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.

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Peace Officer Standards Commission Strips Former Pittsfield Cop of Certification

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:52PM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A former Pittsfield Police officer was one of five statewide who recently had their licenses revoked by the POST Commission.

Last week, the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission voted to strip five former officers of their licenses to work in law enforcement, including former PPD officer William Straub.

The commission had determined that these workers were unfit to carry a badge and gun in Massachusetts; so far, 92 state police officers have been decertified by the commission.

Records indicate that Straub faced charges tied to a 2024 incident, but details are redacted. On Oct. 31, 2024, the POST Commission suspended Straub's law enforcement certification, and he resigned from PPD in April.

"According to Pittsfield District Court records, Straub pleaded guilty in April to two counts of misdemeanor assault and battery tied to a 2024 incident," MassLive wrote on Monday.

"Three other charges, including drunk driving and carrying a firearm while intoxicated, were continued without a finding. While that resolution allows the charges to be dismissed after a period of time if Straub abides by certain conditions, the commission treats them as a criminal conviction."

According to records, he was certified as a police officer in July of 2021, and recertified in July 2024.

"The Respondent's appointing agency, the Pittsfield Police Department ("PPD"), submitted a final report to the Commission finding that the Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct and conduct unbecoming [of] an officer," the Aug. 20 final decision to decertify reads.

"The Respondent resigned from PPD on April 9, 2026, prior to the imposition of any discipline."

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