It’s true that 2024 was a year of big news stories, and not all of them were happy. Recent controversy at Pittsfield High School and last month’s wildfire still linger in our minds, and who’s forgotten the news that Bard College at Simon’s Rock will close this spring, the trouble at Miss Hall’s school, or the fallout of a police search of a Great Barrington classroom for a book? But in spite of all of this bad news, 2024 gave us a lot to smile about. Here’s a look back at the 10 stories that made us smile this year:
(App users, if this story does not load correctly, visit berkshireeagle.com to view.)
At this hotdog cart in Sandisfield, ‘it’s about the kids.’
This summer, on the side of a stretch of Route 57 in Sandisfield, business was booming for three young entrepreneurs, Ethan Lemon, Olivia Lemon and Lyla White, nicknamed Bubs, Beans and Beans.
Ethan and Olivia’s mother Dawn Lemon, explained how it began:
“It all started with the last day of school,” she said. “The kids didn’t want to go to camp, so I said, ‘I’m going to buy you a hot dog cart.’”
Inspiring breakthroughs in physics
We may not all know what a neutrino is, or understand how they are used to study protons, but we were all thrilled to celebrate the news that Emily Maher — who has been teaching at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts since 2006 — was part of a team of 65 scientists whose published work regarding an innovative method to research the structure of protons was named one of the year’s 10 biggest breakthroughs by Physics World.
A birthday surprise
On July 7, Penny Noepel’s 92nd birthday, her daughter and son-in-law took her to the airport around sunset. As the sky stretched into a rich orange behind the lush foothills surrounding the landing strip, a pilot landed nearby in a blue Piper PA-28 Cherokee.
When Michael Mah, a pilot who lives in Pittsfield, got out of the cockpit, he walked through the gate and approached with his script already in mind:
“Ma’am, we’re offering a sunset flight today, but only to ladies who just celebrated their 92nd birthday. Is that you?”
The surprise had Noepel, and our readers, grinning ‘from ear-to-ear.’
These high school students are getting on the job training
Students at Taconic High School spend their week producing the “Thunder Report,” a newscast that airs each Friday in the school’s classrooms.
Almost invariably, the packages end with the phrase “Back to the studio!” That’s where the magic happens — the students decide for themselves what the program will be and how it’ll run, while teacher Jamie Choquette gives gentle nudges along the way.
“They know what they’re doing, and they’re strong-willed about it,” Choquette said. “I love that.”
A return worth smiling about
After last year’s cancellation, the Josh Billings RunAground returned this year, and brought with it plenty of happy moments.
A principal’s impact
During a festive event at Morris Elementary School, teachers, students, administrators, town and state leaders sang Massachusetts’ Principal of the Year Brenda Kelley’s praises.
‘Like getting an A on an exam’
Local men’s clothier Steven Valenti had the experience of a lifetime in April when he saw one of his tuxedos being worn by Mark Stewart alongside living legend Paul Simon at a state dinner for the Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio and first lady Kishida Yuko, at the White House.
An emotional send-off
In early November, hundreds of people gathered to watch as a Norway spruce planted over six decades ago by West Stockbridge resident Earl Albert began its journey to New York to be this year’s Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
For the Albert family, it was about more than just the tree: For Michael and Shawn Albert, Earl’s son and daughter-in-law, the celebration was a chance to honor the late Lesley Albert, Earl’s wife, who died in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Alberts never got a chance to have in-person memorial services for Lesley, but felt that the tree cutting celebration was a fitting tribute to her.
“She was such a pillar in the community and really didn’t get a send-off,” Shawn said. “So we really feel like this is it. The community’s here, it’s a send-off — this is a tribute to her, in her honor.”
The end of an era
Edwin Barker took on the role of principal double bassist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra when he was 22 years old. This year, at 70, he stepped down. “I just always tried to play well. And keep playing well.”
“You just can’t beat it”
After two years of effort, the second annual Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic in February was truly the event it was supposed to be. And there wasn’t a single person at Benedict Pond on Saturday that didn’t bask in the moment.
(Many of these stories were made possible by support of our Local Journalism Fund. Please donate today! Your tax-deductible gift will expand our coverage of these critical areas.)
