Lenox Library to Screen Documentary 'Hear Me: Gun Violence in Berkshire County'

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LENOX, Mass. — Lenox Library presents a screening of "Hear Me,"" a documentary film featuring seven young people from Berkshire County who have been impacted by gun violence. 
 
The film explores root causes, stories of impact, and a way forward—through the voices of experts: those who have lived it.
 
The free screening will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Lenox Town Hall Auditorium, located at 6 Walker Street, Lenox. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q & A. The panelists will introduce public health models that have been effective at reducing shootings and homicides in other cities, and how they might be implemented in Berkshire County.
 
Panelists include:
 
Sherwood Guernsey served four terms in the Massachusetts State Legislature. Early in his career, he joined the Peace Corps in Panama; he went on to be a senior staff of the Peace Corps in Washington. After law school, Sherwood opened a private practice in Pittsfield. In the 1980s, he ran for elective office and won, serving four terms in the State Legislature. He continued his political involvement by supporting local, state, and national candidates, culminating in the creation of the Berkshire Brigades, the County Democratic Organization. His work in politics has always focused on grassroots organizing and education.
 
Jenny Herzog is an artist working on gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform. She produced Hear Me, a documentary featuring seven young people from Berkshire County who have been impacted by gun violence. Her project, Chaos Theory, uses the arts as a platform for community members impacted by the cycle of violence. Jenny received her Masters from New England Conservatory, and is a jazz singer and tap dancer. She was an Educator with Roca Boston, serving young men at the heart of urban violence; arts teacher at a therapeutic residential school serving teenage girls with a history of complex trauma; and currently works with teenagers involved with the juvenile justice system. Jenny teaches music and theatre in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.
 
Eulises Rosado is an entrepreneur and mentor from Pittsfield. He is a father and grandfather who is passionate about breaking the cycle of intergenerational incarceration and trauma. Rosado spent his teenage years in and out of the juvenile system, and went to New York State Prison at the age of 16. His lived experience makes him an expert on the criminal justice system and community violence intervention. He received his CDL License, and currently works in transport. Rosado hopes that his story can help to raise awareness, educate, and inspire others.
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Boston Red Sox's Wally Visits Morris Elementary School

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
LENOX, Mass. — Students at Morris Elementary School, sporting red, navy and green, along with plenty of baseball memorabilia, welcomed Big League Brian Dwyer and his iconic buddy, Boston Red Sox Wally the Green Monster, as he shared his love of reading with the community's future leaders.
 
"Reading opens up so many doors in so many different situations and areas in life. We have so many Boston Red Sox fans, and then bringing Wally here just reinforces the love that Wally has for reading," Principal Holly Soules said. "Kids want to be like Wally, so it's really fun to see the connection between the kids.
 
Wally's visits to the western part of the state are "rare," making his appearance at Morris Elementary especially timely following the school's recent library revamp, which prominently features one of the school's mantras: "Readers are leaders."
 
The event gave students a unique opportunity to interact with a character they may have only seen from afar at Fenway Park or on television.
 
"It was my favorite assembly of all time because I got to do stuff with Wally," fourth grader Tanner Wood said. "I like seeing him because I've never gotten that close to seeing Wally, and I got to like high five him and stuff." 
 
For the last decade, Big League Brian and Wally have encouraged students to read more while showing them ways to make reading fun and engaging through the "Wally's Making Books Come Alive" program. Schools can book a visit with Wally here
 
Using special bookmarks and a few silly antics from the goofy monster, Wally teaches students different strategies to make reading easier and more enjoyable for young learners, including reading aloud, acting out scenes, visualizing the story and using their imaginations to become more engaged readers.
 
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