Registration open for UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Registration is open for United Counseling Service's (UCS) eighth annual UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash on Nov. 8, 2025, at ucsvt.org/events
 
This family-friendly event starts from the Berkshire Family YMCA at 655 Gage Street in downtown Bennington and supports UCS' Teens4Change (T4C) program, a peer-led program that gives local teens opportunities to gather weekly, make community connections and help others.
 
Last year's UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash raised $2,500 for T4C, which provided funds for their annual UCS Bennington Youth Summit and weekly meetups for members. The youth of T4C plan activities and trips throughout the year, attend local events like Bennington's HarvestFest and MayFest, and participate in community service projects.
 
This year's Kids' Dash is powered by Invincible level sponsor, Heritage Family Credit Union.
 
2025 event sponsors are Heritage Family Credit Union (Invincible Level), The Richards Group (Guardian Level), Genoa Healthcare and Janitronics Facility Services (Aquaman Level), GVH Studio, rkMiles, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Turning Point Center of Bennington, MSK Engineers, and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (Defender Level), and Taconic Music, Hill & Thompson (Champion Level).
 
Sponsorship opportunities and race registration can be found at ucsvt.org/events.
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.
 
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