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Pupils held up letters spelling out Happy Veterans Day and gave a meaning for each one.
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A map of where the Richmond veterans served.
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Sixth-grade pupils ran the introductory table.
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Veterans eating their meals during the luncheon.
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An entire wall was decorated with a message thanking the veterans.
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Pupils prepare to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Richmond Pupils Honor Veterans at Luncheon

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
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Richmond Consolidated School pupils prepare for the Pledge of Allegiance during the luncheon on Friday afternoon.  
RICHMOND, Mass. — The staff and pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade pupils of Richmond Consolidated School hosted a luncheon honoring the town's veterans on Friday afternoon.
 
About 30 veterans walked into the festive cafeteria and were introduced by the sixth-graders, who seated and asked each veteran what branch they were in and where they served — data that was written on a sticker with the veteran's name and stuck to a map based on the service location. 
 
Pupils from every grade participated in the event. Eighth- and fourth-graders circled the cafeteria interviewing the veterans, asking them what branch they served in, when they served and how military service influenced their life.

Other grades paid respect through poetry and song — the pre-K led the Pledge of Allegiance; the first grade breaking down each letter of the words "Happy Veterans Day" into praise and thanks; the second grade recited the poem "In Flanders Field" and the third grade sang "Thank You, Soldiers."

The seventh grade will work behind the scenes with the collected data and figure out distribution statistics, among other things.
 
The veterans were treated to salad, bread, ham and some sides, with the assistance of some pupils who were serving. They sat at tables each with a vase and poppy flower centerpiece created by first- and fifth-graders. 

"It's an important function, we've been doing this for four years now," said Sharon Renfrew, the curriculum specialist and sixth-grade world geography teacher. "They learn so much by having conversations with the veterans, and learn more about Veterans Day."
 
This event was also Principal Monica Zanin's first Veterans Day with the school, as she was appointed on Oct. 1 after a 14-year stint with Reid Middle School.
 
"It's so exciting, I'm so thrilled to be in this community," Zanin said, also crediting the teaching staff for making this event possible. "This is just a snapshot of what you see every day."
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Pittsfield Council Says 'Yes' to Soccer at Crane Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The pitch will have the logos of the city and the US. and Massachusetts soccer associations. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is gladly accepting a "mini-pitch" from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring games back to Crane Park. 

Fueling excitement around the World Cup, U.S. Soccer has been working with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer League to make these facilities available to 20 communities — one of which will be at the park at the intersection of Benedict Road and Springside Avenue. 

The City Council accepted the gift on Tuesday during its regular meeting. 

A mini pitch is a compact, modular field typically used for soccer, and it can also accommodate inline skates. It has a galvanized steel border with built-in goals and a rubber plastic surface that is clicked together; installed on the existing inline hockey court. 

Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham said he has gone door to door speaking with nearby residents, and they are "really excited" about the upgrade. He also sees it as a great addition. 

"They say that nobody really uses the court a ton now, and they are excited to see kids back on there playing," he said. 

Decades ago, the Crane Park facility was a wading pool. It closed in 1980, and before the turn of the century, it was filled in and marked for hockey. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath explained that the wooden border around the rink is showing its age, has been vandalized and tagged, and the facility is seeing a "real decline" in use. 

"This would seem to be an appropriate spot for us to remove the board system that's in place and install the mini pitch system through this grant," he said. 

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