given a year of probation.   Full Story
 
Thursday February 9, 2012 ADAMS -- The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), owners of the land for the proposed northern extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, have confirmed that MassDOT is currently leading a study into an arsenic contamination found at the site.   Full Story
 
Gillian Jones/North Adams Transcript
Thursday February 9, 2012 North Adams Transcript WILLIAMSTOWN -- Officials from the Williamstown School Committee and the Williamstown Youth Center have signed a 50-year lease -- the last item needed to allow the Youth Center to build a new facility on the grounds of the elementary school. The School Committee unanimously approved the land lease at its meeting Wednesday night, while the   Full Story
 
Thursday February 9, 2012 PETERSBURG, N.Y. -- A resident last seen Monday at 10 a.m. was found safe in town Wednesday. Jessica Clyde, 28, had been last seen walking on Route 2 in Petersburg near the Weaver Dam, wearing red and white pajama pants, a black jacket and a blue shirt, according to a Loudonville State Police press release.   Full Story
 
Kezia Chee/North Adams Transcript
Wednesday February 8, 2012 CLARKSBURG -- A committee charged with assessing and communicating the needs of Clarksburg Elementary School to the state has been revitalized. Jon Lev, superintendent of the North Berkshire School Union, said Friday that the School Building Needs Committee started meeting again this school year and has already held two meetings with the   Full Story
 
Wednesday February 8, 2012 North Adams Transcript NORTH ADAMS -- The North Adams Public Schools are looking for a solution to alleviate overcrowded third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at Brayton Elementary School by the start of the next school year. Superintendent James E. Montepare said during Tuesday night's School Committee meeting that while the district is just   Full Story
 
Wednesday February 8, 2012 Staff and wire reports WASHINGTON -- A months-long investigation by The Washington Post has identified Rep. John W. Olver as one of 33 members of Congress to direct more than $300 million in federal earmarks to public projects next to or near their own property. Olver, a Democrat representing the 1st Massachusetts district, was singled out for securing $5.   Full Story
 
Kezia Chee/North Adams Transcript
Tuesday February 7, 2012 North Adams Transcript NORTH ADAMS -- Local quilters who frequent Tala’s Quilt Shop in Western Gateway Heritage State Park have been temporarily displaced by a mold issue in the building’s basement. City officials hope to have the issue cleared up and the shop, owned by Tala Neathawk, back open by the end of the week.   Full Story
 
Kezia Chee/North Adams Transcript
Tuesday February 7, 2012 ADAMS -- High-quality Austrian cuisine will soon be served up nightly in town -- at a location already familiar to many residents. A new restaurant called Haflinger House is in the works, with resident and former town Selectman Donald Sommer at the helm in the former location of Harrington's Restaurant at 17 Commercial St.   Full Story
 
Tuesday February 7, 2012 Transcript Staff CHESHIRE -- A one-car accident on Route 116 Sunday night sent the operator to the hospital after he collided with a utility pole. Evan Sadlowski, 24, of East Road in Adams, was driving the road alone at 11:50 p.m. when he veered and collided with a utility pole.   Full Story
 
Gillian Jones/North Adams Transcript
Monday February 6, 2012 North Adams Transcript WILLIAMSTOWN -- A local hair salon is growing. U ... A Fine Hair Studio, which opened in December 2010, has expanded its space at 173 Water St., Suite 3, over the past year and is now offering a variety of beauty and spa services. Co-owner Karen Brown said Thursday with the expansion, the business has added facials, skin care, make-up,   Full Story
 
Monday February 6, 2012 New England Newspapers A wintertime farmers market may sound contradictory here in the limited growing season of the Berkshires, but four days of sales last November and December proved fruitful for local farmers. Now the group behind those markets is receiving state funding to further promote the initiative.   Full Story