Berkshire County Green Teams Recognized

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today acknowledged students from 475 classrooms across the state who participated in the Green Team program, making the 2024-2025 school year the highest registration in the program's history.

Among the 94 Green Teams recognized statewide for outstanding environmental stewardship and educational activities, several Berkshire County schools received particular accolades.

"Congratulations to all of the participating Green Team teachers and students for their accomplishments," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Their initiative and leadership provides an excellent example of how we can raise environmental awareness and promote waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting in our schools, homes, and communities."

Lee Elementary School's Garden program (grades K-5) and Pittsfield High School's Compost Program (grades 9-12) were specifically recognized for going "above and beyond" with their efforts to promote sustainability and responsible leadership in their communities. These schools, along with 30 others across the state, will receive a gift card to celebrate their hard work or to support their Green Team initiatives.

Additionally, Green Teams from Pine Cobble in Williamstown and Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School in Adams were among the 62 participating classes whose students will receive a "Bee the Change" pollinator seed packet for their work this school year.

The Green Team is a statewide program sponsored by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and MassDEP, empowering students and teachers to help the environment by acting in their communities.

St. Mary's Wins Northern Berkshire Babe Ruth Tournament

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
08:23PM / Sunday, June 28, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Dom Newton struck out eight in five innings on the mound and went 2-for-4 at the plate Sunday to lead the Southern Berkshire Babe Ruth St. Mary’s team to a 12-7 win over Moresi and Associates in the championship game of the inaugural Northern Berkshire 15-year-old Babe Ruth Tournament at Alcombright Field.

 

Newton doubled, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice for St. Mary’s, which jumped on top with a three-run first inning and never relinquished the lead.

 

Newton allowed two earned runs before giving the ball to Mason Bailey, who pitched two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh.

 

The long outing from the St. Mary’s starter helped it get through a run of four games in three days, including the semi-finals and finals on Sunday.

 

“We kind of planned it out,” St. Mary’s coach Jeffrey Simmons said. “Cam [Simmons] threw on Friday. He pitched the whole game there. And we saved Dom, who is one of our aces as well, for today.”

 

Simmons struck out 12 in 5 and a third innings in a 9-6 win over North Adams Fire Department on Friday; he also went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in that game.

 

Simmons played behind the plate in two of St. Mary’s four wins, including the finale, when he tripled in a run, walked twice and scored three times en route to earning the tournament’s most valuable player award.