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Drury High School Graduates Ready to Change the World

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Anuj Shah is the third in his family to be named valedictorian of a Drury High class.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School's 102 seniors were sent off with a challenge on Thursday night — would they dance?

"If you have the chance to dance, will you sit it out or will you dance?" asked Principal Amy Meehan to the somewhat confused seniors grouped before her in the stifling gymnasium. But when the sound system fired up Taio Cruz' "Dynamite" (used prominently in the school's very cool lip-dub video this year) the graduates did enough gyrating to prove they weren't going to be wallflowers.

It's unlikely this group will be sitting out anything as they make their way in the world. "As adults we would like to think we have taught you important knowledge and exposed you to new experiences," said Meehan. "In reality, you have taught us the most important lessons to be learned. ... and inspired us to enact change to better the world and better our community.

"It's no secret this class is special through your qualities of enthusiasm, perservance and commitment, you have shaped yourselves into amazing individuals."

For salutatorian Andrew Varuzzo, it was the other way around, and despite all the ups and downs — "Now here I stand, a better man!

"A better man because of the people of this school. The people that have driven us, all of us, to succeed in everything that we do."

As the class stood upon the "precipice of our future" there would be no stopping them, he said. "We are ready to Change. Our. World."

But he admonished his peers to "Never forget the people and the place that made you who you are. ... This school, this city, has instilled in you the values that will last a lifetime."


See more photos here.
The smallest class in recent memory to graduate from the school was far outnumbered by the friends and family who packed in to hoot and cheer as each crossed the stage. State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi hopped on stage to hand a diploma to younger relative Dominick Cariddi.

Superintendent of Schools James Montepare committed a faux pas when he introduced Mayor Richard Alcombright as "the honorable Mayor Dick Lamb," which had the crowd hooting and ooohing. Alcombright laughed it off with a story about Lamb, who described himself as the "old gray mayor." Alcombright described himself as the "old bald mayor."

Alcombright, as chairman of the School Committee, handed out the diplomas and congratulated the graduates, their parents and the faculty. "I want to thank this class for the special friendships I will never forget."

Special recognition was given to Rachel Grant, who was graduating at the end of her junior year after taking a full slate of college level, Advanced Placement and honors courses.

"This talented and amazing young woman will be winging off shortly after graduation to proudly serve our nation by joining the Air Force," said Meehan as Grant's classmates sent her off with a standing ovation.

High honor graduate awards were presented to Joseph Babeau, Cody Remillard, Jennifer Schmidt, Ashleigh Rennell, Brianna Groves, Benjamin Gamache, Samuel Carlson, Andrew Varuzzo, Taryn DeSanty, Dominic Wood, Anuj Shah, Samantha Bator, Kyle Peters, Cassie Lincoln and Evan Schueckler. Schueckler, as class president, lead the program for the evening.

Valedictorian Anuj Shah urged his classmates to find something that they were passionate about and to set their own internal standards to find fulfillment.

Shah had entered high school feeling a lot of pressure to live up to expectations. After all, both his older sisters had been valedictorians of their classes (Komal in 2006 and Niralee in 2008), accomplished musicians and dancers who had both gone on to Williams.

"I made reaching everyone else's standards my primary goal. I stressed over the slightest mistakes," he said. That is until his parents sat him down and told him to stop worrying about others' expectations and focus on his own.

"At that moment, I realized that no one could ever judge my success except for myself," said Shah. "I need to hold myself to my own standards and follow my true passions in life."

Of course he is valedictorian, an accomplished musician and entering Williams (though not a dancer, he says), but Shah said he got there his way.

"After you struggle and endeavor to reach your own goals, that's when you'll experience true personal success, and most importantly, true happiness," he told his peers. "And if you have true happiness, then nothing else matters."

The list of awards and scholarships is here. The graduates are:

Morgan Marie Adams

Tre Anthony Amos

James Joseph Arnold

Joseph Raymond Babeu

Samantha Anne Bator

David Gary Baumbach

Alycia Marie Beaudry

Richard Edward Belair

Tyler Adam Benoit

Ashley Rose Bingham

Kayla Marie Brown-Wood

Matthew Charles Capek

Dominick James Cariddi

Samuel Allen Carlson

Brittany Lillian Condon

Megan Elizaeth Dargie

Peter Nalor Dassatti

Donyel Devante Daugherty

Natasha Marie Decker

Taryn Stephanie DeSanty

Arich Leigh Erdeski

Shayley Lynell Estes

Scott Michael Ferris

Ashley Lynn Forrest

Athena Maria Furtado

Benjamin Leo Gamache

Jacklynn Roseanne Gardner

Shellby Lynn Gardner

Ellena Jean Gardzina

Zachary Arthur Gilman

Matthew Brian Girard

Jayson Donald Gordon

Rachael Yvonne Grant

Matthew Steven Griffin

Brianna Marie Groves

Paul Angelo Guerino

Cassandra Marie Hebler

Kendra Lucille Hinkell

Connor Mackenzie Johnson

Michelle Marie Johnson

Lindsey Autumn Keating

Chelsea Caitlyn Kelly


Richard Francis Ketchum

Gabrielle Angelica King

Mathew Joseph LaCosse

Wayne Michael LaVigne, Jr.

Brittany Lynn Leavens

Kamrin Joseph Levesque

Cassie Ann Lincoln

Zachary Martin Lyon

John William MacAdoo

Destiny Elizabeth Madison

Sierra Elmarie Martin

Thomas Edward Massey

Bryce Joseph McBee

Meagan Jennifer McCarthy

Yohmarie Kristal Melendez

Kimberly Anne Meranti

Ashley Rose Mirante

Ashley Marie Mongeon

Jonathon Anthony Monyahan

Marissa Elise Morehouse

Kaitlyn Ann Moresi

Tyler Jean Morgan

Cody Daniel Mountz

Travis Patrick Murach

Tabatha Anne Murach

Casey Allen Myers

Kelsey Nicole Ouimet

Shari Ann Perras

Kyle James Peters

Allison Jennie Pevay

Chase James Preite

Shane Cory Raymond

Cody Edward Remillard

Ashleigh Diane Rennell

Bryan Howard Rennell

Casandra Louise Reynolds

Justin Ring

Savannah Marissa Ritcher

Christopher Alan Roberts

Stephanie Lynn Rose

Courtney Taylor Sage

Francesca Ariel Santelli

Jennifer Lynn Schmidt

Evan Richard Schueckler

Anuj Kamlesh Shah

Anthony Christofer Skiffington

Christina Lynn Smith

Elizabeth Nicole Tatro

Michael Allan Tatro

Katelyn Elizabeth Therrien

Joseph Edward Tower

Teia Nichole Trala

Angie Nicole Valle

Andrew Michael Varuzzo

Tasha Marie Waitt

Silva Marie Rose Watson

Kristal Anne Weatherby

Cody Charles Wemette

Marissa Marie Whitney

Craig Allen Williams

Nina Marie Williams

Dominic Richard Wood
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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