Lee Schools Seek Info on Water Bead Shooting

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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LEE, Mass. — School officials say members of the Lee High cross-country team were targeted by someone with an airsoft gun on Monday. And they're asking for help in identifying the culprit. 
 
"This afternoon a very upsetting incident occurred," Superintendent Gregg Brighenti wrote in an email to parents late Monday night. "As the members of our cross country team were running down East Street, a dark SUV drove past them and targeted the group with an airsoft gun (or something similar)."
 
He said six students and a coach were hit. 
 
"Fortunately, none of the injuries were serious ... but it could have been much worse," he wrote.
 
The incident has been reported to the Lee Police Department but Brighenti said he's also asking the community for help because "in a small town, information often spreads by word of mouth."
 
Brighenti said it's possible the incident is related to an old TikTok challenge, called the "Orbeez Challenge," in which people are shot with the water beads. 
 
"I ask all members of our community to call the school if you hear any information that may be related to this incident," the superintendent wrote. 
 

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Monument Mountain Sophomore Wins Congressional App Challenge

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Congressman Neal takes questions from students during his visit. 
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Monument Mountain Regional High School sophomore Jonah Sanabria is the winner of this year's Congressional App Challenge for the 1st Massachusetts District.
 
His Health Advocate application acts as just that in your pocket, Sanabria said, helping resolve one of the biggest problems in health care — miscommunication.
 
"Every day, patients of all ages go to the doctor feeling stressed, confused, scared and uncertain, meaning they often forget what they wanted to say, and they leave without fully understanding what was said or the plan ahead," he said. 
 
"It's not because doctors don't care; it's because the system is set up in a way that makes relaxed communications really hard. Appointments are abbreviated. Patients aren't always sure what they can ask physicians, and nerves often make them forgetful." 
 
The challenge was authorized by Congress in 2015 to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Each representative may host an official computer science competition in their districts. More than 85,000 high school students in all 50 states have since participated, with more than 18,000 in 2025.
 
Jonah beat out nine other submissions in the 1st Mass. His app will be featured on the challenge page and displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. In addition, he will have the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill in the spring at a celebration called #HouseOfCode, where winning teams from across the country hear from lawmakers, interact with sponsors and partners at the STEM Expo, and demonstrate their apps.
 
Before a scheduled doctor's appointment, the program asks the user about their symptoms, health issues, and health goals and organizes and prioritizes questions to ask during the doctor visit. 
 
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