Up Front for DeMar Race Nov. 10

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Up Front for DeMar 5-kilometer race and 1-mile walk is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m.
 
The annual event honors SPC Michael R. DeMarsico, age 20, who volunteered to be "up front"', taking the lead of his battalion, protecting them and searching for dangerous IEDs. He lost his life in Afghanistan on Aug. 16, 2012. 
 
Pre-registered runners or walkers will have a $20 registration fee. Day of event registration will be available at the starting line area from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and will be $25. Organizers also ask that participants please bring an item or items for care packages to be sent to deployed service men and women. 
 
The starting line is at the Veteran's Memorial at the intersection of Route 2 and Eagle Street. Runners will continue to Eagle Street, crossing Main Street and continuing onto Ashland Street. Walkers will turn around at the North Adams Armory and runners will continue on Ashland Street to South Church Street.
 
Runners will turn into the BFAIR parking lot at 771 South Church St., continue to the back of the lot where the water table is and then back out to exit, turning left onto South Church Street. Runners and walkers will follow Ashland Street and then turn left onto American Legion Drive. The race will finish at the American Legion. The course is a primarily open course with some police presence. Please be cautious of vehicles on the course.
 
Race packet pickup will be available on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the North Adams American Legion.
 
Shirts will be available to the first 100 registrants. Additional shirts may be available for purchase.
 
Registration is available here.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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. 
 
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