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.

Westfield Babe Ruth Tops Pittsfield 13s in Game One of Series

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – JJ Gonzalez Monday led the Westfield Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars on the mound and at the plate in a 10-2 win over Pittsfield to open the best-of-three Western Massachusetts Championship Series.
 
Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. He also earned the win on the bump by striking out three, walking one and allowing one run in 4 and a third innings of work.
 
He was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Pittsfield’s Mateo Herrera early, but one moment of shaky defense opened the door to a big third inning for the visitors, and Pittsfield never recovered at Deming Park.
 
Westfield’s Lucas Maak worked a walk to start the third, bringing its No. 9 hitter to the plate, and Jaedon Badillo dropped down a bunt. Pittsfield’s defense surrounded the ball but could not produce a throw, allowing Badillo to reach.
 
Then the next Westfield hitter, Eric Dean, got his bunt down and reached first to load the bases with nobody out and bring the top of the order to the plate.
 
Three of the next four hitters singled – Gonzalez driving in a pair – and the visitors produced seven hits in all in the rally that left them with a 6-0 lead.
 
“We practiced it the last two weeks, bunt defense, first and thirds,” Pittsfield coach Francis McKeon said. “We just, we’ve got to make an adjustment where we see fit.
 
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