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Drury High Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian for Class of 2024

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School has named Brooke Yvonne Bishop as valedictorian and Ferris Miksic as salutatorian for the class of 2024. 
 
Both students will speak at graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. in the high school gym. 
 
Bishop, daughter of Krista and Lee Bishop of the town of Florida, has been a stellar three-sport athlete playing soccer, basketball and softball. She has earned the role of captain of all three sports because of her strong work ethic and leadership skills. In addition to her varsity sports, she has also played on
travel and AAU teams for several years. She has been elected class president for the past three years, is a Student Ambassador and peer mediator, and is the editor of the Drury yearbook.
 
She has been inducted into the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies, received the Saint Michael's Book Award during her junior year, and has earned the Principal's Award for being in the top five of her class since freshman year. She has taken a full Honors, and Advanced Placement courseload and has taken advantage of several college courses at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts through the Early College Program.
 
Bishop will attend Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt., in the fall to major in biochemistry. She hopes to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.
 
Miksic, son of Susan Helme and Brian Miksic of North Adams, has had many academic achievements, including being inducted to the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies and earning the Principal's Award each year. He also qualified for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for high academic achievement.
Active in sports and other activities, he was captain of Drury's soccer team in his junior and senior year. In addition to sports, he has been a part of Drury's music program since seventh grade, participating in honors band, jazz band and school of rock. He also represented Drury and his peers at the North Adams Youth Commission. 
 
Miksic plans to continue his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., to study aerospace
engineering.

Tags: Drury High,   graduation 2024,   val & sal,   

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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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