image description — The new Youth Center is right on target for an October groundbreaking.

Williamstown Youth Center To Break Ground This Fall

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
12:03PM / Wednesday, April 06, 2011Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The new Youth Center is staying on pace for an October groundbreaking.

A contentious debate held the project up from its original June groundbreaking date but planners are now on pace to being construction in the fall.

"Now that the site has been finalized, the design team for the new facility is entering into the 'design development' phase of the project," Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell said in an e-mail Tuesday. "In the near future the Building Committee will be submitting recommendations for exterior materials and elevations. The Youth Center will also share the results of its capital campaign and the future financial projections of the Youth Center."

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The new 12,000 square foot building is expected to open in the summer of 2012. The School Committee gave final approval for the center to be built on school land earlier this year.

The center still needs to work out a lease agreement with the school for the exact land as well as receive all construction permits before breaking ground.

"As the building plans move forward, the Youth Center’s Building Committee will continue to work closely with the School Committee," Rempell said.

The building was originally approved to be built on school land in 2009 based on preliminary sketches of a two-story building. However, when the architects returned with a plan last October, it called for a one-story building that encompassed nearly double the footprint size of the original plan. The changes raised debate, particularly over moving the school's playground.

The final orientation, decided in January, is north-south, which sent the designers back to the drawing board. That location and orientation aligns the center's entrance near the school and along the School Street parking lot.

"The building of a new Youth Center would not have been possible without the incredible support of the community," Rempell said.

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Companion Corner: Max at Second Chance

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
03:25PM / Thursday, February 12, 2026

ARLINGTON, Vt. — There is a dog at Second Chance Animal Shelter whose blindness doesn't stop him from wanting to play fetch with his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Max is a 3-year-old border collie has been patiently waiting at the shelter since January 2023.

Lead canine care technician Alaura Lasher introduced us to him.

"He is a mostly blind dog, so we're looking for someone who is willing to work with him and his blindness, he actually does really well, even though he can't see for the most part," she said.

Max was given to the shelter after his previous owner was not able to care for his special needs. His new owner will have to be able to care for him and make sure his eyes are checked every six months.

"He has degenerative retinal atrophy. He had a surgery for this a year ago. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to gain much eyesight back from that, and we're just monitoring him for glaucoma. He would need someone who is ready to take him to the ophthalmologist every six months," said Lasher. "He gets checkups every six months just to make sure he hasn't developed glaucoma yet and nothing is worsening with his eyes."

It is suggested he goes to a home with older children who can understand his condition as well as no other pets, and a safe place for him to run free without worry of getting lost. Especially to play his favorite game of fetch.

"We do suggest a home with no other animals, just because with his blindness, it's a little hard for him to know how to interact with them. We also suggest a home with a fenced in yard again, because he loves to play fetch. He will play fetch for as long as you will let him, and he does amazing at it, even though he doesn't have the best eyes," Lasher said.

Max is on an eye-drop schedule that will need to be followed.

"He does require multiple eye drops a day, so someone would have to be ready and willing to kind of stick to his eye med schedule and be able to administer those daily," she said.

Max has shown signs of reactivity to strangers and animals and would do great if his next family could work with him in socializing.

"He's a very smart dog. He's very intelligent. I think he would do really well with some basic training. Since he's very toy driven, that would definitely kind of help him in his learning and training process."

If you think Max might be the boy for you, reach out to Second Chance Animal Shelter and learn more about him on the website.

Second Chance Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. It is located at 1779 VT Route 7A. Contact the shelter at 802-375-2898 or info@2ndchanceanimalcenter.org.

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