Great Barrington Man Among Judges at Westminster Dog Show

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Resident Thomas W. Coen is among the judges at the 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City on May 8-9. 
   
The dog show is set to return to New York City at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows –Corona Park in Queens. In his third judging assignment at Westminster, Coen will judge the Herding Group live on FS1 during the evening competition on Monday, May 8. His Herding Group winner will advance to the Best in Show competition held Tuesday evening, May 9, live on FS1. 
 
Coen became interested in the world of purebred dogs at the age of 12 and whelped his first Shetland sheepdog litter in 1964 while still in high school on Long Island, N.Y. Over the past five decades of breeding Shetland sheepdogs, under the Madega prefix, has bred or owned seven National Specialty Best of Breed winners, eight All-Breed Best in Show winners, and more than 20 Register of Merit producers, including the breed's All-Time Top Sire. 
 
After graduating from college, Coen taught art on the junior high level outside of Woodstock, N.Y. He obtained his handler's license in 1970, and that was the beginning of an career that spanned 30 years. In 2000, he retired from handling and received his AKC judging license. He is approved to judge the Herding Group, Dachshunds, and Best in Show. 
 
Coen has had the honor of judging Best of Breed at the Collie and Australian Shepherd National Specialties and twice at the Shetland Sheepdog National Specialty. His judging assignments and his "Quest For Quality" seminar have taken him to Canada, Japan, China, Denmark, Norway, and Brazil. 
 
For 2023, Westminster Week returns to New York City kicking off with Canine Celebration Day on Saturday, May 6, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The day commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship and the 8th annual Masters Obedience Championship with new family events like dock diving, a breed showcase, and a demo ring for visitors to see herding, scent work and freestyle obedience.
 
The breed competitions will take place at the same location on Monday, May 8, (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Breeds and Group judging) and Tuesday, May 9, (Sporting, Working, Terrier Breeds, Junior Showmanship Finals, and Group judging followed by Best in Show).

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Butternut Fire Expands to Sheffield, Covering 1,100 Acres

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The fire expanded during to the night to cover more than 1,100 acres. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Butternut Fire has expanded tenfold, now covering almost 1,100 acres of forest and spreading to Sheffield.

Just before noon on Wednesday, the town reported that the wildfire near Brush Hill Road off East Mountain had unexpected growth overnight. It spread over 100 acres on Tuesday and on Wednesday, was estimated to cover slightly less than 1,100 acres.

The town remains in a state of emergency, as declared by the Select Board on Tuesday, but first responders assure that Great Barrington is not in danger.

Around 2 p.m., the Great Barrington Fire Department reported via Facebook that "significant fire" was extinguished by using a Blackhawk helicopter to drop 600 gallons of water. Water is now being pulled from Three Mile Pond in Sheffield.

The blaze is being referred to as the Butternut Fire due to its proximity to Ski Butternut, which has confirmed there is no damage to the ski area.

"At this time the fire is more than a quarter of a mile from the nearest structures and there are not any immediate threats to the public. There have NOT been any evacuation orders at this time. We have strategically placed structural fire crews in the areas where there is the POTENTIAL for us to operate in a protection mode to protect homes and property," the town's press release reads.

"In the event of a need for an evacuation order, residents will be notified through Code RED along with in-person door-to-door notifications of the affected area — an information post will be shared on how to sign up if you are already not signed up."

The fire was first reported Monday evening and by 9 p.m., firefighters were pulled from the mountain because of the hazardous conditions. On Tuesday morning, neighboring departments were called in to help contain the blaze.

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