News  The Northern Berkshire District & Berkshire Juvenile Probation Departments & local organization host kick-off for Annual Basketball Summer League for Youth

Pictured above: Probation Office Manager Bobbi Jo Smith, Probation Officer II Alex Daugherty, and Associate Probation Officer Debra Griffin.

The Northern Berkshire District Court  and the Berkshire Juvenile Court Probation Departments joined with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition yesterday to host the kick-off of the Berkshire Coalition's Annual Summer Neighborhood Basketball League for Youths, including boys and girls, ages 9-13. This community engagement event took place at Uno Park in North Adams.
 
Free and open to the public, this annual kick-off event featured three on three basketball pick-up games, league sign-up, and an introduction to the coaches, and raffles for basketball. Food, drinks, and ice cream were provided by M & J's Food Truck. 
 
The Summer Neighborhood Basketball League started in 2009 by then Juvenile Probation Officer Alex Daugherty and members of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition "as a way to engage youth in a positive activity during summer break from school." The league runs July through August.
 
Mr. Daugherty, now a Northern Berkshire District PO II, and Berkshire Juvenile PO Nathan Staffin serve as referees and support personnel for the league.