Zonta Club Honors Local Women

03:33PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — To celebrate International Women's Day, the Zonta Club of Berkshire County will host its 4th International Women's Day Recognition Celebration on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Berkshire Hills Country Club.

The event will begin at 5:30 pm.

Jackie Melendez, President of the Zonta Club announced that this year five area women will be honored for their contributions to support and empower women.

"We're delighted to highlight the accomplishments and contributions of these women in our community," shared Melendez. "Through their work, the lives of area women and girls are supported and empowered."

The women to be honored at the event are Divya Chaturvedi, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Freeman Center; Lorena Dus, Director of Client and Community Services at Berkshire Immigrant Center; Shela Levante, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Brenda Opperman who was previously an Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval War College and Maria Rundle, Executive Director of Flying Cloud Institute.

"Each of the women chosen to be honored this year make significant contributions to the empowerment of women or girls through their work and we are thrilled to recognize them," said Melendez.

The Zonta Club of Berkshire County, founded in 1994, works to advance the status of women and girls through community service projects including The Period Project and provides scholarships to young women embarking on education. For tickets to the Women's Recognition event visit www.zontaberkshire.org or email Zontaberkshire@gmail.com.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

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

Lanesborough Seeks State Support for Berkshire Mall Redevelopment

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
05:58PM / Monday, October 12, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town plans to petition the state to take ownership of the Route 7/Route 8 Connector Road, which officials believe is a "critical component" of the Berkshire Mall’s redevelopment strategy.

On Tuesday, the Select Board approved a letter to state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to request their support for the vacant mall's redevelopment by helping advance transfer of the Route 7/Route 8 connector and considering funding for essential infrastructure.

"We have held discussions with the Baker Hill Road District … which will take the necessary steps to formally petition the commonwealth to take over ownership of the Route 7, Route 8 connector…Your continued support in facilitating this transfer is greatly appreciated," the letter says.

Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings has said the potential sale and redevelopment of the mall hinges on dissolving the Baker Hill Road District, a condition of the agreement that, if unmet, would render the contract null and void.

As a result, the mall will continue to deteriorate and the litigation will proceed forward, said Tim Grogan, of JMJ.

Vera Farrell, the liaison to the Baker Hill Road District, said the district board had discussed at one of its most recent meetings that the connector road could be transferred directly to the state, rather than returned to the town; Barrett and Mark were also a part of the discussion.

"The representatives recommended that as an option, that it could transfer the connector road directly to the state, as opposed to deeding it back to the town to dispense it. If we get to that point, that would be a better option to do it that way," Farrell said.

View Full Story