SVHC to Have Hermitage Hoedown Fundraiser Oct. 1

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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.

 

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Companion Corner: Lucy at Second Chance Animal Shelter

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

ARLINGTON, Vt. — There is an excited and energetic pup looking for her new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Lucy is nearly 2 years old. She is a heeler/terrier mix with energy to spare. She has been at the Second Chance Animal Shelter since the summer.

We highlighted Lucy in June, but she is still looking for her forever family.

Lead canine care technician Alaura Lasher introduced us to her.

"She is a very energetic girl. She loves to play, and as you can see, she came to us from animal control," she said. 

Lucy was not in a great situation before coming to the shelter and they are still trying to learn more about her.

"They had seized her from a pretty neglectful situation. She was actually technically abandoned. She just came to us this last month, so she's still showing us all of her energy she has," Lasher said.

Lucy is able to go home with a dog-savvy cat and older children as she can be a bit jumpy with her bounds of energy.

"The perfect home for her is one that is able to give her a ton of attention and a ton of time playing, she loves her time outside," said Lasher. "She can run forever and not get tired. She can possibly live with another dog who is used to more of a pushy play style. She can be a little pushy when she plays, just because she's so hyper."

Since she is young, she is still learning and training with the staff and might need more with someone who takes her home.

"To the best of our knowledge, she's just a healthy young girl, because she's only a year and a half old, she still got a little bit of learning and training that she could use."

But Lucy is always happy to see anyone and immediately wants to play and say hi. Her endless energy makes her a great companion to play outside with and then hang out after a long day of fun.

"She's just a super sweet girl again. She'll need some help with the training, but as long as you've got time to burn out her energy, she'll make a great family dog," she said.

If you think Lucy might be the girl for you, reach out to Second Chance Animal Shelter and learn more about her on their website.

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