Valeri Reynolds speaks to the crowd gathered at the Humane Society for the dedication.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Humane Society on Friday night dedicated its main building to one of its biggest backers — Dr. John Reynolds.
Reynolds, owner of Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital for nearly 25 years, died tragically in a kayaking accident on Dec. 9, 2021, at the age of 58. He was a longtime board member of the society and supporter of the shelter's many programs and a beloved veterinarian in the community.
On Friday, his wife, Valeri, and his daughters, sister and mother pulled off the blankets hiding the new sign across the Barker Road facility's facade: Dr. John Reynolds Adoption & Education Center.
"A couple of years ago, John and I were having a conversation about the Humane Society after one of their meetings and true to John's style, his exuberant love of life, he just was bouncing off the walls about I don't even remember what we talked about," said Valeri Reynolds. "So here I am. Without him. Never in a million years did I think it would be like this. But here I am. And here are all of you."
The dedication wouldn't have happened without Executive Director John Perrault and the other "extraordinary human beings" who have walked through the shelter's doors, she said.
"If there are a few words that always remind me of John, it's 'How can I help,'" said Perrault. "His other good saying was anything for Berkshire Humane and he meant it.
"How can we help" are words that the board and staff say every day, he said, about the community, an adoption, a surrender, temporary foster, food or a pet owner in need.
"These are just a few examples of how we help people in our community every day, just like John did every day," he said. "And it's so fitting to now have his name on our shelter."
Perrault pointed out that the Cat Snip low-cost neutering program was started by Reynolds.
"We're talking probably, it had been since 2004, we're talking four or five thousand cats that Pittsfield Vet has done," he said.
Reynolds was always ready with advice, helping with dog transports, making time to slip in more cats through the neutering program or singing (not very well) on the radiothon to help raise funds.
"He helped anyone who needed it in the community we're just the lucky ones who had the privilege to put his name on our shelter," said Perrault.
The dedication is part of the shelter's $3.5 million Forever Family capital campaign and spurred by the Reynolds family, which donated $500,000 in matching funds in the late doctor's name.
"Dr. John is actually still working for us because of the generosity of the Reynolds family, the Forever Family Campaign has been a huge success to date. And we can't thank you all enough for making that happen," Perrault said.
The funds were used to make improvements to the public spaces, build a dedicated wellness suite for the animals that includes space for visiting veterinarians to treat them, and a focus on adoption and education to reduce the length of the pets' stays.
The tribute didn't end with the naming — a water garden designed by Donna Kittredge was built on the side of the shelter. Once completed with native plantings it will have a bench for quiet reflection.
His photograph, taken by his daughter, Cecilia, was given a place of honor in the entryway across from founder Robert Fuster Sr.
Perrault also called out the other veterinarians attending the dedication, calling them heroes to those in the shelter world and that they could not survive without their support.
An open house to the mark the dedication will be held Sunday from noon to 3 with fun, music, vendors and food.
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Belchertown Stops Pittsfield Post 68
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Belchertown Post 239’s Cooper Beckwith set the tone when he crushed the game’s first pitch to left-center field for a double.
The visitors went on to pound out 14 more hits in a 9-1 win over Pittsfield Post 68 in American Legion Baseball action at Buddy Pellerin Field on Monday night.
Beckwith went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice, and Chase Earle went five innings on the mound without allowing an earned run as Post 239 improved to 15-0 this summer and completed a regular-season sweep of Post 68 (12-4).
“He’s a good pitcher,” Post 68 coach Rick Amuso said. “Good velo[city], kept the ball down. We didn’t respond.”
Pittsfield did manage to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when it already trailed, 7-0.
Nick Brindle reached on an error to start the inning. He moved up on a single by Jack Reed (2-for-2) and scored on a single to left by Cam Zerbato.
That was half the hits allowed by Earle, who struck out three before giving the ball to Alex West, who gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth and retired the next six batters he faced.
Water runoff reaching the drainage outlet behind the property is flooding it, unable to reach an intermittent stream meant to carry that runoff. click for more
The $25,000 raised will directly assist the Berkshire Humane Society in funding its various programs aimed at improving the lives of animals in need throughout the Berkshire County area. click for more
The short film follows Tom Levardi, who has been a supporter of the hiking community over the last 45 years by allowing Appalachian Trail hikers to camp in his back yard.
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On Thursday, the commission issued 36 conditions for the city project that include a new boardwalk, access stairs, paring improvements, seasonal docks, and a new swimming beach on the park’s two properties at 1447 North St. and 40 Hancock Rd. click for more
Mike Ressler was unhittable on the mound, and the Pittsfield Little League All-Stars completed a convincing run through the Don Gleason District 1 Tournament with a 19-0 win over Dalton-Hinsdale on Thursday. click for more