The Drury High band won two trophies — Flaming Leaves and Band Front. See more photos here.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — 1Berkshire along with the city of North Adams presented the 64th annual Fall Foliage Festival Parade on Sunday, Oct. 6, to thousands of attendees from the Berkshires and beyond. This year's parade theme, "There's No Place Like Home in the Berkshires" was a festive theme that yielded some unique, creative floats and certainly brought out the child in all attendees.
With more than a dozen floats and talented musicians, the float and band judging proved to be more challenging than ever. The winners of these distinguished awards are as follows:
Float Award Winners
Harry S. Orr Award – First Baptist Church
Hayden Award – Greylock School PTG
Mayor's Award – Very Good Property Management
Grand Marshal Award – MountainOne
Parade Director's Award – Berkshire Dance Theatre
Band Winners
Flaming Leaves Trophy – Drury High School Band
Golden Harvest Trophy – Torrington High School Band
Band Front Trophy – Drury High School Band
Spirit Award – Hoosac Valley High School Band
Grand Marshal Dr. Len Radin set the tone for the parade when he invited a few Drury Drama Team alumni to "come home" and join him along the parade route. Radin was selected as grand marshal not only because of all he has done for the community, but for his enduring love for "The Wizard of Oz." Radin has spent more than 60 years in the theater business, including founding the nationally award-winning Drury Drama Team and serving as its volunteer director for more than 25 years.
The support and donations received by the businesses and the local community, allowed for 1Berkshire and the Fall Foliage Parade committee to put the event that kicks off the fall foliage season in the Berkshires.
The annual Fall Foliage Children's Parade also was once again a success with 123 children participating. Thanks to Greylock Federal Credit Union and Moresi & Associates for sponsoring this event. Judges and parade assistants were the Williams College Lacrosse team members, Bill Blackmer, Joanna Gallivan, and Justin Roughley
Individual Costume winners
1) Addison Malinowski, "Dorothy and Toto"
2) Nolan Wood, "Lolly Pop Munchkin"
2) Ramona Miksic, "Toto in a basket"
3) Andy Serna, "Berkshire Eagle newspaper boy"
Float Winners
1) "There's no place like home/Wizard of Oz"
Caden Peterson, Cody Peterson, Hunter Peterson, Amelia Peterson, Randy Chelstowski, and Alyssa Chelstowski, , Linley LaCasse, Carson LaCasse, Tucker Burke
2) "Coming Home"
Taia Byers, Evelyn Byers, Axton LaBonte
3) "Emerald City of Oz/Journey from Greylock to MoCA"
Emily Mills, Christian Kelsey, Aria Galambos, Addison Galambos, Lane Mills
Group Winners
1) "Drury's Munchkinland/ Lollypop Guild"
Quinelle Caproni, Sawyer Caproni, Lincoln Burdick, Veda Burdick
2) "Connie's Family Child Care – there's no place like 'our' home"
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Teacher of the Month: Kaylea Nocher
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — First-grade students in Kaylea Nocher's class feel secure and empowered in the classroom, confidently embracing mistakes as they take charge of their learning.
This safe and fun atmosphere has earned Nocher the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
Nearly a dozen parents and colleagues nominated the Brayton Elementary School teacher, praising her dedication, connection to students, and engaging classroom environment — going above and beyond to foster growth in her students.
"My students are the most important part of the job, and instilling love and a love for learning with them is so valuable," she said.
"We have these little minds that we get to mold in a safe and loving environment, and it's really special to be able to do that with them."
Nocher has built her classroom on the foundation of love, describing it as the umbrella for all learning.
"If you have your students feel loved… in the sense that they have a love for learning, they have a love for taking risks, they have a love for themselves, and they can use that in everything that they do," she said.
Nearly a dozen parents and colleagues nominated the Brayton Elementary School teacher, praising her dedication, connection to students, and engaging classroom environment. click for more
For many years, the town of Lee has had to struggle with an outdated and crowded Police Department station located in its Town Hall, which was built in 1874. Its nearby fire station was originally constructed to house horse-drawn firefighting vehicles. click for more
The organization had successfully grown over the past 20 years and, by the end of the decade, would see its campaign drives pass the $100,000 mark and the number of agencies under its umbrella grow to 17. click for more
The City Council got an update on what's up in the school system and its president was inducted into the mayor's Women's Leadership Hall of Fame. click for more