Bianchi-Barbarotta Award winners, from left: Paul and Dick Rivers, Peter White, Ben Knute, West Dews, Jack Reed, Ashlyn Lesure, Ella Bassi, Randy Koldys. Not present, Brian Gill.
Paula and Dick Rivers, recipients of the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legends Award, are presented with the honor by Pepi Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta.
Peter White, center, receives the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit from Chris Barbarotta and John Barbarotta.
Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Volunteer of the Year Ben Knute receives his award from Chris Bianchi, left, and John Barbarotta.
Gary Bianchi, left, and Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta present the Male Sport Coach of the Year award to Monument Mountain boys basketball coach Randy Koldys, center.
Pittsfield High’s Jack Reed, center, receives the Vera Barbarotta Sportsmanship Scholarship from Jay Barbarotta and John Barbarotta.
Reese Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta present the Vera Barbarotta Sportsman Scholarship to Pittsfield High’s Ella Bassi.
Al Bianchi Senior Female Athlete of the Year Ashlyn Lesure receives her award from Sam Barbarotta, left, and John Barbarotta.
Al Bianchi Senior Male Athlete of Year West Dews with presenter Gary Bianchi, Wahconah football coach Gary Campbell and Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday recognized nine winners of the organization’s annual awards for contributions to sports in Berkshire County.
The honorees were recognized at a dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
Paula and Dick Rivers received the foundation’s Living Legends Award. Peter White took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. Ben Knute was honored as the Volunteer of the year. And recent Pittsfield High School grads Jack Reed and Ella Bassi are recipients of the 2025 Vera Barbarotta Sportsman Scholarships.
For the first time this year, the foundation added male and female Athletes of the Year and Coach of the Year recognition in girls and boys sports.
Wahconah’s West Dews is the male Athlete of the Year, and Hoosac Valley’s Ashlyn Lesure is the Female Athlete of the Year. The coaches are Mount Greylock girls track and field coach Brian Gill and Monument Mountain boys basketball coach Randy Koldys.
“It was a wonderful evening with some awesome speeches,” Bianch-Barbarotta Foundation President John Barbarotta said. “The kids were outstanding.”
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Summer Wrapping Up for Pittsfield, Berkshire Students
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Students in Pittsfield and beyond are enjoying their last days of summer before classes begin.
Most Berkshire County teachers return to work this month, and students follow in late August and early September.
For Pittsfield Public Schools, staff returns on Aug. 26 and students' first day is Aug. 31; pre-kindergarten and kindergarten begin school on Sept. 2.
Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 7.
"The summer is pretty much done, and we will be ready and excited to open the doors in about two and a half weeks,” Superintendent Latifah Phillips told the School Committee on Wednesday.
Phillips is returning this year as the permanent superintendent. She was appointed the interim superintendent last spring, and the School Committee voted to hire her permanently in June.
This year also brings the middle school restructuring, moving fifth grade to the middle school level, and the retirement of Morningside Community School.
Welcome night for Reid Middle School students new to the building is on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.; Herberg will have a sixth-grade welcome night at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 25, and at the same time on Aug. 26 for fifth grade.
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