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PHS Graduates Honored For Scoring Well On AP Exams

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Thirty-nine Pittsfield High School students have been recognized for acing Advanced Placement examines. 
 
Two students, Adam Shepardson and Stephen Taglieri, were named National AP Scholars. Shepardson is now attending Brown University and Taglieri is attending George Mason University. The designation is given to students who receive a score of at least 4 on all AP exams or a score of 4 or better on eight or more of the exams.
 
"We are very proud of our AP program at Pittsfield High School. Not only our AP scholars but also that our courses are open to all students," Principal Henry Duval said at last week's School Committee meeting.
 
PHS boasts of the county's largest AP exam program with 200 students taking 342 exams in 21 different subject areas in 2018. The school has taken on a focus on expanding AP opportunities for its students.
 
The school is also the only high school in the county offering the College Board's AP Capstone program.
 
"We've been steadily expanding our course offerings and we are particularly excited about Capstone, a challenging two-course sequence focusing on inquiry, college research writing, and presentation skills," Vice Principal of Teaching and Learning Brendan Sheran said.
 
Three PHS students, Isabelle Masiero, Stephen Taglieri and Emily Taylor earned the AP Capstone Diploma. This honor is given for students achieving a score of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research courses, as well as four other AP exams. One student, Makailey Cookis, earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. This distinction is given to students who achieve a 3 or higher in both Capstone courses.
 
Noah Beckwith, now attending Tulane, Anissa Lovallo, now attending Florida Institute of Technology; Eamon McCandless, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and Liam Mooney, at Tufts University, all earned AP Scholar with Distinction designation, which is reserved for students who earned an average score of 3.5 or more on all AP exams and scores of 3 or better on five or more exams.
 
Named as AP Scholar with Honor from the class of 2018 are Trent Marran, now attending RPI; Emily Taylor, now attending Boston College; and Hayley Tobin, now attending Stonehill College. The AP Scholar with Honor designation means that they earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or better on four or more of those exams.
 
Named as AP Scholars from the upcoming class of 2019 are Hannah Berkel, Aidan Chalfonte, Jaden Coscia, Trista Dearstyne, Katherine Dumigan, Grace Heimann, Jacob Jamros, Olivia Kriedeman-Hubbard, Emily Mazzeo, and Thomas Rindfus.
 
Graduates of the class of 2018 named AP Scholars and the colleges they are attending: Nadine Billow, Makailey Cookis, Olivia Douhan, Daniel Maillet, and Molly Tierney, all at the Unversity of Massachusetts at Amherst; Joshua Allessio, Clarkson University; Michael Cavalieri, Wheaton College; Gabrielle DiMassimo, Worcester State University; Sabil Kaddoura, University of San Francisco; Isabella Masiero, John Cabot University; William Munch, UMass at Lowell; Giuliana Pierce, Assumption College; John Pletzer, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Alexa Pudlo, Providence College; Kamea Quetti-Hall, Occidental College; and Noah Santos, at Florida Institute of Technology.
 
The designation of AP Scholar is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or better on 3 or more AP Exams.

Tags: AP course,   AP scholars,   PHS,   

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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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