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.

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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