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.

More Than 1,100 Complete Holiday 5K

iBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Pittsfield’s Abigail Geurds was the fastest female finisher in the 4th of July 5K on Friday morning.
 
Geurds covered the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course in 17 minutes, 51 seconds to place 26th overall.
 
The race saw 1,141 competitors finish the out-and-back course from Wahconah Street south to the intersection of South Street and West Housatonic and back to Wahconah Park.
 
The top finisher overall was Steve Dowsett of Newburyport, who ran a time of 15:12 to finish three seconds ahead of runner-up Alex White of Dalton.
 
Finishers at the event ranged in age from Pittsfield’s Eamon Doyle, 7, who ran a time of 26:34, to Pittsfield’s Allan Bates, 76, who finished in 23:05.
 
The race was organized by the Berkshire Running Center and sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems.
 
Complete results are available here
 
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