Craft Beer, Wine, Boutique Spirits, Artisan Cheese Voted Best of the Berkshires 2025 KELLYSPACKAGESTORE.COM413-684-0870
Proud to be a founding sponsor. Happy Holidays from the Kelly family.
We’re unique in that we use our large space to bring you the largest collection of quality wine, spirits and beer in a comfortable, friendly environment. We are YOUR community shopping experience, local family owned and strong supporters of YOUR community. Shop with us and your dollars stay local.
It’s gift giving season; we’ve
got this!
Grab a Kelly’s Gift Certificate. Use it for wine dinners, wine classes, gift baskets, personal shopping experiences, gourmet market treats, and, of course, our extensive selection of wine, spirits, and worldclass-rated beer. We deliver throughout the Berkshires and Beyond!
Since 1951, four generations of the Kellys have provided the Berkshires with unparalleled, oldfashioned, hands-on customer service. Celebrating 75 years of business in 2026
Holiday Hours:
Sunday December 22nd 10am-7pm
Wednesday Dec. 24th 9am-6pm
Closed Christmas Day
Wednesday Dec. 31st 9am-6pm
Closed New Years Day.
THANK YOU
to the hundreds of volunteers who, for 27 years, have showcased Dalton’s hospitality during the Light Up The Holidays Santa Claus Parade. Especially the Dalton Fire Dept, Dalton Police, Dalton Cub Scout & Boy Scouts, Music Dept’s of C.B.R.S.D., L.P. Adams Co., The Dalton C.R.A., Manny’s Pizza, Zinky’s and Porta Via. Please support the Grow Dalton Group, an independent organization of volunteers with the common goal of enhancing the quality of life in our community.
GROW DALTON
Up the Holidays 2025
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025
Light Up the Holidays Parade on Depot & Main Street. All events are open from 5:00 - 8:00 PM unless otherwise noted.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2025
Santa, Fire and Police Vehicle(s) to drive by neighborhoods (5:00 - 7:00 PM). See the CRA Website (https://daltoncra.org) for Sunday route and other details
4:00 PM – Kick O Party with refreshments at LP Adams with Fire Trucks, Police Cars, and Santa
6:00 PM – Bell Ringing & Christmas Music by the Wahconah Choir and Guitar students plus hot chocolate
Dalton Youth Center –
SANTA STOP will have Arts & Crafts, Refreshments and Balloon Artist
Dalton Library –
SANTA STOP
4-8pm - Community Reading by Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5-8pm - Kids Crafts (First come, First serve)
Pittsfield Co-Op BankHome-made goodies and hot cocoa from the sta
Mill & Main –Holiday card making and face painting for kids
CBRSD Music
Hot Harry’s –
$2.50 Classic Tacos and open for dinner
Berkshire AHEC, Inc. – Holiday light up toys for children
WRHS Art Display at Union Block Bakery
The Dalton Restaurant –Hot food outside and open for dinner
AT THE CRA
CRA Athletic Hall of Fame –
Open for viewing
6:00 PM –
Dalton Ballet Studio –Performance
OUTSIDE THE CRA
CBRSD Music
Santa’s parade arrives around 8:00 PM
SANTA STOP
Combined middle & high
school bands perform together as Santa lights the tree on the front steps of the CRA.
Shuttle Bus is available between Depot Street and the CRA, sponsored by the DALTON Council on Aging BRTA 5:00-8:00 PM
Central Berkshire Regional Public Schools will provide art, instrumental and vocal music along the parade route.
A lasting legacy in Dalton
Alison Peters and the CRA’s next chapter
At the Dalton Community Recreation Association, the close of 2025 will mark the end of an era defined by growth, collaboration and a deep sense of community. After nearly 16 years as executive director, Alison Peters will retire, leaving behind an organization that is stronger, more resilient and more deeply connected to the people it serves than at any point in its century-long history.
Peters’ relationship with the CRA began long before she stepped into the executive director’s office. She first volunteered, then served on the Board of Trustees and ultimately took on the role of interim director in 2009 before assuming the position full time. What followed was a sustained period of expansion that reshaped the CRA into a hub for youth, families and adults across Central Berkshire.
Under her leadership, the CRA broadened its child care and enrichment footprint dramatically. Before- and after-school programs grew from serving 20 children to nearly 100 across multiple elementary schools, meeting a need that had steadily increased across the region. Summer camps evolved from traditional sports offerings into a wider menu that included robotics, dance and babysitting training — a reflection of Peters’ commitment to helping children explore new interests and discover new skills.
Perhaps most transformative was the expansion of the Adaptive Program, which now includes dance, art and Saturday Night Socials designed for individuals with a range of disabilities. It has become one of the CRA’s most meaningful expressions of its mission: creating inclusive, welcoming opportunities for everyone to participate fully in community life.
Financial stability was another hallmark of Peters’ tenure. Grant funding grew from a handful of sources to more than 30 annually, allowing the organization to invest in programming without relying on any single revenue stream. Fundraising also took a leap forward with the launch of the FAN Club, a letter campaign that has since become the CRA’s largest annual fundraiser. These initiatives helped transform the CRA into a more self-sustaining
organization — one that can respond to new challenges and community needs with confidence.
Beyond programming and finances, Peters cultivated partnerships that strengthened the CRA’s regional presence. Longstanding collaborations with the Central Berkshire Regional School District, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and Berkshire United Way became cornerstones of the CRA’s work, reinforcing the idea that community wellness is a shared effort.
The stories that unfold inside the CRA’s doors help explain the lasting impact of Peters’ leadership. Every year, around 1,500 children participate in youth sports programs, learning teamwork and sportsmanship along the way. Adults, from young professionals to retirees, find opportunities to stay active, discover new
interests and meet new friends.
Through it all, Peters has credited the CRA’s staff as the organization’s heartbeat. Their dedication, flexibility and passion have been essential to sustaining programs seven days a week. She leaves especially proud of their growth and the culture of teamwork that has become a defining feature of the CRA.
As the organization prepares for its next chapter, the Board of Trustees has established a search committee that will conduct a wide-ranging search for Peters’ successor. The committee will prioritize strong leadership skills, collaborative instincts, fundraising experience and the ability to shape a clear vision for the future. Peters will remain in a consulting role to support a smooth transition, ensuring that the next executive director is well-positioned
to continue the work she has championed.
Peters’ retirement will be felt across the community she helped strengthen, steady and inspire. Yet even as she steps back, she intends to stay connected, offering her time and energy as a volunteer and community member. After nearly two decades of helping others build community, she now looks forward to hiking, traveling and enjoying time with family, all while continuing to support the CRA in new ways.
Her departure marks a turning point, but also a testament to what sustained leadership can achieve. From expanded youth programming to increased financial stability to strengthened partnerships, Peters leaves the CRA on firm footing and poised for its next century of service.
STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Alison Peters, retiring CRA Executive Director, leaves behind 16 years of community-building leadership.
Tasty chocolate squares — make a — Perfect Party O ering
Holiday parties help make the month of December a festive time of year. Office parties, family gatherings and school functions dot many people’s social schedules during the holiday season, and that means hosts are forever on the lookout for tasty fare to serve their guests.
Many holiday gatherings are informal affairs where foods
might be passed around a room or presented buffet-style. In such instances, it’s not uncommon to see a bevy of small bites on a kitchen countertop or dining room table. Hosts planning such events can offer guests a touch of everything, including something decadent like these Chocolate Squares courtesy of Lines+Angles.
Chocolate Squares
(Makes 3 to 4 dozen)
1 cup honey 1/3 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
3 tablespoons cocoa
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
2 tablespoons rum
2 pounds marzipan
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Oil a rimmed cookie sheet.
2. Heat honey, sugar and butter in a saucepan until sugar and butter are melted, stirring constantly. Let cool.
3. Mix flour, pumpkin pie spice, cocoa and baking powder together and set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs with the rum. Add the cooled honey mixture and mix. Slowly add in flour mixture and mix until smooth.
5. Spread dough onto cookie sheet, approximately 1/2inch thick. Smooth top and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool.
1/3 cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup apricot jelly
2 cups chocolate, dark or milk
1 cup icing sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons milk or water
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup white chocolate, melted
6. To assemble, knead marzipan with 1/3 cup icing sugar and almond extract. If too soft, add a bit more icing sugar.
7. Roll out marzipan mixture between two layers of plastic wrap until it is the size of a cake.
8. Cut the cake horizontally to make two layers. Brush bottom layer with jelly or marmalade and then cover with marzipan.
9. Next, brush jelly or marmalade over marzipan layer. Cover with top cake layer. Cut into approximately 1-inch squares.
10. In a double-boiler, melt chocolate and mix with 1 cup icing sugar, the water or milk and butter.
Dip “dominosteine” in chocolate and let set on cookie rack until chocolate has hardened. Place melted white chocolate in a small piping bag and decorate the chocolate squares with dots of melted white chocolate for a domino decoration.
Thinking outside-the-box for kids’ gifts
Children may look forward to the holiday season more than most people. The holiday season is an opportunity for kids to tear open wrapping paper and see the amazing gifts they’ve received this year.
Although toys and games are typical gifts for children, there are many other items that go beyond these staples to make for unique and creative gifts that can spark imagination or boost physical activity. Shoppers can consider these outside-the-box gift ideas when shopping for youngsters this holiday season.
• 3D pen or printer: Kids can design and build amazing objects that encourage them to employ their creative side.
• Soap-making kit: These skits spur creative endeavors and ultimately produce useful finished results. Soap or perfume kits are great for hands-on sensory learning. Such gifts also teach some components of science and math by requiring users to follow the recipe.
• Robot-building kits: Take building kits one step further with items that can move. Robot kits combine play with engineering basics.
• Interactive books: Children can solve puzzles or make choices to move the story along. These types of books may even appeal to the most hesitant readers.
• Greenhouse, terrarium or bonsai tree kit: Put together the materials needed for kids to grow something special. They can nurture the plant along the way.
• Dress up trunk: Fill a box or a trunk with various dressup costumes and accessories and let children’s imaginations run wild. This will spur hours of imaginative play and crazy combinations of clothing.
• Geocaching app: Let kids find objects hidden all over their neighborhoods in real-world outdoor treasure hunts. Geocaching utilizes GPS coordinates to find hidden containers, called geocaches, placed there by other players.
• Bug collection kits: Budding entomologists can observe insects close up, and then release them back into the wild.
• Various craft supplies: Let kids create any and all of their fun ideas by compiling a kit full of various craft supplies. From beads to wooden letters to paints to paper, there are plenty of items to be made.
• Hiking attire: Get kids out into nature by supplying the gear needed to take to the trails.
• Adopt a star or planet: Children can adopt and name a star or planet and get a certificate honoring the event.
• Time capsule: Let children store favorite items tucked away for safe keeping, where they’ll remain until unveiled in the future. Parents and other holiday shoppers can think creatively when it comes time to choose gifts for children.
METRO CREATIVE GRAPHICS
Experiential gifts for everyone on your list
Gift exchanges are a hallmark of the holiday season. Individuals spend weeks making lists and shopping for items they believe recipients will appreciate. However, this holiday season shoppers may want to change up their gift-buying strategy to focus less on material offerings and more on experiences.
A recent survey from Get Your Guide found 92 percent of Americans prefer to receive an experience over a physical gift during the holiday season. In addition, Deloitte’s 2024 survey of more than 4,000 consumers in the United States found that spending on experiences during the holidays is expected to rise by 16 percent year-over-year, reaching an average of $735.
Experiential gifts place value on memories and emotional connections rather than objects. As people increasingly are drawn to these special moments, here’s a look at experiential gifts for everyone on a holiday shopping list.
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS
Experiential gifts for older adults are beneficial because they won’t add to the clutter or belongings such individuals have already accumulated throughout the years. Useful ideas include memberships to museums, entry to botanical gardens, culinary tastings, travel vouchers and subscriptions to wellness classes.
TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
Teens are big on experiences over material gifts. According to TD Bank’s 2024 survey, Gen Z leads the trend in experiencefirst gifting, with 68 percent preferring experiences. Examples of good experiential gifts for this demographic include es-
cape room experiences, concert tickets, adventure sports like indoor rock climbing, subscription services to streaming music or movie passes.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Families already may be out and about, and parents of young children may appreciate experiences more than additional toys and games that are already filling the house. Annual passes to zoos, museums or aquariums can keep families occupied year-round. Children might like a science or art workshop, while movie night gift cards and tickets to family shows also are viable gift options.
SPECIAL PARTNERS
Experiences can strengthen relationships and intimacy. Pos-
sible gift ideas include spa days, cooking classes for two, a weekend travel getaway or tickets to a theater performance or concert. The Amex Trendex 2024 survey found that 38 percent of people plan to give an experience to a significant other.
Experiential gifts focus on
fun, creating memories and reducing waste. Such gifts also tend to be more economical in the long run. The holidays are often filled with excess, and experiential gifts can put the focus back on joy and spending time together.
