Lee Middle and High School Announces Graduation Speakers

03:22PM / Thursday, June 04, 2026Print Story | Email Story

LEE, Mass. — Isabella Hall and Nox Colello have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for Lee High School's class of 2026.

They will speak at the school's 149th graduation exercises on Saturday, June 6, at 1:30 p.m. at Tanglewood in Lenox.

Hall is the daughter of Shaun and Ella Hall of Lee. She is a recipient of the St. Anselm College Book Award and the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Polytechnic Institute Medal. During high school, she was a member of the school chorus and the Western Massachusetts Senior District Chorus, student government, the Social Justice Club, National Honor Society, the Fall Festival of Shakespeare and the spring musical, the Berkshire Theatre Group youth chorus and touring shows, and the soccer team.

Hall plans on attending Emerson College in Boston in the fall, majoring in business of creative enterprises.

Colello is the child of Christopher Colello of Pittsfield and Sara Armstrong of Pittsfield and was awarded the Certificate of Academic Excellence from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the St. Lawrence University Book Award, and the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award, and is a John and Abigail Adams Scholar. In high school, they participated in band and chorus, as a member and president of the school's Gay Straight Alliance, the Social Justice Club, the Fall Festival of Shakespeare and the spring musical each year, the National Honor Society, and the Barrington Stage Playwright Mentor Project.

Colello plans on attending Berkshire Community College as a business major, and the School of Makeup Effects in New Jersey.

Tags: graduation 2026, Lee High, val & sal,

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OSHA: Jacob's Pillow Won't Be Cited for 2025 Employee Death

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:42AM / Wednesday, August 05, 2026

BECKET, Mass.— The Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that Jacob's Pillow is not responsible for the fatal workplace accident that occurred one year ago.

OSHA found no violation of workplace safety and health standards related to the incident, and no citations or penalties were issued.

On Aug. 1, 2025, 40-year-old Kathryn "Kat" Sirico of Rochester, N.Y., and another employee were moving staging platforms across the property on a dolly when it began to lose control on a sloped area. Sirico attempted to regain control of the dolly but tripped and fell. The dolly ran over Sirico, and the platforms fell, landing on them.

Bystanders attempted life-saving measures, which were unsuccessful.

OSHA issued an inspection report on Aug. 3 absolving the organization of fault. The Berkshire Edge obtained and posted the report.

On March 6, the determination was communicated in a letter, presumably addressed to Sirico's family, but the addressee is redacted.

"OSHA has completed its inspection of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inc. and determined that no violation of safety and health standards occurred related to the incident; therefore, no citations or proposed penalties were issued," Acting Area Director Stephanie Smulligan-Maldanis wrote.

The OSHA report explains that employees were moving Masonite staging on a rolling cart down an incline near the Doris Duke Theatre; the cart began speeding away, and the two employees tried to slow it down by grabbing the cart; it then turned sideways and flipped over.

Sirico was crushed by the heavy rolling cart.