March Community Contra Dance

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  North Berkshire Community Dance will hold its monthly contra dance on Saturday, March 9.  
 
Caller Maggie McRae will teach every dance to live fiddle music using gender-neutral phrasing.
 
According to a press release:
 
Contra dancing is a living tradition in New England; for hundreds of years, neighbors and friends have made their own social entertainment in this easy and highly collaborative dance form.  All are welcome.
 
New dancers and families with children are encouraged to arrive by 7:30 for instruction in the basics.
 
The band, The Vintons, is a new collaboration of three long-time musician friends with a love for the classic New England contradance sound: George Wilson – fiddle, Andy Davis – accordion & piano, and Marko Packard – guitar & flute. 
 
The dance will run 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Community Hall of the First Congregational Church, 906 Main St., Williamstown. Admission is pay-as-you-can:  $12 - $20 suggested, and barter is also welcome. 
 
Covid Policy: NBCD encourages masks, but no longer requires them. Be aware that, whoever your partner, you'll wind up dancing with everyone in the room. You may wish to bring a spare mask to change into for comfort throughout the evening.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Teacher of the Month: Frani Miceli

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Students say teacher Frani Miceli makes learning fun.  
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williamstown Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Frani Miceli has been selected as the July Teacher of the Month. 
 
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next 12 months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here. 
 
Miceli has been teaching for 26 years and has worked to develop a happy, comfortable, and creative learning environment for her pupils.
 
Through her connection with her students and the decor on her classroom walls, Miceli hopes to help them realize that being kind is possible. 
 
"I have a thing on my wall that says, 'Character is what you do when no one is watching.' So, I hope that they have internalized that," Miceli said. 
 
"We make personal decisions because it's the right thing to do, and sometimes our actions can negatively impact other people, and sometimes they can positively impact other people. So I think happy kids make happy choices, and so I just want them to be happy, engaged children"
 
Every single one of her students in her morning math class jumped at the opportunity to praise their  teacher. 
 
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