image description — Emily Escalon-Brizuela poses with the trophy she won in the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee and Reid Principal Debra Roloson.

Reid Student Is Levine Spelling Bee Champion

04:54PM / Saturday, January 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Top spellers from Herberg and Reid Middle Schools competed in the 2025 Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Spellers went 10 rounds to crown this year's victor: Emily Escalon-Brizuela, from Reid Middle School.

In the last round, Emily inched out Averi Olds, the top Herberg speller. Last year, these same two spellers battled it out, with Averi taking home the 2024 trophy.

"It was a lot of intensity. I was very impressed by the poise," said judge state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

Both Emily and Averi (as the top spellers from their respective schools) will advance to regionals in an attempt to qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The library joined forces with the Pittsfield Public Schools to host the middle school spelling bee since 2017. Following the death of Pittsfield Gazette publisher Jonathan Levine in 2021, the Levine family endowed the competition, which was named in his honor.

This year, Jonathan's brother and sister-in-law, David and Theresa Levine, attended the spelling bee, bringing our winners hand-made chocolates from Chocolats Passion, a Portland, Maine, chocolatier led by Sarah Burns, one of Jonathan's nieces. The top speller was also awarded a cash prize. Reid teacher LeeAnn Massery also garnered a small prize to support the classroom that produced this year's winner.

This year's judges were Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Mayor Peter Marchetti, Assistant Superintendent for School Transformation and Accountability Jennifer Stokes, and School Committee Member & Trustee of the Berkshire Athenaeum Diana Belair.

"It was amazing to watch, and I am really proud of all of the students who participated in the spelling bee," Mayor Peter Marchetti.

Reid Principal Debra Roloson was on hand to congratulate Emily and celebrate the return of the trophy to Reid.

"We are proud to celebrate Emily's outstanding achievement in winning the citywide spelling bee. Emily prepared tirelessly for this competition, demonstrating dedication and perseverance," Roloson said. "This marks her second year reaching the final round, and it was wonderful to see her emerge victorious. We are honored to share in her accomplishment and applaud her hard work and success."

For those curious about how they would have fared in the spelling bee, two of the deciding words in this year's final round were symphony and palette.

The full list of participants:

Herberg Middle School: Westen Aube, Lydia Chen, Ethan Deane, Miewa N'Goran, Averi Olds, Liam Riva, Antonia Rizzo, Jackson Schneider, Kevin Smith, and Thomas Wren.

Reid Middle School: Latifah Ahmed, Emily Escalon-Brizuela, Minna Hed, Caleb Koomson, Querdalyna Smith, Briella Speth, and Damian Tower.

Tags: spelling bee,

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Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to 2025 Assault, Firearm Charges

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
04:06PM / Friday, October 16, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man is facing up to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple assault and firearm charges from last year.

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office has reported that on Thursday, Oct. 15, Jarvis L. Chadwell Jr., 20, pleaded guilty to 10 charges and was sentenced to 7 to 9 years in state prison following an incident on Oct. 18, 2025.

Police say that he fired a gun multiple times in a vehicle over an argument, striking the car and nearby home.

"This incident was not just alarming because there was gun violence, but also because it occurred in such close proximity to a school. I will not waver on my stance towards gun violence in our community — gun violence must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said.

"While I am committed to supporting those who need our help with recovery options and courts of hope, we must also protect our children and communities from the threat of violence that can claim lives in an instant. I commend the Pittsfield Police for their response and dedication to quickly solving this crime."

This occurred near Morningside Community School, which was retired at the end of the last academic year.

Charges:

armed assault with intent to murder
attempted assault & battery by discharging a firearm
witness intimidation
malicious destruction of property
resisting arrest
assault and battery on a police officer
illegal possession of a firearm
illegal possession of a large capacity feeding device
possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card
possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

Probation conditions include a mental health evaluation and aftercare; sign any releases required by probation; and refrain from abuse of the named victim, including threats of violence.

Pittsfield Police responded to a ShotSpotter activation at 65 Cherry St. just before 1 a.m. on that day in 2025. Upon arrival, police say witnesses confirmed hearing a gunshot and observing a man fleeing the area.

"While outside the 65 Cherry Street residence, officers observed a vehicle parked near the neighboring residence with a bullet hole in the windshield and an additional bullet hole in the side of 67 Cherry Street. Based on witness descriptions at the scene, law enforcement was able to quickly locate the Defendant within 30 minutes of the incident," a press release from the DA reads.

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