Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, Aug-Sept 2015

Aug - Sept 2015 vol 21

(32)

Complimentary

Our BerkshireTimes

™

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

Special Food & Drink and Education & Workshops Features Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

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Roofing Contractor

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“Any job large or small, we do it right or not at all.”  FULL LINE REMODELING CONTRACTOR  CONVENIENT FINANCING  LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1992  MORE CHOICES  PERSONAL SERVICE  DOWNTOWN SHOWROOM  BETTER PRICES

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(413) 442-3001  674 North Street, Pittsfield, MA  www.morrisonshomeimprovement.com

August - September 2015

Contents

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

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Kevin J. Regan kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com _______________

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EDITORIAL Kathy I. Regan editor@ourberkshiretimes.com Rodelinde Albrecht rodelinde@gmail.com

Ads–Independent Designers Christine Dupre cedupre@msn.com Elisa Jones, Berkshire Design Studio elisa@berkshiredesignstudio.com _______________ TO ADVERTISE CONTACT Our BerkshireGreen, Inc. P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: (413) 274-1122 advertise@OurBerkshiretimes.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com _______________ COVER ILLUSTRATION

The Artist's Model (Pearl 1)

by Kris Galli, Artist Kris Galli is a selftaught painter whose work can be found in collections across the US and beyond. She has been painting for thirty years, and lives in Lenox with her husband, photographer Edward Acker. Kris’s work can be seen at Lauren Clark Fine Art in Great Barrington, Canyon Ranch of the Berkshires, and Alta Cafe & Wine Bar in Lenox, MA. www.krisgallifineart.com

food & drink

24 26

THE TRUTH ABOUT SALT

MICROWAVES

home & garden MIGHTY NO BITEY

29

real estate & professionals

30

animal talk DECEPTION

31

PASSIVE BUT POWERFUL BREAK THE RULES!

20

mind & spirit A SCOTTISH ODYESSY - PART 2

DREAM HOME

16

health & wellness CARDAMOM

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

12

fashion & beauty REALLY?

FOOD FOR THE GODS EINKORN SOURDOUGH BREAD

Copyeditor/Proofreader Rodelinde Albrecht _______________ DESIGN Magazine Design/Layout Kathy I. Regan

art, culture & entertainment EVENT SAMPLER

education & workshops BEING FIRM

featured advertisers This publication is proudly printed with soy ink on FSCcertified (Forest Stewardship Council®) paper.

A LITTLE DETECTIVE WORK BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Our BerkshireTimes™

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Our BerkshireTimes magazine was first published in 2009 and is enjoyed by community members and visitors alike. We distribute bimonthly (six times per year) starting each February. Most of our editorial content is contributed by our readers. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit original material for consideration through our website. To find out more about advertising and submitting editorial, see our website at left, and join our mailing list to receive our free 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.

The Artist’s Model (Pearl 1) by Kris Galli, www.krisgallifineart.com.

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art, culture & entertainment

august - september event sampler SEE MORE EVENTS OR POST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE AT WWW.OURBERKSHIRECALENDAR.COM Just for Fun: SKINK Date: Friday, August 7, 2015, 1pm Place: PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century, 2980 Route 66, Chatham, NY (518) 392-6121. Price: Free Acrobatic Dance with Brian Sanders.

Brian Sanders’ dance company offers an amazing program of acrobatics combined with modern dance. Brian gets us laughing at his unexpected imaginative use of everyday objects in his technically amazing acrobatic dances. www.tinyurl.com/o6a5wkx Sheffield Antiques Show Date: Friday, August 7-9, 2015, 10am-5pm Place: Mount Everett High School, 491 Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, MA (413) 229-8173. Price: $8 Longest continuously running antiques show in Massachusetts, featuring quality dealers of fine 18th- and 20th-century furniture and accessories, art, rugs, jewelry, china, sterling, and more! Ample parking, A/C, lunch, bake sale, quilt raffle. www.sheffieldantiques.org Adams Farmers & Artisans Market Date: Sunday, August 9, 2015, 9am-1pm Place: Adams Visitors Center, 3 Hoosac Street, Adams, MA - (413) 743-8300 Price: Free. Come visit local farms and vendors, get fresh produce, and see live entertainment in Adams! Vendors wanted. www. tinyurl.com/q499h8o Free Reflexology Sample Sessions Date: Thursday, August 13, 2015, 6pm Place: In Front of Cheshire Town Hall, Church Street, Cheshire, MA - (413) 7430483. Price: Free. Come join us in the town of Cheshire from 6 to 8pm for a block party to include live music, free health and wellness sessions, food, and more! www.handshearthealth.com Mary Poppins Date: Sunday, August 13-23, 2015, 7pm Place: The Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA - (413) 997-4444 Price: Tickets: Adult A: $30, Child A: $20, 4

Adult B: $25, Child B: $15 Mary Poppins flies onto the Colonial stage for Berkshire Theatre Group’s 10th Annual Community Theatre Production. In this beloved musical, written by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, a practically perfect nanny teaches us anything can happen if you let it. www.berkshiretheatregroup.org Ping-Pong & Pizza Party Plus Date: Saturday, August 15, 2015, 10:30am-12:30pm Place: Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA - (413) 528-2810 Price: Members $8, Guests $10 Age 9+. Join in some friendly competition playing Ping-Pong, pool, and foosball, followed by a pizza lunch (included in fee). Please preregister at least 48 hours in advance. www.berkshiresouth.org/ programs/youth Lenox Library Gigantic 3-Day Book Sale Date: Friday, August 21, 2015, 11am-6pm.

Saturday-Sunday, August 22 - 23, 10am-5pm.

Place: Lenox Library, 18 Main Street, Lenox MA - (413) 637-2630. Price: Friday $5 donation until 2pm then free until 6pm closing. Sat-Sun free all day. Great bargains in books for readers of all ages! A huge collection of more than 20,000 books from Berkshire homes in 40 categories, including lots of children’s books, gardening books, full-color art books, and current fiction. First look admission numbers given out starting at 9am for the grand opening at 11am. www.lenoxlib.org Reiki Healing Exchange Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2015, 6:30pm Place: Natural Habitat Annex, 1224 North Main Street (Rte. 7), Sheffield, MA (860) 824-0089. Price: $5 suggested donation. Welcoming all hands-on healers (Reiki or other modalities), as well as anyone interested in learning energy work, to share in a delightful exchange of healing energies together the fourth Tuesday evening of every month at Natural Habitat Annex,

art, culture & entertainment formerly TriYoga, in Sheffield. Everyone gets the opportunity to give and receive precious energy. Bring a portable massage table and join the circle of healing! www.facebook.com/naturalhabitatANNEX FreshGrass Bluegrass Festival 2015 Date: Sunday, September 18, 2015 Place: MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA Mark your calendar for September 18-20, when FreshGrass returns for three days of fever-pitched bluegrass and roots music.

FreshGrass is a family-friendly festival, brimming with bright talent on our four stages, and also in our galleries, brick-lined courtyards, and grassy field. www.massmoca.org/event_details.

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

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

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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

o k to b e râ?§f e s t Post Office box 2216 Lenox, MA 01240

Saturday October 10

2015

Monterey Community Center • 468 Main Road ccmonterey.org

BEER FOOD MUSIC FU N! BRATS EASTERN STATES EXPO

BRIGHT NIGHTS

SALEM

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK

BILLS VS DOLPHINS

BOSTON

Sept 28, 2015, $39 per person.

Snacks on the bus, the expo, rides for the kids, cotton candy.

The Big Top Circus will be there to entertain you.

Oct 25, 2015, $59 per person.

The land of witches and pirates.

Enjoy a fun filled day. Never too soon to book this tour.

Nov 7-8, 2015, $289 pp doubles.

Includes bus, tailgate party, hotel, game tickets, time at Niagara Falls.

Nov 16, Dec 8, 13, $49 per person.

Includes Yankee Candle in South Deerfield, brunch at Cracker Barrel, and the Bright Nights in Springfield, MA. Dec 6, 2015, $59 per person.

Drop off by Rockefeller Plaza.

See the tree and the ice skating rink. Shopping is a must!

Dec 18, 2015, $59 per person.

Quincy Market, the Freedom Trail, Nathanial Hall.

Like to sing?

Audition for BCC! The Berkshire Children's Chorus will be holding auditions in September for:

Reserve Your Space Today - (413) 770-3485

www.Eldoradopromotions.com

SHEFFIELD

ANTIQUES SHOW Aug 7, 8, 9, 2015

Junior Choir (grades 2-5) Senior Choir (grades 6-9) Coda (grades 10-12)

Be a part of an award-winning chorus and perform the finest music throughout the community and beyond.

Domestic and international travel opportunities available.

Mt. Everett Regional High School 491 Berkshire School Road Sheffield, MA 01257

Call 413.229.2465 for an audition appointment.

www.sheffieldantiques.org

www. b e r k s h i r e c h i l d r e n s c h o r u s . o r g www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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food & drink

food for the gods, and for you too!

NO WONDER WE'RE WILD ABOUT CHOCOLATE / By Joyce Nelson

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hocolate has a special place in our culture and our hearts. It’s perfect for gifts, expressions of appreciation, declarations of love and affection, or treats for yourself when you’re down or deserving! As you reach for chocolate, you’re celebrating mankind’s long love affair with Theobroma cacao, the tree that brings us the “food of the gods.” Go ahead – indulge in voluptuous chocolate. At Guido’s, we’re so enamored of its silky allure, our stores are outfitted with Great Walls of Chocolate. What’s driven our age-old passion for this magical plant? The answer may lie in its history which is as rich and complex as its flavor, and its proven health benefits. And did we mention how delicious it is?

In addition to its charismatic flavor, chocolate’s allure lies in its long history of reported healing properties. Originally, chocolate was believed to be a tonic to help emaciated people gain weight, to stimulate the nervous system of feeble people, and to improve digestion. Today, scientists are exploring the ability of dark chocolate to lower blood pressure through its bloodthinning action – similar to that of aspirin. The fat in dark chocolate is mostly saturated vegetable fat which behaves in artery-friendly ways, much the same as olive. Additionally, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that help ward off disease and slow the aging process. The flavonoids that aid in preventing platelets from clotting are more active in chocolate than in other foods such as tea, red wine, and some fruits and vegetables. Dark chocolate also improves insulin resistance and triggers the brain’s production of natural opiates.

More than two thousand years ago, chocolate was valued not only as a food, but also as part of religious rituals and as currency as well. The ancient Mesoamerican Olmec, Mayans, and Aztecs enjoyed a frothy, spicy drink made of chocolate.

This unsweetened beverage proved so popular that cacao trees were cultivated from surrounding rainforests and grown in backyard gardens. In addition to drinking chocolate, the ancients used cacao seeds in wedding ceremonies and as offerings to the gods. Throughout history, chocolate has often retained a special connection to the highest rungs of society, reserved solely for royalty, priests, or important merchants. Always a prized commodity, dried seeds of the cacao pods were used as coins, in trade, as treasure, and were also accepted by conquering peoples as payment for taxes (or “tributes”). In fact, such was the importance of chocolate that some of the first known enslaved populations were those forced to work in cacao plantations to ensure a steady supply of seeds.

No wonder we’re wild about chocolate! No matter how you crave it – milk, dark, semisweet; for baking, snacking, or gifting; in bars, blocks, or bags; coating all manner of goodies including ginger, nuts, raisins, pretzels, and coconut; powdered, syrup, or solid; a wee bite or fuel for a major chocoexplosion – there is an option for everyone. There are even niche chocolates, including: gluten free, local (Berkshire County and Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont), GMOfree, diabetic friendly, low glycemic, organic, and Fair Trade.

Now that’s a dizzying array of riches!

With every bite of decadent and velvety chocolate, taste a piece of history that’s royally delicious and quite healthy (in reasonable doses, of course). Cultivate your love of chocolate; it is, after all, the storied food of passion! ~Joyce Nelson, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace staff writer, www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com

La Fogata Restaurant Colombian and Latin Cuisine Lunch & Dinner

Home Delivery or Market Open 7 Days a Week 770 Tyler Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 443-6969 6

August | September 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

413.442.0888

813 Dalton Division Rd., Dalton, MA www.BerkshireOrganics.com

food & drink

½

entrées available

M-m-m-yum!

Taste, Quality, Service, and Respect for the Environment “Our mission is to offer a beautiful selection of local, grass fed, and sustainably raised fresh cuts of meat, charcuterie, and salumi made from traditional recipes. We believe that eating local foods is a definitive way to support physical health, our farming community, and the earth.”

389 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

413-528-2022 • www.themeatmarketgb.com

casual french dining

dinner only • 150 Main St., Lee 413.243.6397 cheznousbistro.com

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id you know that certain foods can be easily regrown? Try placing a piece of ginger rhizome in organic potting soil with the newest buds facing upward and place in filtered sunlight in a warm, moist environment. In time it will start to grow new shoots and roots. Once the plant is established and you’re ready to harvest, pull up the whole plant, roots and all. Remove a piece of the rhizome, and re-plant it to repeat the process.

C O O P E R AT I V E LY O W N E D • C O M M U N I T Y F O C U S E D

Food Shopping with Value(s)

42 BRIDGE STREET • GREAT BARRINGTON, MA • WWW.BERKSHIRE.COOP

Pittsfield & Great Barrington, MA guidosfreshmarketplace.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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food & drink

the truth about salt DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE EATING? / By Melissa Kushi “Thou hadst better eat salt with the Philosophers of Greece, than sugar with the Courtiers of Italy.” ~ Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Poor Richard's Almanac

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re you aware that common table salt is an industrial byproduct, stripped by chemical processing of all elements except sodium and chloride – detrimental to health in isolated form? Anticaking and flow agents are added, and yet our FDA does not require their disclosure to consumers. Table salt comes from the same lot as vacuum-refined industrial salt and is treated with caustic soda or lime to remove all traces of magnesium salts, which are important for health.

Important minerals are removed because they provide large corporations with staggering profits for use in agricultural and industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, ammunitions, and other unsustainable industries. In addition, iodized salts are GMO products. Iodine is delivered in a corn/dextrose base, which is more than likely a GMO corn byproduct. After extreme chemical processing and being heated to temperatures up to 1200°F, table salt cannot support health and no longer combines with our body fluids. Table salt can also cause a deficiency of important essential trace minerals, which are abundantly present in a natural salt product like Himalayan salt.

The fear of salt has arisen from consumer alerts that advise reduced consumption of salt and foods that have a high sodium content. It has more to do with quality verses quantity. Consumers deserve to know that this is not the whole truth, and the FDA doesn’t require salt companies to disclose to the consumer what’s inside, like anticaking and flow agents, mostly derived from aluminum.

Pure salt is essential to life. The body is made from water and minerals, and all critical functions of the body require these essential minerals and trace elements, which are no longer present in table salt or heat-treated sea salt. Table salt is in most all processed, packaged foods, including drinks, candy, snacks,

ice cream, cheese, processed meats, and so forth. Eliminating processed foods and table salt from your diet is important for health. By using a quality Himalayan salt rich with more than 80 essential trace elements and high in magnesium, calcium, and iron, you can obtain easily assimilated essential minerals and alkalize your body, which is the baseline for wellness.

Sea salt comes from oceans that in our lifetime have become heavily polluted. Growing dead zones and the mix of mercury, heavy metals, and toxins from agricultural chemicals, industrial runoff, nuclear waste, raw sewage, and more have compromised all ocean life. Himalayan salt has been protected for millions of years in the remote, pristine Himalaya mountain range, and is pre-people, pre-pollution. It contains a full spectrum of whole essential minerals that are vital to good health, delicious flavor that supports wellbeing, and it adds delicious flavor to sumptuous meals.

When a quality Himalayan salt that contains more than 80 essential trace elements is ingested, it immediately works with the saliva (amylase in particular) and begins digestion. The longer it’s present in the mouth the better the digestion, which then continues in the stomach.

Himalayan has been known to lower blood pressure, decrease water retention, boost the immune system, and support the liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands, helping them work more efficiently.

Do your body good and use Himalayan salt for optimal mineral absorption, to open up the flavor of food, and to take advantage of its numerous health benefits over table salt and sea salt from polluted oceans. ~ Melissa Kushi, owner of HimalaSaltSustainable Sourcing, LLC, operates her certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, Kosher for Passover facility in Sheffield, MA, on a small organic farm with on-site solar. She is passionately involved in the Non-GMO Project. www.himalasalt.com

Fresh Mozzarella with HimalaSalt & 4 Pepper Blend This is something I can make very quickly when friends are dropping by. Served on garlic crostini, with wine, it pleases even the fussiest palate. I use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Loaf of French bread Extra virgin olive oil Garlic HimalaSalt (or fresh, finely minced garlic) HimalaSalt 4 Pepper Blend Fresh organic mozzarella Fresh tomatoes, sliced Fresh basil

instructions - Slice bread and rub with olive oil, then sprinkle with Garlic HimalaSalt (or HimalaSalt and fresh garlic). Grill under broiler, (or grill on the stovetop in a cast iron skillet so you can get the grill marks/toasted edges just right). While the crostini is grilling, grind several tablespoons of HimalaSalt 4 Pepper Blend onto a plate. Pull or cut mozzarella into pieces to fit crostini, then roll in the ground pepper blend.

Place tomatoes on your serving plate first, then the crostini, followed by the peppered cheese. Garnish with fresh whole or finely minced basil.

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August | September 2015

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food & drink

einkorn sourdough bread NATURALLY LOW-GLYCEMIC, LOW-GLUTEN, AND HIGH IN PROTEIN

By Rachel Portnoy

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e aren’t the first, and we certainly won’t be the last, to be amazed by the fantastic results that home bakers can get by baking bread in a Dutch oven placed inside their regular oven. We were, however, perhaps the most disappointed when we finally tried this incredibly easy and satisfying way to make real bread at home, only to be told about a month later that, in fact, we needed to eliminate bread (and lots of other stuff) from our diets because of my husband’s high blood sugar. What?!

Just when we had mastered this phenomenal technique and were enjoying artisanal-style bread made at home for the first time?

We attacked this injustice head-on: we educated ourselves about grains and blood and sugar and all that good stuff, and started using

Einkorn flour, which is naturally low-glycemic, low-gluten, and high protein, to replace wheat in many recipes, from pasta to cookies to pizza dough. Bread, of course, was the last frontier, since the grain contains a different proportion of gluten to wheat. With such a delicate flour, we were doubtful that we could make anything that would hold together enough and not crumble to bits. There are, however, a few ways to develop gluten for bread-baking. One is the long knead, of course, and you can knead Einkorn dough for a very long time and not worry about it getting tough. The other thing that allows gluten to develop to make a nice chewy, silky bread, is time. What a beautiful thing! The bread-making technique, famously called the “No-knead Bread” by Jim Leahy of Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC, uses only time to develop the bread’s structure (and, a happy correlary effect, flavor!). Once you let the dough rest for 24 to 48 hours, you heat a cast-iron or Le Creuset-style Dutch oven in your regular oven, and pop the sticky bread dough into that to bake.

Voilà! A large boule-style bread loaf with a chewy crust, tender interior, and delicious flavor.

We make an Einkorn sourdough using a grated potato, a cup of Einkorn flour, and a tablespoon of honey, left out on the counter partially covered for about a week until it’s all bubbly and sour, and we use about a half cup of this per loaf, instead of any yeast. If you don’t have sourdough starter, however, you can just use a quarter teaspoon of dry yeast in your mix. Either way, get ready to try the easiest bread you’ll ever make, which also happens to be full of great flavor and nutrition. ~ Rachel Portnoy and Franck Tessier own Chez Nous Bistro in Lee, MA. www.cheznousbistro.com

Einkorn "No-knead" Bread About 24-48 hours ahead of time stir in a mixing bowl: 3½ cup Einkorn flour (500g) 1 cup water (240 g) 2 tsp salt (10g) ½ cup sourdough starter made with Einkorn flour or ¼ tsp dry yeast Stir together the above ingredients and cover lightly with plastic wrap and leave overnight in the fridge. Leave the bread in the fridge until morning to slow and improve the quality of the fermentation.

Usually after about 18 hours this mix is happy and bubbly and ready to be stirred down, but you can leave it longer. The longer the better for the bread’s development, for sure, so don’t worry if you can’t get to it at any exact moment of the day (I told you this was easy . . . ).

After you pull the dough out of the fridge, give it a stir with another ½ cup of Einkorn flour. Now you can leave the dough on the counter until you’re about 2 hours away from when you’d like to bake it. After that time, we give it another half cup or so of flour (same idea as before), line a bowl with a cloth napkin or 10

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kitchen towel and dust it extremely generously with either more flour, or cornmeal, oats, or whatever you like to use, so that the dough doesn’t stick to the towel. Leave lightly covered again for about 1½ to 2 hours.

When you’re about 45 minutes away from wanting to bake the bread, turn on your oven to 450°F. Place a 4 to 5 quart Dutch oven or other heavy pan with a cover, in the oven to heat up.

When you’re ready to go, carefully and bravely plop the bread dough out of the towel and into the super-hot pan. Quickly put the heavy lid on the pan, close the oven and set a timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the lid and bake the bread to get a nice color and crispy crust, until it’s cooked. In our oven this takes about another 20 to 25 minutes, but every oven is different.

If you have a probe thermometer, take an internal temperature of at least 180°F to make sure that the bread is cooked. Cool thoroughly on a rack and enjoy!

For extra nutrition, add either sprouted Einkorn berries, ground flax seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds into the dough, or even maple syrup or molasses for a little sweetness!

food & drink

country store

NORTH EGREMONT COUNTRY STORE

CONVENIENT SHOPPING WITH WARM AND FRIENDLY SERVICE

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Wholesome ● Homestyle ● Delicious

he historic North Egremont Country Store located in the bucolic town of North Egremont, MA, near Prospect Lake, offers a convenient way to purchase many of the items you need to entertain your holiday guests including SoCo ice cream, Monterey Chevre, liquor, beer, and wine (including organic), local pure honey and maple syrup, staples like milk, and much more (even Lotto tickets and fishing bait and accessories). They also make excellent sandwiches and coffee, and serve delicious croissants, bagels, and donuts.

Warm & Friendly Service

We offer a full line of groceries and spirits.

Let us help you with your holiday needs!

Photo by John Phelan

Monday-Thursday: 6a-6p Friday-Saturday: 6a-7p Sunday: 6a-4p

Route 71, North Egremont, MA (Near Prospect Lake)

Call (413) 528-4796

homey and delicious HOUSATONIC'S TAKE OUT, SIT DOWN, COFFEE SHOP

I photo credit - ruralintellgence.com

226OPENING Pleasant Street, Housatonic, MA | 413-274-0261 SOON Breakfast andHousatonic, Lunch |MA Mon-Fri 7-6, Sat 8:30-5, Sun 8:30-4 226 Pleasant Street, 01236 | 413-274-0261 Breakfast and Lunch | Mon-Fri 6 - 6, Sat 8 - 6, Sun 9 - 4 See our full menu at www.housiemarketcafe.com

f you are looking for a satisfying way to start your day, stop at the Housie Market Cafe in the heart of Housatonic, MA. A delicious variety of all-day breakfast fare includes chocolate croissants and assorted danish, hand pies, peanut butter & kimchi sandwiches, eggs made to order, yogurt & BOLA granola, and owner Amy Hagerty’s signature Diamond in the Rough muffin pictured at left. See their website or stop in to choose one of their thick deli-style sandwiches for lunch.

chef-prepared food CASUAL EATERY WITH DELICIOUS HOME COOKING

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f you enjoy home cooking you will love Marty and Jim’s affordable breakfast and lunch menu including their own roast beef, turkey, baked ham, and corned beef cooked on the premises. And if you’re a soup lover you’ll enjoy their delicious made-from-scratch hearty soups. Owners Jim Kenefick, a retired executive chef, and Marty (Martha) Brown have more than 75 years combined culinary experience. They pride themselves on serving quality chef-prepared food at a reasonable price.

Sandwiches and More 413-528-9720

HOURS: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Closed Sun

230 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

www.martyandjims.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

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HOME & GARDEN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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ocal Monterey, MA, resident Terri See has unexpectedly found herself in a booming business. A business that she never even considered starting until just a few short months ago.

Terri commented “I never imagined I’d say these words, but . . . I make bug spray. An all-natural tick and mosquito repellent, Mighty No Bitey, unexpectedly burst into being one afternoon while I sat at my dining table. On that day, in just three hours, the repellent went from concept to hundreds of dollars in sales. Since then Mighty No Bitey has sold daily from its website and is now on shelves in 13 stores and counting!”

It all began with a casual statement on Facebook about making her own bug spray. Terri cited studies about the oils and boosters she uses which make her formula as effective as the chemical DEET (without the health hazards). Within minutes of that post, friend after friend commented, asking her to make her spray for them. In that “lightbulb moment,” she thought, absolutely! Enthused by the response she received with social media and the immediate flurry of orders, she flew into production. Within a couple of hours Terri had created a catchy name and logo, then ordered bulk labels and bottles. By the next afternoon, her website (www.mightynobitey. com) was up and in minutes came the first online sale – with nearly a thousand dollars in total sales in the first eight hours!

Terri said, “The hard part – the bug spray – had already been created over a decade ago. As one of the people bugs prefer to feast on, yet having allergic reactions to DEET (the chemical 12

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found in OFF and other commercial sprays), I decided to research my options, and after a good deal of investigation, created an allnatural bug spray for myself. I continued to make it each summer, but had never thought of bottling it for sale. Until now.

Within days of that Facebook post and putting up her website, several store owners approached her asking to carry the spray. It’s now being carried in stores in Massachusetts (including the Red Lion Inn gift shop in Stockbridge, the Monterey General Store in Monterey, and others), as well as shops in Connecticut, New York, and Florida. Already!

Terri’s formula contains none of the repelling oils, such as orange oil, that promote sunburn. “It was extremely important to me to develop a product that is skin healthy. The best thing I can say is that it works. I’ve been using it for more than a decade, my customers are raving about it, and the stores I vend to are reordering it. Great response, not just in the sales, but in customer testimonials.”

Mosquito and tick season is in full swing, and we all want to protect ourselves from itching, stinging insects, and the diseases some of them carry. Mighty No Bitey is one line of defense to make our outdoor activities safer and more enjoyable. Terri is not only glad for the success of her new business, but also that the awareness of safer alternatives is growing by the day.

home, garden & landscape

circa

Your Resource for Big City Style in The Berkshires Your Resource for Big City Style in The Berkshires

Danish and Mid-Century Modern Furnishings and Lighting Danish and Mid-Century Modern Furnishings and Lighting

circaberkshires.com 436 North Street circaberkshires.com 436 Street, North Street 436 North Pittsfield, MA circaberkshires.com 436 North Street, Pittsfield, MA circaberkshires.com 413-445-7200

413-445-7200 413-445-7200

413-445-7200 Now Open Sundays!

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Largest Selection of Yarns and Unique Handcrafted Gifts in the Berkshires Gift Certificates S Free Knitting Lessons Open Mon-Sat 9:30-5, Sun 12-4 Harry and Debbie Sano 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-2473 • www.wonderful-things.com

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August | September 2015

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home, garden & landscape

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WHAT IF THE HOUSE OF YOUR DREAMS IS THE HOME YOU HAVE?

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ost of us have spent time dreaming about the perfect home . . . the perfect haven for ourselves and our family.

It can be fun picturing what it will look like, how we would find it, and then actually moving in. Imagine! This is certainly one of the reasons that Pinterest has become so popular. But what if the house of your dreams is the home you already have?

Melissa Michaels’ well received book, Love the Home You Have, inspires her readers to create a home that’s not only lovely but a true reflection of what matters most to you. She shares her house stories (the awkward, the humorous, and the lessons learned), her heart for the home, and her journey to contentment with what she has. With humor and candor Melissa shows you how to find joy in the small things, and reveals how to transform your rooms (and your life) from plainly livable to fabulously lovable.

The size of your home need not matter as much as you may think. Finding joy in the small things – not in the amount of stuff you have or don’t have – can be the key to creating your sanctuary.

Melissa will help you find beauty in the ordinary, discover your style and let it shine with simple ideas, entertain possibilities and people with more gratitude and joy, gather inspiration in the 31day Love Your Home Challenge, and leap from dreamer to doer with confidence.

Melissa Michaels is the New York Times Best-Selling author of Love the Home You Have, and the owner and author of The Inspired Room (theinspiredroom.net), one of the top decorating blogs on the web for the past eight years.

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Sisters Used Furniture

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August | September 2015

15

By Christopher Vlcek, AIA

passive but powerful

real estate & professionals

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August | September 2015

P

assive House Construction brings in a new wave of high performance, high quality, green building that can cost-effectively revolutionize the comfort, indoor air quality, resilience, and efficiency of the homes and business buildings we design today.

Passive House design is an approach to home design that minimizes the energy required for heating and cooling. It is a system that has been developed and tested in Europe (Passivhaus) for more than 15 years with great success in energy savings and homeowner satisfaction. Welldesigned Passive Houses are extremely resource efficient, comfortable, and healthy.

The Passive House Institute US, www.phius.org, states that Passive building comprises a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency within www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

a specific quantifiable comfort level. “Maximize your gains, minimize your losses� summarizes the approach. To that end, a Passive building is designed and built in accordance with these five building-science principles: 1) It employs continuous insulation through its entire envelope without any thermal bridging.

2) The building envelope is extremely airtight, preventing infiltration of outside air and loss of conditioned air.

real estate & professionals

3) It employs high-performance windows and doors (typically triple-paned).

4) It uses some form of balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation and uses a minimal space conditioning system.

5) Solar gain is managed to exploit the sun’s energy for heating purposes and to minimize it in cooling seasons.

Passive House design sets specific targets for the heating and cooling demand, based on the treated floor area. High levels of insulation are required for cold climates to keep the heat in.

Very tight construction is required to minimize heat loss and air movement through the envelope. Controlled fresh air supply is required for occupant health and comfort. These features create a home in which the internal temperature is consistently healthy and comfortable, and in which the possibility of condensation, mold, and other building failures is greatly reduced.

How does Passive House compare with typical construction or green building?

There are many aspects to sustainable or green building design including site and orientation, material use and recycling, energy use, water conservation, reduction of CO2 footprint, and indoor air quality. Passive House focuses on energy use, specifically that required for heating and cooling, and as such is a cornerstone of good design and building practice. All the decisions that go into creating an efficient plan, good solar orientation and shading, super-insulation, super-tight construction, fresh ventilation air, are essential to Passive House design and are reflected in the hard data of a specific energy budget for heating, cooling, and ventilation. As compared with building to code, Passive House design can reduce the energy required for heating and cooling your home by up to 80 percent.

Passive House design, if and when photovaltaics and/or solar hot water systems are installed, they can be smaller systems and have a greater impact on the energy budget due to the high efficiency of the building envelope.

All of this sounds great. But how much is it going to cost, and what if I have an existing home?

Super-insulation, airtightness, high performance windows, and mechanical ventilation all have an increased up-front cost compared to baseline construction. But the benefits are enormous: less energy use over the lifetime of your home; a healthy and comfortable indoor environment; reduced mechanical systems and maintenance cost. These benefits will only compound as utility and fossil fuel costs increase. Deep Energy Retrofits apply these same principles to existing homes undergoing major renovations (e.g., new siding and windows). Passive House upgrades can also be phased-in over time. The key is a planning strategy that allows for future upgrades without compromising work already done. ~ Christopher Vlcek of Littlewolf Architecture is a licensed architect in MA, CT, and NY, and has been practicing since 2000. He has been living in the Berkshires since 1996, prior to which he was a founding partner of Small Build Company, a construction firm in Toronto, Canada.

Chris became a Certified Passive House Designer/Consultant in 2011.

He combines a love for design and craft with a balanced approach to efficiency and energy use. www.littlewolfarch.com

What about active solar power, geothermal power, passive solar, and other alternative energy sources?

Passive House design concentrates on reducing the primary energy demand. It is common sense to reduce the energy demand as much as possible, and take advantage of free solar radiation, prior to installing expensive alternative energy systems. Passive House applies this approach in a rigorous manner. Building orientation, local solar and climate data, heat gain through windows, and the necessity of summer shading are all factored into the energy demand. With www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

17

home, garden & landscape Rule 3 - Small space, small print

Break it! – Wallpaper is coming back in a big way, especially in powder rooms or other small spaces, or to create an accent wall.

Wallpaper of today is not what it once was. It’s very artistic and tactile. I’m frequently asked, “Since this room is so small, shouldn’t the wallpaper also have a small print?” You want the wallpaper in these small spaces to be the room! A small print will get lost and look blah, where a big print shows intention and makes a statement. When executed properly, you’ll create a dramatic effect.

This applies not only to wallpaper but to fabric as well.

Rule 4 - Don’t combine old and new

break the rules!

DON'T LIMIT YOUR SPACE BY COMPLYING WITH SO-CALLED DESIGN RULES / By Leah Luczynski

Y

ou’ve heard the old adage, rules are made to be broken?

Well, this most definitely applies to the design world too.

Don’t limit your space by complying with so-called design rules. Every space is unique and different and shouldn’t be held back because of silly antiquated rules. However, it is important to know some of these rules, but only so you know how to break them!

Rule 1 - Paint small rooms a light shade

Break it! – Never let a room size dictate or limit the color palette.

While painting a small room a light shade may give the appearance the room is bigger, you’re not really fooling anyone! Your brain already knows the size of a room when you enter it; don’t try to trick it, it’s smarter than you give it credit for! Work with what you have, not what you wish you had. Painting a small room a darker shade will create a dramatic, visually interesting space. What makes a small room feel small is not the wall color, but the size of furniture, how many chotchkes you have around, and how filled the space is.

Rule 2 - Don’t mix metals

Break it! – What used to be considered a design faux pas is now looked at as chic and classy! Mixing metals in a room helps to make the items stand out and also look like they were collected over time and have meaning, not newly purchased. Combining cool silvers with warm brass, gold, copper, or bronze tones adds visual interest by creating layers. By sticking to just one metal in a room your treasured pieces will go unnoticed. Let them shine!

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August | September 2015

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Break it! – Mixing antiques with contemporary pieces creates great juxtaposition in a room. The proper mix of old and new styles will give your room personality while being personal, as well as give your antiques new life!

Rule 5 - Don’t mix patterns

Break it! – Mixing patterns is a little trickier to execute than some of the other ideas above, but with thought and a plan, mixing patterns can give a room a lot of character. A few things to keep in mind for combining patterns is to change the scale of the pattern between pieces. If all of the patterns are small, for example, this will create a busy look. Also, to avoid being too distracting, the patterns should have a white/negative space background so your eyes have a resting place. ~ Leah Luczynski, Leah Luczynski Interior Design, designs for both residential and commercial clients throughout the Berkshires. Whether it’s selecting paint colors for a single room or redesigning an entire home, Leah puts forth the same care and attention to detail no matter the size of the project or budget. Leah currently resides in Pittsfield with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Charlotte. www.leahinteriors.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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Select spaces available for the 2015-2016 school year.

Call (413) 637-3662 to schedule a visit.

Toddler

Children’s House

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Summer

(413) 637-3662 BerkshireMontessori.org Lenox Dale, MA

education & workshops

wanted to improve and felt supported in doing so. If the director had reprimanded me, perhaps even publicly, I certainly would have slunk into discouragement.

Our children deserve and need the same kind of respect. They do best when they are encouraged rather than punished or pampered.

being firm

AND KIND AT THE SAME TIME

O

By K. Meagan Ledendecker

ne week into our family’s trip to California for a workrelated training program, and I was pulling my hair out.

My two youngest children were pushing all my buttons and finding some new ones. Bedtime had become a nightly struggle. And I began to dread the weekend dedicated to family vacation time.

As I tiredly flipped through my Positive Discipline cards, I sighed and remembered that my children were trying to communicate.

Misbehavior is always a form of communication. A misbehaving child is a discouraged child.

With this in mind, my husband and I took time to hear our sevenyear-old’s ideas about how to support her when she was frustrated.

We stayed open to ways to give our children a sense of purpose and meaning. At dinner one night, we really listened and watched as our three-year-old showed us again and again and again how he could fold his napkin. He was focused and feeling masterful, which was more important in that moment than whether he had eaten his avocado.

With the shift in routines, we made sure our children understood what was expected and then, with kindness and firmness, held true to those expectations. Which is what the director of training did for me. She didn’t make exceptions or excuses, or make me feel worse or demotivated. She merely held loving limits and expressed a belief that she knew I could get there on time. And I did. ~ K. Meagan Ledendecker is a Certified Positive Discipline Educator, Director of Education at The Montessori School of the Berkshires, and is always on that seemingly unattainable quest to become a better parent. www.berkshiremontessori.org

I took a deep breath. I thought about my children being discouraged, and was able to see their behavior through a lens of compassion rather than frustration. For whatever reasons, they weren’t feeling a sense of belonging or significance. It made sense. We were all trying to adjust to the time change, a new sitter, and my increased workload. I had been reacting to their misbehavior by trying sternly to set more limits.

Positive Discipline, however, is about moving from being punitive or reward-based to being kind and firm at the same time. It’s a respectful approach that acknowledges that when we feel worse, we do worse, and when we feel better, we do better.

Yet often, as parents, we get caught in a cycle. We punish or cajole. Our children rebel, or maybe get back at us, or perhaps retreat. Things get worse. We punish again, as if making life more miserable will help our children make better choices. In reality, though, we are all more likely to do better if someone supports us to figure out what went wrong and how to make things right.

As a case in point, I arrived quite late the first two days of my training program. I knew I had made a mistake and already felt bad about it. Later in the day the director kindly and quietly reminded me about arrival time expectations. Her communication was warm and understanding. That night I rearranged child care, left considerably earlier, and felt successful about the changes. I

Nurturing living connections... early childhood through grade 12 Situated on a 400-acre Biodynamic farm in New York’s Hudson Valley, Hawthorne Valley’s integrative Waldorf curriculum helps young men and women grow academically, artistically, and socially into the creative individuals needed in today’s complex world.

Day and Boarding Programs • Accepting Applications info@hawthornevalleyschool.org 518-672-7092 x 111 WALDORF SCHOOL | www.hawthornevalleyschool.org 330 County Route 21C, Ghent NY 12075 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

21

education & workshops

a little detective work THE TRICK TO UNRAVELING A FAMILY MYSTERY

By Jennifer Lilienthal

D

efiant, he stares at us, holding my grandmother possessively. Well, he seems defiant to my father and me, as we stare at the complete stranger in the 1930 photo. Who is he, and why is Grandma in his arms?

Organizing family photos can be challenging, especially when the photo collection’s owner is deceased, and captions are inadequate or completely absent. And, in this case, when the deceased person was secretive about her past . . . .

Grandpa left Neudorf, Germany, in May 1927, heading for Detroit, Michigan.



 In August 1930, Grandma left Boennigheim, Germany, arriving in Brooklyn, New York.  The mystery man had known both of my grandparents before they met each other. Had he met them both in Germany? Had he been to Michigan? Had Grandpa spent time in New York? Did they meet at work? Or on the ship?

The Schuberts could be the key: the group consistently met in their Brooklyn brownstone. Even after a soap-operaworthy partner change, they all stoically celebrated together.



Grandma had said only that she was twenty-two when she left Germany, and that she knew no English. She never mentioned that she went to America to join her boyfriend, nor that he later dumped her. Those details were revealed when I traveled to Germany and met an old schoolmate of hers for tea. The tale had a happy ending: Grandma then met a friend of the boyfriend’s, whom she later married. So – Grandma’s mystery boyfriend was a friend of my grandfather’s.

My trip to Germany was in 1990, and I forgot all about the mystery – until I recently saw the strange man in the photo.

Having learned forensic genealogical techniques, I decided to try to identify Grandma’s boyfriend.

Identifying people in photos often initially involves placing them in space and time. This photo was labelled “Christmas, 1930.”

Three other Christmas photos show the same group of seven young people arranged artfully before a Christmas tree in the same Brooklyn living room. But the 1933 photo shows a subtle rearranging: my grandparents beam at the camera, linked in a chummy embrace, while the mystery man stands slightly away from the others.

Another step in photo identification is usually to see whether the picture might capture the subjects during a particular event, which might be documented in newspapers or archives, then searching for clues in those documents or articles. Here, the event was Christmas, and my father knew the place: it was the home of my grandparents’ middle-aged German friends, whom I’ll call the Schuberts.

Identifying individuals can be made possible if you step back and consider their likely intersections, or the places/times at which their paths might have crossed. Knowing two of the subjects in the photo already, I listed their histories:

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I searched records for the Schuberts. The 1930 census listed them in Brooklyn, along with two young German men with different surnames. One was identified as a brother-in-law, a house painter who immigrated in 1926. The other was a nephew, aged 22 – my grandmother’s age. He had arrived in the U.S. in 1927 – like my grandfather – and worked in a candy factory. So had my grandfather. The pieces fit – I went to the ship manifest listing my grandfather’s arrival in New York harbor: the nephew’s name was also on that manifest.

So, clearly, they had met on the ship. The nephew had stayed in Brooklyn, my grandfather had gone on to Michigan, but they had maintained contact and he eventually moved to Brooklyn. The Schuberts kindly invited their nephew’s friends to celebrate Christmas with them – and the rest is family history. ~ Jennifer Lilienthal, Professional Genealogist, at jllportraits@

live.com is sole proprietor of JLL Family Stories. She specializes in German records research, New York State and western Massachusetts and family history writing. Jennifer lives in Lee, MA.

education & workshops

workshop

Hope Fitzgerald

Wave Energy Center

EXPERIENCE A PROFOUND SHIFT

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o you feel the urge to emerge into the next, best version of yourself? Consider this Infinity Wave Workshop (10/810/12) if you want to experience a profound shift in your perception of life and your role in it. Buoyed on the loving energetic of the Infinity Wave, we will dive into the depths of your personal evolution while in the presence of others like you. If you’re ready to plunge deeper in order to thrive now, this workshop will provide a calm yet swift support on your spiritual trajectory. www.we-infinity.com.

workshop LEARN ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED

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he Approach, Sept 26-27, Sat and Sun 9-5, Great Barrington, MA. $300 or two for $500. Is your loved one struggling with learning, attention, or behavior? Discover why HANDLE proposes that ADD is a misnomer. Understand how ADHD, autism, and more are related to connections and interactions between our internal and external environments. Recognize signs of stress and how to adapt to avoid crisis. Learn activities that can be immediately applied in classroom, home, and clinical settings.

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I am saving gas now. No longer driving through adult/seniors around to get my daughter to sleep.” ~ Mother of 3-year-old with:

“HANDLE “HANDLE helped helped me me be be aware aware of mymy surroundings surroundings and and with: Serving ages 2 of years old through adult/seniors Attentional Issues Autism/Aspergers bebe less less clumsy. clumsy.

Now Now I’mI’m noticing noticing other other people people who who could could Attention Issues Autism/Aspergers  Traumatic Brain Injury useuse HANDLE HANDLE too.” too.”

E.G. 1111 year year oldold Memory/Organization Traumatic Brain Injury Memory/Organization E.G.

Dyslexia/Sensory/ Dyslexia/Sensory  Learning Challenges Learning Challenges Elizabeth Frishkoff, MSW “Finding “Finding HANDLE HANDLE hashas been been a Issues guiding a guiding light. light.

Through Through thethe Sleep/Depression

Sleep/Depression Issues practice practice of of simple simple activities, activities, worlds worlds within within meme (that (that had had

Certified HANDLE Practitioner

168 94 Main St, Ave, SuiteGreat #2, Great Barrington, MA 01230 West Barrington, MA 01230   www.handle.org efrish@sover.net 413-528-0477 always always been been beyond beyond my my reach) reach) areare being being discovered discovered efrish@sover.net 413-528-0477 www.handle.org

168 Main Street, Suite #2, Great Barrington, MA

with with Excitement Excitement and and Gratitude.”

Gratitude.”

S.A. 6565 year year oldold efrish@sover.net  413-528-0477 S.A. www.handle.org

travel back in time EXPERIENCE BERKSHIRE COLONIAL HISTORY

T

he Bidwell House Museum is located on a country lane in the rural town of Monterey in the southern Berkshires of Massachusetts. The Berkshires’ own colonial history museum is marking 25 years of welcoming visitors to the historic homestead and grounds this year. The 1750s house on 192 acres of fields, gardens, and forest tells the story of the early settlement of the Berkshires. It was the home of the Reverend Adonijah Bidwell, first pastor to the pioneer community.

Elizabeth Elizabeth Frishkoff, Frishkoff, MSW MSW Certified Certified HANDLE HANDLE Practitioner Practitioner

Serving Serving ages ages 2 years 2 years oldold through through adult/seniors adult/seniors with: with: Attentional Attentional Issues Issues Autism/Aspergers Autism/Aspergers Traumatic Traumatic Brain Brain Injury Injury Memory/Organization Memory/Organization Dyslexia/Sensory/ Dyslexia/Sensory/ Learning Learning Challenges Challenges Sleep/Depression Sleep/Depression Issues Issues

168 168 Main Main St,St, Suite Suite #2, #2, Great Great Barrington, Barrington, MA MA 01230 01230 94 94 West West Ave, Ave, Great Great Barrington, Barrington, MA MA 01230 01230  413-528-0477 413-528-0477  www.handle.org  www.handle.org efrish@sover.net efrish@sover.net 413-528-0477 efrish@sover.net efrish@sover.net 413-528-0477www.handle.org www.handle.org

Tours are offered Thursdays through Mondays from 11am to 4pm on the hour. The last tour begins at 3pm. The museum building is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk for hiking and nature watching. The museum’s location at the end of a country lane is part of its great appeal: a visit is an authentic experience of 18th-century life.

Attend Bidwell’s special 25th Anniversary Gala Garden Party on August 15. The full event series can be found on the museum’s website at www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.

Plan a visit to the eighteenth century this summer in Monterey, MA! www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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Take Her Breath TakeAway!

Her Breath Away!

fashion & beauty

Really?. . . .

OW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE S

NOW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE S NOW ON SALE

Fade Scars with Raw Potato

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o help fade red marks and facial scars, try treating your skin with potato juice. Potatoes contain enzymes that can help to promote healthy skin and reduce scarring. Raw potato contains potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, and chlorine, making it a good home remedy for scars.

Instructions 1) Peel a raw potato. Place the peelings in a bowl for later use.

2) Be sure the area you want to treat is clean and healed. Rub the raw potato over the area until very moist.

3) Bandage scars with potato peelings and leave on for one hour or more and repeat daily until the marks/scars heal.

Fine Jew s ’ n ele a i b rs a Est. 1985 Z 15 Main Street, Lee 413-243-0508 www.zabians.com 24

August | September 2015

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`

Raw Honey for Lovely Skin

R

aw organic honey (especially Manuka honey) is antibacterial and very healing for the skin. It can help unclog pores while simultaneously delivering moisture to dry skin. Apply a thin layer of raw honey to slightly damp skin using a circular motion. Leave on for at least 30 minutes and then gently rinse it off with warm water. Mix with oats or baking soda to act as a gentle exfoliant.

Honey can also be added to a bath soak or used as a hair conditioner.

.....

fashion & beauty

who would have thought?

FACE HAVEN

By Kathy I. Regan

NATURAL COSMETICS & MAKEUP STUDIO

“Our focus is on service and providing the ultimate jane iredale mineral cosmetics experience. I guarantee we can transform your look in minutes and transition you from day to night in seconds.” ~ Sherie K. Ross, Proprietor

Sugar Hairspray (makes 1 cup)

I

f we want to remain radiantly beautiful and healthy, sugar in all forms is extremely important to avoid internally, but externally it can actually help us avoid some very harmful chemicals found in most hairsprays. The following alcohol-free hairspray recipe is healthy, inexpensive, fun to make, and best of all, it works!

(413) 528-4053 323 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

Beauty Pick of the Month PlayOn™ Lip Crayon

Ingredients 1 cup distilled water 4 tsp organic white sugar (use more or less to adjust hold ) 5 drops essential oil (optional) Instructions 1) Heat water in a small saucepan to boiling.

2) Add sugar and stir to dissolve.

3) Allow to cool. Add essential oil if desired.

4) Pour in a fine mist spray bottle. *The spray will be good for about one week. If you would like the mixture to last longer, add 1 tablespoon vodka after the hairspray cools.

5) Spray hairspray on hair lightly after styling and wait until it dries, then spray a second layer if needed.

` Whiten Your Teeth with Coconut Oil

I

f you would like whiter teeth and fresher breath, you may wish to try a traditional Ayurveda health therapy called oil pulling that dates back thousands of years. Many claim that in addition to a variety of health benefits, the process strengthens gums, whitens teeth, and eliminates plaque.

Why She’ll Love it!

Seven modern and versatile shades give excellent color pay-off. Soft and creamy application that is easy to blend.

Contains a high concentration of moisturizing oils that leaves a comfortably soft and conditioned feel on lips. The sleek pencil design is comfortable to hold and gives precise application. A pointed tip is easy to achieve with our Jumbo Pencil Sharpener.

Face Haven, 323 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA | (413) 528-4053

ndy WeOPTICAL

Instructions 1) Gently swish a tablespoon of cold-pressed organic oil (my family and I prefer coconut oil for its antibacterial properties, but other oils may be used) in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. Make sure not to swallow any of the oil.

2) Spit out, then rinse with Himalayan salt water and brush teeth with baking soda.

Or, you may wish to brush with charcoal for extra whitening. Continue oil pulling each morning as long as desired.

Wendy is a licensed optician with 25 years experience fitting happy customers with beautiful frames and lenses in the Berkshires.

REPAIRS | CLEANING | ADJUSTMENTS 56 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 413.445.5700 Wed-Sat 10am to 6pm

www.wendyoptical.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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health & wellness

cardamom THIS ASSERTIVE SPICE HAS MEDICINAL AND CULINARY USES

By Joyce Nelson

K

nown botanically as eletaria cardamomum, this assertive spice is popular world wide and has medicinal as well as culinary uses.

Cardamom dates to the fourth century BC, when it was used in India for treatment of bodily ills, including help for mouth infections, inflammation, kidney and gall stones and digestive problems. Ancient Greeks and Romans valued cardamom’s intensely aromatic, resinous fragrance, which they captured in perfumes.

Flowing Form Bodywork

Cardamom’s flavor is at the same time sweet and pungent. Related to ginger, cardamom shares its more common cousin’s warmth and aromatic qualities,

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Pain relief through gentle touch and movement. Individual sessions and classes are offered.

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August | September 2015

Today, cardamom is most widely employed as a flavoring agent for Arab and Turkish coffee and is also an important ingredient in Indian curries and rice dishes, in Scandinavian breads, cakes, and pastries and, in the West, appears most often in “windmill” type cookies. In addition, it’s used as a pickling spice, especially for pickled herring, and is added to punches, mulled wine and Indian chai masala (tea).

C

but also contains notes of eucalyptus with lemony undertones. While cardamom is second only to saffron in expense, a little goes a long way. It’s wise to be conservative with this spice, as its intense flavor can be overpowering. In light of its high cost, cardamom is regarded as a special occasion, “festive” flavoring, used sparingly for celebrations.

While cardamom grows as small pods, the seeds within are the flavor-makers. Seeds are ground and added to coffee beans (ground together to make Middle Eastern coffee) and baked and savory foods, such as pilafs, curries, and lentil dishes. The pods themselves are sometimes used whole or split, but are removed at the end of cooking time to avoid the bitterness they can sometimes impart. Whole pods retain their freshness for quite some time, while ground seeds are most perishable, losing their aroma and flavor after about three months. When possible, purchase ground cardamom in small quantities to ensure best results in cooking and baking. ~Joyce Nelson, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace staff writer, www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com

ardamom is a potent tonic and stimulant that contains a high amount of manganese as well as vitamin C, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, and zinc. Cardamom improves digestion, helps combat bad breath and headaches, and can aid the body in detoxification and fighting free radicals. Another benefit of this spice is that it increases circulation of blood within your lungs, thereby aiding in relieving the symptoms of breathing problems like asthma, colds, and cough and it can help relieve phlegm and chest congestion. Cardamom can help regulate your heart rate and blood pressure and it can fight anaemia because of its abundant supply of these essential minerals.

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

health & wellness

DR. Dr .

J a y W i s e , D D S Casey Jones, DMD

33 Park street, suite 6, lee, ma 01238 ( 4 1 3 ) 2 4 3 - 1 2 2 2 • D r j ay w i s e d d s .c o m T h i s i s wh e r e h e alt h , b e au t y

At Embody Healing Arts™ we believe that every body is an expression of the unity of mind, emotion, and spirit.

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As osteopathic physicians, we use our comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology to promote health and healing. We work gently with our hands to help your body restore optimal function – based on optimal structure – to help solve musculoskeletal problems and health issues of all kinds.

As fully licensed physicians, we have all of the full and current medical pharmacopeia, nutritional science and medical training at our disposal.

Your individual treatment may include a wide range of approaches,

Naomi Alson

LIC. ACUPUNCTURIST & HERBALIST

For general wellbeing . . .

With specialized training in: ● Alleviating the side effects chemotherapy ● Infertility ● Herbal treatments ● Regulating the immune system

but is always founded on our gentle hands-on work.

Andrew M. Goldman, DO, Osteopathic Physician Kim E. Tripp, DO, PhD, Osteopathic Physician www.goldmantripp.net Great Barrington, ma 413-528-3334 | Sharon, ct 860-364-5990

At Lee Family Practice, Lee, MA

(413) 243-3223  naomifalson@gmail.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

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health & wellness

microwaves SAVE TIME OR SAVE YOUR HEALTH

By Brianna I. Regan with assistance from Kathy I. Regan

M

icrowave ovens quickly heat food by causing water molecules within the food to resonate at very high frequencies, making them turn to steam. This is accomplished with the use of radio frequencies/microwave radiation. What most people don’t realize is that this process also causes a change in the food’s chemical structure (not what nature wisely intended). Microwaves damage the nutritional value of the food, heat food unevenly, and carcinogenic toxins can leach out of containers/covers placed around the food.

In addition, radiation leakage is also an issue. According to Powerwatch, a nonprofit independent organization, “Even when the microwave oven is working correctly, the microwave levels within the kitchen are likely to be significantly higher than those from any nearby cellular phone base-stations. Remember also that microwaves (just like cell phones) will travel through walls if the microwave oven is against an inside wall.” A recent study has found unequivocal evidence that microwave frequency radiation affects the heart at nonthermal levels that are well below federal safety guidelines, according to Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University. Russian research has found that carcinogens were formed from the microwaving of nearly all foods tested.

sauna

therapy

46 Main Street South Egremont, MA Behind Zorn Chiropractic

Convenient | Private | Single Sessions | Packages

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Treat Yourself!

Call or go to our website to make an appointment.

(518) 965-3315 • www.enlightensauna.net 28

August | September 2015

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The Lawsuit - In early 1991, a woman named Norma Levitt had

hip surgery, only to be killed by a simple blood transfusion when a nurse warmed the blood for the transfusion in a microwave oven (which altered the blood, that caused her death).

Bottle Blues - When baby bottles are heating in a microwave,

the bottle may seem cool to the touch, but the liquid inside may be extremely hot and could burn the baby’s mouth and throat. In addition to nutrient depletion, the chemical structure of the milk will be altered and the protective properties of expressed breast milk will be destroyed.

Frankenstein Food - Microwaves destroy the delicate molecules of vitamins and phytonutrients (anticancer nutrients that are extremely effective at halting the growth of cancer tumors), rendering the food dead and nutritionally depleted. There’s even some evidence to suggest that microwaving destroys the natural harmony in water molecules, creating an energetic pattern of chaos in the water found in all foods.

Damaging Health - Humans are the only animals on the planet

who destroy the nutritional value of their food before eating it. Many consumers are in an ongoing state of malnourished overfeeding. People who use the microwave on a regular basis are walking down a path towards degenerative disease and a lifelong battle with obesity. The more you use the microwave, the worse your nutritional state gets, and the more likely you are to be diagnosed with various diseases.

Stay Safe

Simply put, it’s best to stay away from microwaves! Check to make sure foods are not heated in a microwave when eating out.

When you wish to heat food or drinks, stay safe and use a stove burner, a toaster oven, or an oven. ~ Brianna I. Regan is the daughter

of publishers Kathy and Kevin Regan of Our BerkshireTimes magazine.

She greatly enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family.

mind & spirit

a scottish odyssey PART 2 - SEE PART 1 IN OUR JUNE-JULY ISSUE

By Sheilaa Hite

L

ast fall, I led sixteen participants on an odyssey to one of the most beautiful and magical places in the world – the Scottish Highlands and Islands. As I look back on this amazing journey, the three places that stand out to me the most are Rosslyn Chapel, the Fairy Glen, and the sacred Isle of Iona.

The beauty and energy of 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel embraced and welcomed us during our private visit there. With a connection to the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail, it’s filled with an indescribably peaceful energy. The walls and ceilings are decorated with carvings that tell the story and reveal the gifts of human spiritual devotion throughout the ages. Some of the 213 carvings depict ears of new world corn, a plant unknown in Europe at the time of the chapel’s construction. Historians believe these carvings are evidence that the chapel’s builder traveled to the Americas well before Columbus.

Whether you believe in Fairy Folk or not, there’s something so powerful and mesmerizing about the Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye – its energy calls and you have to follow it! Our experiences there were profound. One person found himself facing the same scene that he was shown in the Tarot card he’d chosen the night before!

Some walked the positive labyrinth, some meditated, and many of us received important messages from spirit (and the fairies!). And all of us made our wishes and left the fairies the requisite shiny

coins in payment for their coming true. Although you can’t reveal your wishes, I can tell you that mine did come true! Such is the magical power of the Fairy Glen.

Deserving a place on anyone’s list is the sacred Isle of Iona, home of Iona Abbey and the Well of Eternal Youth. Described by the ancient Celts as the “thin place,” where the veil between Heaven and Earth is lifted and where mortals might catch a glimpse of the Divine, Iona is an important place of spiritual and religious worship. You can feel the peaceful energy of all of those years of observance move in and around you as you walk about the place. The Abbey, with its 6th-century roots, seems to embrace you as you meditate in the old stone nave. And the Well of Eternal Youth! The legend promises that you’ll be forever youthful if you wash your face with its magical waters.

Does it really work? I hope so!

You can read more in depth about last fall’s adventure and this October’s upcoming Odyssey at www.sheilaahite.com. ~ 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, (413) 637-0085.

S

Vicki Baird *Belief Specialist Imagine what could happen . . . if you believed in you!

Vicki is the only certified practitioner in the USA.

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Intuitive Counselor

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“SHEILAA’s accuracy rate is 95-100%.”

MANAGER

– MALIBU SHAMAN BOOKSTORE – MALIBU, CA

www.SheilaaHite.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

August | September 2015

29

animal talk

deception

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957 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

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THEY REALLY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW

By Kristina “Tina” Dow

he story goes that when the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) first put forth their requirements for regulating pet foods, a well-known veterinary nutritionist submitted “food” for testing that was a mixture of shoe leather, used crankcase oil, sawdust, and a vitamin/mineral supplement. The “food” reportedly passed AAFCO certification as a complete and balanced diet, boasting protein, fat, and fiber levels that met all AAFCO requirements.

The veterinary nutritionist proved his point, demonstrating that we could not necessarily rely on AAFCO standards for guaranteed analyses of protein, fat, and fiber levels to establish a healthy diet for our pets.

A more promising evaluation process upon which to rely might appear to be an alternate AAFCO certification based upon feeding trials, but, upon close look, we find that those feeding trials are also lacking in their standards. The AAFCO standards for feeding trials mandate that a population of as few as eight animals is required to be fed the food being tested for a period of 26 weeks, after which, if at least six of those eight animals finish the trial with minimally decent bloodwork, and maintain their weight, the food passes AAFCO certification as a complete and balanced diet. Alas, there is little consolation in the fact that AAFCO feeding trial certification guarantees that 75 percent of our pets will survive for six months.

And then there’s this from Susan Thixton, our consumer voice at AAFCO regulatory meetings: AAFCO and FDA standards allow pet foods to be made from meat sourced from diseased animals, road kill, and euthanized pets. Fats sourced from recycled restaurant grease are also allowed, as are chemical and pesticide-contaminated vegetables, grains, and fruits, and as is almost any adulterated human food. Under AAFCO labeling standards, a pet food made of edible human-grade ingredients can sit on a store shelf right next to a pet food made of inedible pet-grade ingredients, with no label information distinguishing which is which.

When we’re selecting a food for our pets, we’d like to believe that those who manufacture our pets’ foods share our desire to do only the best for our best friends. Moreover, we’d like to believe that, with due diligence, we can determine how to nourish our pets in the best possible way, but the rules applied to the pet food industry make it nigh unto impossible for consumers to accomplish that with any degree of certainty.

Want to see that change? Visit www.truthaboutpetfood.com today to learn from and support Susan Thixton’s efforts for transparency and clarity in pet food labeling.

Cheers to your healthier pets! ~ Kristina “Tina” Dow is sole proprietor of BensDotter’s Pet, a pet supply store in Great Barrington that specializes in raw food diets. www.bensdotters.com

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August | September 2015

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