Adams Historical Society Eagles Holiday Concert

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ADAMS, Mass. —The Adams Historical Society's annual holiday concert, featuring the Eagles Brass and Trombone Ensembles, will ring in the holidays at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, in the Adams Free Library's G. A. R. Memorial Hall.
 
This year's concert will feature traditional Christmas carols, including "Joy to the World," "O ChristmasTree/The First Noel," and "What Child is This," along with contemporary arrangements of well-known holiday tunes such as "Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Up on the Housetop" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," as well as a bit of Bach.
 
The Eagles Trombone Ensemble, under the direction of Mike Oft, is conducted by Gerald Zaffuts, Kyle Smith and Ron Barron, retired principal trombone for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Eagles Brass Ensemble, a ten-piece brass band conducted by Deanna Fraher, has been performing for 30-plus years. Members of the ensemble come from the area and include former music instructors, professional musicians and amateur musicians with a passion for playing brass repertoire.
 
The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for admission. Memorial Hall is on the second floor of the Adams Free Library, 92 Park St. Please use the elevator entrance on Melrose Street to avoid the stairs.
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Hoosac Valley Presents Academic Certificate, Talks Absenteeism

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Dean of Students JJ Choquette, left, high school Principal Colleen Byrd, middle school Principal Lisa Lesser and elementary Principal Chris Wenz explained their efforts to combat absenteeism. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Senior Anna Thurston is this year's recipient of the Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence at Hoosac Valley High School.
 
The award was presented at Monday's School Committee meeting by Superintendent Aaron Dean, who said she has been involved "in anything that brought student voice to the table."
 
"She conducts herself in a professional way, but brings humor to the table. She's just really a joy to be around and a joy to work with," he said. "Congratulations on this great accomplishment and congratulations to your parents."
 
Thurston is an honor roll student and a recipient of a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She's been a member of the Portrait of a Graduate committee, the Leo Club, the school's Student and Adult Advisory Board and the National Honor Society. She was on last year's first-place team in the General Dynamics STEM Competition and is a medal winner for figure skating in the Bay State Games. 
 
Principal Colleen Byrd read letters of endorsement from Thurston's teachers, who described her upbeat attitude, intelligence and confidence, her curiosity, and the positive, can-do energy she brings to all her efforts. One teacher spoke of how she joined the engineering class during her free period to support the only girl in that class. 
 
"Of course, she accepted instantly, soon became one of the strongest students in the class and paved the way for other young women to flourish," the teacher wrote. 
 
In other business, the committee heard about efforts to stop chronic absenteeism from Byrd, Principals Lisa Lesser and Chris Wenz, and Dean of Students for the middle and high school JJ Choquette.
 
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