image description — The Stars cheerleading team is raising funds to compete in the National Cheerleading competition in Florida.

Pittsfield CYC Cheerleaders Head to Championships

12:47PM / Monday, November 28, 2011Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield's Catholic Youth Center Stars cheerleaders, after winning second-place at the New England Regional Cheer Competition earlier this month, are heading to the National High School Cheerleading Championships in February.

Teresa Goines, CYC coach, said the team has been training rigorously since last spring. "This is a major accomplishment for the team, their families and the entire Pittsfield community," said Goines.

The championships will be held at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 11 and 12 and will be televised on ESPN at a later date.

"This is their year," said Amy Cummings of the coaching staff. "Attending the Nationals is quite the honor for our team and our city."

Expenses for the team's participation could exceed $20,000. The team is actively seeking donations and will be out in the community in uniform throughout the holiday season raising money for the trip.

"We have a very supportive community, I have no doubt that we will come together for the team," said Rhonda Serre, parent of a Stars member. "But now we need to redouble our efforts. I hope every business and community group in Pittsfield can dig a little deeper to help these kids represent us on the national stage."

For further information on how to support the team, contact Serre at 413-822-8568.

"I know we can make the city proud," said Ally Pratt, a Reid Middle School 8th-grader on the squad. "We just have to get there."

The CYC Stars team is comprised of 27 girls and one boy from the Saints cheerleading program offered through the CYC. Each member auditions for a spot. All Saints cheerleaders in Grades 4 through 8 as well as boys that play basketball in the CYC house league are eligible to try out for the Stars Competitive Cheer team. Tryouts for the 2012-2013 Saints Cheer Team will be held in April 2012.

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Berkshire Towns Can Tap State Seasonal Communities Resources

10:15AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey announced that 18 additional municipalities across Massachusetts have been designated as Seasonal Communities, opening up new tools, support and grant funding to help them manage seasonal housing pressures.

Created as part of the historic Affordable Homes Act signed into law by Governor Healey in 2024, the Seasonal Communities designation was designed to recognize Massachusetts communities that experience substantial variation in seasonal employment and to create distinctive tools to address their unique housing needs. The law also established the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council (SCAC).

"Our seasonal communities are a vital part of Massachusetts' cultural and economic fabric, but they're also home to essential workers, families, seniors, and longtime residents who deserve a place to live year-round," said

Governor Healey. "That's why we're committed to supporting these communities with innovative solutions like the Seasonal Communities designation to meet their unique needs, and I'm thrilled that we're offering this opportunity to 18 additional communities across the state. Everyone who calls these places home should be able to live, work and grow here, no matter the season."

The Affordable Homes Act identified several communities to automatically receive the designation, including:

All municipalities in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket;
All municipalities with over 35 percent seasonal housing units in Barnstable County; and
All municipalities with more than 40 percent seasonal housing units in Berkshire County.

To identify additional communities, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) reviewed available data, specifically focusing on cities and towns with high levels of short-term rentals and a high share of second- or vacation homes.

In Berkshire County, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, New Marlborough, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, West Stockbridge and Williamstown were designated.

As with the statutorily identified communities, acceptance of the designation for municipalities is voluntary and requires a local legislative vote. HLC will open an application for newly eligible communities that haven't accepted the Seasonal Communities designation to request consideration.

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