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Elementary school pupil Mimi pulls the shed raffle winner at Northern Berkshire Habitat's Maple Street house project on Saturday. The winner lives in Hinsdale.

Northern Berkshire Habitat Shed Raffle Raises Thousands

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The shed was built by McCann students and painted and decorated by Habitat volunteers. 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A shed raffle has raised thousands of dollars for Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. 
 
Habitat construction volunteers took a break from their latest project on Maple Street on Saturday to draw the winning name in the shed raffle.  
 
After a drum roll performed with screwdrivers and paint-stirring sticks, neighbor and elementary school student Mimi pulled out ticket stub number 125, bought by a Hinsdale resident. Sheds-N-Stuff in Cheshire will transport the shed to the winner's home.
 
"What a fun, successful effort," said Keith Davis, board president.  
 
Close to two hundred people bought tickets, some purchasing a single chance and some 20, raising thousands of dollars for the local Habitat's mission to build safe, decent, and affordable housing for lower-income area residents. 
 
In addition to homebuilding, NBHfH's Brush With Kindness program provides critical external repairs or construction, such as an access ramp, that will enable someone to stay in their home. 
 
Shed materials were paid for by an anonymous donor, the structure was built by students in the McCann Technical School carpentry program, and it was painted and decorated by Habitat volunteers. 
 
All of the money raised stays with the nonprofit.  
 
"We bought the shed materials locally and local volunteers assembled them. A local person wins the shed, and the proceeds from the raffle will help build a house for a family in northern Berkshire County or fund a Brush With Kindness project," said volunteer Thomas Kirby, pausing in his efforts to remove a dent from a duct tube. "We are grateful for such generous community support." 
 
Local media outlets publicized the raffle for free.
 
Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity serves the towns of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, North Adams, and Williamstown as well as Stamford, Vt. Learn more here.

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Teacher of the Month: Greta Noyes

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown Elementary School first-grade teacher Greta Noyes feeds her students' natural curiosity and makes them excited to learn. 
 
It is her dedication to her students, caring heart, and welcoming atmosphere that has earned her the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. 
 
"I just love what I do, and I know every day is going to be a good day … It is never a dull moment, and it's always exciting, and it's good to see the curiosity and the eagerness of our students and how they bring so much joy to the classroom," she said.
 
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here
 
For more than two decades, Noyes has dedicated her career to nurturing young minds, from teaching kindergarten in North Carolina for 11 years through moving to Massachusetts. She has been working at Williamstown Elementary for the last 11 years. 
 
"I have a background in language and literacy. I love the moment that students realize that they are successful with a skill, in particular with reading," she said. 
 
Noyse infuses her background with other curriculum, including math, science, and social studies, to reach her pupils. 
 
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