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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Berkshire Law Enforcement Officials Endorse Fenton for Governor's Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:11PM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Michael Fenton, a Springfield attorney, ran unsuccessfully for the 8th District seat on the council in 2022. He is challenging incumbent Tara Jacobs of North Adams.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ranking Berkshire law enforcement officials are putting their weight behind a Springfield lawyer for Governor's Council in the September Democratic primary over North Adams incumbent Tara Jacobs.

The Berkshires' District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, Sheriff Thomas Bowler, and Clerk of Courts Lisa Denault-Viale touted Michael Fenton's experience and approach over Jacobs, who bested him and two other attorneys in 2022.

The Governor's Council advises the governor on matters relating to judicial appointments, treasury warrants, pardons and commutations, and a number of other important executive functions. The winner of the primary will represent the 8th District, which covers more than 100 cities and towns including North Adams, Adams, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Northampton and Springfield, as there is no other candidate on the November ballot.

Gathering at Park Square on Wednesday morning, Shugrue said Jacobs does not provide the representation Berkshire County requires and deserves.

"This individual [Fenton] would conduct himself with a great deal of common sense and confidence," Bowler said.

Fenton said there are only 11 Superior Court judges assigned to Western Mass, and that too few of them are from Berkshire County.

"At one time there were four vacancies. That left only seven judges serving the entire 102 cities and towns of the western region. Seven judges serving 102 cities and towns at a time when you add Hampden County, Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee in, at a time when there were over 100 pending murder cases. Seven judges for 100 pending murder cases," he said.

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