Pittsfield's Powell Wins New England Youth Wrestling Title

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Pittsfield's Zabion Powell pinned four opponents to win the 130-pound title at the Youth New Englands Wrestling Championships, March 14 and 15 in Reading, Pa.
 
Powell was seeded sixth in the field of 16 wrestlers from all six New England states.
 
His first three wins took less than four minutes apiece against competitors from Vermont, Massacusetts and Rhode Island.
 
In the championship match, Powell pinned Massachusetts' Harrison Shapiro in 4 minutes, 4 seconds.
 
Powell, an eighth grader, went into the match as the Massachusetts champion after winning the state title in dominating fashion in Danvers earlier this month.
 
At the state meet, he went 4-0 with three pins leading up to a 15-0 technical fall in the championship final. Powell surrendered only one point at the meet.
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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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