2nd Street Seeks Submissions for Literary Project

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 2nd Street seeks submissions for Using Our Outside Voices, a literary project created in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC) that is designed to promote creativity, acceptance and inclusion for presently or formerly incarcerated men and women in Berkshire County. The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2024.
 
Authors whose work is selected will receive a cash award of $200, and winning submissions will be published in a journal. The initial run of 400 printed copies of the free journal will be distributed locally, and digital copies will be available online. In addition, public readings will be held at various venues in the Berkshires.
 
Any presently or formerly incarcerated resident of Berkshire County is invited to submit original poetry, short fiction, personal essays or other literary works. Those who need editorial help can bring their work to 2nd Street, located at 264 Second Street, Pittsfield.
 
For more details on how to submit a literary work, visit www.2nd-street.org and click Special Projects, or call (413) 443-7220, ext. 1275. 
 
Financial and in-kind support of Using Our Outside Voices is provided by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community initiative with funding from the Barr Foundation; by Berkshire United Way; by Berkshire Community College; and by Pittsfield Cultural Council, a local agency supported by Mass Cultural Council.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Growth of Girls Basketball Reflected in County Hall of Fame Inductees

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Each year, the Berkshire County High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame adds more chapters to the history of the game.
 
Sometimes, that history can be traced through a single family.
 
“I can go back to the days that show how far we've progressed in women's basketball,” Deborah Donovan told the crowd at Saturday’s induction ceremony at Proprietor’s Lodge. “Because when I started at St. Joe, we had pinnies -- do you know what pinnies are? They were things you threw over your head, and it was either red or yellow, and you had to tape on a number.
 
“We didn't have a league, per se. We didn't have anyone go out and follow us.”
 
Donovan and her sisters, Patricia Donovan and Laura Donovan-Najimy, all graduates of St. Joseph Central High School, joined the county Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, along with Donovan-Najimy’s daughter, Alice Najimy, a graduate of Lenox Memorial, Hoosac Valley’s Alie Mendel, Wahconah’s Maria Gamberoni, Lee’s Karli Retzel, Drury’s Bonnie Eichorn and Mount Everett’s Gwendolyn Carpenter.
 
Coach Ron Wojcik, who led Hoosac Valley to six state finals and two state titles, and Peter Arment, the long-time president of the Lenox Youth Basketball Association, rounded out the 11-member Class of 2026.
 
Patricia Donovan, in her remarks, noted that her sister Deborah played high school basketball in the days when teams played six on a side and players were not allowed to cross half court.
 
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