Berkshire Penny Saver by Hersam Acorn

There’s Something In It For You!

Berkshire

Penny Saver www.berkshirepennysaver.com

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January 6, 2011

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Auto ....................................... 11 Business Directory .................. 3 Classiﬁeds ................................ 3 Soduko Puzzle ....................... 10 Help Wanted .......................... 12 Real Estate ............................. 10

editorial email berkshire@hersamacornma.com advertising email art@hersamacornma.com Editorial Deadline: 20th at noon the month before publication. Classiﬁed Deadline: January 28, 2011 Display Deadline: January 28, 2011

Manager’s Memo

Berkshire

Penny Saver 800.234.1432 Classiﬁeds 800.234.1432 editorial email berkshire@hersamacornma.com advertising email art@hersamacornma.com

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Renee Tassone, General Manager Linda Devlin, Circulation Manager Sarah Masiero, Advertising Sales Carrie Devlin, Advertising Sales Linda Perry Advertising Sales Melissa Miller, Art Director Jen Hathaway, Artist Chris Sobolowski, Artist

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Deadline*: 20th of Prior Month *Deadlines will change due to Holidays. See special deadline notices published before major holidays.

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Submission Guidelines: Those wishing to submit event listings or editorial content may email berkshire@hersamacornma.com. ■

Notice: The Berkshire Penny Saver will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The publisher reserves the sole right to edit, revise, or reject any and all advertising, with or without cause being assigned, which in the publisher’s judgement is contrary to the interests of this publication. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. ©2008, Hersam Acorn Newspapers. All contents of the Berkshire Penny Saver News are copyrighted, and any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Martin Hersam, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Thomas B. Nash, Publisher

So, do you want to know what makes me cranky? Twenty inches of snow on the ground makes me cranky. It is everywhere I look. I often wonder why I live here. My husband and I plan on living here for another nine years and then we will move somewhere warm, probably Florida or Arizona. We require only three things; an in-ground pool, 300 days of sunshine and a constant flowing keg (gluten free of course). We don’t think it is too much to ask. The only thing that gets me through winter is watching Sunday football. It goes by so fast, there is only one week left of the regular season. Renee Tassone, General Manager This year it seems to be ending just when winter is really starting. Now we work our way towards the Super Bowl, which is like a holiday for me. We get in a ton of pools around town (none of which we ever win) but we have fun doing it. We spend the whole day going to different places, getting our numbers, eating and drinking. Then we go home at half time and watch the second half at home. I think the Patriots are going to go all the way this year. They have been doing so well. I think their coach is the only not fearing for his job. I cannot get over the number of coaches that are getting fired mid-season this year. That is what happens if the team doesn’t do well, they get rid of the coach. I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas. It is such a crazy time of year. I went out Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve and everywhere I went there were tons of people and everyone had a frantic look on their face. I bet it is even worse on Black Friday. I would never go out shopping on that day. I know people that go out at three in the morning, stand outside in the freezing cold and fight the crowds all to save a few bucks. Now that our kids are getting older my husband and I are going to start volunteering our time on Christmas Day. The American Legion in North Adams serves almost 600 dinners on that day �� so I am sure they could always �� use an extra hand or two. They �� have been doing that for years, �� Williams College generously �� donates the turkeys (all 21 of �� them) and some of the fixings. �� Some people come there to �� eat dinner and other meals are �� delivered to people’s homes. That �� is really what Christmas is all �� about. �� As always we encour�� age your feedback. Feel free to �� send us your press releases to �� yankee@hersamacornma.com �� or berkshire@hersamacornma. �� com. Check us out online at www.ishopberkshires.com. ��

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Berkshire Penny Saver

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Renee Tassone, General Manager

January 6, 2011

Gun Show and Sale The largest gun show ever held in the Capitol District will be staged January 22, 2011 and January 23, 2011 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York. Hours of the show on Saturday will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 400 exhibits and displays will be provided by our collectors and dealers from all over the northeastern United States and Canada. Featured will be displays and sale tables of U.S. military arms, Colt revolvers, high grade double barreled shotguns, Remingtons, muskets, Smith & Wesson, Kentucky rifles, gun parts and accessories, Indian items, frontier and western paraphernalia, Sharps, Springfields, Winchesters, swords, bowie knives, powder horns, civilian and military weapons from all nations, custom-made and factory-made knives, military relics and equipment from before the Revolutionary War to the present. While most items are for sale on a cash basis, gun shows cling to the oldfashioned trade and barter way of doing business. Haggling for the very best deal possible is both expected and accepted. Old and unwanted guns gladly purchased by our collectors who will pay top prices. Admission is $6.00 per day, free for children under 12 with adult admission. Seniors are $5.00 per day. For additional information, contact Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

J.W. HOME REPAIR

General Repairs, Interior Painting, Renovations Handyman Service. 30 Years Experience Lee, MA

413-429-7375

MCS#093946 HIC#102764

Something for Everyone Berkshire South Regional Community Center is a non-profit community organization serving 17 towns throughout the Southern Berkshires. The Center provides a variety of educational, recreational and cultural programs for all ages – from early childhood to senior citizens – and partners with several local organizations. Whether you’re looking to learn how to swim, work out in our Fitness Center, attend a wellness workshop, participate in a group fitness class or attend one of our community events, such as a Community Supper, Guided Hike, Tag Sale or the Taste of Community, we’ve got something for everyone! To learn more about Berkshire South and our wide variety of offerings, view our January-April 2011 catalog at http://www.berkshiresouth.org/, stop by the Center and pick up a copy, or call 413-528-2810, and we’ll mail you a copy. Come and be a part of something special...come be a part of our community.

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January 6, 2011

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Berkshire Penny Saver

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Berkshire Penny Saver

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Secrets of Suet: Why Serving up Suet Helps Birds Weather Winter

(ARA) So you think you know suet? Think again. Blend, offered by Cole’s Wild Bird Products, which mixes human-grade Today’s suet is not the messy, hard-to-manage lump of congealed anicherries, apples and blueberry-flavored cranberries, preferred nuts, mal fat that your grandparents had to contend with. Modern suet has nutritious insect suet kibbles and whole kernel sunflower meats into an gone gourmet, and can be served in convenient suet cakes, suet kibbles, energy-packed, powerhouse feed. suet nuts and suet pearls loaded with treats that backyard birds adore, Cole’s suet cakes are offered in an assortment of blends, such as Blue like nuts, grains and berries. You can even find squirrel-proof varieties Ribbon, mixing rendered beef suet, sunflower seeds, millet, and cracked that thwart the bushy-tailed bullies by including habanero pepper in corn, formulated to attract the largest variety of birds. You can also the succulent fat. stir things up further by serving some innovative “gourmet style” suet For the winter season, you may need to change some of the foods products that are in forms other than traditional cakes. Try Suet Pearls, you offer backyard birds. Suet is an essential source of energy for birds which offer sunflower meats buried within energy full suet pellets; Suet during long, cold winter months. So if you’ve avoided serving suet in the past, or have been unsuccessful at attracting birds with suet while keepcontinued on page 6 ing squirrels away, here are some suet secrets to get you on your way this winter: Fat is your friend While many species, like robins and sparrows, will migrate south, many stay put, like cardinals and chickadees. These birds rely on highcalorie, high-fat foods, like suet, to help maintain their increased metabolic rate during a season when their normal food sources, such as insects and berries, are scarce. If you �� want to attract a bounty of birds to your backyard during cold months, �� fat is your friend. �� Birds love suet, the solid fat ren�� dered from beef, venison or vegetables that provides concentrated energy to help birds make it through freezing winter days and nights. �� Typical suet-eating birds include woodpeckers, bluebirds, chickadees, �� titmice and nuthatches, but you �� never know who might show up, like a kinglet or warbler. Feeding birds through winter can actually improve traffic at your feeder, since many birds will find and stay where there is a reliable food source. Supplement suet with seed While birds need suet during winter, they also need a variety of foods that normally constitute their diets as well. Supplement your suet feeding with plenty of seeds, pre�� sented in a variety of feeding styles. �� Variety and reliability will attract �� birds and keep them coming back to your yard throughout the year. �� One way to cater to birds that �� love seeds, nuts or berries is to try �� 1��1 a suet-seed mix like Nutberry Suet �� 1��1 �� 1��1

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January 6, 2011

Berkshire Penny Saver

Secrets of Suet: Why Serving up Suet Helps Birds Weather Winter continued from page 5

Nuts, that combine nourishing peanuts with berry suet; or Suet Kibbles, which mix berry flavor and dried insects in a convenient, non-messy, kibble form. Squirrels love suet too, and can quickly consume a cake that would

otherwise feed dozens of birds for days. To discourage squirrels, Cole’s offers Hot Meats suet cakes, which uses a patented technology tested by scientists at Cornell University, consisting of rendered beef suet, red chili peppers, sunflower meats, corn, and oats. Birds love it but can’t taste the heat that squirrels hate. Feed ‘em high, feed ‘em low Different species of birds prefer different types of feeders, so supply several styles of feeders arranged around your backyard. You can serve up suet in traditional suet cages as well as wood and cage style feeders that protect birds from the elements by making them hang upside-down while feeding. You can also use peanut feeders to serve newer, innovative suet products like Suet Pearls, Suet Nuts and Suet Kibbles. Be sure to locate feeders out of the wind, positioning them near natural cover and perches like bushes and trees. For ground feeding, provide an area near cover with a clear view of the surroundings. This winter season, boost backyard birds’ energy levels and serve up suet. You’ll enjoy winter bird-watching and the birds will benefit from the extra energy suet provides. Be patient though, it may take a few weeks before the birds discover newly placed feeders. While you wait, be sure to keep the feeders full. Eventually, the birds will come. For more information on Coles Feed visit www.coleswildbird. com.

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Berkshire Penny Saver

January 6, 2011

Why Tax Season is a Good Time to Check Your Credit Score

(ARA) - Although your tax return is not directly tied to your credit report, it can affect your score in indirect ways. For example, if you use your 2010 tax refund to pay down some outstanding credit balances, you could boost your credit score. Or, if you don’t have the resources to pay your entire tax bill up front, you may find yourself in a situation in which it’s difficult to pay other bills too, and slow or missed payments can also affect your credit score. If you better understand your credit, you may be better equipped to deal with your tax situation if you end up owing, and to better take advantage of your windfall if you’ll be getting a refund. Websites and monitoring memberships like FreeCreditScore.com, can help you to check, monitor, read and understand your current credit report or score. Credit monitoring products can help you better understand the factors that affect your credit score, monitor your credit and obtain your full credit report and scores. At FreeCreditScore.com, you will also find a calculator that can help you estimate how certain financial actions may affect your credit score.

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�� 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 www.berkshiresouth.org � 413-528-2810

January 6, 2011

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Berkshire Penny Saver

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Keep Fresh Air Flowing During Dry Winter Months (ARA) - Winter is the season for being cozy, while spending long days and nights inside the comfort of our tightly closed homes. It’s also an infamous time for feeling dry and under-the-weather. With people spending more time indoors, air circulation is compromised, and the level of contaminants increases. Fleeting freshness and moisture take a toll on our skin, throats, noses and overall health, and can be especially harmful to those suffering from allergies and asthma. Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are undetectable by your nose and throat, and can get deep into your lungs. This year, be proactive in creating a safer indoor environment for your family and guests by following these few quick fixes. Filter your way to fresh comfort.

air, a benefit that no standard 1-inch throwaway filter or ionic-type room appliance can match. These systems are designed to work as part of your heating and cooling system, meaning they’re designed to clean the filtered air in every room of your home. Air filtration systems work behind the scenes to keep you breathing easier and feeling healthier year-round. Routine maintenance to your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is equally - if not more - critical to keeping the indoor air quality of your home safe and systems operating at peak efficiency. Changing or cleaning your filters regularly will minimize the introduction of dust and other contaminants into your home. Check your owner’s manual or contact an HVAC professional to determine the appropriate filter schedule for your system. In addition, an HVAC professional can perform a routine maintenance checkup to ensure all components of your HVAC system are operating properly, and advise you on ways to improve the safety and comfort of your home. To locate an independent HVAC dealer near you, visit www.americanstandardair.com.

A whole-home air filtration system, like the AccuClean (TM) from American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning, can remove up to 99.98 percent of unwanted particles and allergens from a home’s filtered

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Berkshire Penny Saver

January 6, 2011

Keep Fresh Air Flowing During Dry Winter Months continued from page 8 Why so dry? The chill of outside air has a relatively low dew point. When we bring that outside air inside and heat it, even more moisture is sucked from the air, making your body uncomfortably dry. The addition of a humidifier will restore and balance the moisture in your home’s air, ensuring there’s not too much moisture that can harbor bacteria and germs, not to mention damage to woodwork on window frames and doors. Extra tips for a happier, healthier, warmer winter: * Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward, toward the ceiling. By doing so, you will reduce cooling drafts and force naturally rising heat back down into the room. • Add a touch of green. House plants are a small, but natural source of oxygen, and will liven up any room. • On pleasant or mild winter days, hang bed sheets out on a clothesline to dry, for a crisp and fresh winterwonderland smell that will have you falling fast to sleep at night. Or even open your windows for 15 minutes to break stale or musty air. • Keep an odor-eliminating air freshener around the house to quickly spray on upholstery, clothes, blinds or carpet before guests arrive. • Turn the heat down in your shower. Hot water may feel amazing on a cold winter morning, but it contributes to the dryness of your skin. Now that you’re ready to beat the bummer of cold weather, your family can enjoy spending time together. And before you know it, it will be time to pull shorts and swimsuits out of winter storage.

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January 6, 2011

Berkshire Penny Saver

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�� REAL ESTATE

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Berkshire Penny Saver

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�� January 6, 2011

AUTOMOTIVE

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January 6, 2011

Berkshire Penny Saver

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PAYMENT INFORMATION

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Berkshire Penny Saver

January 6, 2011