Foundations and Futures Homeownership Celebration

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity invites residents of Pittsfield and surrounding communities to join them at Durant Park for Foundations & Futures, a festive celebration of homeownership, community resilience, and shared aspirations for the future.
 
The event, taking place Saturday, July 19 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Durant Park, 30 John Street, Pittsfield, will honor the journeys of local Habitat homeowners and open a conversation about what comes next for our neighborhoods.
 
Highlights of the celebration include:
  • Mortgage Burning Ceremony: A symbolic and emotional tribute to Habitat homeowners who have fully paid off their mortgages, representing full-circle stability and the power of perseverance.
  • New Homeowner Recognition: A celebration of Pittsfield residents who became homeowners in 2024–2025, recognizing new beginnings and the realization of dreams. Any new homebuyers from 2024 through 2025 are welcome to join in this celebration.
  • Free Community BBQ: Guests are invited to enjoy food and a family-friendly atmosphere alongside neighbors, friends, and supporters.
  • Community Visioning: Attendees will have the opportunity to share ideas and dreams about what the community should build next. 
 
"This isn't just a party," said Carolyn Valli, CEO of Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. "It's a joyful affirmation that homeownership can and should be the norm. And we want our community to shape the next chapter with us."
 
The event is free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to attend and participate. RSVPs are appreciated and can be submitted by clicking on this link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6aa6facda6a24336be2292b0f528bcf2
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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