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Our BerkshireTimes™

December - January 2014

PUBLISHER Kathy I. Regan publisher@ourberkshiregreen.com _______________



EDITORIAL Kathy I. Regan editor@ourberkshiregreen.com Rodelinde Albrecht rodelinde@ourberkshiregreen.com Copyeditors/Proofreaders Rodelinde Albrecht Patty Strauch _______________



DESIGN Magazine Design/Layout Kathy I. Regan

Christine Dupre cedupre@msn.com

16 education & workshops

EVENT SAMPLER

OUR GIFTS TO CHILDREN

5 shop local special feature

19 community spotlight

OUR BERKSHIRE MARKETPLACE

STOCKBRIDGE & W. STOCKBRIDGE

8 home, garden & landscape

20 health & wellness

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT TREE

TAMING HOLIDAY WOLFISHNESS

22 mind & spirit THE TRUE MEANING OF GIVING

HONEY DO! ELSIE'S CRANBERRY PIE

23 featured advertisers

12 animal talk

SPECIAL THANKS

KEEPING YOUR PETS SAFE

Elisa Jones, Berkshire Design Studio elisa@berkshiredesignstudio.com

tell our advertisers you saw them in OUR BERKSHIRETIMES!

14 fashion & beauty

Shirley Sparks, Graphic Design on a Dime sms234@aol.com _______________ ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Patty Strauch patty@ourberkshiregreen.com ______________

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CONTACT Our BerkshireGreen, Inc. P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: (413) 274-1122, Fax: (413) 541-8000 www.OurBerkshireGreen.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com _______________ COVER ILLUSTRATIONS

4 art, culture & entertainment

10 food & drink

Ads–Independent Designers Katharine Adams, Rural Ethic Studio katmail@ruralethicstudio.com

EVENT COORDINATOR Patty Strauch patty@ourberkshiregreen.com _______________

Contents



girl with binoculars by Shawn Fields, www.shawnfieldsart.com ● elephant, blackand-white tablecloth with vase, and blueand-white pottery by Stephanie Anderson, www.stephanieandersonart.com ● vase of flowers by Sabine Vollmer von Falken, www.sabinephotoart.com ● swirls by Scott Harrington, www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/ scott-harrington.html ● rose-breasted grosbeak

by Carol Frances, www.carolfrances.com ● barn

by Mary Rembold, www.bluethistlestudio.net ● eve with apple by Rebecca Guay, www.rebeccaguay. com ● miniature animal prints by Melody Lea Lamb, www.melodylealamb.com

NATURAL SKIN CARE

Our BerkshireTimes™ The Voice of Our Community! Like Us On

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ollow the stars (small gold stars placed in the advertisements scattered throughout this issue) to find advertisers who are offering additional online coupons and deals starting 12/1/13. Go to www.OurBerkshireTimes.com/coupons to check out these fantastic savings and fun deals for holiday shopping. Join our mailing list to receive our informative eNewsletter and coupons directly.

Our bimonthly publication (six issues yearly, starting in February) is free to the public and distributed throughout western MA, northern CT, eastern NY, and southern VT, and is enjoyed by community members, second home owners, and visitors alike.

Most of our editorial content is contributed by our community members. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit original material for consideration through our website. You will find complete instructions on our online form. To find out more about advertising, submitting editorial, and posting events on our free community calendar, see our websites at left, and join our mailing list to receive our free monthly eNewsletter.

All content in Our BerkshireTimes ™ is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily advocate and cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by our authors, illustrators, and advertisers. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. For printing errors of the publisher's responsibility, liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared. Unless otherwise noted, we use a Creative Commons License in place of a standard copyright.

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December | January 2014

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art, culture & entertainment

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ollow the stars placed in ads scattered throughout this issue to find advertisers who are offering additional online coupons and deals starting 12/1/13.

Beyond Ordinary.

LUMEN “OP” MOBILE $175

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A Home for the Holidays AnnuAl event november 30 through new yeAr’s eve

Visit gildedage.org for a complete schedule of events

Enjoy a beautifully decorated 1893 Mansion with Tours, Holiday Events, Victorian Teas, Museum Shop, More!

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presents

INSPIRATION OF THE SPIRIT

November 22 thru January 6

Please join us for our Artist’s Reception on December 7, 2013 – 3 to 6pm MONTH OF DECEMBER HOLIDAY BAZAAR CLOSED JANUARY 7 THRU APRIL 1

Route 102 (Next to the Fire Station) South Lee, MA ● (413) 717-5199 Open Fri thru Mon 11am - 5:30pm 4

www.saintfrancisgallery.com www.facebook.com/stfrancisgallery

December | January 2014

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

december - january event sampler

see more events or post your event for free at www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com HOLIDAY FAIR Date: Sat, Dec 7, 2013, 10am-3pm Place: First Congregational Church of Lee, 25 Park Place (Route 20), Lee, MA (413) 243-1033, Price: Free.

Handmade items, raffle, mealsto-go, children's shop, baked goods, jams, jellies, plants & berry bowls, pet toys and treats, and more! www.ucc-lee.org SUNDANCE INSTITUTE THEATRE LAB Date: Sat, Dec 7, 2013, 8pm Place: MASS MoCA, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA - (413) 662-2111, Price: $12 advance / $16 day of / $10 students.

For several weeks in December, MASS MoCA becomes the home of venerable Sundance Institute Theatre Lab. Sharing our mission to support the development of new art across all media, Sundance Theatre Lab provides workshop support to important new playwrights, directors, composers, and librettists. www.massmoca.org BHS BLOODMOBILE AT HADDAD TOYOTA Date: Tue, Dec 10, 2013, 9am-3pm Place: Haddad Toyota, 130 Pittsfield-Lenox Road, Pittsfield, MA - (413) 445-4535. Berkshire Health System’s Bloodmobile will be at Haddad Pre-Owned Tuesday, December 10th, from 9am-3pm. All blood collected will stay right here in Berkshire County! www.berkshirehealth systems.org/bloodmobile A CHRISTMAS CAROL Date: Sat, Dec 14, 2013, 7pm Place: The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MA - (413) 448-8084 Price: Adults: $35, Children: $25 Revel in the joy and redemptive

power of Christmas as told in the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the infamous miser who is reformed and shown the error of his ways by four spirits. www.berkshiretheatregroup.org BREAK YOUR SUGAR ADDICTION! Date: Sat, Dec 14, 2013, 10am Place: Hands, Heart and Health - Virtual Skype Session, Cheshire, MA - (413) 743-0483.

Price: Free. Are you in that roller-coaster ride of eating sweet food to get energy only to feel tired, and reach for more to keep going? This crazy pattern can be managed, and you will feel better.

Register for our free session to help you address this problem before the holidays hit! www.handshearthealth.com SUNDAY MUSICAL BRUNCH Date: Sun, Dec 15, 2013, 10am-1pm Place: Starving Artist Creperie and Cafe, 40 Main Street, Ste 2, Lee MA - (413) 394-5046.

Price: Free. Join us every Sunday starting at 10am for live bluegrass, jazz, funk, classical, and other types of music from talented local performers and enjoy organic, vegan, vegetarian options! View the artwork from the adjoined Good Purpose Gallery. www.starvingartistcreperie.com HOFFMANN BIRD CLUB FIELD TRIP SOUTH BERKSHIRE Date: Wed, Jan 1, 2014, 7am Place: Location TBA, Lenox, MA - (413) 637-0320. Price: Free. South Berkshire Christmas Bird Count. Join a team and welcome the new year with some winter birding. Contact René Laubach (413) 637-0320, rlaubach@massaudubon.org, www.hoffmannbirdclub.org.

shop local special feature

shop local!

I

WITH THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY by rodelinde albrecht

t’s that time of year again, when the holiday spirit warms our hearts and makes us feel generous. If you love to shop, this is your time to indulge in that heady sport. Keep in mind that the amount of money you spend on a gift is far less significant than the amount of time you invest in thinking up the perfect gift for each person! And the delight you take in selecting a gift becomes part of the gift itself, which the recipient will surely feel. So let your imagination soar. Here are some suggestions to spark your imagination if you should run out of ideas.

Start by giving some thought to the recipient’s interests and passions. Is she artistic? Consider art supplies such as paints, canvas, sketch pads, brushes, markers, sculpture tools, or clay. Does he love to spend time in his workshop? A special tool he doesn’t own would make a great gift. The gardeners on your list would be delighted by tools, gloves, seeds or plants, or a birdbath. For your favorite gourmands, think kitchenware, interesting gadgets, lovely table linens, goblets, wine chillers, a corkscrew that really works. Music lovers might enjoy a house concert or a CD from singer-songwriter Bruce Mandel.

A needlecrafter would love some luscious yarn, needles, or even a yarn winder from Wonderful Things, which also stocks unique handcrafted gifts including jewelry, buttons, toys, and home goods. Anyone, but especially a writer, would love a gorgeous handcrafted pen or pencil from Berkshire Pens.

Browse happily for exquisite items to decorate the home or one-of-a-kind vintage treasures at Gallery315 Home or the Museum Facsimiles Outlet Store, as well as the many other exquisite antique and consignment stores in our area.

If clothing, jewelry, or other fashion accessories would delight your giftee, visit Pateez or Crown Jewelers. For something truly original, give the gift of security from New England Dynamark.

Food and drink are a perennially welcome choice; they fit virtually any recipient’s taste – and any giver’s wallet! The variety of delicious treats and local food you can find in our area is positively dizzying, including the pure flavoring extracts at Charles H. Baldwin, or the home-delivered baskets from Berkshire Organics. Other offerings include preserves, honey, herbs, chocolate, coffee, tea, and a host of other mouth-watering treats.

Personal-care products are another consumable (and therefore always welcome) category. Think perfume, aromatherapy oils, cosmetics, scented soaps, and bath brushes. Moon Goddess Herbals offers organic and wildcrafted cosmetics.

One last terrific idea is to offer a gift certificate — not just for retail stores and restaurants but also for a salon, spa, or bodywork treatments; landscaping; pet grooming or daycare; dance, music, art, or computer lessons; and home improvement. Happy shopping!

Bring the magic of music into your home Accoustic guitar, a keen lyrical ear and honest vocals . . . delight your guests with a personal and memorable musical experience.

SINGER/SONGWRITER, HOME & CONCERT PERFORMER Available for House Concerts & Intimate Gatherings

www.brucemandel.com / 413.269.7229 Contemporary Folk . Americana photo courtesy of Michael Lavin Flower

~ Rodelinde Albrecht is the Director of Concerned Singles, an online service for socially conscious singles who care about the environment, race and gender equity, and personal growth. www.concernedsingles.com.

See ad on page 23.

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

5

shop local special feature

gift guide Our Berkshire Marketplace

HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2013!

Berkshire Pens are hand turned from native WRITE woods and acrylics right here in Stockbridge, MA. No two are the same. Each boasts a mirror shine finish. They may be designed as a ballpoint, gel, fountain, or pencil. Pens come in all sizes and styles – some specific for women, adorned with Swarovski crystals, others for children with cool colors. Men’s items range from those for the sportsman – made from machine gun shells – to a more sophisticated presentation for the professional in his workplace. Berkshire Pens also turns bottle stoppers, napkin rings, small bowls, spinning tops, and yo-yos.

Dan Burkhard, owner of Berkshire Pens, always loved working with his hands. The lathe he uses to create his products was made by his grandfather, Samuel Burkhard, more than a hundred years ago.

If you are looking for something unique in design, contact Dan. If you have a piece of wood that has meaning, the possibility exists that you can have an item turned from it. You will work together to create an item that you, or that special someone, will cherish. Prices range from $25.00 to $220.00. We make the pens . . . You make your mark! www.berkshirepens.com

ADORN

Museum Facsimiles Outlet Store's Giclee Print of Antique Schmetterlinge Butterflies, 1790 / Available framed or

BAKE

Charles H. Baldwin & Sons Pure Vanilla Extract

Their signature product: Hand-crafted from Bourbon Madagascar vanilla beans and aged in oak casks it has a sweet, intense flavor. The extract blends easily and the mouth-watering flavor and aroma remain through cooking and baking to every last bite. Charles H. Baldwin and his father, H. M. Baldwin, officially established the company in 1888 — more than 125 years ago! The present owner, Earl Baldwin Moffatt, is the great-great grandson of the founder. Located in West Stockbridge, MA, the store (celebrating 125 years) is a delight to visit and you can purchase their homemade extract in person or online starting at $8.96 for a 2oz bottle up to $252.49 per gallon. (413) 232-7785, www.baldwinextracts.com.

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December | January 2014

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unframed, in various sizes, starting at $30. A true factory outlet (except they left the factory for their new digs in downtown Pittsfield, MA), all of Museum Facsimiles' products are made in an old factory about four blocks east of their downtown retail location. Their products are sold to fine boutique stores around the world and are priced wholesale. Their custom framing is affordable. Visit their store (next to the Berkshire Museum) or their website to purchse fine picture frames, fine wall decor, framed French posters, letterpress greeting cards, and eclectic gifts. 31 South Street, Pittsfield, MA. (413) 499-1818, www.museumoutlets.com www.museumfacsimiles.com

shop local special feature

Celebrate Our Forty-first Year!

Wonderful Things

Largest Selection of Yarns and Unique Handcrafted Gifts in the Berkshires Gift Certificates Free Knitting Lessons Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30-5, Sun. 12-4

Harry and Debbie Sano 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230

DECORATE

413-528-2473

www.wonderful-things.com

Gallery315 Home

is your one-stop source for antique, mid-century modern, and contemporary home furnishings and fabrics located in Sheffield, MA. We found this Stunning Rare TwentiethCentury Striped Swiss Art Pottery Vase that is meticulously decorated and well marked on their website. Hand-written inscription on the base reads, "Luzern Handarbeit." This 9" high, 5" wide vase sells for $695. Nineteenth-Century Italian Neoclassic Sunburst Wall Mirror, measuring seven feet in diameter, featuring a circular disc of mirrored glass surrounded by a studded border and radiating clusters of wooden spokes finished in cream paint and silver gilt varnish (call for more information). www.www.gallery315home.com

Shop for the Holidays!

A unique boutique in downtown Pittsfield for you to explore!

Clothing  Accessories  Gifts

137 North Street, Pittsfield, MA - The Shops In Crawford Square

Just a short ride from anywhere. Next door to Baba Louie’s.

www.pateezboutique.com Since 1978

PAMPER

MA 982 C

Moon Goddess Herbals Botanical Skin Care / Alana

Schwartz, owner of Moon Goddess Herbals, uses only foodgrade, organic ingredients in her products. Most of the herbs that she infuses into the oils are consciously grown and harvested on her farm using organic and sustainable practices.

Pictured above is her Organic Awaken Salt Scrub for the Bath and Body, with Pure Essentail Oils of Ylang Ylang, Tangerine, OG Orange, and Lavender. Gardener's (or Mechanic's) Goat Milk Soap for $6.50 is a great exfoliating bar to remove grease and grime from the hands with locally roasted coffee grinds and cornmeal. Order though Etsy or from www.moongoddessherbals.com.

For all your security needs 413.442.5647 New England Security Center 55 Church St Pittsfield, MA 01201

DYNAMARK SECURITY CENTERS

“ We Protect America”

www.nedynamark.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

7

home, garden & landscape

holiday festivities

A

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE by eric whitney

re you are looking for a tree that is very fragrant? Then a Balsam Fir is the tree for you. Are you are looking for a tree that has good needle retention and strong branches to hold all of your ornaments? Then a Frasier Fir is the tree for you. What about a tree that has soft and fluffy branches with a soft fragrance? Then a Douglas Fir is for you. Or, if you are looking for a tree that has very dense branching and thick branches, then a Blue Spruce is for you.

Be sure to measure the area where you plan to put your tree to make certain you select the correct size. Take into account the height of the stand as well as the height of the tree topper that you will be using. Now that you have selected the type of tree that you want, follow these tips to bring home a good, strong, healthy tree.  Grab a branch of the tree with your hand and pull the needles through your hand. If the needles do not easily remove, then you have found a healthy tree.

Gorgeous Fresh Cut Trees & Live Potted Trees Route 8, Cheshire

OUR "STAND STRAIGHT" TREE STANDS MAKE SETTING UP YOUR TREE EASIER THAN EVER! • Beautiful Handmade Kissing Balls and Wreaths • All Types of Garlands and Greens • Holiday Gift Baskets • Seasoned Firewood, Cut, Split & Delivered Visit our Gourmet Farm Market for everything you Need for your Holiday Entertaining

Closing December 24TH 2013 - Reopening April 1ST 2014

413-442-4749 www.whitneysfarm.com

F

ollow the stars placed in ads scattered throughout this issue to find advertisers who are offering additional online coupons and deals starting 12/1/13.

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December | January 2014

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 Spin the tree around on the peg to see if it loses a lot of needles. Firs will lose interior needles normally. You do not want to see needles falling off of the branches. If the needles are falling off the branches — keep looking.  Look for a tree that is dark green in color, if the tree is a pale green or brown — keep looking The easiest way to transport your tree and bring it into your home is to have it wrapped in tree netting. Make sure that you cut at least one inch off the bottom of the tree to allow water to move through the trunk and branches once it is in your home.

Then securely attach the tree to your vehicle as you leave the lot so you do not lose it driving down the road.

Once you get your new tree home, set it up right away so the freshly cut bottom does not seal up. Using a Stand Straight® tree stand will make setting up your Christmas tree much easier than setting it up with a conventional tree stand. The Stand Straight® tree system has a tapered pin in the center of the stand. If you ask to have a hole drilled in the bottom center of the tree stump, when you get home all you will have to do is put the tree on the peg in the stand and add some hot water and tree preservative. Next remove the netting and you are ready to decorate. Do make certain that you add hot water though. The hot water keeps the sap in the tree from stiffening up and allows it to absorb more water.

You do not want the water level in your tree stand to go below the cut end of your Christmas tree. If this happens, the sap in the tree will dry out and your tree will not be able to absorb water. The addition of a tree preservative can greatly extend the life your Christmas tree. ~ Eric Whitney, Whitneys Farm

Market, www.whitneysfarm.com. We provide a fresh cut, tree netting, and we secure the tree to the top of your car for all the trees that we sell from our Christmas tree lot.

home, garden & landscape

Do you want the kitchen that you’ve always dreamed of?

It's time.

Hartsville Design Woodworking

Call today.

(413) 528-6133 FSC Certified Wood Upon Request Kevin@HartsvilleDesign.com Kitchens • Baths • Entertainment Centers • Home Offices

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Over 20 Years Experience In

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TECHNICIANS WITH OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Emergency Water Damage Remediation House Wide & Post Construction Cleaning ● Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Floor Maintenance ● Animal Debris & Odor Clean Up ● Sewer & Septic Clean Up Fire, Soot & Smoke Remediation ● Mold & Odor Remediation

ServiceMASTER of the Berkshires, ServiceMASTER of Columbia County, NY 3 Westview Road, Pittsfield, MA

www.servicemasteroftheberkshires.com

We don't brag about Fuel Savings having the best windows, up to 50% our customers do it for us!" obtained by customers!

“Very satisfied with replacement window installation."

“Windows have proved to keep the house cooler."

"Noticed extreme difference right away."

"I used less than a half tank of oil!"

"Gone are the rattles and the drafts."

"Tremendous savings on fuel bills."

The Empire State Building just got SERIOUS

413-445-5678 800-707-1441 • Licenced • Bonded • Insured

Morrison’s window glass technology

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24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

EMERGENCY ON CALL SERVICE

The Empire State Building has gone GREEN because of a window energy retrofit technique to remove, weatherproof and replace all 6,514 windows to help the famous landmark reach its goal of reducing energy consumption by 38%. Exclusively sold at Morrison's.

413-442-3001

674 North Street • Pittsfield, MA 01201

Licensed-CSL #051408 Registered-HIC #131832

www.morrisonshomeimprovement.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

9

food & drink

honey do!

THE FRESH HONEY COOKBOOK BY LAUREY MASTERSON review by miriam jacobs

T

Cross CrossCountry CountrySkiing Skiingand and Snowshoeing Snowshoeingwith withAmenities Amenities

here is a huge debate going on about what is killing our bees and that has focused all of us on their amazing importance. The vast majority of the food we eat depends on their pollinating ways, so protecting them is not optional. In addition, of course, bees make this magical golden potion known as honey.

The expression “busy as a bee” is apt: They must visit two million flowers, logging in 55,000 flight miles (which is twice around the earth and then some), to make one pound of honey! The Fresh Honey Cookbook by Laurey Masterson, who is a beekeeper, gives us her personal disaster to victory tale. The recipes are seasonally

organized and fabulous: Just reading the instructions for Meyer lemon- and honeymarinated chicken skewers, rack of lamb with a coffee and avocado honey crust, switchel (aka Haymaker’s Punch), Elsie’s stewed apples, and Russian tea makes my mouth water.

Her suggestions of ways in which we could help our beleaguered bees are realistic (and I hope will spark you to action) from buying honey from your local beekeeper to planting the kinds of flowers that bees like to visit. Her plan for creating safe little watering holes for the bees in our gardens is a great creative recycling idea.

The most moving image in the book is opposite the “help the bees” page. It is an amulet called life’s work and it is a vial containing one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey, which is the total amount a worker bee will produce in her lifetime. It is a poignant reminder from the humble bee to us all, that even small actions by a lot of people can create a huge, sweet outcome.

~ Miriam Jacobs writes about food at www.sandwichdiva.com.

S

elsie's cranberry pie PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE FRESH HONEY COOKBOOK

T

his is another fun dessert. Though called a pie, it doesn't have a pesky crust, so calm your worries about that. My version is made with cranberry honey instead of sugar.

If you need a quick dessert for a family supper or a potluck contribution, give this one a shot. Outside of cranberry season, use seasonal berries. Serves six.

SHSOHEOE& & OW SNSONW LSLS E R I I K K S S RNETNATA

the ingredients: ��Warm Warmupupbybythe thefireplace fireplace ��Enjoy Enjoydelicious deliciousmulled mulledcider, cider, hot hotchocolate chocolateand andfresh freshbaked bakedgoods goods ��Taste Tasteany anyone oneofofour ourwines winesforforFREE FREE Professionally groomed trails designed byby Professionally groomed trails designed Olympian John Morton.

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Hilltop HilltopOrchards, Orchards, home homeofofFurnace FurnaceBrook BrookWinery Winery

Open daily 9am-5pm Open daily 9am-5pm 508 Canaan Rd/Rt 295 • Richmond, MAMA 01254 508 Canaan Rd/Rt 295 • Richmond, 01254 Snow conditions: 800-833-6274 / Hilltoporchards.com Snow conditions: 800-833-6274 / Hilltoporchards.com Check website forfor details of of fullfull moon snowshoe treks!

Check website details moon snowshoe treks!

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December | January 2014

3 cups fresh cranberries | ½ cup chopped pecans | ½ cup honey, preferably cranberry honey | 2 eggs | ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour | ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted

here's what you do: 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. 2. Butter a ten-inch pie plate and fill with the cranberries and pecans. Drizzle with ¼ cup of the honey.

3. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl until light and lemony yellow. While still beating, add the remaining ¼ cup honey, the flour, and the melted butter, and mix thoroughly. Spread the mixture on top of the cranberries.

4. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the crust is nicely toasted light brown. Let cool slightly, and serve while still warm. Leftovers (if any!) will be great for breakfast.

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food & drink

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INTRODUCING OUR CUSTOM MADE SOUR DOUGH

TAKE AND BAKE PIZZAS! Take Out Dinner Specials Freshly Made Daily ORGANIC CHICKEN & NATURAL PRODUCTS

Local Products in Season Wine & Beer • Fresh Ground Coffees

ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY PLATTERS & PIZZA NOW

413-232-8595

Main St., West Stockbridge MA

Haflinger Haus

Restaurant, Tavern & Inn

Austrian-American Cuisine “Voted Best Restaurant in the Berkshires” We host weddings, birthdays, reunions, and funerals.

Book your holiday party now!

17 Commercial Street, Adams, MA 413-743-2221 www.haflingerhaus.com

Antichi Sapori

The authentic flavors of Pompeian brick oven cooking & grilling savored in an elegant rustic ambiance.

Emphasis on local and organic products.

Meats are antibiotic & hormone-free.

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Beautiful Courtyard Dining

413.499.1192 Trattoria-Rustica.com 26 McKay Street in downtown Pittsfield. Dinner 5 p.m. (closed Tuesday)

PURCHASE AT CHECKOUT or ONLINE @ GUIDOS FRESHMARKETPLACE.COM

PITTSFIELD & GREAT BARRINGTON, MA www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

11

animal talk

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957

keeping your pets safe DURING THE HOLIDAYS / by jennifer m. andrews

Your trusted source for quality foods and supplies.

Your trusted resource for raw-feeding information and advice.

BENSDOTTER’S PET 413-528-4940 940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 01230

Convenient Location with Ample Parking on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guido’s

Mon-Fri 10a-6p

Sat-Sun 10a-4p

www.bensdotters.com

T

he holidays can be such a wonderful time! We decorate, connect with friends and family, and eat wonderful food.

For our pets it can be a stressful, chaotic, and dangerous time.

Below you will find some of the most important areas to pay attention to so everyone enjoys a great holiday season.

FOODS TO AVOID

It is a good idea to feed your pet before the festivities begin; they will be less likely to try to steal food with a full belly. The following items should be avoided as they can cause symptoms ranging from stomach upset, bloat, ruptured digestive systems, and even death in your pet.

• • • • •

Chocolate, especially dark or baking chocolate Alcohol – dogs can be driven to steal some as it is sweet Rich fatty foods Uncooked dough Grapes, raisins, and macadamia nuts

PLANTS TO AVOID

• Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias DECORATIONS

• • • • • • • • •

Do not use food to decorate your tree Ribbons on your gifts can cause blockages No tinsel or angel hair on the tree (especially attractive to cats) Clean up pine needles as they can puncture intestines Be sure your pet cannot drink out of the tree water; this water can contain toxic chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, and flame retardants If you have an artificial tree, avoid using snow sprays and scents Secure the tree to the wall and hang lights higher up as pets can get entangled in the lights, chew on the wires, and tip the tree over Place all candles out of tail-wagging height Aluminum foil and wrappers can cause blockages; be sure to keep counters clear of food and trash cans secured

Finally, keep in mind that not all people like animals, and not all animals like to be around large groups of people. So offer your pet a place of respite where they can get away from it all – and if you can keep your pet’s schedule as close to normal for feeding, playtime, and exercise, it will truly be a wonderful holiday season for all! ~Jennifer M. Andrews, ABCDT, Camp Wagalot, Stockbridge, MA,

www.lovecampwagalot.com. See ad on facing page.

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December | January 2014

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

animal talk

•

28 YEARS EXPERIENCE

• Pick Up & Delivery • Natural Products Available • Geriatric Pets Welcome • WE OFFER mini-grooms ALSO

413-770-6988 All Breeds & Sizes charmedladybugs@yahoo.com • West Stockbridge, MA

The Gifts Our Animal Companions Give Us Every Day . . .  Recent studies show that children who grow up with pets in the house have stronger immune systems than those who live in pet-free households.  Psychologists have found reason to believe that owning a dog helps lower your blood pressure and your cholesterol.  A study by the Minnesota Stroke Institute showed that people who own cats are 30 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.

SMALL ANIMAL INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND SURGERY

CAROLYN CANNON DVM CERTIFIED VETERINARY CHIROPRACTOR ACUPUNCTURE CHINESE HERBAL THERAPY 199 ROUTE 44, MILLERTON, NY 12546 518-789-3440

 Pets give us joy and make us feel better overall and help us to deal with stress, which can be a source of illness.

CAMP WAGALOT Stockbridge, MA

SOCIAL BOARDING & DOGGY DAYCARE SAFE, SUPERVISED EXERCISE & PLAY . . . and a cookie before bed!

(413) 298-5300

www.lovecampwagalot.com

“Where Truewww.lovecampwagalot.com Friends are Made”

Anne C. Hermans DVM Certified Veterinary Homeopath

860-868-6406

“I am a small-animal veterinarian, extensively trained, qualified, and experienced in both conventional and homeopathic medicine. My practice is 100% devoted to holistic and classical homeopathic care.”

New Preston, CT

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

www.vethomeopath.com

December | January 2014

13

fashion & beauty

W

onderful Things, 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Gifts ♦ Yarn ♦ Supplies (413) 528-2473, www.wonderful-things.com.

ShearSalon, Illusions llc • Petite to Plus

8 Center St. West Stockbridge MA

OPEN DAILY 413-232-0200

A service salon providing Lakme Products Three dimensional coloring Soy based color

RebeccaWelsh, Proprietor Sharon Shopping Center Sharon, CT 860.364.5111

natural skin care

DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR SKIN? by alana schwartz

I

started making organic skin care products for myself over nine years ago because I am chemically sensitive and have very dry, sensitive skin.

Even “healthy” products at the health food store did not seem to work for me. As I became more involved making these natural products, I Balance Calendula Face & Body Cream began to research the ingredients I used. Does it really matter what you put on your skin? Many of us think about what we put in our mouths, but we don’t apply the same level of thought and care to what we put on our skin.

Our skin is our largest organ. Some research suggests that what we put on our skin goes directly into our bloodstream, and others say it goes directly into the liver. Ultimately, they all agree that our skin does absorb what is applied to it. The tag line for my organic line of skin care products is Food to Nourish Your Skin, because you are not only what you eat, you are what you put on your skin, so feed it well!

“Chemicals can be absorbed through skin and into the blood stream, causing toxic effects,” says the Extension Toxicology Network. Researcher Linda Chaé, who writes for www.thehealthytruth.net, agrees, citing the danger to unborn children: “Recent studies by dermatologists at the University of California and a multiple university cooperative team confirm that skin absorption is the major route of entry [for chemicals from skin or hair products getting into the womb].”

Most topically applied creams, lotions and potions, soaps, perfumes, and other beauty care products on the market today contain fragrances, preservatives, and other chemicals that readily penetrate the skin’s surface and travel to our liver. Your liver can be compared to a giant filter that works to remove wastes and keep your insides clean. Whether a substance is swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, it is our liver’s job to filter it. Because the liver is the body’s primary detoxifier, keeping it healthy is critical to our overall health, including proper metabolism and function of our hormones. When we expose our bodies to chemicals, our liver is required to work overtime to filter out these harmful and toxic ingredients. When overburdened, just like a filter that is backed up, the liver cannot then process toxins as efficiently and thoroughly as needed, and the excess can escape back into the body, compromising our health.

"Fashion is a kind of communication. It's a language without words. A great hat speaks for itself." ~ author unknown 14

December | January 2014

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Not only is the skin an absorption organ, the skin is also one of the largest organs of elimination, assisting the liver in the detoxification process. It is, therefore, important to keep skin

pores unclogged. Products that contain ingredients that clog skin pores (like petrochemicals) make the liver’s job even harder.

According to the iSO-Care FAQ page (www. isocare.net/displayarticle.asp?id=51) there are more than 800 chemicals commonly used in commercial skin care products, 44 of which you should never use. Avoid petrochemicals and synthetic preservatives and fragrances, which may dehydrate and cause dry skin, irritate and clog the skin, leading to inflammation, breakouts, or potentially more serious health problems. Ever notice that people need to reapply ChapStick continually? That’s because it contains petroleum derivatives and chemical ingredients that actually dry out the lips. Our FDA does not protect us from these harmful ingredients, so we need to become educated consumers to help protect ourselves and our families.

Check the ingredients on your skin care products to see if any of these petroleum derived ingredients are present: • Mineral Oil • Petroleum or Petrolatum • Propylene Glycol • Isopropyl Alcohol • Ceresin • Toluene • Benzene • Paraffin So what can you put on your skin? First, the best way to feed our skin is from the inside out – what we put in our bodies. And yes, while it seems cliché, drinking water is one of the smartest ways to keep our skin hydrated. Then nourish the skin from the outside with natural products made from wholesome, natural, and organic plant and mineral ingredients. When you put something on your skin, imagine that you’re eating it. Do your feel comfortable eating those ingredients? If not, use products with simpler ingredients (all of which you can pronounce) that you can feel good about. ~ Alana Schwartz lives in Stuyvesant, NY, and farms and homesteads, working to live in harmony with nature. She’s created a cottage business, Moon Goddess Herbals, where she grows the vast majority of her own herbs and pastureraises the goats for goat milk soaps and creates superior, food-grade, organic skin care products infused with botanicals. Learn more or contact her at www.moongoddessherbals.com.

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December | January 2014

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education.. .

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education & workshops

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Current openings in our Toddler Community and Children’s House Now accepting applications for the 2014-2015 school year.

Toddler

Children’s House

(413) 637-3662 16

December | January 2014

Elementary

BerkshireMontessori.org www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Adolescent

Summer

Lenox Dale, MA

education & workshops

our gifts to children by meagan ledendecker

T

he brain of a young child works differently than the brain of an adult.

Sensorial experiences actually shape the child’s brain, forming neurological webs that last throughout the child’s life.

vironment) to longitudinal information collected in the Bayley Mental Development Inventory, shows that organized environments lead to higher intelligence scores.*

The fact that our interactions with young people help shape their future selves opens up an incredible opportunity. Each experience can be a gift. Often the simplest moments can carry the most meaning.

We all know that the holiday season throws our routines and even our physical settings a bit askew. With this in mind, children benefit greatly from adults in their lives maintaining a calm sense of order during this busy time.

During the rush of this season, we have the opportunity to slow down and really be present with the young children in our lives. By being open to the wonder and delight our children experience, we gain new perspective while also giving the best gift of all: our total attention.

This may mean taking a deep breath and momentarily turning off the chatter of the to-do list, squatting down to a child’s eye-level, smiling, and just listening or seeing what he wants to share. A helpful holiday mantra can be: Talk less. Listen more.

Getting down to a child’s eye-level shows him you are really listening and seeing.

In addition to giving our full attention, whether for 20 seconds or 20 minutes, we can also offer to teach a young person a new skill. The key to these teaching moments is to focus on each distinct step so that it’s simple and attainable. Even very young children can be involved with tasks like setting the table, wrapping gifts, and tending to simple household maintenance. They appreciate being involved with routine activities and they want to contribute in a meaningful way.

A Montessori School toddler sets the table for lunch

Dr. Jane Healy, author of numerous books, including Your Child’s Growing Mind, reminds us that children need the opportunity to repeatedly practice activities that seem second nature to adults: “Self-help skills and household jobs are very important for the child to master – help your child, but encourage him to do it himself even if the job isn’t done exactly your way!”

When encouraging or supporting a child in trying a new skill or participating in a new task, be sure to take the child’s perspective into account. Showing how to do something is often most effective, and verbalized instructions can be kept to a minimum. It is best not to talk while showing something and not to show something while talking! This allows the child to focus on absorbing one kind of sensory input, thus keeping the information clear in his mind.

These kinds of ordered and clear experiences are key to a child’s development.

“Impressions do not merely enter his mind; they form it,” explained Dr. Maria Montessori a physician turned educator who spent intensive time observing children, making scientific notes, and thus coming to an enlightened understanding of childhood development.

Dr. Montessori observed how children respond positively to organization, both in terms of expected routines and physical space. Current research, such as that comparing the HOME inventory (Home Observation for Measurement of the En-

In order to create a calm, ordered environment, we ourselves need to have balance and clarity in our own lives! Staying present in the moment, breathing deeply, and ultimately taking care of our own needs allows us to offer our best selves to the children around us.

What we offer to our children, in terms of our presence, special activities, or toys, can provide opportunities to aid their development. During this time of gift giving, for example, we can provide objects that have an intelligent purpose and help children contribute in a meaningful way to the order around them. Child-sized, yet real, items are particularly valuable: cooking tools, building tools, yard tools, even mops and brooms.

Having a real and usable object can be a tremendous source of joy.

Children don’t stay young for long, and the early years are extremely formative.

In her book, Understanding the Human Being: The Importance of the First Three Years of Life, Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro explains the significance of a young child’s experiences:

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education & workshops

our gifts to children CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 by meagan ledendecker

Menu of Services Public Computers and a computer game station for kids A wonderful, well-rounded collection of books for all ages and interests, plus friendly, respectful library services with a fine "listening ear" to patron suggestions!

(413) 274-3738 1087 Main Street in the Village of Housatonic, MA

Everyone is

Unique world and traditional crafts for all ages "Ancient History Fairs" for children that include related books and hands-on arts/crafts Live music from local & distant musicians All-genre sessions for writers to gather, read and discuss works.

Professionally led history, science, animal, and earth programs for families.

Well-respected jugglers and storytellers.

WELCOME

and so much more!

Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School

“Everything that comes from the environment is received, processed and stored in the brain cells with no effort using a form of unconscious absorption. This intense mental activity is always going on, even in prenatal life, and it characterizes the absorbent mind.”

For those interested in learning more about optimal environments for these absorbent minds, visit www.BerkshireMontessori.org.

There you can inquire about setting up home environments that best support child development from birth to age three, register for a Parent-Child Playgroup to learn about ideal play materials, or schedule a visit to The Montessori School of the Berkshires to see learning environments specifically designed for neurological growth.

Knowing that the young children around us are absorbing everything about their surroundings, this season let’s give them our attention, meaningful ways to contribute to daily tasks, and a calm, ordered environment. As a result, we’re helping some remarkable young people as they develop into capable, caring young adults. *For more information on this research, take a look at the book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard.

~ Meagan Ledendecker has three children and is the Director of Education at The Montessori School of the Berkshires. In addition to Montessori training for ages three through twelve, she has Assistants to Infancy training for prenatal through age three childhood development. See ad on page 16.

S

learn about healthy desserts!

Whole Foods Holiday Desserts Class

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2013, 11am - 2pm Place: Kosmic Kitchen, 121 High Street, Lee, MA - (413) 822-8390 Price: $75.* Delicious sweet treats with no dairy, no gluten, and no refined sugar! Desserts that are a pure pleasure to eat, and no guilt to deal with afterwards!

Parent-Baby • Pre-K • Kindergarten 1st-8th Grade • Summer Program Waldor f Education in the Berkshires for over 40 years We educate our students to meet life with courage, impart meaning and purpose to their lives, and respond with creativity and integrity to the needs of the world. Our well-rounded, hands-on education prepares students for their choice of high school and college – and to reach their full potential.

(413) 528-4015

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www.gbrss.org

December | January 2014

Great Barrington, MA

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

nog maple walnut-craisin crunch * nut * compote with cardamom cake * clementine pomegranate-coconut cream tart * chocolate cheese cake * chocolate mousse hazelnut macaroons * *

$75 includes all materials, recipes, and eating. *Register with a friend and you each get $10 off your tuition (add two classes to your cart, use the coupon code “friend” for $20 off your total). Visit www.kosmic-kitchen.com/classes/ for information. See ad on page 11.

community spotlight: stockbridge & west stockbridge

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stockbridge & west stockbridge

tockbridge is blessed with great physical beauty and rich cultural history. The town was incorporated in 1739 for the purpose of establishing a mission for the Mahican Indians.

The collaborative experiment was led by John Sergeant, often considered the father of Stockbridge. In the late 1700s, the Mahicans sold their property (under some duress) and were resettled in New York State, and later, Wisconsin. In 1850, the railroad came to Stockbridge, making the community easily accessible to New York City and ushering in the era of the “Berkshire Cottages” and the tourist trade.

The cultural and artistic community in the town has always been unique. Religious leaders from Jonathan Edwards to Reinhold Niebuhr, writers from novelist Catharine Sedgwick to playwright William Gibson, and artists such as Norman Rockwell and Daniel Chester French have made their home here.

Tanglewood and Berkshire Theatre Group draw artists of international renown. Psychoanalyst Erik Erickson worked at the Austen Riggs Center, and Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is the largest retreat center of its kind in North America.

In 2012, the Stockbridge Library Association celebrated its sesquicentennial, and the 75th anniversary of its Historical Museum & Archives. Sitting at the center of town, the Library has a first-hand view of Stockbridge people, their activities, and their accomplishments. Pay us a visit and see for yourselves. ~ By Katherine O’Neil,

Hotchkiss Mobiles, 8 Center Street, West Stock-

bridge, MA 01266. Colorful contemporary mobiles.

(413) 232-0200, www.artmobiles.com

Zoftique, 8 Center Street, West Stockbridge, MA 01266. Designer women’s styles featuring tops, bags, scarves, and jewelry. (413) 232-0200 Berkshire Pens, Lathe-turned writing instruments, bowls, bottle stoppers, napkin rings, spinning tops, and yo-yos. (413) 298-4773, www.berkshirepens.com

Felted Things

BY JULI

Handmade - Felted Lamb & Llama Wool Decorations & Ornaments for all OccasiOns

Special Orders Available

Call now 413-770-6988 charmedladybugs@yahoo.com

stockbridgelibrary.org

See our line on

Photo by Joe Mabel

Director of the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives

W

est Stockbridge has long prided itself as being a little different from its better-known and richer neighbors, Lenox and Stockbridge, and protective of its small-town sensibility. It has an 1800s feel with a contemporary artistic inspiration, and a natural beauty unspoiled by development.

As you walk around the downtown, you get the sense of history with Chas. H. Baldwin & Sons, celebrating 125 years in business in the same family with vanilla and other extracts, unusual gifts and cards, and candy you haven’t seen since childhood. Across the street is Baldwin Hardware, 150 years old next year. There you can get almost any part you need for your project, and more importantly, advice on how to actually do it. The centerpiece of the Main Street is the 1854 Town Hall, headquarters of the West Stockbridge Historical Society and currently being renovated as a town meeting and activity center.

Recent arrivals in town are 6 Depot Roastery & Cafe, in the old train station, and the Shaker Dam Coffee House & Stanmeyer Gallery in the former mill manager’s house. Both serve incredible coffees and boast world-class art/photography exhibit spaces. In Fall 2014, the West Stockbridge Sculptural Park will open an 11-acre outdoor sculpture garden in the town center.

On Friday, December 6, from 4:30 to 8pm, the Village Association, Cultural Council, Parks & Recreation, and Historical Society will sponsor the “Deck the Halls in the Streets” gathering with hayrides, music, refreshments, caroling, and tree lighting on Main Street. West Stockbridge is a wonderful place to live, visit, dine, shop, explore the outdoors, and just enjoy. ~ By

Charles H. Charles H. Baldwin Baldwin&&Sons Sons Since 1888, manufacturers of vanilla extract and flavoring extracts.

Country store: old time toys, candies, baking ingredients, misc. sundries & more. Check out our old time photo booth! Open year ‘round.

Celebrating 125 years!

(413) 232-7785

413.232.7785 1 Center Street • W est Stockbridge www.baldwinextracts.com

Queensboro Wine k Spirits Purveyors of fine, rare and hard to find wines and spirits from around the world.

(413) 232-8522

26 Main Street West Stockbridge, MA 01266

www.queensborowineandspirits.com

Artisianal Fine Wines, Craft Beers, Wide Selection of Liquor, Locally Made Cheeses Free Wine & Beer Tastings Every Saturday

Robert Salerno, President of the West Stockbridge Historical Society

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

19

taming holiday wolfishness

will not health & wellness

i will not eat any sugar  i will not eat any baked goods  i will

by pam youngquist

“I

will not eat any sugar.” “ I will not eat any baked goods.” “ I will not drink any alcohol or caffeine.” “ I will not fill my plate.” “I will be good and healthy this time, I swear.” How many of us started out this holiday season with some variation of these same vows to ourselves? We always hope that the Angel sitting on our shoulder will finally win out over that little Devil on the other side that beckons, cajoles, and bullies us into making wrong choices about what to put in our mouths during the holidays.

If we guilt and shame ourselves for our excesses, we will only set up a dynamic of tension within our bodies, which has worse effects than what we consumed. The digestive, immune, and nervous systems are all sensitive to our self-shaming mental shenanigans. We will end up not digesting our food properly, potentially setting up inflammation in the body and then becoming anxious or exhausted as a result of how badly we feel. Dog chasing its tail, right?

Truthfully, most everyone succumbs

to the consumption blowout during the holidays. That’s why New Years resolutions were created, to appeal to that old guilt anthem in our heads that begins anytime after January first about how badly we behaved in the prior months.

Am I advocating far-reaching rapaciousness? No, of course not. What I am suggesting is that moderation and acceptance are concepts to embody if you do not wish to make an enemy of yourself.

So you drank a bit too much, quite a bit too much. So you ate gluten and dairy and sugar, all at once, all too many times. So you filled your plate twice at the buffet because it all tasted so good. You did not exhibit the modest food decorum that you had so desperately hoped you might this year. It is okay.

You have not committed a crime that alerted the Food Police waiting in the paddy wagon out front. You have not failed yourself.

The way forward is to address the slightly uncomfortable effects that overconsumption might bring to you over the next two weeks, getting you through the blowout and its aftermath and then taking each day at a time to begin to build back into your desired

healthy routine with food and beverage.

Adding bitters to your beverages before meals over the next weeks can do a good bit of wonder. Yes, how many of you remember the old bottle of Angostura Aromatic Bitters in the home bar? Traditionally, bitter herbs have been used for hundreds of years for easing the digestion after overconsumption. Bitter herb combinations, such as gentian, barberry, and wormwood, increase the flow of digestive juices, help the liver to detoxify, produce bile, and impose a regulatory effect on blood sugar and insulin.

While widely used in alcoholic beverages, adding a few drops to your sparkling water and fruit juice can have the same good effect. The first step towards digesting all that you imbibe: bitters.

If bitters did not make it into your beverage and you are experiencing a good deal of discomfort after eating more than your share of goodies, then turn no further than the kitchen cupboard for baking soda. Two teaspoons of baking soda dissolved in one cup of warm water, sipped somewhat slowly, can ease the beast of overmixed mediums in your belly. Baking soda will neutralize an

It’s all included at PineHill.

At PineHill, the only surprises we believe in are surprise birthday celebrations, surprise outings, and our chef’s surprise desserts. Our residents enjoy an allinclusive service fee, covering the services you need, for one predictable price.

Call today to discover the value of All-Inclusive Assisted Living.

235 Walker Street • Lenox, MA 01240

413-637-7000

www.kimballfarms.org

We’re Perfecting the Art of Superior Care.

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December | January 2014

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not drink any alcohol or caffeine  i will not fill my plate  i will not eat any sugar overly acidic digestive tract. Better than Tums or other antacids, baking soda does not leave any residual bad effects when used this way. Though a fairly surefire remedy in a pinch, we don’t want to make a habit of this gastric soother.

If you find yourself feeling not so fresh the morning after festivities of these weeks, slightly hungover, overfilled, and sporting a nausea that won’t quit, consider the homeopathic remedy nux vomica.

Its amazing ability to defuse the ravages of overconsumption is only one of the more than 200 uses for this little miracleworking remedy. The best potency for acute issues is 30c; take 3 pellets under the tongue, where they will dissolve on their own, every half hour for a total of 3 hours. Do not drink or eat for 15 minutes on either side of taking the remedy.

Hopefully these small tips might help tame the effects of your holiday wolfishness. Remember there is no need to punish your wild side. Just be sure to support yourself through this undomesticated time. ~ Pam Youngquist PhD, Traditional Naturopathic Care, www.traditionalnaturopathiccare.com

health & wellness

Sharon True, M.A., C.M.A., R.S.M.T.

Certified Pilates & PFilates™ Instructor CONSCIOUS EXERCISE THAT GETS RESULTS Now Turbo-Charge Your Fitness with Pelvic Floor Exercise! ● Increase Strength and Flexibility ● Improve Comfort, Ease, and Grace ● Improve Posture and Balance ● Reduce Lower Back and Chronic Pain

Call (413) 528-2465 sharontrue@roadrunner.com

Psychiatric Wellness Alternatives At Hawkmeadow Farm

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Call now if you’re concerned about the quality of the air in your home for an indoor air quality analysis!

383 North Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-442-1544 413-743-0985 802-442-9560

Offering Treatment for & Prevention of Depression • Anxiety Insomnia • Dementia – through Lifestyle Changes • Diet & Nutrition Supplementation and Herbs Yogic Breathing & Meditation Counseling

Cert. Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

Richard Cleaver

INTRODUCES THE GUARDIAN AIR

The US Food & Drug Administration has recognized the Lux Guardian Air Living life well. as a Class II Medical Device

Cert. Kripalu Yoga Teacher

Lee, Massachusetts • 413-243-2224 hawkmeadowinlee.com

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December | January 2014

21

health & wellness

Naomi Alson Lic. Acupuncturist & Herbalist

For general wellbeing …

Feel your best! at Lee Family Practice (413) 243-3223

mind & spirit Embracing Change Life Coaching ~Hypnosis~NLP~EFT~ Guiding individuals out of their rut, to a place of joy and ease Control Anxiety~Lose Weight Reduce Stress~Manage Chronic Pain Stop Smoking~Increase Motivation

Karen O. Lindstrom, Ed.S. Integrative Life Coaching 413.854.4520

www.embracingchangelifecoaching.com

Hydro Health of Western Massachusetts

Colon Hydrotherapy Ozone & Far Infrared Sauna Therapy • Best Methods for Detoxification • Powerful Adjuncts for Optimizing Wellness and Longevity • Enhances healing and rejuvenation

Internal body cleansing is ultimately considered the finest health insurance.

Concettina & Bruce Collingwood I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapists

51 Stearns Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-445-7470 www.hydrohealthwesternmass.com

the true meaning

O

OF GIVING / by sharon vidal

ne of the greatest holiday memories I have as a child is of my father sitting at the kitchen table with his checkbook, and my mother and I diligently licking stamps to put on the back of our holiday cards. Yes, once upon a time stamps needed to be licked! These stamps had a beautiful illustration of a young boy carrying his little brother on his back through the snow. Underneath were the words “He ain’t heavy Father, he’s m’ brother.” The check was going to Boys Town, an organization for orphans and troubled boys. My parents didn’t have much, but that check went out faithfully every holiday season.

Children truly do learn from example. For my parents, giving was something you did year round. What incredible examples I had as a child! My grandfather put on shows to raise money for families in crisis. Now I find that by habit, or instinct, this time of year is a time I start thinking again about my father and those stamps, and the true meaning of giving. For me it is about the joy . . . the joy of giving. That’s the fun part! There are so many nonprofit organizations right here in Berkshire County that desperately need our help. I felt frustrated that I could not give more, so three years ago I called several friends and asked them if they would like to throw a few bucks in a pot every month and take turns picking where we would send the money. After three years we have helped the hungry, the cold, various veterans’ organizations, abandoned animals, the homeless and abused, injured children, and more. Even though none of us are very well off, together we make a difference. Our motto is: Every Pebble Makes a Ripple. I highly recommend trying this as well. It’s fun, it’s satisfying to your spirit, and you will never regret making out that check!

GO DEEPLY INTO YOUR OWN HEALING AND LEARN TO GIVE POWERFUL HEALINGS TO OTHERS

Dr. Kim Tripp

www.yoursoulpath.com Andrew M. Goldman, DO is pleased to announce that Kim Tripp, DO, PhD has joined the practice. Dr. Tripp was originally a patient of Dr. Goldman’s while she was the Director of the New York Botanical Garden. In 2007, Kim made the inspired decision to change her career and become an osteopathic physician. She graduated from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She has now completed her required post-graduate training.

Many of Dr. Goldman’s patients have already met Kim while she was training in his office. Those patients know how gifted Kim is and how much she will bring to the practice.

Now Accepting Appointments Great Barrington, ma 413-528-3334 | Sharon, ct 860-364-5990

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December | January 2014

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heilaa Hite Intuitive Counselor

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An education for life.

Now enrolling for 2014-2015

Lenox Dale, Massachusetts

berkshiremontessori.org

BENSDOTTER’S PET 413-528-4940 940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA

Providing Holistic Primary Care, Integrative Medicine, Acupuncture & Medical Massage

A Little Bit Conventional. A Little Bit Alternative.

A Whole Lot Different!

Ronald Stram, M.D. Founder and Medical Director 530 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201 802-445-3152

www.stramcenter.com

BCBS, Cigna, MVP, Medicaid Accepted for Certain Services

Convenient Location with Ample Parking on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guido’s Monday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday-Sunday 10a-4p

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2014

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BENSDOTTER’S PET QUALITY FOODS EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES CAREFULLY SELECTED

CONVENTIONAL AND RAW FOOD DIETS FOR EVERY LIFESTYLE FOR EVERY BUDGET TO EVERY TASTE

940 MAIN STREET GREAT BARRINGTON 413-528-4940 MONDAY-FRIDAY 10-6 SATURDAY-SUNDAY 10-4