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Entry Level Soccer Official Class Offered

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LENOX, Mass. -- The U.S. Soccer entry-level (Grade 8) Grassroots Referee course will be offered in Berkshire County in January.
 
The course is led by a U.S. Soccer-certified instructor and will include three parts. Students are required to complete the following:
 
1. Online Study Modules (approximately 4-6 hours work). To allow for verification, the modules must be completed a minimum 72 hours before classroom attendance.
 
2. Eight hours classroom attendance.
 
3. A test on the Laws of the Game - completed in the classroom, with a passing grade of 80 percent.
 
All three parts must be completed to certify
 
Note that U.S.-Soccer affiliated leagues can only assign U.S. Soccer-certified referees.
 
The classroom component will be held Sunday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 445 Pittsfield Road.
 
Participants must be at least 14 years old on the day of the course. All participants must upload a full face, head and shoulders only, photo to their Massref account. Participants aged 17 and older as of Dec. 31 must also present a government issued photo id for validation.
 
Pre-payment is required for this course. The cost is $115, which includs registration, administration and course fees.
 
The Berkshire County Youth Soccer League offers an incentive to become certified. All new referees will receive a referee kit when an official completes 10 games for BCYSL. The league sends them a check for $50, once they submit their game log of completing the games.
 
The registration Letter showing your photo must be printed, signed and dated to be handed to the Instructor as proof of attendance.
 
For information email courseadministrator@massref.net.
 
More information is available at https://www.massref.net/Central/courseofferings.cfm
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation. 
 
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks. 
 
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan. 
 
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about. 
 
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said. 
 
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom. 
 
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