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Rocking out at Gabriel Abbott School at last week's talent show.

Abbott School Puts Talent on Display

By Kathy KeeserSpecial to iBerkshires
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Christina Secor, Alexis Foley, Nathan Richardson and Alegra Secor gave their classmates high scores.
FLORIDA, Mass. — Talent and fun were the theme of Gabriel Abbott Memorial School's "The Florida Follies & Gong Show" held at the school on Tuesday evening, April 27. 

A capacity audience in the school's gymnasium cheered and clapped for the acts and the noise level was such that it was hard to hear what the emcees had to say until a microphone was added in the second act.
 
The talent show, directed by Paul W. Marino, featured performances by pupils from grades one through eight, as well as by teachers and members of the community. There were singers, dancers, musicians, a gymnast, a French rap artist and a magician trained by the North Adams magician Johnny Mystic. 

The show was hosted by students Abbi Luczinski and Dakota Hurley and the judges were schoolmates Christina Secor, Alexis Foley, Nathan Richardson and Alegra Secor. The judges only gonged a couple of adult acts and children in the fourth grade and younger were exempt from being gonged. The judges seemed to enjoy the acts with most scores being in the range of 4 to 5 points, 5 being the top score possible.  


Pupils and adults exhibited their skills in dance, music and magic.
Prizes were awarded and thank-yous were presented to community volunteers including Marino and Johnny Mystic to wrap up the evening.

Performances in order of appearance were: Grades 1 and 2 singing along to "Who Let the Dogs Out"; Jon Burdick singing and Natasha Bohl doing gymnastics; teacher Lori Austin and her fourth-graders singing; teacher Xavier Tondeur rapping "Sam I am" in French with assistance from Patti Charron; Samantha Daniels tap dancing (who, because of technical difficulties, performed again at the end); Bryce and Brody Little and Charron performing rock 'n' roll; Jordan Ellerbee singing; fourth-grade girls singing; Principal Heidi Dugal and Austin in a duet; Destiny Charron performing magic; the Byrne family performing two songs; Marino reciting poetry; Tess Burdick singing; Alyssa Richardson dancing; Al Bedini reciting a turnip song with "Rooty."
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Pittsfield Toter System Reducing Waste, Increasing Recycling

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Mayor Peter Marchetti acknowledges the 'bumpy ride' in establishing the trash system but the numbers are proof it's working.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The new toter system has significantly reduced trash and doubled recycling.

Pittsfield now throws away about 1,024 tons of trash per month, down from 1,388 tons, and recycles about 201 tons per month, compared to 148 tons. Since its implementation in the fall, the city has saved more than $367,000.

Mayor Peter Marchetti thinks the numbers speak for themselves.

"When we first implemented this program, I couldn't go anyplace without someone saying 'This program is a terrible idea,'" he told the City Council.

"As we are now getting further and further into the system, I am being approached by people to say 'Mr. Mayor, it was a bumpy ride but I think we're getting there.'"

Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said the overall trend is trash went down, recycling went up, "That's evident." He pointed out that trash was reduced by 364 tons per month and recycling by 53 tons per month.

"Percent wise, it is about the same percent of trash reduction versus what we produce in trash, percent of recycling reduction versus what we produce in recycles," Morales said.

"However, that did not sit well with me that there was something not adding up to the total. We reduced trash, I wanted to see the same increase in recycling. Then I started thinking about what could be producing that discrepancy and we have a consensus, not just myself but in speaking with Casella, in speaking with members of the team, of what can be causing this."

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