Berkshires Beat: Woofstock 2019 to be Held at The Common in Pittsfield| 11:24AM / Tuesday, September 03, 2019 | |
 Berkshire Humane Society’s Woofstock, an annual 5K Run and Downtown Dog Walk celebrating people and their pups, will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, at The Common in Pittsfield. |
Woofstock 2019
Berkshire Humane Society’s Woofstock, an annual 5K Run and Downtown Dog Walk celebrating people and their pups, will be held Sunday, Sept. 8, at The Common in Pittsfield. Runners will be timed by Berkshire Running Center, and walkers will stroll along North Street to help raise awareness for the shelter's mission. Leashed canine companions are welcome during both events. Afterward, participants and supporters are invited to enjoy family-friendly activities, canine games, food trucks, music, and raffles.
All participants are encouraged to collect pledges to benefit homeless animals, and registration includes a free online crowdfunding tool. BHS receives no state or federal funding and depends solely on the support of its community to care for shelter animals and to fund more than a dozen programs and services that benefit people and pets. Some of these programs and services include: Pet Food Bank, The SafePet Program, Humane Education, Ken Freeberg Fund, Purradise, Catwalk Boutique, vaccine clinics, low-cost spay/neuter assistance, Family Dog School, foster care, and the surrender and adoption of companion animals.
"We have an ambitious goal this year," said John Perreault, executive director for BHS. "We want to see 250 people register for $25, which would be a record turnout for Woofstock. Our expenses are on the rise. Surrenders are up this time of year, and we’ve had a number of pets in need of extra medical attention – like Sophia, the pit bull that was abandoned in our outdoor pen overnight last month. Our events help us care for dogs like Sophia. We really depend on our community’s compassion."
Online registration is strongly encouraged. Pre-register for a minimum of $60 by Aug. 20 and secure a Woofstock T-shirt. Dog bandanas will be given out to dogs while supplies last. Day-of registration begins at 9 a.m. with the 5K Run kicking off at 10 a.m. and the Dog Walk following at 11 a.m. For a complete schedule, visit the website.
Pownal Pop-Up, Town Tag Sale
Discover Pownal will host the inaugural Pownal Pop-Up and Town Tag Sale, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in multiple locations around town. The event is open to individual sales at private homes, businesses who welcome customers, and individuals who prefer to be placed at one of the communal sites. All kinds of vendors, including food vendors from neighboring towns, are welcome. Food vendors will be open from noon at a location to be announced. Music makers are encouraged.
Sellers are asked for a registration fee of $5. The fee will go towards the marketing, signage, maps (both hard copies and a google map), garbage bags, and a directory of all the participating sales, businesses, and vendors. The fee for food trucks is $20. All leftover monies collected will be donated to Bennington County Meals on Wheels. The large spaces that have currently signed on to host the group sales are Harwood Homestead on Cedar Hill Road, Faith Christian Fellowship on Main Street, a private home large yard owned by Jeff Egan on North Pownal Road, and the Town Park on Center Street. Registration forms can be found online.
The idea came from a conversation with the seniors who hold a yearly sale at the Firehouse on North Pownal Road. There will be no charges for the seniors who participate in that leg of the sales. The one "rule" is to leave your space as you found it. Pownal Proud has been working hard to clean up littering in Pownal.
Volunteer Child Advocates needed
18 Degrees, formerly Berkshire Children and Families, is looking for people who would like to be a court-appointed special advocate. Court-appointed special advocate volunteers advocate on behalf of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Their best-interest advocacy helps ensure that children are safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive.
CASA volunteers are required to participate in a 30-hour training, which is held at 18 Degrees’ main office at 480 West St. For more information or an application, contact Amy Guachione at 413-448-8281, ext. 246 or by email.
18 Degrees serves people and families in our communities — whether they are families by birth, choice, or circumstance. Services respectfully provide the support people need to be able to discover possibilities that may not otherwise be clear.
Skin Cancer screenings
Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, in partnership with Dr. Lixia Ellis, a board-certified dermatologist of Dartmouth Hitchcock Putnam Physicians and with the American Academy of Dermatology, will offer a free full-body skin screening from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 14, at SVMC Dermatology, 140 Hospital Drive, Suite 205, in Bennington, Vt. An appointment is required. Leave a message including your name and daytime telephone number at 802-440-4264 to schedule an appointment. Appointments fill quickly based on the order of calls.
While open to anyone, the screenings are offered especially for people with no insurance or with high deductibles. Those who have risk factors for skin cancer, have never had a screening and want to learn more about preventing and recognizing skin cancer are especially encouraged to schedule.
Those who are unable to schedule a screening during the free event are encouraged to request a skin cancer screening at their next primary care appointment. To find a primary care provider, visit SVMC's website.
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