HARDWARE Offers First Ever Holiday Shopping Party

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - Don't miss the opportunity to find something creative for everyone on your list this holiday shopping season. On Thursday, December 11, 5 - 9 PM, HARDWARE The MASS MoCA Store will host the first ever Shop HARDWARE Holiday Party. This one-night-only event will feature fabulous gifts from local artisans and craftspeople, an expanded selection of HARDWARE's own merchandise, refreshments, a cash bar, door prizes and more. The first 50 shoppers who RSVP for the event to hardwareparty@massmoca.org or 413-664-4481 x8140 will receive a free gift upon arrival.

In an effort to give Berkshire consumers a venue to shop for unique local goods this holiday season, MASS MoCA has invited more than 40 local artisans and craftspeople from Berkshire County and surrounding areas, including southern Vermont, eastern New York, and the Pioneer Valley, to participate in the Shop HARDWARE Holiday Party. In addition to HARDWARE's ever expanding store selection, vendors will offer an eclectic mix of items including felted wool earrings, vintage button accessories, hand-blown glassware, decorative tiles, pottery, sculptural animal sculpture ornaments, art bags, children's art products, wearable art, and hand decorated hula hoops. Jodi Joseph, Director of Retail Operations for HARDWARE The MASS MoCA Store, notes, "It's fun to stock the shelves of HARDWARE with great toys and gifts for the holidays - but we wanted to do something bigger. MASS MoCA is the perfect place for a destination holiday market featuring design conscious objects as well as fun and functional wares." Supporting local producers is one of several new initiatives for HARDWARE. "This holiday sale is a great way for consumers to get creative in their giving, and to put their money directly into the local economy while supporting MASS MoCA."

As if the MASS MoCA lobby filled with local goods and great deals were not enough, guests of the Shop HARDWARE Holiday Party will be treated to complimentary light refreshments from Lickety Split Cafe, drinks from the MASS MoCA cash bar, and door prizes from each vendor to be raffled off throughout the evening. HARDWARE Holiday Party shoppers will also receive entrance into the MASS MoCA galleries for just $10 from 5 to 8 PM. On the MASS MoCA campus Café Latino will be open during and after the event, serving up their Thursday special, "Loco Ocho," featuring a chef's choice dinner 2 courses for $16 and 3 courses for $24.
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Companion Corner Grey Boy at No Paws Left Behind

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There's a cat No Paws Left Behind still waiting for his forever home.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. He was previously highlighted but he now has new information.

Grey Boy is 10 years old and is a gray and white domestic shorthair and was previously highlighted on Companion Corner.

The shelter's Executive Director Noelle Howland introduced us to him and his long journey to be ready for adoption.

"He's been here a couple months. He was a transfer from a rescue in Bennington. They were out of space, so we had taken him in with a few other cats. So he's been here a couple months. He came in with what we believed was a respiratory infection," she said. "So it took us a little bit to get him ready, and then he also needed a dental. So he has nice, clean teeth. He had some teeth removed, and then he has to go back in and have one more dental. So he'll be all ready to go."

It was previously thought that he has feline herpes but he was recently diagnosed with a palette fracture because of how bad his dental disease was, which is what is causing his sneezing. He can now go home with cats, a cat-savvy dog and children.

"He has had two dentals since being with us. Due to the palate fracture he will be sneezy for the rest of his life, not contagious sneezing, but that doesn’t stop him from living a perfectly happy life. He should be on wet food with chunks due to this and since he has had many teeth removed," Howland said.

Grey Boy loves to play with toys and enjoy treats. He would also love to have a window to lounge or bird-watch in.

"He is not afraid of anything. He's very curious, so I'm sure he'd love if you have windows for him to look out of. He still plays, even though he's 10 it does not stop him. So any home would be a good fit for him."

Now that he is ready to be adopted, he is excited. When you walk into the room with him he will rub up against your leg introducing himself and asking to be pet.

"Usually, I would say, when you're walking, he'll bonk into you so he might catch you off guard a little bit. He constantly is rubbing against you," Howland said. "He really, I would say he's lazy when you want him to be, and he's active when you want him to be. He'll play with toys. He's usually lounging away. And then when he comes out he'll play. He loves it. So, very friendly, easy going cat."

He is now perfectly healthy with his dentals all done and veterinary care up to date and is ready to find his forever family.

"I would say the friendliest, easiest cat you could have. He's just, he's just gonna be a little sneezy sometimes, but that doesn't stop him from doing anything," she said.

Grey Boy's adoption fee is sponsored by Rooted in Balance Counseling LLC.

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