SVHC to Have Hermitage Hoedown Fundraiser Oct. 1

Print Story | Email Story

BENNINGTON, Vt. — On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 1, The Hermitage Club in Wilmington, VT, is opening its doors to members and non-members for the Hermitage Hoedown.

The event will raise funds for Southwestern Vermont Health Care’s Vision 2020, A Decade of Transformation Capital Campaign, which includes the renovation and expansion of the institution’s Emergency Department and the construction of an all-new regional Cancer Center. The new Kendall Emergency Department and Hoyt-Hunter Regional Cancer Center will impact care for residents of southern Vermont, northern Berkshire County, and eastern New York.

"This is a fun and relaxed way to have a great Saturday night with friends and also help the hospital make important changes to its key services, ones that we all need and use," said Rich Caplan and his wife Laurie, of Deerfield Valley Real Estate, who are the organizers of the event and serve on the Vision 2020 Capital Campaign’s Public Phase Committee. "We can’t wait to get our community members together in support of this project."

Tickets are $125 and include an open bar 6 to 7 p.m., a barbecue dinner, and live music and dancing with Miss Paula & The Twangbusters. Recommended attire is casual, and cowboy boots are encouraged.

The SVHC Foundation Board and Vision 2020 Steering Committee has been quietly raising funds for the projects for the last four years. To date, nearly $24 million has been raised toward the goal of $25 million. The Public Phase Committee is asking the community to help them raise the final one million dollars.

"We are so grateful to Rich, Laurie, and the Hermitage Club for spearheading this community effort," said Leslie Keefe, vice president for Corporate Development at  SVHC. "We are looking forward to a really entertaining evening that will also make a significant impact our fundraising efforts and help us achieve our goal."

Visit hermitagehoedown.com to purchase tickets and sponsorships.

 

Tags: SVMC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Coggins Auto Group Celebrates Five Years

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The family-owned Coggins Auto Group is celebrating five years of operations: Coggins Toyota of Bennington and Coggins Honda of Bennington, and Coggins of the Berkshires in nearby Massachusetts.
 
Mike Coggins purchased three dealerships — Honda, Toyota and Ford — in 2020 with a goal to restore trust and a "true sense of community-minded dealership culture." 
 
"My primary focus from day one was bringing back that connection to the region," Coggins had said back in 2021. "This area values real relationships. They want to know the people they're doing business with. We set out to rebuild that trust."
 
The Ford dealership was sold off in 2023 and Coggins of the Berkshires, with sales and services for used cars, opened the same year in Pittsfield, Mass. 
 
According to Coggins Auto Group, the dealerships had social media ratings of two stars when they were purchased; now all Coggins locations are garnering more than four stars in customer satisfaction reviews. 
 
"We sell cars, and we fix cars, and our goal is just to make our customers happy, and keep our employees happy, and that's what's made this really work these last few years," said General Manager Scott O'Connell.
 
Coggins Auto Group is also involved in events that benefit the community, including its popular annual charity golf tournament that funds local charities and organizations such as the Bennington Little League.
 
View Full Story

More Vermont Stories