7th annual Berkshire Junior Solar Sprint at Reid Middle School

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On Saturday, May 19, area middle school students will gather at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield to enter their model solar cars in the seventh annual Berkshire Junior Solar Sprint (JSS). Roughly 50 students from across Berkshire County are expected to participate in the JSS this year. The JSS is a fun and educational competition for students in grades 5-8 who work in teams to build model vehicles powered by the sun. In the process they learn firsthand about non-polluting transportation. The races and judging will begin at 10 a.m. and end at noon. Registration for students begins at 9 a.m. The solar vehicles will be judged for speed, craftsmanship, innovation and technical merit, and the top three winners in each category will be eligible to compete in the regional JSS championship. The Center for Ecological Technology, coordinator of the Berkshire JSS, will host a Greener Transportation Exhibit during the JSS to educate participants and visitors about alternative transportation options. The exhibit will run from 9 a.m. to noon and feature a variety of hybrid vehicles, a bio-diesel car, and an electric bike. The BRTA will also be on hand to promote bus transportation and to distribute schedules. The JSS is sponsored by The Berkshire Gas Company, Berkshire Bank, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Western Massachusetts Electric Company and the U.S. Department of Energy. For more information about the JSS or CET’s solar energy curriculum, contact Nancy Nylen (nancyn@cetonline.org) or Cynthia Grippaldi (413.445.4556 ext. 25 or cynthiag@cetonline.org). CET is a non-profit community organization working to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management and environmental education in western MA. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary year, CET is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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Local Cheer Teams Celebrate Successful Season

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

The cheerleaders spoke of how their participation helped build their confidence and their focus on academics.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Club was full of laughter, music, dancing, and cheer as multiple generations celebrated the hard work of 413 Cheer and Taconic High School cheerleaders with a fundraiser and showcase.
 
The fifth season for 413 Cheer was filled with achievements as the organization's teams — Codes Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Purple and Orange Fusion — had brought home awards from competitions across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Find each team's placements at the end of the article. 
 
This year, Code Red received a wild card bid to the D2 Summit in Orlando, Fla., and Code Blue earned a bid to the Youth Summit in Tampa, Fla., but because of the cost and lack of funds, 413 Cheer will be doing its finals at Myrtle Beach, S.C., this season. 
 
(Donations to cover fees, travel and equipment can be made by emailing 413Cheer@gmail.com.)
 
The showcase last Sunday was the largest since the organization's inception five years ago, featuring spirited performances from each of the teams, a dad dance off, and mom bow challenge, raffles, concessions, and more. 
 
It also featured a performance by Taconic High School's varsity cheerleaders, coached by 413 Cheer's owner and founder Shavelle Boire. 
 
Boire said the school hasn't had a cheer team in several years, but these new cheerleaders persevered, grew, and stole her heart. 
 
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