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Noelle Howland, manager of the former Sonsini Animal Shelter, has been raising funds for a new shelter to be located in North County.

No Paws Left Behind Seeking to Continue Sonsini's Mission

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The former Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter is gearing up to relaunch under a new name once it secures a location.

No Paws Left Behind hopes to open in North Adams, carrying on the no-kill shelter's legacy of homing cats and dogs. The Sonsini shelter announced its closing last summer and manager Noelle Howland saved it by taking leadership.

"We're pretty much ready to go but I just don't have a location yet," Howland said.

The municipal shelter in North Adam's Department of Public Works building is a possible location, she said, but it is a multi-step process that has not yet been set in stone. She added that there are "so many pieces that have to go together" for it to be 100 percent.

When the former location on Crane Avenue shut down at the end of August, Howland said space was a main need, specifically more room for outdoor and indoor kennels, a separate space for the cats not located in the office, and a meet-and-greet space.

All of the animals found homes before its closing, except for Knight the American pit bull mix, the last resident who found a happy home not long after.

Howland started a crowdfunding campaign that has raised more than $53,000 toward the effort since July 30 and has held separate fundraising events.

Articles of incorporation have been filed with the state for No Paws Left Behind Inc. and the shelter is awaiting verification from the Internal Revenue Service for a 501c(3) non-profit designation.


A 13-member board has been meeting, each person with a different specialty, such as grant writer. The Eleanor Sonsini board, which decided to close the facility due to financial constraints and insufficient space, had only three members.

Bonnie Howland, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' director of student financial services and a board member of Northern Berkshire United Way, is serving as president. Also on the board is Crystal Wojcik, the finance director and accountant for the town of Adams.

The shelter also launched a website with sections for adopting, donating, volunteer opportunities, and an Amazon wishlist.

Howland expects to take on all of the people who were working when the Crane Avenue location closed.

"There was only a couple of us but to start I'm going to have just them," she said. "And then once we're open, I'll be relying on volunteers and all that."

She clarified that the facility will carry on the mission of animal lover Eleanor Sonsini, a local animal rights activist and longtime Pittsfield animal control officer who died in 1994 at age 80

"Basically her whole mission will stay the same."


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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.

Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.

We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.

In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.

Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear. 

The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.

"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."

Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.

In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.

The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.

"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.

In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.

"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said. 

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