SVMC's Wellness and Care Connection: January Updates

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January 2026

Your monthly update on regional health services and wellness.

SVMC offering automated appointment scheduling

 

Staying on top of important medical screenings just got easier, thanks to an expansion of SVMC's scheduling system, giving existing patients appointment options, via text messaging.

 

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Grant benefits Baby Cafe

 

SVMC's Baby Cafe received a generous grant from Heritage Family Credit Union's Foundation, ensuring the program can thrive.

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Sober curious?

 

Are you rethinking how much you drink? With the health impacts of even moderate drinking, many are considering sobriety.

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Celebrating Tom Dee's Impact at SVMC

 

Tom Dee, SVMC's president & CEO for the last 16 years, retires this week. We're taking a moment to reflect on Tom's impact. Singer/songwriter Maxine Linehan helped us celebrate Tom's tenure through a special tribute video, first played at the annual Jingle Bell.

WATCH HERE

Should you take your workout outdoors?

 

Dartmouth Health's Living Better newsletter explains the mental and physical benefits venturing out in the cold.

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ICYMI: Bennington's Baby New Year

 

A couple from Troy, NY welcomed Baby Adeline on Jan. 1, the area's first baby of 2026. The Bennington Banner highlighted the big news.

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What Our Patients Say

 

We're sharing direct feedback, (pictured below) collected from patient satisfaction surveys. SVMC and its practice sites always strive to enhance the experience of our patients and families. If you need to discuss your patient experience, contact SVMC's patient advocate.

OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS:

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

Companion Corner: Bandit at Second Chance

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

ARLINGTON, VT. – There is a "spunky" dog waiting for his new forever home at Second Chance Animal Shelter.

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

Bandit is a one-year-old terrier mix who has been at the shelter since June.

Lead canine care technician Alaura Lasher introduced us to her. 

"He came to us from a pretty neglectful home. He was living with quite a few other animals."

Bandit is a very playful guy who runs and jumps around once he is outside. He has an affinity for squeaky toys and ball to fetch with.

"He is very energetic, loves to play. He loves his canine friends and cats. His favorite thing is just going outside to run and play and explore. He also does love to snuggle once he gets some of that energy out."

Bandit would love another animal to play with and he is good to go home with cats as well. He would also love someone who can take him outside for lots of playtime and adventures.

"The perfect home for Bandit is one that is probably moderately active, so he can go on plenty of walks and adventures to get some of that energy out and explore things. He would definitely probably benefit from having like another canine friend to play with, and we suggest slightly older kids just because he can be a little nervous at times. But other than that, he's a pretty easygoing guy, and he loves all people and animals."

He will play fetch with you and showcase little hops when he gets very excited as well. It would be best that he is not alone the shelter wants to emphasize as he would love another to play with.

"His favorite things are definitely playing. He is again just an energetic young dude who's used to again having other animals around. So, Spunky is what we like to call him. Yeah, he loves the game."

The shelter hopes to find him a home he can be himself and start a new life.

"We're just trying to find him a good happy family. You know, get him used to normal life since he came from a pretty not great situation," she said.

If you think Bandit might be the boy for you, reach out to Second Chance Animal Shelter and learn more about him on their website.

Second Chance Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. It is located at 1779 VT Route 7A. Contact the shelter at 802-375-2898 or info@2ndchanceanimalcenter.org.

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