North Adams Plans 11th Annual Winterfest

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NORTH ADAMS - Get ready to chow down.

The 11th annual Winterfest, billed as a "Sure Cure For the Winter Blues," will be held in venues throughout the city on Saturday and features the only chowder cook-off in Northern Berkshire. The day includes breakfast, shopping, music, wagon and trolley rides, llamas and lots of free chowder.

The festivities begin with a community breakfast of pancakes, sausage and beverages at First Congregational Church on Main Street from 8 to 11.  The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children, with the proceeds benefiting the work of the church's youth group.

Lars Garrison of West Mountain Farm in Stamford, Vt., will bring a llama to the children's department on the second floor of the North Adams Library at 10:30. Children will be able to pet the llama, listen to a story, and enjoy free refreshments.

Free horse-drawn wagon rides, sponsored by Hoosac Bank, will be offered on Main Street from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at the bank to be picked up. The historic North Adams Trolley, sponsored by the Adams Cooperative Bank, will be running a free route between the St. Anthony's Parish Center and downtown from noon to 3, for those who'd like to take a ride.
 
The Grooove presents a free program of acoustic performers at 107 Main St., near the Mohawk Theater, from 6 to 8 p.m. UNITY (United, Neighboring, Interdependent, and Trusted Youth) and real estate developer David Carver is sponsoring the entertainment.

Want something more wintry? Head to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink on South Church Street for the annual Mayor's Free Skating Party from 7 to 9 p.m. The party is sponsored by Mayor John Barrett III with support from Greylock Federal Credit Union. Area residents of all ages are invited to attend. Skates can be rented for the reduced price of $2 a pair.
 
Mount Greylock Bowl is hosting Rock 'N Bowl for all ages at the lanes on Roberts Drive from 6 to midnight. There will be refreshments at the snack bar, rock 'n' roll music and disco balls will light up the lanes. Pick up a coupon at the chowder cook-off and save a dollar on bowling.

Throughout the day, there'll be shopping bargains on and off Main Street.

Dragonflii at 48 Eagle St. will be offering free hot chocolate, tea warm apple cider and  cookies, along with up to 50 percent off select items. North Adams Pizza Co. at 20 Holden St. will feature reduced prices and a free cup of chowder. At 15 Eagle St., the Bark N' Cat continues its sale on pet treats through February, along with sales dog and cat toys on Saturday. Next door at 13 Eagle St., Persnickety Toys is offering 20 percent off any one item in the store.

Look in the North Adams Transcript on Thursday for a Winterfest advertisement: get it a initialed or stamped by at least five of the participating stores on Saturday and then deposit the entry with one of the businesses or at the Chowder Cook–Off. On Monday, Feb. 25, the Winterfest Committee will draw the name of the grand-prize winner of gift certificates from the participating merchants.
 
The main event, the chowder cook-off, runs from noon to 2 p.m. at St. Anthony's Parish Center with free samples of chowder from top area restaurants and food service establishments. The event was moved from the Holiday Inn to the larger venue because of its growing popularity.

Freight Yard Pub was last year's winner; Boston Sea Foodswon People's Choice.

The two winners will return this year to compete against, as of Wednesday, Aramark Dining Services at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the Berkshire Food Project,  CJ's Sports Pub of Adams, Gala Restaurant and Gramercy Bistro of Williamstown, Isabella's Restaurant, Lickety Split at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts, North Adams Regional Hospital Dining Services, Red Sauce Ristorante and Steeples Restaurant.

The public is invited to sample chowder, but only those who make a donation to the Mohawk Theater Renovation Fund will be eligible to cast a ballot for their favorite recipe. Plaques will be awarded for the three top popular vote winners. A panel of judges will also award plaques.

This year's judges are tentatively the mayor, state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, WUPE Radio personality Sherman Baldwin and iBerkshires.com Managing Editor Tammy Daniels.

As a part of the festivities, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition will present its "Say it Proud" awards, at about 1. The award is part of a campaign by the Northern Berkshire Youth Collaborative to recognize youth for positive activities and making good choices. Honorees include Elizabeth Murray, Tiffany Hartlage and Valorie Lukkarila. In addition, there will be tables representing Girl Scout Troop 401, Reach Community Health, BerkshireRides, Relay for Life and the COTY Project. The North Adams SteepleCats mascot, Slider, will also be on hand.

For more information, tourism@northadams-ma.gov or call 413-664-6180.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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