'Taking Woodstock'

The filming of the Ang Lee movie "Taking Woodstock" is giving a welcome boost to the small businesses, motels and restaurants of New Lebanon, New York. Massachusetts, primarily the Boston area but to an extent the Berkshires, has benefited from visits from Hollywood over the years, but the concept of increasing tax credits to encourage movie productions to come to the state has met with some resistance on Beacon Hill. Tax credits are only worth employing when there is a likelihood of a financial return larger than the money lost from the tax rolls, and the film industry generates revenue while it is generating publicity for a community. With so many states competing to attract filmmakers, tax credits are a wise investment in encouraging them to come to the Bay State.

A debate for Senate
Senator John Kerry is doing an excellent job addressing a Republican campaign strategy that relies on the same underhanded tactics against Barack Obama that were used against him. But the senator is also running for re-election, and as such should make time for at least one debate with Edward O'Reilly, his opponent in the Democratic primary, which is less than a month away. Mr. O'Reilly is a serious candidate and voters deserve a debate.