image description — Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus wave at last year's tree lighting in Pittsfield. The city's taking signups for the North Pole Calling Program until Dec. 9.

Santa Will Be Calling Pittsfield Children This Holiday Season

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:22PM / Monday, November 24, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Santa and Mrs. Claus will be calling Pittsfield children to ask them what they want for Christmas.

The city of Pittsfield is hosting its 44th annual North Pole Calling Program this December.

Children from kindergarten to second-graders, or any children who still believes, will be receiving phone calls from the Clauses on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Thursday, Dec 11, between 5 and 7:30 p.m. if signed up for the program.

The elementary schools sent home forms for parents to sign to get a call from the Clauses this holiday season.

"It's definitely a meaningful program. I think it gives kids an opportunity, if they don't have a chance to meet Santa in person at other community events. It kind of brings that magic right into their homes with a special phone call that maybe they weren't expecting," said Recreation & Special Events Coordinator Jennifer VanBramer.

Santa or the missus, or the occasional elf, hops on the line to learn more about the children and what gifts they are hoping to open on Christmas day — while also encouraging them to help out around the house to stay on the nice list.

"He asks what grade they're in, what school they go to, who their teacher is, what gifts they're hoping for this Christmas, and then anything that the parents want Santa or Mrs. Claus to share with their child, specifically, whether it's making sure their room is clean, they're being nice to their siblings, they're helping out mom and dad at home," VanBramer said.

Around 10 volunteers "assist" the Clauses, hoping to bring joy to children across the city.

"We try to just bring as much joy and happiness to the kids that we can make it making the holidays a bit more. Special for them," she said.

So far, around 30 families have signed up; last year, around 150 calls were made. Calls are also available in Spanish.

The program is also open to Pittsfield children who may not attending the public schools as well as older kids who would like a call.

The city is still seeking volunteers to make and anyone interested in signing up can contact VanBramer.

Residents can pick up a hard copy form at City Hall as well as fill out the forms online and email them to jvanbramer@cityofpittsfield.org or call 413-499-9371 for questions. All forms must be returned to VanBramer by Dec. 9.

Tags: Christmas story, holiday story, santa claus,

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Wednesday, December 17, 2025

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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