A seasoned journalist, Leslee Bassman has made a career out of her passion for local community issues, first in Central Texas and now in the Berkshires. The former editor and reporter with Community Impact Newspaper was also a contributor to the Austin American-Statesman’s suburban editions, among other western Travis County publications. She received two National Newspaper Association awards, moderated a local candidate forum, acted as presenter for a civic group’s annual meeting and authored the book, “The Rotary Club of Austin Celebrates One Hundred Years of Service Above Self.” An attorney by trade, Bassman transitioned into the newspaper business to keep citizens better informed as to government actions and events in their neighborhoods. This mother of two grown daughters currently resides in Dalton with her husband, Rob, and Ella, a beloved, freckle-faced Setter mix. Bassman was recently appointed to the Dalton Cultural Council and serves as its treasurer. When she doesn’t have a notebook and tape recorder in hand, you can find her on the pickleball court, hiking one of the area’s beautiful trails or knee-deep in mud pulling out pesky weeds from her gardens.
