BCC to Host 12th Annual Not Your Average Dog Show

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Tails will be wagging at the 12th annual Not Your Average Dog Show set for Sunday, Feb. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Berkshire Community College's Paterson Field House.

The family-oriented event, which is open to all dogs (not just purebreds), is free for both human and canine spectators. Donations are encouraged will benefit students through the college's annual fund.
 
Dogs participating in the show must be registered. Each dog may be entered in two categories. Sample categories include: Best Trick, Best Dressed, Best Hair and Mystery Mutt, for which volunteer judges try to guess the breeds of the dogs. For a complete list of categories, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/dogshow or contact Jeff Doscher at 413-235-2186.
 
Early registration, which costs $15 and runs through Feb. 6, is strongly recommended. Starting Feb. 7 through the day of the show, registration is $20. Registering a second dog in the same family costs $10.
 
The Berkshire Humane Society and the BCC Foundation will once again collaborate on this event. The Kids' Agility Competition, hosted by BHS, will take place at 1 p.m. Children will race through a timed obstacle course, aiming to finish with the fastest time. Groups are divided in age categories for children ages 4-6 and 7-8 and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. The fee is $2 per child and registration is suggested. Forms are available at the shelter on 214 Barker Road. All proceeds to go to BHS’s spay/neuter fund.
 
Vendors will have information regarding their businesses as well as pet related items for sale. BCC’s Culinary Program will have refreshments for sale.
 
State Representative William Smitty Pignatelli will emcee the show and Gene Dellea, president of the BCC Foundation, will serve as ringmaster.
 
Dogs at the event must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination and must be leashed at all times. All female dogs in season should not participate. Handlers of spectator dogs must agree to event rules.
 
For registration forms, event rules and regulations, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/dogshow or contact Anne Phillips at aphillips@berkshirecc.edu or 413-236-2185.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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