Fashion Show to Benefit Berkshire Humane Society

By Rebecca DravisiBerkshires Staff
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Former shelter cat Mikey makes himself at home at Catwalk, the women's clothing boutique that operates solely to benefit the Berkshire Humane Society.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Mimi Rosenblatt was the type of kid who would collect worms and bugs to study them, fascinated by creatures big and small.

So it's no wonder that as an adult, she turned her attention to animal advocacy.

That passion landed her a volunteer position when the Berkshire Humane Society opened Purradise, its cat adoption center in Great Barrington, four years ago, and that led to her newest endeavor: Catwalk, an upscale resale boutique founded to benefit the humane society.

Rosenblatt worked with BHS board member Leslie Weil and Purradise volunteer Marsha Weiner, to open the store on Memorial Day weekend with the goal of providing a steady stream of funding for the humane society.

"I adore animals," Rosenblatt said. "I've loved animals since I can remember."

This week, Rosenblatt and other animal-lovers are joining together for a fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Naji's Mediterranean Cuisine at 401 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington.

Clothing from the Catwalk boutique — which features gently used but high-end women's clothing and accessories at low price points — will be featured on models provided, dressed and styled by Michele's Salon. Professional stylist and Catwalk sales associate Lisa Betkoski is curating the clothing and serving as "model wrangler" for the show. Naji's is providing an array of Mediterranean food, and DJ Mike Heck will provide the music.

Admission is free and the fashion show will be held rain or shine; parking is available next door at the former Lee Bank and across the street at Mavis Tire. For more information, visit www.catwalkboutique.org or the store's Facebook page.

In addition to the fashion show, Catwalk is having a special Labor Day weekend sale, during which everything in the store will be 20 percent off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Catwalk is hosting a trunk sale featuring the endangered animal T-shirts of Pangolin Clothing Co., started by a Pittsfield native attending college in Amherst.

The store's first summer of operation has been "fantastic," said Rosenblatt, who said the store fills a niche in the community of more affordable higher-end clothing for women, all of which is donated.

"We're trying to keep our prices low. We have a lot of items between $12 and $25," she said, adding that they work hard to ensure that the clothing is quality. "We're very picky. We won't put stuff in that's damaged."

The women dipped their toes in the business by operating a "pop up store" last year that was so successful that it led to the idea of the permanent one, a 650-square-foot space located at 325 Stockbridge Road, behind Aegean Breeze.

"It gave us the confidence to try it," she said.

Rosenblatt said running the store now is a labor of love to help all of those creatures that can't help themselves.

"It just makes me feel good to do something like this for animals," she said. "We have to be their voice."


Tags: animals,   Berkshire Humane Society,   

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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