Pittsfield YMCA Offering Swim Lessons

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. - The Pittsfield Family YMCA is having open registrations for its shortened summer youth swim lessons in Central Berkshire County's largest indoor swimming pool.
 
Lessons are for all boys and girls 6 months to 12 years old. Sessions run for 4 weeks with half-hour lessons weekly. Classes meet Nov. 19 through Dec. 14.
 
Swim categories are based on age and ability:
  • Parent/Child Level (children 6 months to 3 years old) allows a child to grow comfortable in the water with a parent.
  • Pike Level (children 3-5 years old) is for beginner swimmers who need a floatation device. A swim bubble is required.
  • Our Eel Level (children 3-5 years old) is for children who are comfortable in the water and need little to no assistance with floatation.
  • Our Polliwog Level (children ages 6-12 years old) is for beginner swimmers who need a floatation device. A swim bubble is required.
  • Our Guppy Level (children ages 6-12 years old) is for children who are comfortable in the water, need little to no assistance with floatation. To participate in this level, children need to be able to demonstrate alternating arm action.
  • Our Minnow Level (children 6-12 years old) is for children who can swim a half lap confidently and are able to float without assistance. Children will learn stroke development and increasing endurance in this level.
  • Our Fish/Flying Fish Level (children 6-12 years old) is for children who want to learn how to refine performance with rhythmic breathing. Strokes, turns and diving levels will be taught. Children must already know hot to swim a full lap confidently.
Classes meet Tuesday afternoons or Saturday mornings at:
  • Parent/Child: Sat., 8:30-9 a.m.
  • Pike: Tues., 5:45-6:15 p.m. or Sat., 9-9:30 a.m.
  • Eel: Tues., 4:15-4:45 p.m. or Sat., 9:30-10 a.m.
  • Polliwogs: Tues., 5:15-5:45 p.m. or Sat., 10-10:30 a.m.
  • Guppy: Tues., 4:45-5:15 p.m. or Sat., 10:30-11 a.m.
  • Minnow: Sat., 11-11:30 a.m.
  • Fish/Flying Fish: Sat., 11:30 a.m.-noon
To register, visit the Y or  www.pittsfieldfamilyymca.org. Swim lessons cost $29. All participants must be Y members. An annual youth membership is $36. Swim bubbles can be purchased at the Y for $10, plus tax. All swim lessons take place at the Y's indoor swimming pool. Parents are asked to watch from the pool balcony.
 
For more information, contact Aquatics at 413-499-7650, ext. 11 or at gkeator@pittsfieldfamilyymca.org.
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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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