Karate Tournament Held in Pittsfield

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The Okinawan Karate School of Pittsfield hosted its 16th Annual Youth Tournament Saturday, March 19 at the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsfield. The tournament was open to boys and girls ages 3 to 18. The event is a forum for young students to demonstrate their progress in Karate, Jiu-jitsu and Kobudo (classical weapons) to their families, friends and fellow students, and to raise themselves to new levels of proficiency and confidence through performance. This year, in addition to events included in previous tournaments such as Kata (individual forms), Team Kata, Weapons Kata, Two-person Sets and Sparring, the contest included Creative Kata, Creative Team Kata and Jiu-jitsu Sparring for the first time. “As always the emphasis in this Tournament is on participation, enjoyment and doing one’s best,” said tournament directors Mark and Connie Flynn. “We strive for an atmosphere of support and encouragement, rather than pressure and competition.” Approximately 160 participants representing five Dojos (schools) from Bennington, VT, Hatfield, MA, Schenectady, NY, Bloomingdale, NJ and Pittsfield, MA participated in the day-long event. Award ceremonies concluded the tournament, which was attended by over 600 visitors. Over 25 teams of black belt officials judged the competition. For further information, please call the Okinawan Karate School of Pittsfield at 413-443-2561. Tournament results are as follows: Sparring A - Cameron Popkoski (NY), Robert Mottley (P), Calvin Mars (P) Sparring B - Matthew Johnson (NJ), Michael Haidacher (NJ), Kristen Fontaine (P) Sparring C - Brianna Conklin (NJ), Jason Konowitch (P), Kevin Squires (P) Sparring D - Jack Dixon (NJ), Anthony Corbett (P), Alaina Garzone (P) Sparring E - Jonathan Douglas (P), Kory Wagner (H), Matthew Duane (P) Sparring F - Austin LaFrance (P), Arielle Sebestyen (P), Jacob Schurch (H) Sparring G - Matthew Chapman (P), Cortland Watson (NJ), Faith Conklin (NJ) Sparring H - Emmanuel Bile, Jr. (P), Michael McMahon, Jr. (P), Steven Funk (NJ) Sparring I (Adv.) - Steven Dwyer (P), Ryan Forfa (P), Dell Fontaine (P) Sparring J (Adv.) - Alistair Black (P), Audra McMahon (P), Daniel Gomez (P) Sparring K (Adv.) - Harrison Searles (P), Conor Coyne (P), Brian Duma (P) Sparring L (Adv.) - Tucker Davis (P), Ryan Goff (H), Ryan Hall (P) Jiu-Jitsu A - Steven Dwyer (P), Audra McMahon (P), Daniel Gomez (P) Jiu-Jitsu B - Josh Giuliano (NJ), John Kelly (NJ), Alex Iwanowicz (P) Jiu-Jitsu C - Christopher Fiorenza (NJ), Matthew Johnson (NJ) Weapons A - Ari Silverstein (P), Gregory Gniadek (P), Brian Duma (P) Kata A - Alexander Gitin (NJ), Gavin Watson (H), Emily Sterritt (P) Kata B - Matthew Donnelly (P), Alexandria Fiorenza (NJ), Ryan Griffin (NJ) Kata C - Olivia Kipp (P), Jack Dixon (NJ), Charlotte Freifeld (P) Kata D - Cara Partridge (P), Keith Natale (H), Ryker Bodo (NY) Kata E - Kory Wagner (H), Andrew Poirier (H), Katie Gitin (NJ) Kata F - Sheli Schweitzer (P), Kenny Mick (P), Steven Funk (H) Kata G - Michael McMahon, Jr (P), Aaron Cass (NY), Garrett White (P) Kata H - Megan Wendolowski (H), Cortland Watson (H), Jackson Birrell (P) Kata I - Faith Conklin (NJ), Daniel Gomez (P), Logan Wilson (P) Kata J - Nico Grande (V), Audra McMahon (P), Caitlin Partridge (P) Kata K - Greg Gniadek (P), Brooke Martin (P), Joe Teti (P) Kata L - Tucker Davis (P), Katie Martin (P), Ryan Hall (P) Creative Kata A - Jonathan Douglas (P), Brandon Engle (P), Cameron Black (P) Creative Kata B - Meaghan Weeden (P), Sheli Schweitzer (P), Allison Murray (P) Creative Team Kata A - Brian Duma, Gregory Gniadek (P)/ Sarah Hinckley, Andrea Moreau (P) Alex Iwanowicz, Nick Sweeney-Cook (P) Team Kata A - Aaron Cass, Cameron Popkoski (NY),/ Andrew Poirier, Kory Wagner (H) Alexander Gitin, Katie Gitin (NJ) Team Kata B - Cortland Watson, Megan Wendolowski (H),/ Keith Natale, Jacob Schurch (H)Logan Wilson, Molly Wilson (P) Team Kata C - Allison Murray, Meaghan Weeden (P),/ Brooke Martin, Averie Prenguber (P)Allison Suriner, Donald Suriner (P) Weapons 2-Person a - Tucker Davis & Brian Duma (P),/ Owen Marks, Gregory Gniadek (P) Collin Goodrich, Ryan Forfa (P) 2-Person A - Cortland Watson, Megan Wendolowski (H),/ Andrew Poirier, Kory Wagner (H)Keith Natale, Jacob Schurch (H) 2-Person B - Caitlin Partridge, Cara Partridge (P),/ Nicole Farrar, Ryan Hall (P) Katie Martin, Audra McMahon (P)
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Friends of Great Barrington Libraries Holiday Book Sale

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries invite the community to shop their annual Holiday Good-as-New Book Sale, happening now through the end of the year at the Mason Library, 231 Main Street. 
 
With hundreds of curated gently used books to choose from—fiction, nonfiction, children's favorites, gift-quality selections, cookbooks, and more—it's the perfect local stop for holiday gifting.
 
This year's sale is an addition to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Stroll on this Saturday, Dec. 13, 3–8 PM. Visitors can swing by the Mason Library for early parking, browse the sale until 3:00 PM, then meet Pete the Cat on the front lawn before heading downtown for the Stroll's shopping, music, and festive eats.
 
Can't make the Holiday Stroll? The book sale is open during regular Mason Library hours throughout December.
 
Proceeds support free library programming and events for all ages.
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