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Hosting a Thanksgiving lunch has become a tradition for the Reid Middle School special education students.
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The staff provided the main meal but students helped with the sides.
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Each student invited an adult to attend the event.
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Manny Sala talks about gratitude to his middle school class Tuesday.

Reid Middle School Class Throws Thanksgiving Feast

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gratitude.
 
Ethan Packard stood in front of his middle school class Tuesday and spoke about gratitude, reminding the 34 other students and honored guests to remember the things they are grateful for this week. And then he welcomed everybody to feast on a Thanksgiving meal his class helped make.
 
The meal was Reid Middle School's self-contained special education class's 10th annual celebration. The students helped make applesauce, butter, and cranberry sauce to complement the meal cooked by school staff. They made name cards and decorations. And each student wrote a letter inviting an adult to the feast. 
 
"We tried to have the kids write something unique," said teacher Kathleen Ebbert, explaining that the project helps teach English language arts skills as well as social skills.
 
She also said, "we also talked about gratitude and how we all have things to complain about, but we can try to 'flip our attitude and show some gratitude.'"
 
Joe Schnopp chose to invite Mayor Daniel Bianchi and was "surprised that he's here." The mayor was one of the 25 or so adults who joined in the celebration.
 
"I wanted to have honor and to be proud," Joe said of why he chose the mayor to invite. "I'm glad he's here."
 
Joe made butter out of buttermilk and he had a hand in the cranberry sauce even though he doesn't like the taste. 
 
"I like it without the sweet. I have a sour tooth," he said.
 
He does like pumpkin and chocolate pies and even though he hasn't tried key lime or pecan, he says he'll likely enjoy those too.
 
In an exchange of letters between Packard and Superintendent Jason McCandless, pecan pie was a topic. McCandless arrived on Tuesday with a freshly baked pecan pie to contribute to the dessert table.
 
The students have various disabilities but came together to put on the afternoon meal, sitting next to and talking with the adults they invited. The adults talked with the students and helped them with homework.
 
"It's definitely a social skills bonanza," Ebbert said.
 
The annual meal was started 10 years ago as "an opportunity to share something with the kids," Ebbert said. The event has continued every year since.
 
"It's important for them to have something positive. This is a wonderful thing," Ebbert said. "I'm so proud of them."
 
After the meal, the students will be asked to write thank-you notes to the adults who attended, further teaching writing skills. Teacher Pam Garwood says she still gets students who have since graduated asking to come back for the feast.
 
"It's one thing the kids will always remember," Garwood said.
 
While the students put in the effort to host the event, they did get some help from the business community. Big Y, Market 32, Stop & Shop, Hannaford and Wohrle's Foods all made donations. 

Tags: luncheon,   school event,   thanksgiving,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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