Letter: International Women's Day

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To the Editor:

This letter was ignored by the Berkshire Eagle

Friday, March 8, was International Women's Day. Here in the Berkshires, it was celebrated by the Zonta club, an International Women's Leadership organization, by honoring six dynamic women from our community at a special dinner that attracted over 200 attendees.

This diverse group of women has made monumental contributions from coaching young professionals to build careers here to providing over two million diapers to those in need. These women aren't CEOs of big corporations and they didn't develop the latest app. They excelled by giving their time, skills and in most cases their own money for the benefit and betterment of the Berkshires. Their stories are inspirational, serving as powerful testaments of selfless service to guide young girls and women.

On Saturday morning, I sat down with my digital copy of the Berkshire Eagle–our Hometown Newspaper– expecting to read about this event and the special women leaders who are uplifting our community but there was no story or photo. Making headlines was the lead story with photos about “Drag Time Story Hour for our Children.”


I seriously question the Eagle's editorial decision and judgment. How do you ignore this opportunity to illustrate International Women's Day through local coverage of Zonta's six remarkable honorees, from diverse backgrounds and roles, who are leading the Berkshires to build a more equitable, desirable and respectful place to live?

I've met the editor and publisher of the Eagle. He's a smart guy. This wasn't a mistake. I believe this was an intentional effort by our hometown newspaper to advance a political agenda while ignoring real community heroes. Eagle editors have demonstrated irresponsible behavior and a lack of leadership and judgment by propagating a targeted narrative.

Get the focus where it belongs.

Respectfully,

Roger Gibboni
Lanesborough, Mass. 

 

 

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Board Uncertain on How to Budget for Clean Air Efforts

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — As concerns about Berkshire Concrete's operations persist, Select Board members agree funding is needed, but are uncertain on how it should be allocated.
 
During its meeting on Monday, Select Board member Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo requested that the town include in the budget funds for technical air-monitoring and potentially legal costs for the Clean Air Committee budget. 
 
In June, the board approved the establishment of a Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee, charged with reviewing the special permit and ensuring compliance. 
 
The committee consists of one Select Board member, a Board of Health representative, a Planning Board member, a Conservation Commissioner, and two citizen members: one from the Dalton Clean Air Coalition and another at-large citizen.
 
For over a year, residents attended numerous meetings urging action to stop sand from leaving parcel No. 105-16, owned by Berkshire Concrete, a subsidiary of Petricca Industries.
 
Since then, the Zoning Board ordered the company to fully remediate the unauthorized dig site on parcel No. 105-16, the Board of Health fined it $5,000, and the Planning Board denied its special permit
 
Board members seemed to agree that budgeting funds for clean air monitoring be set aside in the Clean Air Committee budget but not how legal fees should be budgeted. 
 
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