McCann Senior Praised For Her Achievements

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Superintendent James Brosnan presents McCann senior Laura Netti with the Superintendent's Award for 2015.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – McCann Technical School senior Laura Netti has received the Superintendent's Award.

Superintendent James Brosnan presented Netti with the award Thursday night during a ceremony in front of her family and the McCann School Committee.

The Massachusetts Association of Superintendents allows for superintendents to present the award to only one student a year.

"This is easily the most exciting part of my life is making the presentation that I am about to give," Brosnan said. "This is a distinct honor ... I think every single day when Laura comes to school she is always ready to work and help others."

Principal Justin Kratz read a long list of Netti's accomplishments. She is ranked first in her glass with a 4.3 grade-point average. She has also received awards for excellence and outstanding achievement in many of her courses and is an Adams Scholar.

Kratz said it is not a huge surprise that Netti received the award.  

"She has received many accolades leading up to this award as well so it is not a huge, huge surprise to see you up here as the winner of the Superintendent's Award," Kratz said. "You have done so well here."

Netti, daughter of Joseph and Paula Benoni of Clarksburg, has been involved in Project Lead the Way and Skills USA, has made high honors throughout her high school career, is captain of the girls cross country team, and takes a solid class load of AP courses. She is also a member of the National Honors Society.

Kratz read emails from Netti's teachers praising her and her accomplishments.

"First words that come to mind are kind and thoughtful. Laura is the kind of student that you want to give the Superintendent's Award to."

"Her commitment to excellence is a testament to her character and her family."

"High grades come fairly easily to Laura, yet she has a totally unassuming personality ... I have never seen her upset or impatient towards anything. She makes everything look easy."

Committee member James Gazzaniga praised Netti for her achievements and wished her the best of luck.

"This started the first time you said a word to your mom, progressed when you were able to read your first simple sentences from a book, then through that whole elementary school experience, and through your fourth year of high school here," Gazzaniga said. "You have never ever stopped running and being motivated and involving yourself in many activates. It's an amazing journey, and this part of it culminates here."

Netti thanked all those present for the award.

"Thank you," she said. "I am honored to receive this award."

Netti said she wants to go to college and is interested in pre-med or becoming a physician's assistant.


Tags: academic award,   McCann,   superintendent,   

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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