Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, Summer 2018

Summer 2018, vol 49

Complimentary

Our BerkshireTimes

™

Local Events | Art & Culture | Home & Garden | Vibrant Living

Cover art by Michael DiGiorgio, www.mdigiorgio.com

Hartsville Design Woodworking  (413) 274-1122  www.hartsvilledesign.com

Our BerkshireTimes magazine. In business 10 years this December!

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To advertise (413) 274-1122, advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com

Summer 2018

Our BerkshireTimes™ PUBLISHERS Kathy I. Regan publisher@ourberkshiretimes.com

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Contents art, culture & entertainment

Kevin J. Regan kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com _______________

FUN THINGS TO DO

EDITORIAL Kathy I. Regan editor@ourberkshiretimes.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Proofreader Rodelinde Albrecht _______________ DESIGN Magazine Design/Layout Kathy I. Regan Brianna I. Regan _______________ TO ADVERTISE CONTACT Account Representatives Kevin J. Regan kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com Debra Johnson mickschix2@aol.com Nina Anderson safe@bcn.net _______________ Our BerkshireTimes magazine is a division of Visionary Group Unlimited P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: (413) 274-1122 advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

COMMUNITY NEWS MICHAEL DIGIORGIO UNIQUE ART ADVENTURES

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summer product spotlight

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home & garden THE TACKLE-EATING TREE

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Michael DiGiorgio is a nationally recognized artist who is currently living in Madison, CT. Mike’s painting and drawings have appeared in a variety of nature books and journals, such as Birds of Brazil, Birds of Honduras, and Bird Watcher’s Digest.

He has been painting and sketching birds from life since early in his career. Mike won the first ever endowment award from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia for recognition of his Bird Illustration work.

Please visit www.mdigiorgio.com information and to purchase limited edition prints. Email mdigiorgio@comcast.net.

health & wellness THC AND CBD GET ALL THE GLORY YOUR ORAL MICROBIOME

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food & drink GRILLED ZUCCHINI PASTA THE INCREDIBLE AVOCADO

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animal talk A HEALTHY GUT IS YOUR PET’S

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BEST FRIEND

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mind & spirit THE GIFT OF MACHU PICCHU A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY

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education & workshops OUR CONNECTIONS: THE JOURNEY TO HAPPINESS

COVER ILLUSTRATION

“Yellow-throated Toucan” by Michael DiGiorgio, www.mdigiorgio.com

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REINER WHITE & SONS

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featured advertisers THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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ON THE COVER: "The Yellow-throated Toucan [depicted on the front cover] was painted as a result of a trip to Dominical in the southern zone of the Pacific Ocean coast of Costa Rica. This bird is a common resident of the upper story of the jungle, and sometimes travel in groups. I was lucky enough to observe and sketch this toucan while in a canopy tower overlooking the southern foothills of Mount Chirripó." ~ Michael DiGiorgio Our BerkshireTimes magazine has been proudly created without Wi-Fi since it was first published in 2009. This publication is printed with soy ink on Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper. We distribute bimonthly (six issues per year) and most of our editorial content is contributed by our community members.

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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Explore the Berkshires - Fun Things to Do! Firefly Watch When: The month of July Where: Your own backyard, parks, and nature centers Cost: Free “Fireflies are tiny messengers that whisper in darkness: Don’t lose hope because magic does happen!” ~ Princess Sassy Pants & Co.™ Take the time this summer to enjoy the magical light show in your own backyard. The photinus ignitis firefly, the kind that we have here in Massachusetts, is generally best observed from mid-June to late July, although the Boston Museum of Science’s Firefly Watch program has recorded sightings as early as May 2 and as late as September 23.

Opening Reception for Jim Youngerman, New Work: Strange & Alluring When: August 4, 2018, 4-7pm. The show runs through August 26, 2018.

Where: Lauren Clark Fine Art, 325 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington, MA Cost: Free Lauren Clark Fine Art is excited to present Jim Youngerman, “New Work: Strange & Alluring” opening Saturday, August 4, with a reception for the artist from 4-7pm. Known locally and nationally as a fine artist working primarily in watercolor and ink on paper, his work is deep yet whimsical and touches upon everything from the erotic to the political. Well known in the theater world, Mr. Youngerman is also a stage and set designer. Having worked with Shakespeare & Company for 10 years, this summer he is designing the sets for As You Like It in the Roman Garden Theater. Contact (413) 528-0432, lauren@laurenclarkfineart.com, www.laurenclarkfineart.com

Bossa Nova Evening When: August 4, 2018, 7-9pm Where: Diana Felber Gallery, 6 Harris Street, West Stockbridge, MA Cost: $15 Join us at the Diana Felber Gallery in West Stockbridge for an enjoyable evening of bossa nova with a beautiful singer, Maya Solovéy, and excellent musician Vitor Gonçalves playing authentic Brazilian music.

(413) 232-7007, www.dianafelbergallery.com

Berkshire Backyard Beekeepers When: August 14, 2018, 6pm Where: Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge, MA. Stop at the Welcome Center for meeting location.

Cost: Free, no registration required 4

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Join local beekeepers on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm on the grounds of Berkshire Botanical Garden for season-appropriate discussions and demonstrations using the BBG apiary, weather permitting. We will focus on sustainable beekeeping techniques: raising and sourcing bees locally, managing pests and diseases ecologically, and creating beneficial habitats for honeybees and native pollinators alike. All levels of experience are welcome. www.berkshirebotanical.org

8th Annual Bike-N-Fly When: August 18, 2018, 8am-4pm Where: 70 Egremont Plain Road, Great Barrington, MA Cost: $15 per carload/$5 per person Fundraiser to support the Great Barrington Airport and Rotary Club’s mission of serving the community with scholarships, volunteering, youth exchange, and support. Event highlights include pancake breakfast, live music, food vendors, new and old airplanes, balloon rides, helicopter rides, scenic airplane rides, remote-controlled airplane demonstration, police K-9 unit, Mt. Everett Robotics Team, GB Kennel Club, and much more. (413) 528-1010, www.berkshirebikenfly.org

The Painted Piano Project When: August 26, 2018 5-7:30pm Where: Berkshire Music School, Great Lawn, 30 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA Cost: $25 Berkshire Music School presents the Painted Piano Project. Look for these works of art around Berkshire County from July 18 through August 25, 2018. Live auction Sunday, August 26, 2018, 5-7:30pm on the Berkshire Music School Great Lawn. Call for reservations: (413) 442-1411, www.berkshiremusicschool.org

Mystical Catalonia Odyssey Quest When: October 27 – November 4, 2018 (registration ends very soon!)

Where: Barcelona, La Sagrada de Familia, Salvador Dali, legendary Camino de Santiago, Majestic Montserrat, the Black Madonna, two-day Montserrat workshop, and more Cost: Email Sheilaa at in2itivone@gmail.com for details Join Sheilaa Hite, The Center for Practical Spirituality, for a Mystical Catalonia Odyssey Quest from October 27 to November 4, 2018. “Who am I and what was I made for?” The Odyssey Quest will merge powerful energies to answer that question on the legendary El Camino de Santiago; in the other-worldly majesty of Montserrat monastery; in the passion and brilliance of Barcelona; and most importantly, in your soul’s yearning to bring your myth to life. www.sheilaahite.com

art, culture & entertainment

Community News

ABOUT & FROM OUR ADVERTISERS The Spin-off Yarn Shop in northern Berkshire County is moving to a new location See their website and Facebook page for location, schedule, and event updates. www.spinoffyarnshop.com Wonderful Things is shutting its doors and is now holding a retirement sale. Everything must go! Owners Debbie and Harry Sano say “Fortyfive years has been a very good run and we thank you all. It is with a very heavy heart that we made the decision to retire. There were many aspects to consider: major changes in the industry, online shopping, loss of many suppliers who have reached their golden years and have no one to take over. We will miss all of you, and we will remember the good times around the table and all of the wonderful projects.” Visit their Facebook page and www.wonderful-things.com for updates.

The Best Show of Diamonds

Trattoria Rustica is offering a coupon right now. Save $35 when you spend $100 or more for dinner. See page 23 of this publication for details. www.trattoria-rustica.com Would you like to travel to somewhere exciting and mystical like Catalonia but would feel more comfortable with an experienced guide? Then contact Sheilaa Hite, The Center for Practical Spirituality, today because registration for her upcoming guided trip ends very soon! See event information at left and Sheilaa’s latest article on page 26 of this publication.

Have you seen the progress on the Berkshire Co-op’s new, bigger store?

Moving to a space twice as large will allow them to do more of the good things that they are already doing as well as some new things including buying more from local producers, providing more good-paying jobs, offering a greater variety of healthy foods, expanding educational programs, and contributing more to the local economy. They hope to open their new store before February 2019. www.berkshire.coop

15 Main Street, Lee 413-243-0508 www.zabians.com

STUNNING BERKSHIRE CONTEMPORARY

William Caligari’s business, LINEN, that offers the finest in luxury linens for table, bed, and bath, has moved to a new location. See their display ad on page 13 of this publication for more information. www.linengb.com Reiner White & Sons recently posted a brand new website. See their business spotlight on page 12 of this publication and check out their new website at www.reinerwhiteandsons.com.

MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS We'll be happy to check your wipers, tire pressure, and anti-freeze.

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Air Conditioning Service Alignments ● Tune Ups ● Oil Change Brakes ● Timing Belts ● And More!

ILLIAMS & KINGSLEY

AUTO REPAIR, INC.

413-442-1620 ● 763 East Street, Pittsfield, MA

GREAT BARRINGTON | GUEST WING | GUNITE POOL The perfect combination of privacy and luxury, this fabulous Contemporary is an outstanding choice for the Berkshires...in a convenient location to everywhere you want to be!

Exclusively offered at $1,700,000

Steve Erenburg Associate

413 663 0457 413 637 1086 lenox, ma www.cohenwhiteassoc.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

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Michael DiGiorgio OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINE'S SUMMER 2018 COVER ARTIST

Scarlet Tanager © Michael DiGiorgio

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y artwork is created primarily as a visual record of past experiences I have had while observing birds. I am a real advocate of learning to draw and paint subjects from life instead of relying on copying photographs. As my late friend Don Eckelberry often said, “There are too many wildlife artists who study in the school of Kodachrome.”

Since birds are the driving force in my life, my goal is to transfer my fascination and joyfulness of these beautiful creatures to my viewers. Hopefully, an appreciation for the natural world will foster awareness for its preservation. ~ Michael DiGiorgio in their natural setting since early in his career. Michael has traveled to the West Indies and South America to sketch and paint tropical birds and plant life, as well as throughout the United States to record American birds.

Michael DiGiorgio in front of a mural he painted depicting life on the river for the Connecticut River Museum.

Michael DiGiorgio is a distinguished nationally recognized artist and illustrator who currently resides in Madison, Connecticut. On the advice of his friend and mentor, the late Don Eckelberry, he has been painting and sketching birds 6

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

As a testament to his talent, Michael won the first-ever endowment award from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia (an award given in memory of Don Eckelberry) for recognition of his bird illustrations. His work has been exhibited at galleries, colleges, and museums throughout New England. Both Michael’s paintings and his drawings have also appeared in a variety of nature books and journals, such as Breeding Bird Atlas of CT, Master’s Guide to Birding, Audubon Field Guide to Birds/Eastern and Western Region, Bird

Watcher’s Digest, Sanctuary (Massachusetts’s Audubon Magazine), Audubon Magazine, and Audubon Nature Yearbook.

Michael is currently illustrating plates for a new guide to Brazil with Robert Ridgley and Guy Tudor and working on the new edition of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds.

If you would like to view some of his work locally in person you can do so at the Infinity Bistro Gallery in Norfolk, CT. To purchase limited edition 13" x 19" bird portrait prints, visit Michael’s website at www.mdigiorgio.com. Each print comes packaged with a description of the species and is signed by the artist. For updates on shows, new work, and other related information, see Michael’s website or contact him at mdigiorgio@comcast.net.

art, culture & entertainment

Business Services

scenic flights

COME HOME TO THE GREAT BARRINGTON AIRPORT

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erkshire Aviation, LLC, has been serving aviators and the flying public for more than 65 years at Great Barrington Airport providing maintenance, flight instruction, and scenic flights. It is home to both private and business-owned general aviation aircraft.

Whether you are looking to see the Berkshires from the air, want to learn to fly, are looking to charter a flight, need aircraft maintenance, or are an aviation enthusiast, the staff invite you to the friendliest airport in the Northeast. 70 Egremont Plain Rd., Great Barrington, MA.

ahoy, landlubbers SAIL & PICNIC ON BEAUTIFUL TWIN LAKES IN SALISBURY, CT

Scenic Flights Charter Services Flight Instruction Aircraft Rentals

Nashalla Sailing

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ome join Nashalla Sailing this summer for a relaxing sail on beautiful Twin Lakes in Salisbury, CT. Our comfortable, stable 21’ mini cruiser holds up to four landlubbers and is accessed at O’Hara’s Landing dock. Captain Nina has been sailing for more than 50 years and will provide you with a fun afternoon or a sunset voyage. Bring a picnic and your sunblock. Visit our website for details at www.nashallasailing.com, and call (888) 2177233 to book your charter. Gift certificates available.

love’s synergy LOVE MEANS LOOKING TOGETHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION

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ogether, we can do more than we can alone. Today, more than ever before, what we need is someone to walk beside us who feels as we do about our world, who cares about other people, and who wants to help make things right. If you are still searching for that someone, if you want a love that’s more than just a flash in the pan, a love with staying power, a love that means moving forward together into a life that’s nourishing and fulfilling, join the Concerned Singles community. ~ Rodelinde Albrecht

Charter with Captain Nina on Twin Lakes, Salisbury CT 888-217-7233

“It was her compassion that was so pretty.”

Close your eyes. open your heart. concernedsingles.com

toys for all ages COME SEE OUR EXTENSIVE STOCK OF ALL THINGS CREATIVE

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obby World, located in Adams, MA, was launched in 1999 by hobby enthusiast Bob Blanchette. During the last 19 years, Hobby World’s inventory has grown and diversified in many ways, meeting not only the needs of their steady r/c car customers, but almost every other type of hobbyist requirement including model trains and radio-controlled vehicles, rocket kits, doll houses and supplies, stamp collecting, paint by number, and so much more.

Toys for all ages. You name it and Bob probably carries it! www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

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home & garden

Unique Art Adventures IN THE BERKSHIRES / By Nina Anderson

Diana Felber Gallery Photo by Michael Lavin Flower

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f someone asks you where they can experience art in the Berkshires you might send them to the Norman Rockwell Museum, Mass MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, or the Berkshire Museum. Or you could suggest that they try some unique alternatives off the beaten trail – there are a multitude of choices right here in the Berkshires. Whether you like sculpture, traditional art, abstract or cubism, glass creations, ceramics, watercolors, or photography our area is eye candy for the senses.

A number of the art venues include outdoor exhibits where you can also enjoy the tranquil beauty and splendor of our summer countryside, some allow you to marvel at the works inside the artists’ studios and/or homes, and others give you the opportunity to learn how to become an Lauren Clark Fine Art artist yourself.

Since the Berkshires is home to many local artists, several galleries specialize in displaying the works of our residents. Lauren Clark Fine Art gallery in Great Barrington represents more than 40 local and internationally recognized painters, printmakers, potters, glassblowers, and jewelers. Lauren also runs a full-service custom framing business. For a list of upcoming shows and receptions visit www.laurenclarkfineart.com.

One of my favorite places is the Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio in Lenox. Suzy Frelinghuysen and George L.K. Morris are today being rediscovered as significant figures in the history of American Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio art. Their two-story glass block and stucco home and studio on a 46-acre estate, were built in the Bauhaus tradition and contain furnishings from Modern masters such as Deskey, Aalto, and Frankl. As a big fan of abstract art, I found Frelinghuysen’s and Morris’s paintings and frescoes of cubism an emotionally exciting experience. You can also view their collection

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Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

of artistic masters such as Picasso, Miró, Matisse, Léger, and Gris right here in Lenox, www.frelinghuysen.org.

Another gallery with intriguing new exhibits on display on a regular basis can be found in the central village of West Stockbridge near the Williams River. Diana Felber Galley, a stylish, Diana Felber Gallery sunlit space that was originally the home of a glassblowing studio, offers the works of exceptional nationally recognized artists and craftspeople from the Berkshires and around the country for sale. To see who is exhibiting and examples of their work, go to www.dianafelbergallery.com.

Also in the area is the Richmond-West Stockbridge Artists’ Guild, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes local vibrant inspired visual artists through workshops, studio tours, discussions, critiques, films, and art school. They offer summer art camps for children as well. For upcoming shows see www.rwsag.org.

I found an additional unique Berkshire attraction that will allow you to experience art for yourself while you paint a canvas, sip a beverage, and socialize with friends.

Berkshire Paint and Sip Berkshire Paint and Sip in Pittsfield hosts events where you learn how to paint your own masterpiece with all supplies being provided. This also can be a fun way to celebrate birthdays, wedding showers, girls’ night out and holiday get-togethers. Owner Michelle Iglesias is a prominent local artist and her paintings are on exhibit at the Paint and Sip Studio. Check it out at www.berkshirepaintandsip.com. ~ Nina Anderson graduated Monmouth University with a BA in art and is author of 18 books on natural health and aviation. She also runs a sailboat charter service in Salisbury, CT, in the summer. www.nashallasailing.com

art, culture & entertainment

intriguing exhibits

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LOCATED IN WEST STOCKBRIDGE, MA

he Diana Felber Gallery located in West Stockbridge displays the work of artists and craftspeople from as far away as California as well as works of talented local Berkshire artists.

The well-lit beautifully arranged front gallery displays paintings, and the rear gallery holds an eclectic mix of art and craft items including photography, woodworking, sculpture, and jewelry. All works are for sale. Bossa nova returns Saturday, August 4, 2018, at 7pm, with Maya and Vitor. www.dianafelbergallery.com

www.dianafelbergallery.com • 413-232-7007

MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT.

6 Harris Street, West Stockbridge, MA

MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT. MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT.

modern art SPECTACULAR MODERN ART MUSEUM IN LENOX, MA

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Featuring Cubist masterworks, including pieces by Picasso, Braque, Gris & Leger

FRELINGHUYSEN MORRIS HOUSE & STUDIO 92 Hawthorne Street | Lenox | 413 637 0166 | Thursday–Sunday | Tours | frelinghuysen.org

his Bauhaus-inspired 1930-40s Modernist structure was the home and studio of Suzy Frelinghuysen and George L.K. Morris, painters and founding members of the American Abstract Artists. They championed American abstract art and collected the 20th century’s greatest modern art, including works by Picasso, Gris, Matisse, and Léger. Their house embodies the artistic and stylistic innovations of Modernism, an immersion in the challenging and inspiring world of these pioneering artists. Open 10-3 Thurs-Sun.

Featuring Cubist masterworks, including pieces by Picasso, Braque, Gris & Leger

FRELINGHUYSEN HOUSE STUDIO Featuring Cubist masterworks,MORRIS including pieces

by Picasso,& Braque, Gris & Leger 92 Hawthorne Street | Lenox | 413 637 0166 | Thursday–Sunday | Tours | frelinghuysen.org FRELINGHUYSEN MORRIS HOUSE & STUDIO

gallery & framing

325 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington

92 Hawthorne Street | Lenox | 413 637 0166 | Thursday–Sunday | Tours | frelinghuysen.org

LOCAL AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS

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ince 1994 Lauren Clark has represented regionally and internationally recognized career artists at both her eponymous gallery, Lauren Clark Fine Art, and at other Berkshire venues.

Ms. Clark exhibits paintings, including figurative, landscape, and abstract works in all media, indoor and outdoor sculpture, contemporary furniture, artisan-crafted gold and silver jewelry, functional ceramics, and functional and sculptural blown glass.

For upcoming schedule, visit www.laurenclarkfineart.com.

Fine Art & Contemporary Craft 413.528.0432

Framing on the Edge Custom Framing

LaurenClarkFineArt.com

paint a masterpiece

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UNCORK YOUR CREATIVITY AND HAVE SOME FUN!

aint, sip, and socialize with friends at Berkshire Paint and Sip. Explore your creative side with this unique experience (no prior art knowledge required). You can come to our studio, or we can come to your home, business, or even your favorite bar or restaurant. Reserve your seats at a public event or book your own private party. Classes do fill fast, so make sure you reserve your seats early. Uncork your creativity and have some fun. Find out more on our website at www.berkshirepaintandsip.com. www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

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art, culture & entertainment

retirement sale

Now celebrating our 45th Year!

Wonderful Things

Largest Selection of Yarns and Unique Handcrafted Gifts in the Berkshires

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Open Mon-Sat 9:30-5, Sun 12-4 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA (413) 528-2475 ● www.wonderful-things.com

Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Chauffeured Transportation Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Chauffeured Transportation

Top quality limo service with a minimal impact on the environment.

YARN & TOOLS, POTTERY, CERAMICS, HOME DÉCOR, JEWELRY

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onderful Things is shutting its doors and is now holding a huge retirement/closing sale. Everything must go! 45 years has been a very good run and we thank you all. It is with a very heavy heart that we made the decision to retire. There were many aspects to consider: major changes in the industry, online shopping, loss of many suppliers who have reached their golden years and have no one to take over. We will miss all of you, and we will remember the good times around the table and all of the wonderful projects.

see the sights in style FUEL -EFFICIENT CHAUFFEURED TRANSPORTATION

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obi’s Limousine Service offers a full range of luxury vehicles. Professional chauffeurs will drive you safely to or from New York City, Boston, JFK, LaGuardia, Logan, Newark, Albany, Bradley Airport – anywhere and anytime. Travel in style and let Tobi’s worry about traffic. They will always get you there on time, anytime. For the business traveler or leisure travel, call (413) 637-1224 in Lenox, MA, to reserve your ride. Visit their website at www.tobislimo.com for more information.

Serving the Serving TheEntire EntireNortheast

and Beyond!

JFK, Boston, and Hartford, Northeast beyond!

Albany, Anywhere, Anytime.

JFK, Boston, Hartford, Albany, Anywhere, Wine Tours and Anytime.

Ride Shares Wine Tours and Available!

Ride Shares available!

413-637-1224 www.tobislimo.com tobislimo@aol.com Post Office box 2216 Lenox, MA 01240

Grow Your Business with Our BerkshireTimes Magazine Connect | Share | Grow | Prosper June-July 2016 vol 26

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den | Vibrant Living | Art & Culture

Art & Culture in the Berkshires / Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com Cover Art by Deborah Van Auten / www.vanauten.com

 Proudly created without Wi-Fi since 2008.  Independently published and “locally grown.”  Thick, 80lb Forest Stewardship Council certified satin paper with soy ink and eco-friendly satin aqueous coating.

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To advertise call (413) 274-1122 advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com www.ourberkshiretimes.com

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enjoy writing?

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SHARE YOUR PASSION WITH OUR READERS

ur BerkshireTimes magazine will be celebrating 10 years in business the end of this year (proudly created without Wi-Fi since 2008). Many thanks to our readers, advertisers, and writers! Speaking of which, did you know that throughout all of these years and issues most of our editorial and cover art as well as some of our interior illustrations were contributed by community members (you can read all back issues in our website’s magazine archive as well as on www.issuu.com and www.scribd.com)? We welcome original, nonadvertorial articles and illustrations from writers and artists of every level of experience for consideration.

We publish editorial content that informs, educates, enlightens, entertains, and inspires our readers. If you are interested in sharing your knowledge, talent, expertise, and humor, we ask that you write about what you are passionate about, not about something you think we want. Please go to our website to find out more, and submit your nonadvertorial material (subject matter that does not directly promote your business, product, or service) for consideration through our online submission form. If you wish to submit advertorial material (subject matter that does directly promote your business, product, or service) please see the specials on the Advertise page of our website, and contact us for more information at advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com, (413) 274-1122. www.ourberkshiretimes.com

Spotlight on Summer Products Shop local

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Dine local

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Play local

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And enjoy our vibrant community

STYLISH

Storage Shed / Sheds-N-Stuff

Our stylish storage sheds come in a nice variety of shapes, sizes, styles, and upgrades. We can help you discover the one that is just right for you and your property. Sheds-N-Stuff has been in business for more than 25 years and we have built solid relationships with residents in Berkshire County, Bennington County, and across Massachusetts. We sell quality Amish-made products ranging from mailboxes to gazebos and everything in between. We also have the ability to customize almost any project to your specific needs.

(413) 743-9964, www.berkshiresheds.com

CREAMY

Gelato, Sorbet, Ice Cream / Chocolate Springs

It’s summer! Treat your friends and family to a delicious, cool, refreshing gelato, sorbet, or ice cream. Chocolate Springs is a European-style chocolate and dessert café with decades of experience in crafting the finest handmade bonbons. Milk and dark chocolate, truffles, amazing ganache, and award-winning hot chocolate are made fresh every day using only the finest seasonal and organic ingredients whenever possible. Visit Chocolate Springs Café in person at 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA, or order chocolates online. (413) 637-9820, www.chocolatesprings.com

NATURAL

Vermont Soap / Berkshire Organics

Double-strength tea tree oil and peppermint make this Blue Bar Body Soap by Vermont Soap a potent, all-natural 3.2-oz gentle cleanser for many different kinds of skin issues including acne. Helps correct oily skin without being drying.

Made with saponified organic oils of palm, coconut, olive and palm kernel, natural essential oil blend, rosemary extract preservative, and mineral pigment. Berkshire Organics is committed to carrying healthy, quality products made by small, independent companies. Visit Berkshire Organics at 813 Dalton Division Road, Dalton, MA, or order online. (413) 442-0888, www.berkshireorganics.com

BESPOKE

Custom Furniture / Hartsville Design

How often do you have the opportunity to get exactly what you want right down to the last detail? You can with custom furniture.

Bring your ideas to life – choose the color, grain, size, shape, texture, hardware, and budget . . . and have it fit perfectly anywhere in your home or office. Be practical or wildly creative. Enjoy the luxury of bespoke furniture or cabinetry with beautiful hardwoods and simple clean lines or exotic veneers and whimsical curves. Hartsville Design can create a bespoke piece that will be treasured for generations to come. (413) 274-1122, www.hartsvilledesign.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

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home & garden

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hether you’re ready to start your dream home project (an addition, new construction, or an interior or exterior remodel) or are still in the research phase, Reiner White & Sons can give you the help and guidance you need to make your dreams come true.

Reiner White started their family-owned and -operated business 30 years ago, and he and his sons Kevin and Andrew take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of the work they provide.

Licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, the company has built longstanding relationships with their subcontractors and suppliers, and together with their team of highly skilled, organized, and reliable craftspeople provide superior service.

Q: Reiner, please describe what you do.

A: We are a full-service general contracting company completing residential and light commercial projects mostly in the Southern Berkshire region. The scope of our projects can vary from large to small, renovating a home from the eighteenth century to building a brand new modern residence, to most anything in between.

are the most important rooms in your home because they are the center of your family’s day-to-day living. Having these rooms remodeled professionally with top quality modern conveniences will bring years of enjoyment and added value to your home.

Interior renovations will greatly enhance the enjoyment you experience in your home and are a key part of any home improvement plan. From fresh paint and trim, to new flooring or drywall repair, remodeling can dramatically improve the beauty and energy efficiency of your home. Exterior renovations like putting up new siding or a roof, windows, and doors, or adding trim, a portico, or a detached building, can completely change the overall appearance and personality of your home.

Q: What is your philosophy?

A: We believe in having an honest down-to-earth approach to all projects. The quality of work on our projects is the first concern with cost and the time to complete secondary. Our company likes working with all-natural wood building materials and nontoxic finishes whenever possible. Whether you need a minor facelift or a major remodel, we can help.

Q: How did you get started?

A: I started out as a laborer in 1976 and worked for several local building companies for 12 years. In 1988 I obtained my construction license and started Reiner White Builders. In 2002 our business became incorporated and named Reiner White & Sons, Inc.

What do you offer?

We can build a new residence to customer specifications or renovate/remodel a grand old structure. Add on a master suite, inlaw apartment, screen porch, or deck. Your kitchen and bathrooms 12

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Q: How can our readers find you?

A: Our office is located at 147 Mill River Southfield Road in Southfield, MA. You can call (413) 229-8450 or email reinerwhite@verizon.net to schedule a meeting. We look forward to discussing your project, and will take the time to carefully listen to your ideas and requirements and address any questions or concerns you may have. www.reinerwhiteandsons.com

home & garden

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13

home & garden

The Tackle-Eating Tree JUST A FANCIFUL CREATURE OF THE IMAGINATION? I THINK NOT! / By Michael Romano

M

ost of us are familiar with Charlie Brown’s iconic KiteEating Tree. It’s a normal tree until poor Charlie Brown breaks out his springtime kite and manages to launch it into the air, only to have it nabbed by the branches of this evil tree. A cartoon you say . . . a fanciful creature of the imagination?

I think not! Not only are these trees real, but there appears to be a variety of the same species currently in existence. Almost all fishermen have encountered the infamous Tackle-Eating Tree at some point and experienced the heartbreak of lost fishing tackle that it has devoured.

Tackle-Eating Trees grow close to shoreline angling spots favored by landbound fishermen. Their branches are usually thin and wispy but if you look closely enough you will see an array of fishing equipment dangling from their limbs. Lures of all kinds, bobbers and hooks, and lines and sinkers adorn these creatures’ arms, and many have the added hazard of unseen underwater roots and fallen branches that will snag an unsuspecting fisherman’s line as they attempt to catch dinner. By the end of the summer these innocent-looking saplings resemble a Christmas tree of sorts with many colorful ornaments blowing in the breeze – expensive ill-gotten gains.

One such tree is located right here in Great Barrington, MA, at the boat launch of beautiful Lake Mansfield. If one parks at the launch and looks to the right, there it is in all its glory, the TackleEating Tree. Hanging from all parts of this tree are multicolored bobbers, silver and gold lures, carved minnows, numerous shiny swivels with leaders, and sinkers and hooks still attached. The tree is too small to be climbed but large enough to hold its prey tight, so none of the equipment can be recovered. The gear hangs there as a reminder to fishermen to be aware of the tree’s tacklegrabbing potential. I myself have lost items to this shoreside entity, but the last time I got snagged, a trout (believe it or not) helped me get my lure back!

I had parked at the launch one day in the early spring and was delighted to see fish breaking the surface. I knew it was probably freshly stocked trout but I got excited just the same. I took my 14

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

camp chair out of my trunk and grabbed one of the three ultralight poles I had rigged in the car. The rod I choose had a very small Rapala lure on it. Most Rapala lures are made from carved balsa wood in the shape of a floating minnow with several sets of treble hooks on them, and can be quite pricey. I took my first cast of the year and it landed kind of where I wanted it to, but as luck would have it a breeze caught the slack line and carried it directly into the Tackle-Eating tree’s clutches.

Now, I have a technique for trying to get my stuff back from TackleEating Trees that involves finesse and patience (both are qualities I sometimes lack), but I decided to give it a try in this case. You have to slowly and carefully reel the line up the tree until the lure is within a few inches of the offending branch, then you give the fishing rod a sharp wrist snap that with luck carries the lure back to you, hopefully missing your face or other vulnerable body parts. I reeled the lure slowly and it left the water, dangling just inches above the surface.

Then, all of a sudden, there was a startling splash as a leaping trout latched onto the lure. He hung there suspended in midair, as confused as I was by the sudden turn of events. Then, as he started struggling he managed to pull the line off the branch and both he and the line landed back in the water. The light line went slack and he was able to slip the hook and get away.

I smiled as I finished reeling my freed lure back in to shore.

Karma? The Tackle-Eating Tree had had me and I had the trout, but we both got away. Thank you hero trout!, I still have my lure and an amusing tale to share! ~ Michael Romano, a Great Barrington, MA, resident for almost 40 years, is an avid fisherman who in his own words “kind of treats fishing as a contact sport and has had more than a few misadventures in the process.” He has fished many local waters and also enjoyed quite a few saltwater trips. Michael is a retired chef – he and his wife, Susan, worked for years at the nowclosed Kolburne School, where he enjoyed taking many of the students fishing.

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www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

15

PINENE

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

LIMON

THC and CBD Get All the Glory BUT TERPENES PLAY A GROWING ROLE IN CANNABIS EXPERIENCE / By Joe Baillargeon

A

s people start catching on to the medicinal benefits of cannabis, they soon realize there’s a learning curve involved with the topic, especially its lingo.

As director of production for a medical marijuana dispensary, I work with cannabis plants all day every day.

I’d like to shed some light on three big players in my world.

Most people have heard of THC and CBD, and with good reason – they’re the most well-known cannabinoids (chemical compounds) produced by marijuana plants, responsible for patients worldwide reporting relief from an array of ailments, including pain, inflammation, insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms, poor appetite, and more.

Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, THC causes the “high” associated with cannabis, and CBD, short for cannabidiol, has little or no psychoactive effects. And CBD can modulate the psychoactive effects of THC. A third group of chemical compounds – terpenes – is what I’m most excited about. Found everywhere in nature, including fruits, plants, and herbs, terpenes are in the essential oils of cannabis and are responsible for giving each plant its distinct aromas and flavors, like citrus or pine.

More importantly, though, terpenes bind with receptors in 16

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

the human body to provide a variety of therapeutic benefits.

You may have heard of the Entourage Effect – that simply refers to the way cannabinoids like THC and CBD interact with terpenes – and sometimes other compounds – to produce the various effects of cannabis.

This is an exciting area for scientists and other researchers, who are just starting to learn the impact of various combinations of these compounds. With more than 300 terpenes already identified, there’s a lot of promising therapeutic possibilities on our horizon.

I like to mention orange juice when I explain cannabis and its components. Is it healthier to drink some juice from fresh-squeezed, well-ripened oranges or take a vitamin C tablet? Vitamin C is only a small part of the beneficial compounds in an orange – just like THC and CBD are to cannabis.

The effects of cannabis vary so greatly from person to person, and it’s so important for people to try various strains to find an optimal fit. It seems to me that there’s a cannabis for every ailment and every person.

How do you go about finding the right one? Experiment and take notes as you go along. Use a Patient Log (you can download one at https://tinyurl.com/yalg6sdl) to help keep track of what you’ve tried, and note both the cannabinoid

NENE

MYRCENE

LINALOOL

Common Terpenes and terpene profiles of products on the dispensary’s menu.

For me, personally, I favor different terpenes at different times, depending on what I’m doing. Early or midday, I’m more inclined to like the effects of limonene or pinene to broaden my awareness and senses, and later in the evening would prefer a cannabis with higher amounts of myrcene, linalool, or caryophyllene, which tend to have a more relaxing effect.

We all have unique endocannabinoid systems that react differently based on what comforts us chemically and emotionally. A lot of what we like and what our bodies tell us we need is based on our olfactory senses.

Good luck in your search for the best cannabis fit for you! ~ Joe Baillargeon is the director of production at Berkshire Roots in Pittsfield, MA, the first medical marijuana dispensary in that town and the largest grower of cannabis in the Berkshires. Their plants are grown and harvested in lab-grade environments using natural methods.

Berkshire Roots includes cannabinoid and terpene profiles on all of its flower products. www.berkshireroots.com

Pinene Produces an aroma reminiscent of pine needles.

Commonly found in rosemary, basil, and sage.

May provide relief as an anti-inflammatory and with promoting alertness and memory retention.

Beta-Caryophyllene Produces a peppery, spicy aroma. Commonly found in black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. May provide relief as an anti-inflammatory and help with intestinal disorders.

Limonene Produces a citrus aroma. Commonly found in lemons, tangerines, and peppermint. May provide the therapeutic effects of reducing gastric reflux and stress and elevating mood.

Myrcene Produces an earthy, musky aroma. Commonly found in hops, mango, lemongrass, and thyme. May provide relief as an anti-inflammatory, reducing stress, promoting sleep, and elevating mood.

Linalool Produces a floral aroma. Commonly found in lavender, rosewood, and jasmine. May help promote sleep and calm, reduce anxiety, and be sedating. www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

17

Lanesboro, MA

-7007

gart, MPT

health & wellness

Hydro Health of Western Massachusetts Body Detoxification for Wellness Colon Hydrotherapy (Colonic) Ozone Steam Sauna Therapy Infrared Sauna Therapy IonCleanse® Foot Baths

Bruce Collingwood, I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapist

(413) 445-7470 ● 51 Stearns Ave, Pittsfield, MA www.hydrohealthwesternmass.com

“Lisa Baumgart is a very talented healer/therapist.

In the very first session she reduced my pain well over 50%. In a few weeks time, I had

Lisa Baumgart, MPT, FAFS “Lisa Baumgart is a very talentedFunction & Fitness Restoring healer/therapist.

31 Williamstown Rd., Lanesboro, MA

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In the very first session

e offer a different approach tomy physical she reduced pain 413-442-7007

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Do you enjoy writing?

Share your passion!

Send in articles for tragmuaB asiL“ consideration through detnelat y rev a si www.OurBerkshireTimes.com.

A .tsipareht/relaeh AM ,o robsenaL ,.dR nwo t s noisses tsrif y rev eht nI niap ymMobility dImprove ecuder ehs ndy WeOPTICAL function! a“Lisa nI .%Baumgart 05 revo llew dahisI ,aem it sktalented eew wef very T P M , ” . n i a p o n t s o m l a healer/therapist.

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few weeks time, I had Lisa Baumgart MPTof pain focusing on specific, areas allows us to almostwhich no pain.”

- Donare Rochelo addressFunction the cause&of dysfunction. We now also Restoring Fitness offering functional medicine consulting on a selfWe focus on dynamics pay basis to facilitate optimal wellness. of the whole body to

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Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

health & wellness

Your Oral Microbiome

T

A FASCINATING TINY WORLD / By Drs. Maureen & Jeffrey Viglielmo

he dental world is an interesting place but it’s also an important one since your oral cavity is the gateway to your body, and what you place in it directly impacts your health and well-being. Whether it’s from food, dental materials, cosmetics, or microorganisms introduced by family members, pets, or even by biting your nails, your body will be exposed to both good and bad microbes that will affect your oral ecosystem and overall health.

We are hearing a lot about the microbiome these days and with good reason. Your body’s wide array of microbes play a significant role in many crucial biological processes from immunity to digestion and absorption of what we eat, to memory and mental health. In fact, we are all made up of more than 100 trillion microbes that must be properly balanced and cared for. As I tell our patients, this microbiome can enhance or detract from your health and there are simple steps we can all take to improve it.

To better see into this fascinating tiny world we have invested in a phase contrast microscope at our office which can help us visualize the diverse organisms that live within our patients’ mouths. Our primary concern is spotting any unhealthy residents that have the potential to enter and travel through the bloodstream, colonize in biofilms, and disrupt normal bodily functions, causing lowgrade

chronic infections or more serious illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, depression, immune deficits, and even cancer.

We have been led to believe that if we use all sorts of oral care products we can eat anything we wish. The reality is that if we provide a healthy terrain by eating well and getting enough nutrients and avoiding things that harm your microbiome (e.g., sugar, GMOs, toxins, pharmaceutical drugs, and so forth) we don’t need the big company-made mouthwashes, rinses, and toothpastes that are likely to contain yet additional unhealthy chemicals. Cavities caused by sugar and bacteria, and periodontal disease which involves motile (moving) bacteria that cause loss of your tooth’s foundation, are not due to a deficiency in fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, or red dye #4.

Some of us consume probiotic and prebiotic supplements, or fermented foods that naturally contain healthy bacteria to promote colonization of “better” bacteria in the lower GI tract. There are now products being made with this same goal specifically for the mouth. We’ve also seen great results for patients who have used an irrigator like a Waterpik which flushes out food debris and disrupts oral microbe biofilms. We are happy to help with these and other useful tips and treatments.

~ Drs. Viglielmo Biological Dentistry, (845) 339-1619, www.drvigs.com

Drs. Maureen & Jeffrey Viglielmo Biological Dentistry The beautiful smile we can help you create is the gateway to a healthy body.

As biological dentists we provide safe mercury removal, biocompatible restorations, and customized periodontal therapy. Our office is located in Kingston, NY– a pleasant, scenic drive from the Berkshires and well worth the trip! ● Mercury-safe amalgam removal ● Invisalign® ● Biological periodontal therapy ● Mouthguards ● Customized supportive nutrition ● Intraoral imaging ● iTero® digital goop-less impressions ● Ozone therapy ● Only a little more than one hour from the Berkshires, MA ● Cosmetic & restorative dentistry ● Phase contrast microscope ● Digital radiography

(845) 339-1619 ● www.drvigs.com ● 56 Lucas Ave, Kingston, NY www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

19

Grilled Zucchini Pasta with Walnuts and Manchego Cheese Serves 4 to 6 / By Guido’s Fresh Marketplace Zucchini tastes fantastic just off the grill, tossed with pasta, walnuts, and cheese. This pasta is delicious!

Ingredients 1 large garlic clove 3 T olive oil, divided 1 tsp red pepper flakes 3 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise

¼ tsp salt 1 cup manchego cheese, shredded ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped ½ cup parsley, chopped

Directions Prepare a gas grill to medium high heat. Mince garlic and add to 2 tablespoons olive oil and the red pepper flakes. Set aside.

Brush zucchini with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill zucchini, cut side down first, covered, turning once, until tender (about 8 minutes).

Remove grilled zucchini and chop into ½-inch pieces. Toss with garlic mixture.

Cook pasta in salted boiling water. Drain and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine cooked pasta, zucchini, walnuts, and cheese. Toss until well combined. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and enjoy. ~ Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, located in Great Barrington and

Pittsfield, MA. www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com

M

ake any evening a special event with the ancient flavors of authentic Pompeian brick oven cooking and grilling, savored in an elegant, romantic setting in downtown Pittsfield at Trattoria Rustica, www.trattoria-rustica.com. Save $35 when you spend $100 or more for dinner. See page 23 for details.

20

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

food & drink

½

entrées available

boutique bake shop on main street in stockbridge small batch, handmade on the premises daily

D-e-e-licious! scones  savoury hand pies  specialty cakes  cookies brownies  espresso  freshly made soups Tues-Sat dinner only • 150 Main St., Lee 413.243.6397 cheznousbistro.com

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Freund’sEastFarm Market Canaan, CT

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Homegrown tomatoes & corn Homegrown tomatoes & corn Local honey & maple syrup Local honey & maple syrup Homemade Jams & pickles Annuals & perennials Fresh baked quiches & pies Homemade jams & pickles Seasonal fruits quiches & vegetables Fresh baked & pies Annuals & gifts perennials Garden & farm Garden and fruits farm&gifts Seasonal vegetables And so much cheese!

And so much more!

ToFor seecatering our catering menu visit menu, visit: www.freundsfarmmarket.com

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MADE WITH FARM LOVE www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

21

food & drink

SWEETEN IT If you are brand new to the concept it may be hard to believe, but honestly avocados make absolutely delicious desserts! Try recipes for pudding, pies, brownies, frosting, ice cream, and more!

GROW IT

APPLY IT

Avocado trees are fun to

The natural oils in raw,

grow from seed but take

mashed, organic avocados

many years to bear fruit.

are able to penetrate deep

They are native to Central

into the skin. They can be

America, but are now

used to soothe and nourish

grown commercially here

dry skin, treat sunburns,

in parts of Florida,

reduce wrinkles, and even

California, and Hawaii.

repair damaged hai r.

THE INCREDIBLE VERSATILE AVOCADO DICE IT A wonderful complement to both fruit and vegetable salads, avocados are chock full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy fats that help lower your risk for 22

heart disease. Eat up!

BLEND IT

food & drink

An avocado's smooth, rich, creamy texture is perfect for blending into fruit or vegetable smoothies; making dips, sauces, and purées for savory or sweet dishes; and to thicken dressings.

Take $35 off when you spend $100 or more* *Please present this coupon found in Our BerkshireTimes Magazine to server at start of meal. Offer expires July 31, 2018. Not valid for wine dinners or holidays.

One coupon per table. Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.

“Come taste the ancient flavors of authentic Pompeian brick oven cooking and grilling, savored in an elegant, romantic, intimate setting in downtown Pittsfield.” ~ Davide Manzo, Proprietor/Chef Dinner daily starting at 5pm. Closed Tuesdays. Reservations suggested.

26 McKay Street, Pittsfield, MA (413) 499-1192 • www.trattoria-rustica.com

SLICE IT Sliced or mashed avocados make delicious open-faced sandwiches with balsamic dressing and hot pepper flakes. To save money, buy them in quantity on sale, place in a paper bag at room temperature until ripe.

LIFE IS SWEET. BERKSHIRE

CO-OP MARKET www.berkshire.coop

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

23

A Healthy Gut is Your Pet’s Best Friend FINDING A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO PET FOOD ALLERGIES

By Kristina Dow

B

ack in the day not so very long ago when dry kibbled pet foods were loaded with corn, wheat, and soy, we saw a lot of food sensitivities and intolerance (aka allergies) that were a result of the gluten in those grains creating an inflammatory response throughout the body. As a result, the pet food industry all but eliminated them, along with most other grains, in favor of grain-free foods. Nevertheless, food allergies have continued to plague our dogs and cats, but now poultry, meat, and fish proteins are often identified as the culprits.

But there’s a big problem with a diagnosis of a carnivorous mammal’s being allergic to poultry, meat, or fish proteins: The amino acids found in those proteins are absolutely essential for the survival of carnivorous mammals, including our carnivorous dogs and cats. So how do we deal with a diagnosis of an allergy to essential poultry, meat, or fish proteins? For most conventional veterinarians and their clients, the answer is a veterinary prescription diet.

While veterinary prescription diets are a boon to veterinarians, they are an absolute bust for most pet owners and their pets. The truth is, veterinary prescription diets contain absolutely nothing necessitating nor worthy of a prescription. The whole veterinary prescription diet angle is nothing more than a market manipulation to protect those products’ exclusive sale through veterinarians, but, with the illusion that there is something regulated and of true medicinal value in these diets, pet owners dutifully pony up, no questions asked, and pay a very high premium for them.

With veterinary prescription diets, the cost of initial veterinary visits and bloodwork, and the cost of the diets themselves, to say nothing of the cost of follow-up veterinary visits and bloodwork required to renew the “prescription,” can all add up to a substantial financial outlay by pet owners and a substantial income stream for prescribing veterinarians. But what pet owners and their pets get in return for that expense is typically a godawful nutritional package designed to mask – not cure – an often very simply solved digestive issue.

Let’s take a look at one of those god-awful veterinary prescription diets, how it works, and how we are likely to find a better solution.

One of the more popular veterinary prescription diets is a dry kibble called Hill’s® Prescription Diet® z/d® Canine (Skin/Food Sensitivities) by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. You will be hard-pressed to find a worse ingredient profile for a carnivorous mammal. Corn starch is its first ingredient, hydrolyzed chicken liver is its second, powdered cellulose comes third, followed by a bit of soybean oil 24

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

and a very long list of synthetic vitamins and minerals. This is a food that has as its primary ingredient a thickening agent with zero percent daily value protein and zero percent daily value fat, its third ingredient can be, for all intents and purposes, sawdust, and its iota of meat falls second on the ingredient list only because its 75 percent water weight is included for that ranking. Once that 75 percent water is removed during cooking and the meat is converted to a meat meal, the dry weight of the meat included in the final product would probably move its order of appearance on the ingredient panel somewhere down with the vitamins and minerals.

It ought to be illegal for a product like Hill’s® Prescription Diet® z/d® Canine to be marketed and sold as “high quality protein and thoughtfully sourced ingredients” for a carnivore. It’s absolutely terrible nutrition for a carnivore, even on a short-term basis, and I am appalled anew as I am reminded why I retired into the pet food industry: Somehow we have to put a stop to this nonsense. It is truly unconscionable that such a product is passed off as a “prescription” for canine health. Any prescriber should be ashamed of their ignorance or their greed (or perhaps both) at our pets’ expense.

But let’s get back to the issue of allergies. Although z/d® dry is marketed as a hypoallergenic dry kibbled dog food, it contains chicken, one of the most oft-cited protein allergens, yet it is often “prescribed” for use in dogs who test for a chicken allergy.

While that would all seem to be counter intuitive, the fact that the chicken liver in the food is hydrolyzed makes that possible. Protein hydrolysis is a process by which long, complex amino acid (protein) chains that could be recognized as allergens are broken down (effectively predigested) into small enough units that they do not prompt an allergic response when they enter the intestines and the bloodstream. However, be advised that a by-product of protein hydrolysis is MSG, which is not required to be revealed in the food’s ingredient profile since it is not a direct addition to the food.

When fully broken down, poultry, meat, and fish proteins are seen as the same amino acid units that naturally occur in a dog’s or cat’s body, and they do not, therefore, prompt an immune response when they enter the intestines and the bloodstream. An immune response is prompted only if the breakdown of those complex, long-chain proteins is sufficiently incomplete so as to leave protein chains sufficiently intact so that they are recognizable to a dog’s or cat’s immune system as something other than the dog or cat itself. It’s not that the poultry, meat, or fish protein per se is actually the problem.

The real problem lies in a disruption in the digestive process that does not allow those proteins to be fully broken down. The undigested

animal talk

proteins that register as an allergen are merely a manifestation of a digestive disruption, they are not the cause.

While z/d® dry and other such diets generally work to calm a dog’s allergic response to a poultry, meat, or fish protein by hydrolyzing those proteins, they certainly do not provide good short-term or long-term nutrition for a carnivore, nor do they offer a direct answer as to why the underlying digestive disruption occurs in the first place. We need to get to the root of the digestive problem and solve it, not mask it by offering a diet with a predigested version of an essential protein. We need to solve the mystery of why the targeted protein requires predigestion in the first place.

At this point, I usually look back at what the dog or cat was eating when the aberrant immune response first manifested. In all likelihood, it was something in the food being fed at that time that caused a disruption of the digestive process and the subsequent appearance of a poultry, meat, or fish protein “allergy.” What was it that interrupted the digestive process so that essential long-chain amino acids (proteins) were not being properly broken down?

In past iterations of dry kibbled pet foods, any number of other ingredients might have been identified as a digestive disrupter, but, in this current pet food market, the most likely culprit in digestive disruption is the copious amount of legumes used to replace the grains in grain-free foods. Those legumes supply the glue, fiber, and protein boost needed in dry kibbled foods, but with the peas, chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes come naturally occurring plant toxins that protect the plants from insects, herbivores, and scavenging carnivores.

In nature, legume plant toxins either heave out of the body with vomiting, or trigger the gut to empty prematurely, causing the herbivore or scavenging carnivore to spew diarrhea. Either way, the herbivores and scavenging carnivores teach their young to avoid the offending plant, just as nature intended.

For pet owners, however, the effects of plant toxins are not always so clear. While vomiting may occur, diarrhea is often masked by the large volume of fiber which is added to dry kibbled pet foods in an effort to ensure the production of firm stools. Although the premature emptying of the stomach may well be occurring, there may be no sign of diarrhea. In the absence of vomiting or diarrhea, an itchy body core may be the only hallmark of a food-related allergic response. So get those legumes out of the diet, and if it’s not legumes, it’s some other digestive disrupter in your pet’s food or treats. Keep looking!

Solve the gut problem, and you’ve solved the allergy problem.

In closing, if I were you, I’d be asking why we humans don’t seem to be similarly affected by the plant toxins in legumes?

Well, actually, some of us are, especially if we eat legumes raw, but most of us usually aren’t affected because we are culturally programmed to detox legumes by soaking and/or boiling them.

Cheers to our healthier pets! ~ Kristina “Tina” Dow is sole proprietor of BensDotter’s Pet in Great Barrington. www.bensdotters.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

25

AN INVISIBLE FORM OF OPPRESSION

By Mark Hyman, MD

The Gift of Machu Picchu / By Sheilaa Hite

I

love to travel – it’s one of the greatest soul-, mind-, and lifeenhancing experiences a person can have. Whether it’s for pleasure or business, travel always gives you an opportunity to see yourself and the world in a different way. I have a wish list of cities, countries, and sites I’d love to visit and it has been my good fortune to be able to have an in-person experience in many of the places on my list.

One of the magical places on my must experience list was Peru’s wonderfully preserved Incan Empire city, Machu Picchu. Built around 1450, it was both a royal enclave and a spiritual center whose activities revolved around the cycles of the Sun. On my visit to this fascinating site, I could feel the powerful energy of the sacred city and the ancient mountain peaks that surround it. My gifts on that journey were many, including a life-path confirming message from the mountain and a vision of the infinite in which I was escorted by God, Bade Baba, and Padre Pio. My most prized gift, though – the joy and memory of which will remain in my heart forever – was “the runner.”

At the end of my visit to this sacred city, I boarded one of the site’s buses for the thirty-minute ride down the mountain on the muddy, narrow switchback road that would take me back to the town of Aguas Caliente at the base of the mountain. I sat in the front row because I wanted to continue to take in as much of this land’s majestic beauty as I could.

From my front row perch, I noticed many things, including a group of young boys about nine or ten years old standing together a little farther down the road. We had barely started down the mountain when the driver stopped to pick up one of the boys. He was dressed in a green tunic with multicolored trim. Around his head he wore a multicolored headband, and a red leather pouch hung diagonally across his body from his left shoulder. His feet were shod in simple black sandals.

The boy stood in the stairwell and it was obvious the driver and the boy knew and liked each other as they casually conversed on the downhill drive.

About five minutes after the boy boarded the bus, the driver 26

Summer 2018 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

stopped and the boy stepped up to the front center aisle, turned to us, and wailed an ancient chant as he waved his right arm above his head. The sound of his voice was as old as time and sent a shiver through my soul. The boy got off the bus and ran across the road and disappeared into the wild mountain foliage.

The driver started the bus again and we continued on switchback road, sometimes pulling over to let the buses coming up the mountain go past.

A little farther on, we heard the ancient chant again and there was the boy on the side of the road ahead of us, waving us on as we passed the spot where he stood.

A few minutes and a few more dangerous twists and turns later, we were farther down the mountain and whom do we see standing there, waiting for us, waving and chanting? The boy!

A simultaneous gasp escaped from all of us passengers.

Several more twists and turns farther down the mountain and there he was again – hailing and waving us on!

Time and time again, he’d be there on the road, waiting for us with his ancient chant and his bright, beautiful spirit. We began to applaud when he appeared – some even laughed nervously, “How did he beat us here?” they whispered.

Once we saw him sprint out of the foliage to our right, dart diagonally across the road in front of the bus, reach his spot on the other side of the road and wave us on as we approached him.

The ride down the mountain became about the boy. “Where will he appear next?” “How is he doing it?” “When and how will we be able to tell him what he means to us?”

I had to hold back tears and remember to breathe as I waited for his next appearance. He was the infinite symbol of life and spirit and we were the blessed recipients of his limitless, magical energy.

mind & spirit

As we neared the town at the foot of the mountain, we saw him running ahead of us, waving us on yet again. He led us across the bridge into town and stood on a rise as he waited for us to reach him.

S

The driver stopped the bus and the boy got on one more time – this time, to cheers and applause. He had won our hearts and we were grateful.

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Continuing his chant, and with a grin as big as life, he opened the red leather pouch he wore and we gratefully stuffed money into it. As he went up and down the aisle, we hugged him and took his picture and thanked him. The old woman sitting next to me grabbed his little face in both her hands and kissed him hard on the cheek.

We loved that little boy. He was the affirmation of life itself. The joy he exuded as he ran and as he interacted with us rekindled something vital in all of us. He gave us hope. And he proved to all of us that Juan Pizarro and the other conquistadors had not won in their attempts to annihilate the Incan people and the Incan spirit. As long as that little boy and the other little boys run, the Incan spirit will always live.

The boy loved running and he loved winning. He loved his life and he powerfully radiated that joy with heart and spirit.

When the bus reached the end of the line, the boy got off first and bade each of us farewell as we left the bus. We couldn’t leave him, though. Some of us went back two and three times to thank him, to bask in his infinite and innocent radiance.

In a very big way, Machu Picchu and the mountain were the setup, the backdrop for the real eighth wonder of the world – that little boy leading us down the mountain, leading us back to ourselves.

Almost every aspect of this Peru trip had been trying, always testing, and at times almost besting me in some very intense manner. The runner and the gift he gave me made everything I’d gone through worth it. I’m so grateful to him and I’m so grateful to God for the experience. I think of that trip and that little boy often, and when I do, I send a silent prayer of gratitude, encouragement, and protection to him. And I hope that wherever he is, he’s still leading other souls home.

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T

A New Understanding of Ancient Technology

he word pyramid in Greek means “Fire in the Middle.” The Egyptians call pyramids “House of Energy.” An extremely large number (some say thousands) of ancient pyramids have been found all over the world – by no means just in Egypt, and most of them may be very much older than originally believed.

As mankind’s understanding of science and of quantum physics increases, advanced scientists and researchers are beginning to gain a better understanding of their actual purpose. Because none of the massive pyramids have actually contained any mummies (including sealed pyramids not broken into by robbers that have been more recently opened), the lack of hieroglyphs or art, and the extensive studies being done by renowned Russian scientists on large newly built fiberglass pyramids today, researchers are gradually coming to the logical conclusion that these structures are not tombs, but highly advanced energy-producing technology devices, much like a Nikola Tesla-like power plant.

Why is it taking so long for this information to become common knowledge and for more extensive additional research to be done along these lines? Fully understanding and utilizing this technology will enable us to have free energy and a cleaner environment, but sadly there are major corporations that would not appreciate this specific type of advancement for financial reasons. However, we are in the process of change.

Turn to page 30 of this issue to learn some fascinating facts about the modern Russian pyramids and more. continuted on page 30

~ Sheilaa Hite, CHt, CLC, is an intuitive counselor, author, teacher, life/success coach, certified hypnotherapist, and spiritual guide who is listed in Paulette Cooper’s book, The 100 Top Psychics and Astrologers in America. She can be reached through her website, www.sheilaahite. com, and at (413) 637-0085. www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

27

Engaging children 15 months through 8th grade

Montessori means

expression

education & workshops

Our Connections: The Journey to Happiness

By K. Meagan Ledendecker

R

ecently I was driving over a mountain ridge, gazing out at the pastoral expanse before me. Filled with a sense of possibility, I turned on the radio and scanned through the stations. Amidst the music, I heard something that made me pause: people get happier as they get older. Could it be true?

Just a week before, I had been looking through old photos, searching for the trajectory of youth toward maturity. One thing that struck me as I pored over the pictures was how as young people mature, their smiles, really their essence, doesn’t change.

Yet as our young people move from childhood through adolescence, it can feel like we lose touch. They transform so much in such a short time. As our children struggle through changes, it’s easy to question whether they are indeed getting happier.

Daniel J. Siegel, author of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, writes about how the adolescent brain undergoes powerful adaptations: “A fifteen-year-old isn’t simply a ten-yearold with five additional years of experience. Brain development means that as adolescents we can think in conceptual and abstract ways a ten-year-old cannot even imagine.”

This innovative thinking can be a real gift to those of us who aren’t in the midst of dramatic neurological change, especially if we take the time to ask, listen, and try to see without judgment.

At the beginning of the summer, I was hiking with a group of adolescents. They were loud and boisterous. At first I was bothered by the raucous troupe, but then I quieted my thoughts and noticed what was happening around me. I watched as adolescent boys shared hugs. I heard laughter. I saw vulnerable

conversation about shedding tears. I saw brilliant eyes noticing and acknowledging. I heard heartfelt insights about life. I saw young people in deep and meaningful relationships.

Apparently, these kinds of relationships are the key to getting happier as we get older. The snippet I heard on the radio on my mountain drive was from the TED Radio Hour. The episode highlighted a 75-year longitudinal study called the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which shows scientifically how people get happier as they get older – with one important caveat: that we are happier (and actually healthier) when we have a web of good relationships with people we can really count on.

Perhaps what we can focus on giving to our young people is a foundation of this kind of connection and relationship, a true sense of belonging. Our youth have such possibility before them.

It is our responsibility as adults in their lives to understand their potential, their development, and their essence, so that we can best support them in their growth.

Personally, this summer I’m going to be reading Josh Shipp’s book, The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans: How to Decode Their Behavior, Develop Unshakable Trust, and Raise a Respectable Adult. Because as our young people drive over the next ridge in their lives, it is the relationships and secure connections that really matter. ~ K. Meagan Ledendecker, Director of Education at The Montessori School of the Berkshires, has a fifteen-year-old, a tenyear-old, and a six-year-old, all of whom are in their own stages of this journey. www.berkshiremontessori.org www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Summer 2018

29

have you heard?

A New Understanding of Ancient Technology

I

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

magine if someone from the 18th century saw an MRI machine without any explanation of what it was. Would they think it was an odd bed, some type of religious altar or temple, or a strange way to stargaze? What about a microchip or cell phone?

Well, you get the idea – they would have absolutely no concept of its actual high-tech purpose. When we look at ancient stone structures and sacred sites, could it be that we are also completely missing the mark? A growing number of scientists and progressive researchers think so. The fact that these ancient megalithic structures were built with impeccable mathematical precision and construction materials that have electrical conductivity, were very specifically placed on the earth and to astrological alignment, and mounting evidence due to new research capabilities (such as the Russian pyramid experiments) suggests that these structures and sites may be much older than originally thought and could have provided elaborate frequency and sound technology instead of being used as tombs or religious sites until much later in history. Once these new concepts are embraced and the technology is completely understood and back-engineered we may be able to utilize free, clean energy provided naturally by our planet, as should be our right.

New Russian Pyramids Benefits Upon Exposure

Pyramids Found Around the World

Numerous Mysterious Stone Structures

Out-of-Place Artifacts and Changing Perceptions

● Improved regeneration of tissue and immune function (blood leukocyte composition increased). ● Seeds stored for 1 to 5 days showed a 30 to 100 percent increase in yield. ● A marked improvement of ozone was noted above pyramids, and less seismic activity and violent weather nearby. ● Radioactive substances were shown to decrease their level of radiation. ● A study was done on prisoners who ingested salt and pepper exposed to pyramid energy fields and the subjects exhibited a greatly reduced rate of violence and better behavior. Exposed water has been shown to have a healing effect when ingested, but while in the pyramid water will remain liquid to minus 40 degrees but freeze instantly if jostled or bumped in any way.

“There have been many books written about the Great Pyramid that put forth numerous points of view, beliefs, or hypotheses regarding its construction, origin, and purpose, but they all seemed to leave more nagging unanswered questions.” “After over 20 years of gathering evidence and studying the discoveries of other explorers, I ultimately concluded that only by operating on the premise that the Great Pyramid was a huge machine, would all the pieces fit.”

“While Egyptologists may say the tomb theory is unassailable, my view has been that if the tomb theory cannot follow logical scientific arguments, and be subject to radical revision when new data emerges, then it fails.” ~ Christopher Dunn, author of The Giza Power Plant, www.gizapower.com. Also see the work of Semir Osmanagić.

Across New England and New York (Putnam County in particular) there are hundreds of mysterious stone chambers, averaging 30 feet in length by 10 feet wide, that may be of ancient origin. Theories abound about what they were used for, yet no one today actually knows for sure.

But, just like the pyramids and many sacred sites in the world, these chambers are expertly constructed of granite and quartzite mortar-free masonry with roof slabs weighing several tons, and are often astronomically aligned. There are many unusual unexplained stone structures in Africa and in numerous other places. The chambers as well as these other structures often show very unusual readings when measured with a magnetometer – sometimes strong enough to reverse a compass or interfere with cell phone use.

An out-of-place artifact is a term applied to fascinating prehistoric objects found all over the world that, given their level of technology, do not fit in with Darwin’s theory of evolution.

They are often accused of being forgeries even when proven otherwise (but of course some of them are) or simply dismissed by closed minds. These artifacts are welcomed by open-minded researchers who are willing to embrace new facts and the possibility that life forms (maybe even more intelligent than we are) have been involved with Earth’s history for much longer than we currently accept as indicated in ancient and indigenous peoples’ records. To learn more about out-of-place artifacts you may enjoy reading Forbidden Archaeology and The Hidden History of the Human Race

by Michael Cremo.

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