image description — First-grader Harlee Towne of Lee Elementary poses with her winning design for the 'ideal' school.

Lee Elementary Student Wins 'My Ideal School' Award

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:16PM / Tuesday, June 24, 2025Print Story | Email Story

M&T Bank, a co-sponsor of the contest, had the winning drawings framed and the children's names engraved.

LEE, Mass. — A pupil at Lee Elementary School was a winner in the My Ideal School contest.

Harlee Towne was the first student from Lee Elementary to win and the only Berkshire County student this year.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority held a ceremony for its 16th annual contest, selecting 10 regional winners in first grade for their essays and drawings about their ideal school.

"The My Ideal School contest invites first graders from across Massachusetts to use their creativity and share their ideas," said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, chair of the MSBA, in a press release. "It is a great opportunity to celebrate our children and the unique imagination they bring to their personal learning experiences."

On June 11, the children were invited to the State House to receive their awards, present their drawings and describe their ideal school.

Harlee drew a school with a helicopter, pool, basketball court, and a trampoline and read the outline of her essay.

"My ideal school will have so many wonderful things. First everyone listens the first time so we can have more learning time. Another thing I have to say is we want to encourage others to do stuff that they can't do yet," she read. "Also I want people to follow the golden rule. I love Lee Elementary school because I love learning here and being with my friends. This is what my happy ideal school is!"

Harlee said she had fun doing this and that it felt good to win this award and her parents said they were extremely proud of her and that it was a great accomplishment.

She received a framed photo of her drawing and a certificate from the House of Representatives for her win signed by House Speaker, Ronald Mariano and state Rep. Leigh Davis.

"The My Ideal School contest has served as a wonderful opportunity for us to highlight the achievements of talented students across the Commonwealth," said Mary Pichetti, executive director at the MSBA, in a press release. "The contest continues to promote the discussion among students and teachers as to how thoughtful design and construction of schools in Massachusetts supports student learning."

The contest runs annually and is open to first graders across Massachusetts attending a public school. The grand prize winner, Abby Backus of Nantucket Elementary School, will have her artwork featured on the front cover of the MSBA's annual report.

Tags: contest, Lee schools, MSBA,

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Free Pet Food Drive-Thru in Becket

10:43AM / Friday, February 06, 2026

BECKET, Mass. — Berkshire Humane Society will give out bags of cat and dog food to pet owners in need during a drive-thru event this Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9:00 – 11:00 am, at the Becket Washington School Parking Lot, 12 Maple Street in Becket.

The drive-thru is in conjunction with the Becket Food Pantry.

Cat and dog owners can drive up to the distribution point and remain in their vehicle while someone takes their order and loads it into their vehicle. Cat owners will get a 6-pound bag of food and dog owners will get a 20-pound bag, no questions asked. The event is open to all, regardless of enrollment in Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank or participation in the Becket Food Pantry and is made possible by donations from Wendy and James Martin of the Martin Family Donor Advised Fund, the Eichenbaum/Archer Family Foundation and an anonymous private foundation.

"We gave out nearly 7,200 pounds of pet food in our holiday drive-thrus in Great Barrington, North Adams and Pittsfield," said John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's Executive Director. "People not only drove, but walked up to those events. I can't tell you how many of them told us how thankful they were for help feeding their cats or dogs," he said. "With the cold weather lately, we don't want people choosing between staying warm and feeding themselves or their cats their pets. With this event, we're hoping to reach more folks in the hilltowns. Thanks to our generous donors, we have more than 7,500 pounds of pet food to do just that! Thank you to the Becket Food Pantry for making the event possible."

Berkshire Humane Society's Food Pantry events are part of the nonprofit's efforts to keep families together and prevent people from feeling they must surrender their pet to the shelter. Other programs include the shelter's monthly Pet Food Bank, to which drive-thru recipients may enroll; low-cost spay and neuter and other veterinary services at the Society's Wellness Clinic; and dog obedience classes at Family Dog School.

Berkshire Humane Society also accepts donations to provide pet food for more families in need. Monetary donations are preferred because the shelter has agreements with pet food companies to buy nutritious food at a bulk rate, feeding more animals per donor dollar. For more information about the drive-thru event or making a donation, call 413-447-7878, extension 127.

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