Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, Sept-Oct 2017

September-October 2017, vol 33

(44)

Complimentary

Our BerkshireTimes

™

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

Cover Art by Ann Getsinger / www.anngetsinger.com

“

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957 Convenient Location with Ample Parking on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guido’s

Monday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday-Sunday 10a-4p

BENSDOTTER’S PET

940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 413-528-4940

She was not quite what you would call refined.

She was not quite what you would call unrefined.

She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.

- Mark Twain -

September-October 2017

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

Contents 4

FUN THINGS TO DO

Kevin J. Regan kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com _______________ EDITORIAL Kathy I. Regan editor@ourberkshiretimes.com 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 debra@ourberkshiretimes.com _______________ Our BerkshireGreen, Inc. P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: (413) 274-1122 advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com www.OurBerkshireTimes.com This publication is printed with soy ink on Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper. _______________ COVER ILLUSTRATION

Photo by Antonia Small

“To Earth” by Ann Getsinger www.anngetsinger.com Ann has been creatively working in the Berkshires for decades – painting, drawing, and sculpting. Her home and studio is in New Marlborough, MA, but she also has a strong connection to the coast of Maine. Using a streamof-consciousness process, her work takes a narrative form, leaving space for the unconscious and the conscious to unfold in surprising ways. Her work is widely collected. Visit www.anngetsinger.com.

art, culture & entertainment ANN GETSINGER ME, BRUCE, AND THE BLUES

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home & garden STORING SEEDS

12

in the spotlight VICKI BAIRD

4

PRODUCT GUIDE

14

food & drink FALL RISOTTO SOME LIKE IT HOT

17

business services BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS USING YOUR STRENGTHS AT WORK WHAT’S MY INCOME STRATEGY?

20

health & wellness ARE YOU STILL CONSUMING DAIRY? CEREC SINGLE VISIT CROWNS

24

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mind & spirit ASK VICKI

25

animal talk ANIMAL TALK

26

education & workshops TIME FOR TOGETHERNESS

28

get ready for the holidays

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THE HOLIDAY SEASON BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

S ON THE COVER - Ann Getsinger’s autumn-themed painting, To Earth, measures 48” x 36” and was painted in 2009. It is a stand-alone piece, a detail, that is part of a ten-painting connected series called Panoptica.

Our BerkshireTimes magazine was first published in 2009 and is distributed bimonthly.

Most of our editorial content is contributed by our community members. We encourage you to submit original material for consideration through our website.

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!

Evening Sit & Knit When: Every Wednesday evening, 5-7:30pm (please check website) Where: The Spin-Off Yarn Shop, 130 Water Street, Lower Level, Williamstown, MA Cost: Free Join us for an evening of knitting or crocheting fellowship. Free project help is available, and all skill levels are welcome. Learn from others and get inspired while we share our love for this timeless craft.

Contact knit@spinoffyarnshop.com. www.spinoffyarnshop.com

Grand Moving Sale When: Friday, September 1, through Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Where: Aerus Electrolux, 383 North Street, Pittsfield, MA Cost: Free The Pittsfield Aerus Electrolux store is having a grand moving sale!

Everything at the store will be 40 percent off regular price, including vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, laundry pro, supplies, and more. (413) 442-1544

2017 Annual Heritage Walks When: Three autumn weekends, Saturdays & Sundays, September 16-17, 23-24, and September 30-October 1, 2017 Where: See full schedule at link below.

Cost: Free The public is invited to participate in informative, family-oriented, fun walks.

Expert historians, naturalists, and environmentalists will lead participants on 80 explorations through historic estate gardens and town districts, behind-the-scenes cultural site tours, nature walks, trail hikes, and more. www.housatonicheritage.org/events/heritage-walks 4

September | October 2017

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Gould Farm’s Annual Run When: Sunday, September 24, 2017, 9:30am-12pm Where: Gould Farm, 100 Gould Road, Monterey, MA Cost: Free Please join us for Gould Farm’s 5th Annual 5K Run and Walk for Recovery Benefit Race. Registration is from 8-9am, and the race begins at 9:30am.

Gould Farm is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental illness move toward recovery, health, and greater independence through community living, meaningful work, and individual clinical care. All proceeds from the race support our scholarship fund. (413) 528-1804, ext 13, www.wizathon.com/gouldfarm

2017 DownStreet Art Celebration When: Thursday, September 28, 2017 Where: Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, 51 Main Street, North Adams, MA Cost: Free Join us for the last Thursday of our DownStreet Art Celebration (our 10th season!) in downtown North Adams. Each summer from late June until the end of September, DSA creates a wide program of visual and performing art events including exhibitions, video screenings, and site-specific installations in downtown North Adams. (413) 662-5253, www.downstreetart.org

Owner Appreciation Day When: Thursday, September 28, 2017, 8am-8pm Where: Berkshire Co-op Market, 42 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, MA Cost: Free

art, culture & entertainment Attention co-op owners! Stop in from 8am to 8pm for an event that happens only four times a year! There will be demos, raffles, free samples, and of course 10 percent off for active co-op owners (some restrictions apply). www.berkshire.coop

8th Annual Berkshire Drum & Dance Fest When: Friday, October 13, 2017, 6-9:30pm Where: Berkshire Community College, Boland Theater, Koussevitzky Arts Center at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, MA Cost: $10-$20 suggested donation Join us for the 8th Annual Berkshire Drum & Dance Fest to support the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center. The event features 75-plus drum and dance artists from many genres in short performance sequences from the Berkshires and beyond. This year’s theme is “Honoring Women in Drum and Dance.” Festival proceeds will support the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in Windsor, MA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “Inspire environmental and cultural awareness, appreciation and stewardship.” Tamarack Hollow provides year-round programs for all ages, is conserving 32 acres of highland boreal forest, and is planning to build a sustainable nature and cultural education center.

Doors open 6pm for world marketplace, silent auction, TH Video; show starts 7pm. Contact Aimee Gelinas at aimee@gaiaroots.com with questions. www.tamarackhollownatureandculturalcenter.org

Author Meet & Greet Time’s Betrayal When: Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 3pm Where: The Bookloft, 332 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA Cost: Free Join us for a meet and greet, book signing, and informal discussion with David Adams Cleveland, the author of a new novel partially set in the Berkshires, Time’s Betrayal. The book is a classic New England family saga, an epic love story, and a CIA mystery set in the Berkshires and Concord, Greece and Venice, from Antietam to the fall of the Berlin Wall. David Adams Cleveland is the author of two previous novels, With a Gemlike Flame and Love’s Attraction, a Barnes & Noble bestseller. www.thebookloft.com/event/author-meet-greet-times-betrayal

Sisters Used Furniture’s Only Sale of the Year!

When: Thursday, October 26, through Sunday, October 29, 2017 Where: Sisters Used Furniture, 402 Park Street (Route 183), Housatonic, MA Cost: Free Don’t miss Sisters Used Furniture’s only sale of the season! Most inventory will be 30 to 70 percent off. Hurry in as supplies will be limited, and once the sale is over, so is our season. This is a sale that you do not want to miss.

Store sale hours (as per the dates listed above) are Thursday 11am-4pm, Friday 11am-4pm, Saturday 11am-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm. At Sisters Used Furniture you will find great clean, quality used furniture at prices to fit every budget. www.facebook.com/sistersusedfurniture

Flynn VW Audi BMW in Pittsfield, MA, treats the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern. We know that you have high expectations, and as a car dealer we enjoy the challenge of meeting and exceeding those standards each and every time.

Allow us to demonstrate our commitment to excellence! We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive, and investigate financing options.

(413) 443-4702 ● 600 Merrill Road, Pittsfield, MA

flynnvw.com ● flynnaudi.com ● flynnbmw.com

GRAND MOVING SALE Everything At The Store

40% off with this ad Don’t You Deserve the Best?

ELECTROLUX | 90 Years of Innovation ● Best

Vacuums ● True HEPA

● 40% O FF! ● ● Healthy Home Products you had for the last 25 years? ● Best Air PurifiersHow about one?

Best Vacuums ● Best Service ● Best Air Purifiers ● Best Warranty ● Healthy Home Laundry Solutions wit How many vacuum cleaners haveh this ad

383 North Street, Pittsfield, ● www.aerusonline.com Don’tMAYou Deserve the Best?

(413) 442-1544 | (413) 743-0985 | (802) 442-9560 ELECTROLUX | 90 Years of Innovation ● Best

Vacuums ● True HEPA Service ● Best Air Purifiers ● Best Warranty ● Healthy Home ● Best

Open

How many vacuum cleaners have you had for the last 25 years?

How about one?

Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4

383 North Street, Pittsfield, MA ● www.aerusonline.com (413) 442-1544 | (413) 743-0985 | (802) 442-9560 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

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art, culture & entertainment

Ann Getsinger OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINE'S SEPT-OCT COVER ARTIST

M

aking artwork is the closest I’ve come to having my life make any sense at all. It’s both indulgent and essential. It’s about balancing freedom and discipline, gut and brain, in order to explore this temporary existence, to consider the sensuality of nature and my personal connection to it. ~ Ann Getsinger

Summer Sailing by Ann Getsinger

Ann Getsinger’s oil paintings have been described as “realism with a twist.” Real objects are placed in locations drawn from memory and imagination, in locations and circumstances that materialize as the work unfolds, forming paintings that combine careful planning with free-falling.

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on October 22, 1956, Ann grew up in then rural Watertown as the youngest of five in a creative household. She lived beside a working dairy, a nearby horse farm, and surrounding woods and fields that provided a powerful connection to nature – every spare moment was spent drawing or horseback riding. Her earliest memories are of making artwork. During this time, summers were spent at her family’s cottage near Port Clyde, Maine, and a lifelong connection with the coast was forged. Ann’s connection to place is evident as most of the backgrounds of her paintings show either the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts or the midcoast area of Maine, her favorite places to live and paint.

After studying at Paier School of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, and the San Francisco Art Institute, in 1980 Ann chose to settle permanently in Western Massachusetts where she studied with realist artist Sheldon Fink. The artist’s home and studio is located in New Marlborough, Massachusetts, but she also works regularly in the midcoast area of Maine. Her many interests include antique prints, historical ephemera, photography, decorative arts, and 6

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reading – she cites Mad magazine as an early influence, noting especially the drawings of Don Martin.

Ann’s work, which has been exhibited in museums and galleries and hangs in hundreds of homes, can currently be seen at Arundel Farm Gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine (look for her one-person show coming up in 2018), at local galleries including The Meetinghouse Gallery in New Marlborough, Massachusetts, and at the occasional open studio also in New Marlborough.

Ann is now working on a connected series of 17 paintings wandering through her lifetime (so far) experience in a small part of Maine, near Port Clyde, to be hung in the Merrill Memorial Library in Yarmouth, Maine, in September 2017. She recently had the pleasure of creating CD cover art for talented singer/songwriter Ellis (www.ellis-music.com). You can find Ann’s latest work at Camilla Richman Fine Arts in Osterville, Massachusetts, (www.camillarichmanfinearts.com) including Eye in the Sky, Spring Run Away, and two new small moonlightthemed paintings. Visit Ann’s website at www.anngetsinger.com, and see her Facebook page at www.facebook. com/ann.getsinger.

Photo by Antonia Small

art, culture & entertainment

NE BUY O E N O T E G SALE! FREE

Visit us and find out more about our Frequent Buyer Program!

 TO

READ?

Discounts available for seniors, teachers, students, and military.

Join us for Sit & Knit!

Wed & Fri 2-4pm and Wed 5-7:30pm All skill levels welcome.

Open Wed-Thurs 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 10-5pm

130 Water Street, Lower Level, Williamstown, MA

www.spinoffyarnshop.com ● (413) 344-6257

(413) 528-1521 ● Great Barrington, MA ● www.thebookloft.com

Unusual and Thoughtful Gifts A Treasure Trove of Beautiful Things Visit our store in Lee or shop online at ebay: stores.ebay.com/arcnoli

413-358-0170

266 Main Street, Lee, MA gifts@theuptownstore.org

www.theuptownstore.org

TOONERVILLE TROLLEY

RECORDS & CDs New ● Used ● Imported Stop by for a visit!

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm

“It was her compassion that was so pretty.”

413-458-5229

131 Water Street, Williamstown, MA www.toonervilletrolleyrecords.com

Close your eyes. open your heart. concernedsingles.com

C: 413-441-2239 ● P: 413-243-0025 395 Laurel Street (RT 20), Lee, MA

www.RetroPopShop.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

7

ME, BRUCE, AND THE BLUES

By Michael Romano

B

ruce and I took a car trip to Florida in late April 1984. We loaded Bruce’s 12-year-old Buick with all of our luggage and fishing equipment, and took turns driving the 1,200 miles to the small duplex we had rented right on Daytona Beach.

The owner of the duplex was an old friend and he arranged for us to stay in the empty, unrented half of the building . . . and when he said empty he meant it. There was nothing but four walls. Luckily there were beautiful, modern hotels on either side of us and they never missed the big comfortable lounge chairs that we used for beds. Sometimes we even slept right on the beach, listening to the ocean crashing onto the shore. We didn’t have a lot of money, just enough for the necessities (beer, gas, and bait), so we kept some of the fish we caught for dinner and some of them we traded for blankets and pillows from a local race car driver. All in all we were comfortable, tanned, and selfsufficient during our three-week stay.

The place where we were staying was just a few miles from Cape Canaveral and we heard about a great fishing place by the name of Turtle Mound. The mound was created from millions of oyster shells piled up over the centuries by hungry ancient native Americans (the Timucuan Indians). This huge 35-foot-high, 2-acre-wide hill of oyster shells (more than 1.5 million bushels) attracts not only humans but also all manner of fish and other marine life, so of course, we had to fish there.

We found it without too much difficulty and proceeded to bait up and try our luck. Almost immediately we hooked up with a school of bluefish in the 3-pound range, and proceeded to throw fish after fish into a large plastic bucket we had brought just for that purpose, exchanging recipes for the night’s dinner as we did so.

Suddenly Bruce’s line went taut, like he had hooked the bottom a few feet from shore. I waded out to release his line from the shallow water and found myself thrown flat on my face in the mud!

Bruce had hooked a large manta ray and I had just stepped on it.

The angry manta quickly broke Bruce’s line and flapped off into deeper water, but it took me a little longer to right myself and get 8

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out of the water. Once on shore I had barely gotten settled when I discovered an intruder in our fish bucket. A small raccoon was handing our fish to some of his relatives and half of the fish were gone. We decided to cut our losses and grabbed our fishing poles and fish and locked them in the trunk of Bruce’s car.

When we got back to the duplex our neighbor from the other side came to tell us that we had to hurry to the local pub for happy hour. They said we could expect a large, free buffet, and dollar beers, so hurry we did, barely taking time to wash the salt and fish smell from our bodies. We got there in record time and of course, knowing us, one thing led to another and happy “hour” turned into three, and the next thing we both knew we were waking up in our beach chairs at noon the next day.

As we got ready to go fishing again Bruce realized three things: one, we had left a bunch of fish in the trunk; two, Bruce could not find his keys; and three, it was ninety degrees out! It took us three days to find those keys, and by then the smell was so overpowering the car was hard to get near. No matter how much we aired the trunk out or sprayed disinfectant, the smell would not go away; it was our constant companion all 1,200 miles of the return trip back home. Not the best of souvenirs, but it was certainly a trip we will never forget! ~ 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 at the now-closed Kolburne School in New Marlborough, MA, for many years where he enjoyed taking many of the students fishing.

home & garden

413-528-0085 Frameless

Shower Enclosures

Insulated

Plexiglass Table

Glass

Mirrors and Shelving

Sisters Used Furniture

Small Shop, Big Savings Always buying. Always new inventory.

Tops

Screens

968 South Main Street Great Barrington, MA

and Porch Panels

open Mon-Fri 8am - 4pm

www.GlassShopSheffield.com

Summer hours: Thursday-Saturday 11-4, Sunday 12-4 402 Park Street, Rte 183, Housatonic, MA

Mountain Goat Artisans Local, One-of-a-Kind Handmade Gifts

Mary Merselis-Proprietor Pottery ● Furniture Jewelry ● Original Art

Find up to date inventory on our Facebook page.

Weaving ● Carvings Photography ● More!

(413) 884-5339 Open 12-5pm Wednesday - Saturday

130 Water Street, Williamstown, MA

www.mountaingoatartisans.com

Dress Up Your Windows Window Treatments

Hunter Douglas ● Graber ● Norman Shutters Upholstery, Draperies, Fabric & Wallpaper

Window Treatments

Hunter Douglas • Graber • Comfortex • Norman Shutter For all Your Decorating Needs Upholstery, Draperies, Fabric & Wallpaper

BerkshireFabric Fabric & Wallpaper Berkshire & Wallpaper 274 Wahconah Pittsfield, 274 Wahconah St.,St., Pittsfield, MA MA

(413) 442-4420 413-442-4420

Open 10-5, closed Open dailydaily 10-5:30, SatSat 10-4,10-4, closed SundaySun

www.berkshirefabricwallpaper.com

(413) 274-9900  www.sistersusedfurniture.com

STUNNING BERKSHIRE CONTEMPORARY The perfect combination of privacy and luxury

GREAT BARRINGTON ● GUEST WING ● DRAMATIC GUNITE POOL ● $1,800,000

Steve Erenburg Associate

(413) 663-0457

A resident of the Berkshires for 16 years, Steve has always been deeply involved in his local community. He has strong business and negotiation skills – an asset to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate. Steve has been married for 43 years, loves the Berkshires, and enjoys fishing and golf.

COHEN + WHITE ASSOCIATES www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

DISTINCTIVE TOWN & COUNTRY PROPERTIES

Lenox, MA ● (413) 637-1086 www.cohenwhiteassoc.com

September | October 2017

9

Storing Seeds from One Year to the Next

W

GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS / By Ian Robb

e are often asked by our customers, “How do we store leftover seeds until the next planting season?” Before answering this question, let us tell you how we store our seeds here at Turtle Tree Seed. ● We make sure the seeds are thoroughly dry, and then we pack them in small brown bags or white seed envelopes.

Double-bagging avoids any seed loss through holes or cracks.

Next, we close the bags using rubber bands. The seeds are now contained but not packed too tightly. ● Our seed storage room is dark and maintains a temperature all year round of approximately 43°F and a relative humidity of 45 percent. In short, cold, dark, and dry! ● We do not store our seeds in plastic bags, freezer bags, plastic containers, or in open jars in a room with fluctuating temperatures and alternating darkness and light. What we are trying to do is to hold the seed in what we call “slumber,” waiting to wake up when planted in soil at the right temperature with the necessary amount of water and light in which to germinate and grow.

Now to answer the question: You will need to adapt our method to your situation. Do you have a basement that is dry and stays cool all year round? If you do, make sure that your stored seeds are protected from insects and animals. If you do not have a

I

cool dry place in the house, then probably the refrigerator will have to do. Check the temperature to see if it is around 43°F. We recommend that you keep the seeds in their original packets (if you have to use new bags or packets make sure they are labeled correctly), store them in a dry glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and a bit of desiccant such as silica packets.

Wherever you store your seeds, check them occasionally to make sure that they have not become moldy, or damaged by insects or rodents; this will avoid disappointment when sowing time comes around. The storage life of seeds varies tremendously; for example, tomato and pepper seed will be viable longer than lettuce seed. So try not to store seeds and forget about them, rather use them up from year to year.

We trust that with these simple guidelines you will find your own solutions to successfully store seeds in your home. May we emphasize that correct storage procedures apply to seeds wherever, whenever. For example, if you like to get your seed order in early winter, please make sure that your seeds are properly cared for until sowing time! ~ Ian Robb, Turtle Tree Biodynamic Seed Initiative. To find more articles about seed saving and gardening or learn more about Turtle Tree Biodynamic Seed Initiative, you may visit us on the web at www.turtletreeseed.org or tour the seed shop at our home, Camphill Village, in Copake, NY, just over the western border of Massachusetts!

COLLECTING FLOWER SEEDS

f you wish to collect seeds from your own flower garden, harvest them on a dry and sunny day when the seedpods have changed from green to brown and are easy to break open. Always harvest seeds from your best-performing, most vigorous plants. Use clean, sharp garden scissors to cut the pods or seed heads from the plant and place in carefully labeled paper collection bags so that you do not forget which seeds are which. Once you have collected your seeds, spread them out on a screen or a piece of newspaper and dry them at room temperature for a week before long-term storage.

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home & garden

Native Habitat Restoration restoring balance to nature

Wetlands  Woodlands Meadows  Fields Invasive Plant Control  Pollinator Habitat Brush Management  Field Restoration

(413) 358-7400

www.nativehabitatrestoration.weebly.com Licensed in MA  CT  NY  VT

All the Fun Summer Stuff Your● Gazebos Yard ●Could For! Benches ●Ask Picnic Tables ShedsFun ● Swings ● Children’s Gym Sets All ●the Summer Stuff ● Gazebos ● Benches ● Picnic Tables ● Sheds Ask ● Swings ● Children’s Gym Sets Your Yard Could For! ● Gazebos ● Benches ● Gazebos

Picnic Tables ● Sheds Children’s Gym Sets

Picnic Tables Children’s Visit us Gym Sets

●

Gazebos Swings Sheds Benches ● Sheds Picnic Tables Gazebos ● Benches ● ●Picnic Tables ● Swings ● Play Sets Swings Swings ● Children’s Gym Sets Sheds ● Chicken Coops MA Route 8 Cheshire, Benches (413) ● One & Two743-9964 Bay Sheds

Toll Free (866) ● One & Two Bay411-7433 Garages www.berkshiresheds.com

8 Cheshire, MA on Route 8 Route in Cheshire, MA (413) 743-9964 (413) 743-9964 ● TollToll Free (866) 411-7433 Free (866) 411-7433 www.berkshiresheds.com www.berkshiresheds.com

Route 8 Cheshire, MA Emergency Water & Fire Remediation (413) 743-9964 Toll Free 1-866-411-7433 (shed) www.berkshiresheds.com

ServiceMASTER of the Berkshires Route 8 Cheshire, MA (413) 743-9964 ServiceMASTER of Columbia County, NY Toll Free 1-866-411-7433 (shed)

GRAND MOVING SALE Everything At The Store

40% off with this ad Don’t You Deserve the Best?

www.berkshiresheds.com

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

ELECTROLUX | 90 Years of Innovation ● Best

800-707-1441

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

EMERGENCY ON CALL SERVICE ● Emergency Water Damage Remediation Locally Owned ● Emergency Fire, Soot and Smoke Remediation and Operated. ● House Wide and Post Construction Cleaning ● Floor Maintenance ● Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning ● Animal Debris and Odor Clean Up ● Mold and Odor Remediation ● Sewer and Septic Clean Up ● We Will Use Green Cleaning Products Upon Request

Certified & Trained Technicians With More Than 15 Years Experience.

3 Westview Road, Pittsfield, MA

www.ServiceMasteroftheBerkshires.com

Vacuums ● True HEPA

● 40% O FF! ● ● Healthy Home Products you had for the last 25 years? ● Best Air PurifiersHow about one?

Best Vacuums ● Best Service ● Best Air Purifiers ● Best Warranty ● Healthy Home Laundry Solutions wit How many vacuum cleaners haveh this ad

383 North Street, Pittsfield, ● www.aerusonline.com Don’tMAYou Deserve the Best?

(413) 442-1544 | (413) 743-0985 | (802) 442-9560 ELECTROLUX | 90 Years of Innovation ● Best

Vacuums ● True HEPA Service ● Best Air Purifiers ● Best Warranty ● Healthy Home ● Best

Open

How many vacuum cleaners have you had for the last 25 years?

How about one?

Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-4

383 North Street, Pittsfield, MA ● www.aerusonline.com (413) 442-1544 | (413) 743-0985 | (802) 442-9560 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

11

in the spotlight

A

fter fifteen years in business finance, Vicki left the corporate world to build her own practice providing personal and business coaching, intuitive sessions, and workshops. She believes we all have amazing gifts to offer the world in who we are and how we are wired. Vicki sincerely finds joy in helping people discover their gifts, and learn how to harness them and take them out to the world.

Q: Vicki, please give us an overview of what you do.

A: I am an Intuitive Life Coach. I use wisdom acquired from 25 years

in business, my genuine love of people and belief in their greatness, an ability to see and feel psychological and emotional blocks in my clients, and my skill with Belief Re-patterning™ techniques to help people make major shifts in their lives. I serve my clients through private sessions, group coaching, classes, workshops, and speaking engagements. It’s like one-stop life shift shopping!

Vicki Baird

Q: How did you get started?

A: After many years in business finance, I discovered the

joy of helping people find their own peace, happiness, and intuition. This inspired me to leave the corporate world to build my own practice with the services mentioned above, to people all over the world.

Q: What was your first big challenge?

A: When I started offering intuitive readings, I believed I was helping people see their own potential by working with them to create a guidance plan focused on their most successful life; however they defined success. But I quickly realized that my clients were coming in to find out what I thought their plan should be. They were handing over their energy and power to yet another person, instead of tapping into their own inherent gifts. Yes, I wanted to be a partner in my clients’ expansion, but most of all I wanted them to experience the fantastic feeling of accomplishment discovering who they really are and what they are truly capable of. It was time to design a new offering for my clients.

Q: What did you do from there?

A: First, I began more accurately describing what I was offering

as an Intuitive Life Coach. Soon after, I became certified in Belief Re-patterning™ and a formula for client success was born. Up to this point I had been wondering and asking myself, “Why can’t we move the part of ourselves that is not supportive out of the way, and just get things done!” I was truly baffled by this. Once I learned the Belief Re-patterning™ technique, more about brain neuroplasticity and how habits and belief systems form, and most importantly how we talk to ourselves, I knew I had found the formula to help shift lives.

Q: Specifically, how do you help your clients shift away from the beliefs that limit them?

A: My intention is to help my clients realize how complex,

amazing, and loving they are. Using what others have called “a unique blend of intuitive genius mixed with great humor and a head for personal strategy,” I help them discover their true path and hidden talents, and how to put these to good use. As an intuitive coach, I am able to read, feel, and tap into anything that’s going on in a person’s energy field. This helps to guide us toward their individual goal. Then there is Belief Re-patterning™, which recognizes that we are wired to solve problems in our own way, and addresses and releases limiting beliefs through a safe, practical, and efficient method. If you can talk and breathe, you can do Belief Re-patterning™. There is no need to relive or investigate the why or the how. In other words, you do not need to tell your story. Belief Re-patterning™ clients appreciate this unique aspect of the technique. The results are profound, tangible, and immediate.

Q: What is your philosophy?

A: I believe that the choice to invest in self always pays off.

We all matter, and I want to help others know that too. I have an insatiable desire to learn what makes us individuals, how we came to be who we are, and how this combination of factors can be explored and expanded. Working together as a team makes for a strong self. I have won the occupational lottery working with clients – I love what I do!

Q: How can our readers find you?

A: Want to email, call, or send a smoke signal? I am very accessible

through my website at www.vickibaird.com, you can call the office at (413) 499-9791, email me at vicki@vickibaird.com, or reach me through any of the social platforms by searching CoachVickiBaird.

My office, for one-on-one sessions, is located in Pittsfield, MA. See my display ad and Ask Vicki column on page 24.

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Face Haven supports the Green Beauty Movement – Owner Sherie Ross says "We pledge to offer pure, clean, nontoxic beauty products that come from brands that believe in transparency, use only ethically sourced ingredients, and are eco-friendly and cruelty free. Say goodbye to chemicalladen products and say hello to natural, organic, and vegan. We here at Face Haven care about you and our community, and are pleased to share our knowledge and exciting new lines of cleaner cosmetics. We are ready to help you achieve healthier, more beautiful skin." Visit Face Haven at 323 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA. (413) 528-4053, www.facehavenbeauty.com

Drum / Wonderful Things HANDMADE Tank This striking (no pun intended) tank drum is handmade

from recycled propane tanks by none other than Wonderful Things owner Harry Sano, aka “Mr. Wonderful.” Each drum takes up to 45 hours in labor to create, and its unique melodic sound can be produced by amateur and professionals alike. In-stock and custom orders accepted. Wonderful Things is well known for their extensive collection of pottery and American-made and artisan gifts. When you visit you will also find the largest selection of yarn, needlework, and craft supplies in the Berkshires. Find the perfect present for any occasion, or give the creative person in your life a gift certificate. 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA. Open seven days a week. (413) 528-2473, www.wonderful-things.com / $275-$1200

VIBRANT

Subscriptions / Our BerkshireTimes Magazine

Don’t miss a single issue! Enjoy the convenience of home delivery with a one-year subscription to Our BerkshireTimes magazine. Our vibrant, community-focused publication is independently published, “locally grown” (in the Berkshires since 2009), and offers six print issues per year starting each January. Each issue displays local art on its cover, and is printed on quality 80#, FSC certified satin paper with satin aqueous coating, and soy ink. Most of our editorial content is contributed by community members, and we welcome your editorial and artistic contributions.

We publish content that informs, educates, enlightens, entertains, and inspires. Share your passion!

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September | October 2017

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food & drink

Fall “Risotto” with Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts & Dried Cranberries

By Guido’s Dietitian Rachel Alves

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his is a family-friendly take on a classic – beautiful and hearty, highlighting the delicious bounty of fall. This recipe has been adapted from Ina Garten by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace’s dietitian Rachel Alves. Serves 4 to 6.

Ingredients 1 small butternut squash (1-1½ lbs) 1 lb Brussels sprouts

3-5 T plus 1 T extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper 1½ cups Arborio rice 5 cups simmering chicken stock, divided 2 sage leaves 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ½ cup dry white wine, optional 2 T unsalted butter, diced ½ cup dried cranberries

Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into ¾-inch cubes. You should have about 4 to 5 cups. Trim the brown ends off the Brussels sprouts, remove any yellow outer leaves, and cut them in half. Place the squash and the Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan and toss with 3 to 5 tablespoons of olive oil and the salt and pepper. Roast for about 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.

Place the rice, 4 cups of chicken stock, and the sage leaves in a Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente. Remove from the oven and discard the sage. Add the remaining cup of chicken stock, Parmesan, wine (if using), butter, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper, and stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the roasted squash, Brussels sprouts, and cranberries, and stir until heated through. Serve hot. ~ Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com 14

September | October 2017

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food & drink

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Share your passion!

Send in articles for consideration through www.OurBerkshireTimes.com.

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September | October 2017

15

food & drink

Some Like it Hot! A FUN WAY TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON

By Michael Romano

A

few years ago I sustained a back injury that left me in a wheelchair almost full time, and while it has hampered me somewhat, it has also given me an opportunity to try new things. One of these new things is gardening, but not in the traditional sense. I adapted my own method by growing very hot peppers (and other things like cukes and peas, but mostly hot peppers) in containers on an old-fashioned picnic table so I can reach them from my wheelchair. I also grow tomato plants along my wheelchair ramp. I do well with them.

In late summer, I harvest a slew of peppers, tomatoes, and cukes – way too much for our personal use and immediate consumption.

I mean, there is only so much salsa you can eat, and a pot of hot chili once a week can get boring, so what do I do with all those beautiful peppers? I give some away, but people only take so many. So, I learned to can them! I make homemade salsa, fire pickles, and hell pickled peppers. It’s pretty easy and a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I start with half-pint Mason jars, as these are a nice size to gift someone; then as the season progresses I switch to pint jars and even quart jars towards the end of harvest. Last year I ended up with 36 assorted jars of canned produce.

Following is a summary of the water bath canning instructions found at www.freshpreserving.com. My own method varies a little, but you should check out their website for the details.

1) Read recipe and assemble equipment and ingredients. I usually chop up a mixture of my peppers, red onions, garlic, cukes for fire pickles, and everything but cukes for the hell peppers. For my pickling brine I use vinegar, water, and pickling or kosher salt (table salt yellows brine). I also put a clove of garlic and a quarter teaspoon of pickling spice in the bottom of each jar.

2) Check jars, lids, and bands for proper functioning to prevent sealing issues or jar breakage. Wash all in hot, soapy water, rinse well, and dry bands.

3) Heat home canning jars in hot (not boiling) water until ready for use to prevent them from breaking when hot food is added. Leave lids and bands at room temperature.

4) Prepare boiling water bath by filling large pot or canner

half full with water and simmer while covered with lid until jars are filled and placed in canner.

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5) Prepare tested preserving recipe using fresh produce and

other quality ingredients.

6) Remove a jar from the hot water (with jar lifter or tongs),

and empty water from jar. Fill hot jars one at a time with prepared ingredients leaving recommended headspace. Remove air bubbles.

7) Clean Mason jar rim and threads, center lid on jar, apply

band, and fingertip tighten. Place filled jars in canner making sure water covers jars by 1 to 2 inches. Cover, and bring to a rolling boil.

8) Process jars in the boiling water for the required time,

adjusting for altitude. Then turn off the heat, remove the canner lid, and allow jars to stand in canner for 5 minutes.

9) Remove jars from canner and set upright on a towel

undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours. Bands should not be retightened as this may interfere with the sealing process.

10) Check jar lids for seals. Lids should not flex up and down

when center is pressed. Remove bands. Try to lift lids off with your fingertips. If the lid cannot be lifted off, the lid has a good seal. If a lid does not seal within 24 hours, the product can be immediately reprocessed or refrigerated and consumed promptly.

Label and store in a cool, dry, dark place up to one year.

I find that the pickled stuff is ready to eat in three weeks but tastes better if it cures longer. This pickling/canning method can be used on many different veggies like green beans, asparagus, summer squash, and even watermelon rinds, and they can be made spicy by just adding hot pepper to the mix.

Hot peppers may also be saved by drying them. Simply use a needle and thread to string them up, and hang till dry. When dry they can be used as a holiday decoration and later in cooking. Hot peppers have many health benefits, but if you ever find yourself in need of an antidote, slowly drink a glass of milk which will help break the bonds capsaicin forms on your nerve receptors. For those of you that like it HOT, you’ll find an amazing variety of hot peppers to read up about at www.tinyurl.com/y94y7d3a. Enjoy! ~ Michael Romano, a Great Barrington, MA, resident for almost 40 years, is a retired chef and also enjoys writing. He and his wife, Susan, worked at the now-closed Kolburne School in New Marlborough, MA, for many years. Look for his fishing articles in this and previous issues of Our BerkshireTimes magazine.

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September | October 2017

17

Using Your Strengths at Work A MORE PRODUCTIVE APPROACH TO CAREER DEVELOPMENT

By Jess Dods, MBA

F

or quite some time, career development in the United States was based on working on correcting weaknesses.

This is best captured in the popular phrase: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” We have seen a big shift in recent years, though, towards a much more productive approach to career development, which focuses on using and improving strengths.

This does not occur at the expense of working on areas that need to be developed. Rather, it is a focus on using strengths to crosstrain areas of challenge or weakness.

So, what is a strength?

A good working definition of a strength is this: An innate talent or ability to consistently achieve excellent results in an activity or process. An example of a strength could be Tiger Woods’s strength at long, accurate drives. His ability at sand saves is not a strength. Warren Buffet’s strengths lie in his ability to invest in solid companies with long-term growth and not to get sidetracked by short-term fluctuations.

Other examples of strengths are strategic thinking, having an orientation towards achievement, empathy, being able to influence others, consistency, curiosity, strong communication skills, seeing the big picture, and a focus on details.

What about my strengths?

For many of us, we are just not aware of our specific strengths.

We tend to just do what we do, often not recognizing those strengths that we use in areas in which we consistently perform at a high level.

How do I find out about my strengths? ● Ask others: this involves asking colleagues and friends to share with you what they see as your strengths. While this may seem intrusive or cause you to feel awkward, this process is helpful all around. People like to help others, and identifying strengths is a useful process that contributes to being able to use them more effectively. ● Surveys: there are some excellent surveys available to help you identify your strengths.

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● Strengths Finder 2.0: this is the updated version of the classic survey from the book Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, and costs about $20 for the basic five-strengths version. It is available as a book and in an online version. The results rank your top five professional strengths out of a total list of 34, which arose out of some highly regarded and extensive research in this area. ● Viame.org: this no-charge survey measures your character strengths (as opposed to your professional strengths measured by the Strengths Finder). They are equally important in our lives.

What do I do with the information?

Increase your awareness of your strengths, and how they work for you. This can lead you to improve your strengths and use your strengths to cross-train areas of weakness. We call this leveraging your strengths, when you use them to cross-train other areas.

These actions can lead you to greater achievement of your work performance and career goals.

Becoming aware of your strengths and using them in service of your goals, as well as cross-training areas of weakness, can greatly increase your chances of achieving your goals. And it’s important to be aware that we, as human beings, are predisposed to observe what is “wrong,” or a weakness. So keep an eye out for this tendency, which can present an added challenge when working to identify your strengths. ~ Jess Dods is an experienced and effective career coach and organization consultant. He coaches individuals in job transition and provides job performance coaching for middle management to executive levels. He also consults with organizations to improve individual and team performance. He is certified and very experienced in the use of several highly regarded assessment tools. Jess is a native and current resident of Southampton, MA. He is well acquainted with Western Massachusetts businesses, in addition to his global experience.

(413) 977-9273, www.jessdodscoaching.com

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What’s My Income Strategy?

A HOLISTIC RETIREMENT PLANNER CAN PROVIDE THE ANSWER / By Philip C. Gallant, CLTC

F

or years retirees have been encouraged to save as much as possible for retirement, usually in government plans such as a 401(k) or IRA account. When the time arrives to live on that money though, many folks are left wondering, now what? Mutual fund companies, and what I like to call “asset aggregators,” like it when you have a big sum of money under management for your retirement years. The question then becomes, how much income can I take?

Many years ago a financial planner named Bill Bengen sat down with his computer and determined that a 4-percent withdrawal rate was acceptable in all market conditions to give you inflation-adjusted income to life expectancy. Since then, and especially after the two significant market corrections that have occurred since 2000, this rule has been criticized by many as too simplistic and unrealistic.

The better question is, how can you design a strategy that will allow you to create a solid retirement income plan – one to provide the income you need, or desire, which you know will have a much higher probability of success? In other words, What’s my income strategy? It might sound like the same question, but building a strategy will often provide a much better answer than the old 4-percent rule! A strategy that takes into account all income sources, such as social security, pensions, and savings, and

then builds a stream of inflation-adjusted income around your needs and desires, will typically require more thoughtful planning and different financial tools.

A holistic retirement planner is likely to provide these answers for you.

If you limit yourself to partnering with someone who only works with equities and alternative investments, such as Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), they might not understand how to blend guaranteed income floors using annuities for base income enhancement.

Another risk is they might recommend the entirely wrong annuity or miss life insurance income strategies, which the wealthy have employed for centuries for tax-free income and asset protection.

Talk to a few advisors before deciding on the 4-percent rule. You might find very interesting answers to the question, What’s my income strategy? ~ Philip C. Gallant, CLTC, has been in the financial services industry since 1980, and he founded The Optimus Group in 2006. Philip lives in Clifton Park, NY, with his wife, Michelle, and their dog, Riley. They have five children.

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September | October 2017

19

home & garden

Are You Still Consuming Dairy?

By Mark Hyman, MD

B

y now, most of my readers probably know how I feel about dairy – it’s nature’s perfect food – but only if you’re a calf. We have no biological requirement for this food, and yet, we’ve been told over and over again that dairy is a great source of calcium, milk makes healthy bones, and we should drink it daily. I’m here to tell you that this is not true. Based on research and my experience practicing medicine, I typically advise most of my patients to avoid dairy products completely.

Here are Some Facts to Consider  Countries with the lowest rates of dairy and calcium consumption (like those in Africa and Asia) have the lowest rates of osteoporosis.

Research shows that higher intakes of both calcium and dairy products may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 50 percent.

dairy can cause. In addition, about 75 percent of the world’s population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products – a problem known as lactose intolerance.

I often find that symptoms of lactose intolerance are caused by difficulty digesting casein, the main protein found in milk, which is also used in other food products as a binding agent. Casein proteins can actually induce inflammation leading to things like eczema, ear infections, congestion, and sinus problems. So, I highly recommend avoiding casein, no matter who you are.

Whey protein contains very little lactose, so there is a chance that someone with lactose intolerance might be able to have whey.

However, I know some people who can tolerate whey protein and others who cannot, so you might want to test it out for yourself.





Overall, I recommend avoiding dairy, but especially if you’re lactose intolerant. Dairy consumption can lead to increased cancer risk, increased fracture risk, constipation, irritable bowel, bloating, gas, diarrhea, allergies, eczema, and acne. None of that sounds good to me!

Calcium isn’t as bone-protective as we thought. Studies of calcium supplementation have shown no benefit in reducing fracture risk. In fact, vitamin D appears to be much more important than calcium in preventing fractures.

One dairy product that many people can tolerate is ghee. Ghee is simply clarified butter which has had all the water and milk solids removed from it. That means it can be consumed by those who are allergic to dairy. Again, some people do well with ghee and others do not. It really depends on the individual.

These are just a few of the findings related to the harm that

How to Test for Dairy Sensitivity

Dairy consumption increases the body’s level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (or IGF-1) – a known cancer promoter.



I recommend getting off of all dairy, except for grass-fed butter and ghee, for three weeks. That means eliminating milk, cheese, yogurt, products with casein, and ice cream to see if you feel better. You should notice improvements with your sinuses, postnasal drip, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, energy, and weight. Then start reintroducing dairy again and see how you feel. If you feel worse, you should try to give it up for life.

If you do consume dairy, always choose grass-fed. If you’re going to consume butter or other dairy products, remember that grass-fed is best. The milk these cows produce has an omega-6

health & wellness

to omega-3 ratio of 1:1, which is optimal. Conventionally raised cows eat grains and other crops that make their fatty acid profiles more inflammatory. The milk they produce – and as a result the butter and cheese made from it – contains more omega-6 fats.

Personally, when I eat little to no dairy, I feel much, much better. Give it a shot, what’s to lose? Besides all the miserable symptoms and a little weight, that is. ~ Mark Hyman, MD, is a practicing family physician, a ten-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in his field. He is the director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, the founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA, chairman of the board of the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical editor of The Huffington Post, and was a regular medical contributor on many television shows including CBS This Morning, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. www.drhyman.com

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Hidden Dairy / Published with permission from godairyfree.org, reprinted from Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook

T

here are the obvious dairy foods such as cow’s milk (chocolate, whole, skim, malted, evaporated), buttermilk, half-and-half, cream, butter, cheese, ice cream, milk shakes, and yogurt. However, did you know that the majority of processed foods also contain dairy?

Milk proteins and lactose, the culprits of milk allergies and lactose intolerance respectively, often lurk in some of the strangest places.

Below we have a partial list of manufactured foods where dairy ingredients may be hiding. We guarantee a few will surprise you!

Artificial sweeteners – Some are derived from dairy foods.

Baby formula – Read the labels carefully on this one.

Bakery goods – This is a hard one to verify; look for ingredients.

Baking mixes (cakes, biscuits, pancakes) – Some okay brands.

Bath products – Avoid if you have skin reactions to milk products.

Bread – Whey, other milk proteins, possibly cheese or butter.

Breath mints – A few contain casein-related ingredients.

Canned tuna fish – Some contain hydrolyzed caseinate.

Caramel – It may either be made from sugar and water or milk.

Cereal – Dry and instant cereals vary significantly in ingredients.

Chewing gum – Some brands contain milk protein ingredients.

Chicken broth – Several brands use milk proteins or solids.

Chocolate – Milk chocolate, and some semisweet and dark.

Chocolate drinks – Even some nonmilk varieties contain dairy.

Coffee creamers – Well, something makes them white and creamy.

Cookies & crackers – Often the most processed foods of them all.

Cream liqueurs – May possess solid milk ingredients or caseinates.

Custard & pudding – Most contain milk products.

Drugs & vitamins – Lactose is the base for a number of them.

Eggnog – Make an at-home version with milk alternatives.

Fat replacers – Some are derived from milk.

Fondues – Isn’t this the word the Swiss use for cheese?

Fried foods – The breading; also, cheese is commonly added.

Goat’s milk – Contains proteins similar to cow’s milk and lactose.

Granola & nutrition bars – May contain milk additives.

Gravies – Some utilize milk ingredients for flavor and texture.

Hot cocoa mix – Some have milk ingredients added.

Hot dogs – What isn’t in hot dogs?

Imitation maple & other syrups – Go for the real stuff.

Instant potatoes – Particularly the au gratin varieties.

Kosher parve desserts – Although most parve foods are okay.

Lactose-free milks – They may still be loaded with milk proteins.

Lunch meats & sausages – Lactose and caseinates are common.

Margarine – Most are not dairy free.

Meal replacements, protein powders & beverages Peanut butter – A very few may contain milk solids.

Potato chips – Particularly risky among the flavored varieties.

Salad dressings – Most natural brands have dairy-free flavors.

Sherbet – Different from sorbet and usually contains milk or cream.

Soup – Obviously the creamy varieties, but even some of the tomatoand chicken-based soups are not dairy free.

Soy “meat” products – Guilty of harboring milk proteins.

Soy cheeses – Yep, they often contain milk proteins.

Spice mixes – Several contain whey powder.

Whipped toppings – Let’s just say that the term “nondairy topping” is used rather loosely; these products contain casein. www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

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health & wellness

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The CEREC Procedure - Step by Step 1) After removing the defective filling and/or decay, a 3D image of the tooth is captured with an optical camera, directly in your mouth.

2) The restoration is designed and created on the screen of the acquisition unit.

3) The CEREC milling unit uses diamond-coated instruments to reproduce the design. This is accomplished during a single appointment using CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/ Computer-Aided Manufacturing).

When you visit a dental office that takes traditional impressions to be sent to their lab, there is a great possibility the laboratory will fabricate a CEREC crown. This is because 95 percent of dental laboratories are now using CAD/CAM technology. By providing our patients with this technology directly, we are able to help you feel confident about your smile in a single visit!

For more information on CEREC crowns, please contact our office. ~ Messenger Digital Dentistry, www.reasons2smile.com

Messenger Digital Dentistry ● One visit crowns with no impressions. ● Single visit root canal therapy, post, core, and crown. ● Computer guided implant placement allows for less

Dr. Gene Messenger (front center)

Dr. Mohammed Forhad (2nd from right)

More than 25 Years in Practice Graduate from the University Received Diplomate Status in the IDIA of Pennsylvania Has a Fellowship in ACCD and Special Training in Surgical Extractions, Laser Dentistry from WCLI Bone Grafts, Endodontics, Mentor/Trainer for Implants and Cad Cam and Pediatric Dentistry

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September | October 2017

invasive surgeries and precise implant placement. ● Amalgam (silver)-free fillings. ● Digital x-rays we use allow for 90% less radiation. ● On-site laboratories for denture repairs and relines. ● One visit smile makeovers, veneers, crown, and bridges. ● Computerized periodontal evaluation. ● Advanced Zoom tooth whitening. ● Six Month Smiles - clear braces. ● Extraordinary Dental Care.

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health & wellness

Aaargh! Menopause TWO EASY SOLUTIONS FOR HOT FLASHES LOW HORMONES ● FATIGUE BRAIN FOG ● MOOD SWINGS ● LOW LIBIDO

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re you suffering from hot flashes, brain fog, low libido, fatigue, arthritis, and other symptoms attributed to menopause and postmenopause? Did you know that there is a menopause and antiaging elixir that has been used by women from ancient civilizations for more than 2,000 years that can help?

Author Nina Anderson shares this information and other simple solutions in her new book Aaargh! Menopause, available in hardcopy from Amazon for $9.95. Berkshire residents can download a free ebook version, however, thanks to Safe Goods Publishing located in Sheffield, MA, by going to http://menopausebook.gr8.com.

Aaargh! Menopause will tell you more about the ancient elixir, how you can reduce the effects of aging, what foods to eat to reduce symptoms, tips for memory enhancement, what can help prevent arthritis, which supplements strengthen bones, how to support your immune system, and clinical trials that offer proof. ~ Nina Anderson has written 20 books on natural health and on aviation. www.4easymenopause.com

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mind & spirit

Ask Vicki

Send Your Questions to vicki@vickibaird.com

By Vicki Baird

F

ifteen years ago, I quit my corporate job to discover my own path. Today, I help people just like you develop your gifts, harness them, and take them out to the world. Welcome to Ask Vicki where I will use my Intuitive Life Coach and Belief Repatterning™ experience to answer your questions. If you have a concern (career path, relationships, or mind and spirit related issues) email me at vicki@vickibaird.com.

Dear Vicki,

bad our parents are, we want to believe they are good people. She cannot see her mother the way you do. Concentrate on appreciating the fact that she is in your life and try to let go of past events. It’s like playing tug of war: when one person drops the rope, the other person either falls on their fanny or they realize that there is no longer a tug of war. Think of it as a gift to yourself to drop the anger. The relationship will improve over time.

Dear Karen, Oh, honey, you are speaking my life. I had the same experience with my two, now adult, stepsons. What I have come to know is that the anger we hang on to only impacts us, it does not impact those who have created the drama. They are usually clueless. As for letting go of the resentment towards your daughter, try to appreciate her for being a loving person because no matter how

Being a parent, full or step, is incredibly challenging at times, but it can also be the best platform to learn about yourself and how to compromise. Take a lot of deep breaths and be patient with yourself. That will help the most. ~ From one super stepparent to another, Vicki

I am married to a man who was married and divorced before.

They had two children, which my husband and I now share full custody of. His ex has pulled some rotten things over the years in regards to us. How do I let go of my anger towards her, and second, how do I not resent my “daughter” because she protects her mom, after all the nonsense? ~Karen, Great Barrington, MA

Vicki Baird Intuitive Life Coach Imagine what could happen . . . if you believed in you!

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How do you best deal with a partner who decides to leave a wonderful seven-year relationship because she is drawn back to her family and career in Kentucky? ~ Paul, California Dear Paul, I am sorry she decided to do that. One way to begin to deal with this situation is to ask yourself what, if anything, you can see now in your relationship with this woman that was not as wonderful as you thought it may have been. Often this type of awareness can only come in retrospect after a big shift.

Then, I would take the time to think about what it is that you want, not only from relationships, but in life in general. I can’t speak for her, but if she was drawn back to her birth family and career, she is in essence really saying she needs to return to herself, and there isn’t anything you can do about that. It’s frustrating and it hurts, no doubt, but you need to take the time to let the emotions, including grief, come up. While honoring her choice you must also honor your process. The end of a relationship is a death to the emotional self, and the time it takes to heal is different for everyone. I would also suggest that this is the time to take your own personal inventory. What are your amazing qualities and what areas could use some tweaking? Be as honest as you can. As author Susan Anderson says, turn the end of a relationship into the beginning of a new life. ~ All my best, Vicki

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Dear Vicki,

September | October 2017

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

~ Vicki Baird, Intuitive Life Coach and Certified Belief Re-patterning™ Practitioner. www.vickibaird.com

animal talk

Animal Talk ● Dog nose prints are as unique as human fingerprints and can be used to identify them. ~ www.thefactsite.com

● Over the past decade, animal behaviorists have gathered considerable evidence that suggests rats, of all creatures, are ticklish too. When stroked in certain body regions, the rodents emit high-pitched chirps. These chirps (which researchers say are akin to human laughter) seem to signify joy, because the rats will run mazes and press levers if they learn they’ll be rewarded with a good tickle afterward. ~ www.livescience.com ● There is a growing body of evidence that indicates spaying or neutering dogs significantly increases the risk of serious health problems. A study conducted at the University of California (UC), Davis provides additional evidence it may also seriously increase a dog’s risk of certain cancers and joint diseases. Sterilizing without desexing is a procedure that will prevent pregnancy while sparing the testes or ovaries so they continue to produce the natural hormones essential for the dog’s health. ~ http://healthypets.mercola.com ● Google Earth shows that cow and deer herds align like compass needles to the magnetic poles of the earth, as do other creatures including flies, bees, and goldfish, when there isn’t anything around to disturb them. So why do they do it? It’s still a mystery. One possibility is that keeping magnetic fields in symmetry about the axis of your body could affect health and certain bodily processes. There is evidence to back this up – in humans, the time it takes to drift into REM sleep and the electrical activity in the brain differs depending on the direction you sleep (www.scienceblogs.com). It’s good to note that researchers say that if you live in the northern hemisphere, it is not a good idea to sleep with your head facing north because the magnetic pull will cause pressure on your brain. Any direction other than north is OK, but east is best. ~ www.tinyurl.com/zxug9ek

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● Sea otters hold hands while they’re sleeping so they don’t drift apart. ~ www.mentalfloss.com ● Opossums “hoover up” ticks as they wander the forest.

Many ticks try to feed on opossums and few survive the experience. Opossums are extraordinarily good groomers that kill more than 95 percent of the ticks they carry. These sensitive creatures are also resistant to rabies. This may come as a surprise to many because opossums can drool excessively as a form of self-defense – a phenomenon many assume occurs because the animal is rabid, when in reality they’re trying to fool predators into thinking they’re sick so they’ll leave them alone. ~ http://healthypets.mercola.com

● Black cats aren’t an omen of ill fortune in all cultures. In the UK and Australia they are good luck. ~ www.animalplanet.com

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September | October 2017

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education & workshops

Planning Time for Togetherness

By K. Meagan Ledendecker

A

s a child, I remember feeling a bit befuddled about my mom’s edginess when my grandparents came to town. I certainly felt nothing but excitement about their visits. As a child, I didn’t have a sense of how my grandparents’ presence would change our family routines and shift our family dynamics.

Will bedtimes be different? What will change about meals together? What kinds of activities will likely happen?

No matter how loving, patient, and well-meaning our extended families can be, having additional people mixed into the scene, especially during the holiday season, can add layers of stress.

Often our children absorb this unspoken stress. Their behavior may even shift as a result.

Mapping out the days and what to expect on a family calendar provides a visual guide for the changes in routine. A whiteboard works well, easily allowing for modifications if the plans become overwhelming. Have conversations about what activities are most enjoyable for everyone. Cut back on those that are not essential.

Recently, when my parents came to town for a visit, I was completely focused on wanting everything to be perfect during their stay. Even though they were flexible and easygoing, I was anxious about how my children would behave, worried about making sure everyone was happy, and distracted by coordinating meals and activities.

Collecting snippets and stories of favorite experiences can be a bonding experience for extended family members. Part of the ritual of coming back together around the holidays can include sharing, and even documenting, different memories of past times together. This kind of sharing offers everyone a way to reorient and reunite. The recollections can even be collected in a kind of family memory book that can be pulled out when everyone gets back together again.

When my youngest child started launching into a slew of attention-getting behavior, I realized he was sending an important message about his unmet needs. I needed to shift my focus.

The first thing I did was to give him my complete attention. I watched him draw. I sat next to him. I helped him when he asked, even though I knew he could do the various tasks himself. This “tending to” didn’t last long. Within 15 minutes of undivided attention, he was chipper and cooperative. Even a few minutes of loving attention can refuel a child feeling disconnected.

Once my son felt secure and satisfied, I was able to talk with him about how I had been feeling stressed. I apologized. Then I explained that our routines were going to be a little different with Grandmom and Granddad visiting. I also reaffirmed the importance of being respectful and polite with visiting family members, a message he was ready to hear after he felt connected to me.

In preparing ourselves, and our children, for time with extended family and changes during the holidays, we can consciously reflect together about what routines will shift, what traditions we want to honor, and what joys and challenges the time may bring.

Our children like to be prepared and have a sense of what to expect.

Involving them in the discussion, planning, and preparation can alleviate not only their anxiety but also our own angst.

Children and relatives want to help. Intentionally enlisting extended family to support children’s involvement can create a win-win for everyone. Some possible collaborative activities include food preparation (scrubbing potatoes, mixing dough, tearing lettuce for a salad), making simple decorations, setting the table, folding the laundry, and even dusting and tidying. We all feel more settled when we feel useful and engaged.

This holiday season we have an opportunity to consciously create new rituals and opportunities for our children and our extended families. Rather than rely upon old patterns perhaps learned from previous generations, let’s plan our time of togetherness and mindfully prepare ourselves and our children. ~ K. Meagan Ledendecker is the Director of Education and Co-Founder of The Montessori School of the Berkshires. This holiday season her three children and husband look forward to creating some new family rituals with extended family members. www.berkshiremontessori.org www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

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The Holiday Season

By Julie Ulmer

R

Labor Day: Mon, Sept 4  Rosh Hashana: Thurs, Sept 21 - Fri, Sept 22 Halloween: Tues, Oct 31  Thanksgiving: Thurs, Nov 23  Hanukkah: Wed, Dec 13 - Wed, Dec 20 Christmas: Mon, Dec 25  New Year’s Eve: Sun, Dec 31  New Year’s Day: Mon, Jan 1

ecently I’ve seen some countdown clocks on social media that are ticking off the amount of time until Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then the holidays, which include ringing in the New Year. Yikes, 2018 is right around the corner!

I felt overwhelmed thinking about the quick succession of holidays and a little touch of dread about upcoming preparations. As a Halloween aficionado, it’s pretty late for me to be finally settling on my costume choice since I like to work with a seamstress or build my costume myself. I learned the hard way that tailors are usually busy with October weddings and can’t take on extra work at the last minute. While most people may think that two months is plenty of time to get ready, advanced planning is what keeps my stress level down and allows me to enjoy the atmosphere and anticipation of my favorite time of the year.

As an organizing expert, laying the groundwork for the holiday season as early as possible is the soundest advice I can give! Good preparation isn’t just reserved for entertaining or gift giving.

Planning a few months ahead builds in wiggle room and allows us to revert to a Plan B if necessary. In my opinion, having a Plan B is a good idea for just about every situation in life.

You could pick a party date, send out invitations, and then call around to see who is available to cater at your home or host your party at their restaurant, but what if that date is already booked solid? Now you’ve got a dilemma on your hands and unnecessary stress. In this case you’ll need that Plan B! Grab a blank calendar and start mapping out your ideas for the holiday season. Have fun with it. If you plan to entertain at home, I suggest an exercise in creative visualization. Stand in your driveway or parking area with your eyes closed and imagine you are anyone other than yourself. You’ve been invited to an event at this residence and you’ve just exited the car. Now open your eyes and try to see everything from the viewpoint of a stranger. Take note of the outside appearance, do a walkthrough of the main areas where guests will be entertained. Look for things you may usually be blind to such as chipped paint on the front door, a cluttered entryway with piles of shoes to possibly trip on, the broken light fixture in the hallway, or the leaky spray hose in the kitchen sink that leaves a little puddle every time the water is used. If you have to post a sign with instructions or verbally advise guests to jiggle the handle on the powder room toilet, it’s time to give a plumber a call.

If you need professionals to help with repairs, renovation, a deep

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September | October 2017

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cleaning, or decluttering, do your research and call now! Professionals can be booked for months ahead and we all know that emergency service calls are expensive. Some event planners and decorators may even be booked for certain dates years in advance. I get a lot of folks who reach out to me in the eleventh hour and I have to remind them that I’m a professional organizer, not a wizard. Clutter takes time to accumulate, and therefore takes time to decimate.

Consider crossing off some of your usual to-dos a little early to beat the crowd, even if it means putting on snow tires before Thanksgiving to make sure your car is ready for long-distance traveling. If you employ a snow plowing service, will they be ready to tackle a storm on the date of your planned event? Do you have snow shovels and ice melt on hand to keep guests safe as they approach your front door? Do you have adequate heating or cooking fuel if you are not on automatic delivery? We know that some poor soul, somewhere, has run out of propane on Thanksgiving with 20 guests arriving – don’t let that be you.

You may wish to make medical, dental, or self-care appointments before the holiday blitz occurs. A spa treatment in the middle of December sounds delightful, but if you are pressed for time during the holiday frenzy, even one more appointment could push you over the edge.

Let’s not forget our furry and feathered loved ones, especially if you plan to travel. Will your animal companions need to be boarded, or would it make things easier to have a pet sitter come to your home?

Even one day at doggie day-care can give Fluffy a break from a house overloaded with guests, and take an important worry off your mind.

Give yourself time to interview potential candidates so you feel comfortable with your decision. Last but not least, book grooming sessions in advance and be sure to have enough medication and food on hand to get through the busiest parts of the season.

Getting all of your ducks in a row now will help make sure that you have a relaxed, joyful holiday season! ~ Julie Ulmer is a professional organizer and speaker who founded Minding Your Manor in 2003. Julie is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, and the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. Please visit www.mindingyourmanor.com, email julie@ mindingyourmanor.com, or call (518) 821-4682.

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In Business Since 1881

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or more than 130 years, Jaeschke’s Orchard has been growing some of the finest apples in the region at the base of Mt. Greylock (many varieties of hybrid, standard, and heirlooms). Stop by their Adams location to pick your own! Enjoy the mountain views and fall foliage from this family-owned farm while you shop for colorful mums, pumpkins, sweet apple cider, exceptionally flavorful fruit, pies, jams and jellies, and delicious freshly made apple cider donuts for your autumn festivities.

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sparkle this season WITH THE MAGIC OF FIRE, GLASS, AND BRILLIANT COLOR

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heshire Glassworks will help you sparkle this holiday season with stunning, creative, handspun glass necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings. You will also find whimsical glass vases and imaginative sculptures to decorate your home. Cheshire Glassworks, run by artist/owner Jill Reynolds, is an independently owned studio and gallery located in the northern Berkshires that offers a unique shopping experience. Jill lovingly creates each oneof-a-kind piece with the magic of fire, glass, and brilliant color. www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

September | October 2017

29

get ready for the holidays

Hartsville Design Woodworking (413) 274-1122 Kevin@HartsvilleDesign.com Kitchens • Baths • Offices • Entertainment Centers • Staircases • Furniture • Big & Small Jobs

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interior remodeling ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW LOOK? NOW IS THE TIME.

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o you have a remodeling project in mind? Hartsville Design Woodworking can help. A good tip to remember is that having an idea of what you want that is well thought out can minimize the time required for a remodel. Look through magazines and at Pinterest, and discuss the project with friends and family.

Spend time looking at materials, choose colors, look over costs versus the value added to your home, and so forth. Planning ahead helps take the stress away and makes it easier to enjoy the process.

safe traveling IS YOUR CAR TUNED UP AND READY FOR HOLIDAY TRIPS?

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eward’s Tires has provided premium tire and auto service since 1973. They are dedicated to giving you the very best customer care, with a focus on upfront and honest quotes, timely response to issues, and quality products and parts. In addition to selling all the top tire brands available and doing extensive tire work, Seward’s Tires offers other specialized affordable services including 4-wheel alignments, brakes, shocks/struts, batteries, routine maintenance, and more in their convenient Great Barrington location.

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September | October 2017

31

Transforming the Berkshires, . . . One Home at a Time

To Steve and the Entire Staff,

Thank you very much for being so much more than just our general contractor. I cannot express my pleasure enough from start to finish and everything in-between. We chose to have our work done while we were in Florida for the winter. We had complete trust and confidence in you and your crew before we left for the winter. The communication between us was constant with emails, photos, and phone calls. Questions and concerns were answered immediately and anything that was important to us was just as important to you, no matter how small or large an issue. Everything came out beautifully and if something did not meet our expectations, it beat our expectations. So glad we found you! Thank you again for a very easy and rewarding experience.

With much gratitude, Rhea and Ken Werner West Stockbridge, MA

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