By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015) —THE PLANET pops in early and quickly this morning at the start of this new week, still hot on the dizzy and dizzying developments at the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club … or is it The Boys and Girls Club of Berkshire County?

The Club is in the throes of a crisis not only of name but also of identity, mission, and redefinition — and all of its own making. This is purely the work of the Club’s Board of Directors, which now must step up and provide answers.

Since December 2103 with the secretive firing of Peter Bell as executive director, the Club has taken one shrouded misstep after another. In the process, it has blown nearly all of its good-will capital as one of the community gems. It now faces a situation that, at present, leaves the Club’s future seriously in doubt.

And this, even after the Club’s board canned Terry Hughes and what’s been dubbed his “reign of terror.”

That’s it for now, but later this morning, THE PLANET shall be back with much more in this intriguing story, one that’s all but been ignored by the mainstream media. Part of that “more” is what we hope will be statement by a Club board member.

Later. Rather than sooner. Stay tuned.

As Promised, We Are Back — ADD 1

It’s been a busy morning, working on bread-and-butter while also trying to keep the wires from burning over the Boys Club melodrama.

Meanwhile, THE PLANET shares some of the mail we’ve received on the flammable situation at the Club.

“Flammable.”

As you well know, we choose our words well and wisely. We say this as a sufficient antidote to any mainstreamers who might wish to publish the saccharine (and fake) Pillow Talk version of recent Club events. As THE PLANET noted yesterday, the firing of Terry Hughes as executive director marks only the beginning and not the end of the saga.

And remember: Never give a saga an even break. Here we two representative samplings of the letters and messages that are even now coming our way.

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‘There are So Many Secrets’

This is the tip of the ice berg.  Chris Keegan ran camp Russell.  Chris Keegan oversaw so many programs.  There is a program at the club that is new the past year.  And was very successful before joining the club.  This program serves just under 100 families.  Yet wasn’t mentioned in his press release.  I find that unbelievable.  Chris Keegan however helped us day in and day out to integrate into the club.  Remaining anonymous at this time is important… but please… Ask the questions.  Press the issues.  There are so many secrets..  The public only knows what they hear.  And I promise there is so much more they have not heard.  You seem to be the only reporter not afraid to open the door and ask the real questions.

THE PLANET RESPONDS: We are doing just that, pressing the issues. Our job becomes easier, however, as people who are in the know shake off any hesitation they might have about sharing what they know and contacting THE PLANET, on or off the record.

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‘Why Has Soldier On Pulled All Support from The Boys and Girls Club?’

Some more background for you on the Club. Tina Wixsom is incredibly competent and capable and will a do a good job for the Club (as she always has), but so would have other people that they forced out before her. One of the reasons she had not been let go (and she was worried she would be) was because she’s a Barbarotta and if Mr. Hughes decided to release her of her duties, it would have brought more PR nightmares to the Club because of the family and their size and standing within the communitty.

Shannon McMahon is the opposite end of the spectrum. In my opinion, if they were firing employees based upon merit, she should have been let go 5 years ago. 

Other things to ask Mr Hughes if you ever get the chance:

1. Why is he trying to eliminate the Recreational Therapy Program at Camp Russell (see Brian Sullivan’s column in The Eagle today)? Despite what Richard Backer is saying publicy, Hughes has it out for the program. That program is an absolute beacon and should be promoted by the Club wherever possible. To eliminate it would be an absolute shame. It has benefited thousands of special needs children, regular campers and staff for over 30 years and has also brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money to the Club over the years. 

2. Why has Soldier On pulled all support from the Boys & Girls Club?

One of the things you should ask about the Club is of board member Tom Hamel and his law partner William Martin (also a Club board member). Hamel is also a board member for the CYC and was intimately involved in firing their executive director and is responsible for basically running that place into the ground that they were forced to close. 

From everything I’ve been told, he is the champion of Mr. Hughes and is one of the main board members pushing a lot of the agenda. I hate to say it, but there appears to be a track record here and in my opinion its scary if he is on your board and has a leadership position.

THE PLANET Responds: Obviously, we don’t have the chance to ask these questions of Mr. Hughes. He played “Aloha” on the steel guitar. We shall put these questions to those remaining in change, including board president John Donna and interim director Chris Jacoby. In fact, consider the questions asked. Donna and Jacoby must be reading THE PLANET. Therefore, gentlemen, do you have answers?

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” … three lullabies in an ancient tongue in the court of the Crimson King” — King Crimson, “In the Court of the Crimson King,” from the album of the same name, (1969).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.