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Left Field Farm
Middlefeld, MA
Community Matters.
Eat Local Food.
www.berkshire.coop
1
Contents
October - November 2013
R
Our BerkshireTimes
3 Animal Talk
Understanding Your Dog's Body Language

8 Home & Garden Special Feature
Smart Home & Garden Improvement Tips


6 Fashion & Beauty
Soft & Beautiful Skin
6 Our BerkshireMarketplace
Shop Local!
15 Health & Wellness
Power Foods that Heal & Detoxify Your Body
Bone Up Your Posture
PUBLISHER
Kathy I. Regan
publisher@ourberkshiregreen.com
_______________
EDITORIAL
Kathy I. Regan
editor@ourberkshiregreen.com
Rodelinde Albrecht
rodelinde@ourberkshiregreen.com
Copyeditors/Proofreaders
Rodelinde Albrecht
Patty Strauch
_______________
DESIGN
Magazine Design/Layout
Kathy I. Regan
AdsIndependent Designers
Katharine Adams, Rural Ethic Studio
katmail@ruralethicstudio.com
Christine Dupre
cedupre@msn.com
Elisa Jones, Berkshire Design Studio
elisa@berkshiredesignstudio.com
Shirley Sparks, Graphic Design on a Dime
sms234@aol.com
_______________
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER
Patty Strauch
patty@ourberkshiregreen.com
______________
EVENT COORDINATOR
Patty Strauch
patty@ourberkshiregreen.com
_______________
CONTACT
Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.
P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
Phone: (413) 274-1122, Fax: (413) 541-8000
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY

Follow Us On
2 Art, Culture & Entertainment

Event Sampler

The Art of Shawn Fields
17 Featured Advertisers
Tell Them You Saw Them in

Our BerkshireTimes Magazine!
10 Community Spotlight
Great Barrington & Housatonic

Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Autumn
16 Mind & Spirit

Our BerkshireTimes

The Voice of Our Community!
4 Food & Drink
Bake Delicious Gluten-free Desserts
Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Our BerkshireTimes

is an Our BerkshireGreen

publication. We are dedicated to supporting our local

economy and creating an ever-expanding, unifed network of community-minded individuals, businesses, and
organizations in our area.
We give our readers and advertisers the opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and inspire one another
through our publication, our eNewsletters, and our growing online services. Our bimonthly publication (six
issues yearly, starting in February) is free to the public and distributed throughout western MA, northern
CT, eastern NY, and southern VT, and is enjoyed by community members, second home
owners, and visitors alike.
Most of our editorial content is contributed by our community members.
We welcome your ideas, articles,and feedback, and encourage you
to submit original material for consideration through our website.
You will fnd complete instructions on our online form. To
fnd out more about advertising, submitting editorial, and posting
events on our free community calendar, see our websites
at left, and join our mailing list to receive our free monthly
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All content in Our BerkshireTimes is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily
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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.
13 Education & Workshops
Great Barrington Libraries
Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.

~ Twyla Tharp
He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who fnds peace in his home.
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Shawn Fields, Artist
www.shawn@eldsart.com
See page 2 for more information.
Look for an exciting change
of format coming this December!
Yarn Tasting
Date: Thurs, Oct 10, 2013, 5-7:30pm
Place: Wonderful Things, 232 Stockbridge Road,
Great Barrington, MA - 413-528-2473
Wonderful Things invites you to spend a couple
of hours of fun with other knitters to sample
and enjoy different Cascade Yarns. Please come
and bring your knitting needles or crochet hooks.
We will be serving crackers and cheese, a little
wine for those who like and a little sparkly for
others. www.wonderful-things.com
Made in the Berkshires Festival 2013
Date: Fri, Oct 11, 2013, 6:30pm
Place: The Colonial Theatre, The Unicorn
Theatre, and The Garage, Pittsfield and Stock-
bridge MA - 413-448-8084
Price: $15 (single events), $100 all-access pass.
The 3rd Annual Made in the Berkshires Festival
is a locally grown event of new works featuring
original theatre, live music, film, short stories,
and dance. www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
From Alphabet Blocks to Zoetropes: The
History of Toys in America Exhibit
Date: Sun, Oct 12, 2013, 11am-3pm
Place: Old Stone Store, Main Street, Sheffield
MA - 413-229-2694. Price: Free. In the year
2013, it seems like toys are all flashing lights and
electronics. So what did kids play with before ev-
eryone had computers and cell phones? Come
find out at this great hands-on exhibit at our Old
Stone Store! Maybe youll find an old favorite . . .
or a new one! www.sheffieldhistory.org
Sunday Musical Brunch
Date: Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 10am-1pm
Place: Starving Artist Creperie and Cafe, 40
Main Street, Ste 2, Lee, MA - (413) 394-5046
Price: Free. Join us every Sunday starting at 10
am for live bluegrass, jazz, funk, classical, and
other types of music from talented local per-
formers. We serve organic, vegan, vegetarian op-
tions! View the artwork from the adjoined Good
Purpose Gallery. www.starvingartistcreperie.com
An Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett
and John Hiatt
Date: Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 7:30pm
Place: The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MA -
413-448-8084 Price: A: $111.50, B: $96.50, C:
$76.50, D: $56.50. Lovett and Hiatt have been
touring together periodically since 1989, delivering
one of the most compelling and spontaneous con-
certs on the road. www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
TALKING TEAS 201 - White Teas
Date: Fri, Oct 25, 2013, 6-7:30pm
Place: Verdigris Tea & Chocolate Bar, 135 War-
ren Street @ 2nd, Hudson, NY - 518-828-3139
Price: $20.00. Kim Bach, tea expert extraordi-
naire, will teach the basics of White Teas origin,
harvesting, preparation, and taste in this hands-
on class. The name comes from the fine silvery-
white hairs on the unopened buds. Teas covered
in this class include Yin Zhen Silver Needle, Bai
Mudan (White Peony), and 100 Monkeys. Ad-
vance reservations required. Entry fee includes
three 1-oz. packets of the featured teas to take
home. www.verdigristea.com
Berkshire Tropical and Orchid Show
Date: Sat, Oct 26, 2013, 10am-4pm
Place: Berkshire Community College, Paterson
Field House, 13560 West Street, Pittsfield, MA -
413-236-2188 Price: Admission: $5; children 12
and under free. A weekend celebrating orchids,
succulents, bromeliads, bonsai, and other tropicals!
October - November Event Sampler
To see more events or to post your event for free go to
www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com
S
Art, Culture & Entertainment
COLOR AND LINE
October 4 thru November 18
Open Fri thru Mon
11am - 5:30pm
www.facebook.com/stfrancisgallery
Please join us for our
Artists Reception on
October 12, 2013 3 to 6pm
Music and Lite Fare
Route 102 (Next to the Fire Station)
South Lee, MA (413) 717-5199
presents
www.saintfrancisgallery.com
104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 413-637-3206 GildedAge.org
Visit gildedage.org
for a complete schedule of events
A Home
for the Holidays
AnnuAl event november 30
through new yeArs eve
Enjoy a beautifully decorated 1893 Mansion with Tours,
Holiday Events, Victorian Teas, Museum Shop, More!

2 October / November 2013
S
hawn Fields was born in 1973 in Columbus, OH.
He received a BFA in illustration at The School of
Visual Arts of New York, and went on to study fgura-
tive drawing and painting at the Water Street Atelier.
After working as a portrait painter and exhibiting land-
scapes and still life for several years, he enrolled at The
New York Academy of Art and earned an MFA in
painting. At this point he began to combine his inter-
est for painting the fgure and still life with his love of
innovative storytelling creating large-scale narrative
oil paintings. After painting in New York City for 15
years, he moved his home and studio to New Marlbor-
ough, MA, where he and his wife, Kenzie, and their
children, Odie, Honey, and Peter, are living happily.
www.shawn@eldsart.com, shawngfelds@gmail.com.
The Art of Shawn Fields (this month's cover illustrator)

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013 3
Art, Culture & Entertainment
The
Arts at
HotcHkiss
hotchkiss.org/arts
(860) 435 - 4423
GUEST CONCERT SERIES ~ TREMAINE GALLERY ~ FILM SCREENINGS
DANCE ~ HOTCHKISS DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION ~ SUMMER PORTALS
PROGRAMS SEPTEMBER THROUGH JULY
ALL ARE WELCOME
The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT
Animal Talk

940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 01230



CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957

BENSDOTTERS PET 413-528-4940


Your trusted source
for quality foods
and supplies.
Your trusted resource
for raw-feeding
information
and advice.


www.bensdotters.com

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


The event will showcase up to 20 unique exhibits and a variety of
vendors selling plants, accessories, supplies, and artwork. We are
also featuring a number of educational talks and workshops on
Saturday and Sunday. www.berkshirecc.edu/orchid
Gordon Lightfoot
Date: Fri, Nov 8, 2013, 8pm Place: The Colonial Theatre,
Pittsfield, MA - 413-448-8084. Price: A: $75, B: $60, C: $45
Gordon Lightfoots 50-year career places him with exclusive com-
pany at the top of the list of all-time great singer-songwriters.
www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
Fall Herbs Workshop:
Herbal Scrubs for Face, Body, and Feet
Date: Sat, Nov 23, 2013, 10am-3pm. Place: Hawthorne Valley Farm
Learning Center, 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY - 518-672-7500
Price: $55. Ease into winter by nurturing your skin. Make and ap-
ply several plant and food-based scrubs that will nurture whole-
body wellness from head to toe. Bring a small jar to take product
for use at home. Workshop includes materials and a simple organic
vegetarian lunch. hawthornevalleyfarm.org/classes-workshops
Mary Verdi: Christmas at the Colonial
Date: Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 7pm
Place: The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfeld, MA - 413-448-8084
Price: Adults: $20, Children: $10. Every year, Mary Verdis
Christmas at the Colonial show invites families from across the
Berkshires to a very special night of nostalgia and holiday cel-
ebration. Mary created this show for all to enjoy an unforgettable
performance that includes a sing-along of old favorites, danc-
ing, a childrens choir, bell choir, and a full band with strings and
horns featuring area performers.
www.berkshiretheatregroup.org
F
requently I meet with new clients who
share the story of their dogs having been
in a fght, or having been attacked. Often
it appears to have happened out of the blue.
In my experience and through spending
24 hours a day with dogs, Ive learned that
dogs always give signals before an aggressive
moment. Understanding dog body language
is an extensive science. However, learning the
signals when your dog is uncomfortable in a
situation can be priceless! At Camp Wagalot in
Stockbridge, MA, I call it Ive got your back and
I am constantly looking for these signs. Dogs
can get overwhelmed. It is important to watch
for body language changes so they do not need
to resort to natural instinct and protect them-
selves from a situation.
Please note that each form of body lan-
guage below should be viewed in context.
For example: If a dog is in a stressful situation
and is deeply yawning it means much more
than when a dog is waking up from a nap and
yawning. So here are some of the main body
language cues to watch for:
Body Posture: A dog that is feeling fear-
ful will appear lower to the ground, may
be leaning back, tail will be lowered or
between their legs, ears pinned back, and
mouth and eyes will appear tense. You
may even see the whites of their eyes.
Avoidance: Avoidance is always a better
choice than aggression. Signs of avoid-
ance are sniffng out of context, looking
and turning away, and hiding behind you.
Other Signs: Yawning excessively, drool-
ing, panting, and shedding.
Many experience an attack or negative situa-
tion and come out fne . . . while others are
damaged for life.
As dog owners it is important to protect our
dogs. Understanding their body language and
being proactive in their experience can be the
best thing to keep them safe and out of harms
way. ~ Jennifer M. Andrews-Pikula, Camp Wagalot,
Stockbridge MA, www.lovecampwagalot.com
Understanding Your Dog's Body Language
By Jennifer M. Andrews-Pikula
EXERCISE & PLAY
BOARDING in a safe and
supervised environment.
DAYCARE
lovecampwagalot.com
CAMP WAGALOT
Stockbridge, MA
(413) 298-5300
October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

4
Food & Drink
Delicious Locally Grown
Produce and Food Products
Available at Our Market
Doug Rysewyk
Owner of Larrywaug Brook Farm
in Stockbridge, MA
Berkshire Harvest Farms
905 Pleasant Street, Route 102
South Lee, MA 01260
Call (413) 344-3719, email: rysewykd@aol.com
Hilltop Orchards, home of Furnace Brook Winery
Open daily: 9am-5pm (413) 698-3301
508 Canaan Rd / Rt 295 Richmond, MA 01254
hilltoporchards.com furnacebrookwinery.com
Beautiful vistas, heritage apples,
award-winning wines
Apple picking Free wine tasting Hiking Fresh baked goods
I
f someone said even just three years ago
that I would be baking with gluten-free
fours now, I would have been completely
incredulous. King Arthur and I have been in-
timate friends for a long, long time (I always
loved getting to ask for Sir Galahad and Sir
Lancelot when placing my orders!). I cant
even imagine how many 50-pound sacks of
four Ive poured my way through since I be-
gan my career in pastry in 1996. Every time I
tasted something gluten-free it tasted terrible,
and then when I decided that Id had enough
of wheat myself, I was completely despon-
dent. How would I exist without eating all of
my lovely pastries? Einkorn four seemed like
a good solution, and it really is for me since I
dont have a gluten allergy. For many of our
guests (at Chez Nous Bistro in Lee, MA),
however, it isnt an option. Einkorn does have
gluten and its hard to know if youre going to
be able to tolerate it or not without trying it
for yourself. With all of the effort that weve
been doing to make our food as gluten-free
as possible, we just cant substitute Einkorn
four in the desserts across the board. In or-
der to really satisfy our guests needs, as well
as my own pastry cravings in my now wheat-
less life, I needed to get rid of my fears and
prejudices (and my easy-to-make-gluten-free
desserts like custards, fourless chocolate cake,
etc.) and go for it!
Throwing away food is really not what you
want to be doing when you cook or bake for
a living. Margins are tight and never mind the
waste of time and the frustration! But there I
was, throwing away batches of cookie dough
and cake layers, struggling with bad online reci-
pes and bad advice and some very bad-tasting
fours. It really took almost a year for me to
get into the gluten-free groove and Im really
happy to say that Im there. I dont have to de-
pend on other peoples (maybe not-so-good)
recipes using gluten-free fours. I can use my
own recipes, and there isnt a week that goes
by these days that I dont try another recipe
from my repertoire with new fours and have
an incredibly satisfying result. On our current
menu, only one dessert isnt available gluten-
free (the crumble), and the tart dough, mad-
eleine dough, and so forth are all based on my
original, much-loved and hard-won recipes. So
much for any hope of me on a diet! I can hap-
pily remain wheat-free myself and sample away
at my own desserts whenever I want to.
The pleasure of hearing, as I do all of the time,
from a grateful guest who doesnt often have
a piece of really good tart or cake or cookie
ever since discovering a gluten intolerance
that they are enjoying dessert is really what its
all about. There are a lot of products out there,
and actually some are very good now (some
breads and pastas), but for pastries its still kind
of the Wild West. And in restaurants it can be
very hard to fnd something interesting thats
gluten-free for sure. I love being able to offer
people with gluten intolerance so many choices
and I stand by them all as indistinguishable
from their gluten-full counterparts.
Would you like to know some of my glu-
ten-free dessert recipes? Im happy to share
them, and Ill start here, frst with the blend
of fours that Ive been substituting in most
(not all, unfortunately . . . the concept of all-
purpose is out the window with the wheat)
of my recipes with great success. Its courtesy
of Jeanne Sauvage, a wonderful gluten-free
cookbook author, and it is an excellent blend.
Its not nutritious by any stretch; Im sure its
as high-glycemic as wheat recipes are. How-
ever, if youre in the mood for a brownie, or a
madeleine, or a really nice piece of cake, then
usually youre looking for a treat and not for
your daily allowance of vitamins and miner-
als. If youre going to have something, at least
have something real. As my Nana always said
(as we clamored and begged to eat her deli-
cious homemade desserts for breakfast), Its
just good wholesome ingredients and made
with love (and no wheat).
Jeanne Sauvages Gluten-free Flour Blend:
(www.artofglutenfreebaking.com/2009/11/
the-story-behind-my-gluten-free-four-mix)
Mix the following ingredients together and
store in a cool, dark place, or in fridge for
long-term storage. Use this mix cup-for-cup
in all of your recipes:
1 C brown rice four
1 C white rice four
1 C tapioca four
1 C sweet rice four (also known as glutinous
rice four or under the brand name Mochiko)
2 scant tsp xanthan gum
Its really worth reading the link provided above,
and understanding the work and thinking pro-
cess that Jeanne went through to develop this
great blend. I am going to continue to adapt my
own recipes using her four mix, starting here
(following on the facing page) Brownies!
~ Rachel Portnoy, Chez Nous Bistro located in Lee,
MA, www.cheznousbistro.com. See ad on page 5.
How to Bake Delicious Desserts
with Gluten-free Flours By Rachel Portnoy
Happy Thanksgiving!

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013 5
Food & Drink
5pm dinner only, seasonal hours
150 Main Street
Lee, Mass.
413.243.6397
cheznousbistro.com
BTW save room
French chef,
American baker,
real food
NORTH EGREMONT
COUNTRY STORE
NEWLY EXPANDED DELI - FOOD MENU!
Wholesome Homestyle Delicious
SoCo Ice Cream Local Free-Range Eggs
Beef VT Pure Honey Maple Syrup
Monterey Chvre Milk Liquor Beer
Wine (including organic) Pastries Lotto
Post Office Fishing Bait & Accessories

Mon-Thu: 6a-6p Fri-Sat: 6a-7p Sun: 6a-5p
Open most holidays!
Photo by John Phelan
Route 71, North Egremont, MA (Near Prospect Lake)
Call (413) 528-4796

I
ve been making these brownies for literally two decades. They truly are my ultimate, as they are
for many people. I knew the recipe would work great with Jeanne Sauvages four blend, since it
has very little four and lots and lots of chocolate and butter, as any self-respecting brownie should.
Ingredients (makes one 9 X 13 inch pan)
Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Rachel Portnoy, co-owner of Chez Nous Bistro
with Chef Franck Tessier, shares her delicious
gluten-free brownie recipe.
1 lb dark, bittersweet chocolate
12 oz butter
3 C sugar
1 tbsp + 1 tsp vanilla
8 eggs
2 C Jeannes gluten-free four blend
2 tsp salt
150 g chocolate chips (5.29 oz or about C)
First, melt the chocolate with butter.
I have my effcient way that I like to
do this with a metal bowl holding
the chocolate placed over a wide pan
(wide enough to hold the bowl up
so the chocolate is nicely nested and
wont get burned or scorched by the
fre nipping up at the uncovered part
of the bowl, and the bottom never
touches the hot contents of the pan
below) with the butter in it. As the
butter melts, the chocolate will begin
to melt, and pouring the hot butter
over the chocolate will fnish the job.
If you have an actual double-boiler, by all means use it! Just put the butter in the bottom pan instead
of water. Youll still get the intoxicating experience of smelling chocolate and butter together when
you stir them in a minute . . . see below.
Mix together the chocolate and butter and breathe in deeply. I believe that the smell of these two
ingredients together is one of the best smells in the world, so I can be seen embarrassing myself
regularly at work as I inhale the scent every time I make a recipe calling for chocolate and butter
melted together. Im such a pastry geek.
Anyway, now youre ready to add the sugar and vanilla to the bowl. Add eggs gradually. Then add the
sifted four mix and salt. I like to sprinkle the top with chocolate chips just to take these up a notch.
Of course you can fold them in if you like, or stir in some nuts if youre one of these slightly odd
people who want to desecrate their brownies with ingredients other than chocolate and butter and
sugar . . . go ahead.
Most importantly, dont overbake your brownies! Pop the pan in the oven and set for 10 minutes.
Turn the pan for even baking and set the timer for 10 more minutes. I always test brownies with
a thin knife or cake tester. You should have wet crumbs clinging to the tester. Not liquid batter, wet
crumbs, please. A clean knife means theyre overcooked. Sorry. They still taste good, of course.
If you know your oven runs hot then set that second timer for 8 minutes or less. The barely-
cooked-ness is part of what makes this brownie so fantastic. The other thing is the chocolate that
you use. Really good chocolate gets to shine in this recipe. I usually chill the brownies before at-
tempting to unmold them and cut them. They keep very well, especially wrapped in the freezer.
~ Rachel Portnoy, Chez Nous Bistro located in Lee, MA, www.cheznousbistro.com. See ad on this page.
Instructions
Line your pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for quick and easy brownie removal. I
use a little spray grease just to hold the paper down to the bottom of the pan. Also preheat
your oven to 325 F.
Fashion & Beauty
Intranasal Light Therapy (the simple process of clipping a
small red light diode to the nose) is a way to stimulate self
healing and boost immunity by illuminating the blood
capillaries through the nasal cavity. Numerous conditions
have been found to benefit from this therapy as it stimu-
lates restoration of body balance (homeostasis). When in
balance, the body can prevent or reverse conditions such
as high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes,
atherosclerosis, sinusitis, dementia, viral infections, asthma,
immune system deficiencies, infections, rheumatoid arthritis,
fibromyalgia, psoriasis, certain sleep disorders, and more
serious conditions.
Purchase locally through Our BerkshireGreen Publishing.
To find out more about the VieLight Intranasal Light Therapy unit go to www.mediclights.com
and www.vielight.com. The unit sells online for $299 plus $20 shipping. For a limited time you
can purchase this unit locally though Our BerkshireGreen, Inc. for $299 with free shipping (a $20
savings!). Go to the "Marketplace" at www.OurBerkshireGreen.com and save $20!
1. The No-Denying-It Ring, Sterling Silver with Deep Oxidized Etching $80
2. River Drop Earrings, Citrine Stone Beneath Sterling Silver with Oxidized Etching, $126
3. Mayan Crescent Hoop Earrings, Dark Mother of Pearl Rimmed with Silver, $126
4. Orbit Ring, Spinning Gold Coin Pearl in Hammered Ring and Hammered Band, $96
5. Eclipse Bracelet, Peacock Coin Pearl set in a Bezel of Etched Silver, $220
6. Mermaids Eye Earrings, Pale Green Coin Pearl with Black Pearl, $86
Anni Maliki, from Sandisfield MA, lived for years in Asia, working as a home decor designer. In 2006,
she returned to the Berkshires, drawing on her connections to top international jewelry designers in
Bali and representing their collections to a US market. Now, Anni steps boldly forward as a designer
in her own right with the Anni Maliki signature collection. www.AnniMaliki.com
S
Anni Maliki Jewelry - Designs that Dance
Intranasal Light Therapy
Erica Leopold
Master Esthetician
413-637-0193
spa@gardengablesinn.com 135 Main St. Lenox, MA
Naturopathica's transformative Natural Face
Lift leaves your skin soft, smooth and radiant.
Our BerkshireMarketplace
www.pateezboutique.com
A unique boutique in downtown
Pittsfield for you to explore!
Clothing Accessories Gifts
137 North Street, Pittsfeld, MA - The Shops In Crawford Square
Just a short ride from anywhere. Next door to Baba Louies.
Start Your Holiday Shopping Now!

6 October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
Fall Herbs Workshop: Herbal Scrubs for Face, Body & Feet
Date: Sat, Nov 23, 2013, 10am-3pm
Place: Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center, 327 County
Route 21C, Ghent, NY - 518-672-7500
Price: $55. Ease into winter by nurturing your skin. Make and apply
several plant and food-based scrubs that will nurture whole-body
wellness from head to toe. Bring a small jar to take product for use
at home. Workshop includes materials and a simple organic veg-
etarian lunch. www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/classes-workshops
1 2 3
4 5 6
A
hhhh. The cool breeze of
autumn is fnally in the
air, giving relief from the
heavy and humid summer. During
the humid months not many folks
are concerned with dry skin, but
now that the weather has changed,
its time to prepare for the chal-
lenges that face us! As an herb-
alist, I fnd that it is always best
to use elements from The Creators
Pharmacy to keep ourselves in the
best condition possible; elements
that match the natural pH and
chemical makeup of our bodies, including our skin.
Borage (Borago offcinalis) is a multipurpose herb that can
be used safely for this very objective. Its very easy to grow.
Once you plant it, it will reseed itself year after year and youll
never have to replant it. Harvest the whole plant on a sunny
day between 10am and 4pm; tie the stems together and hang
them to dry where they wont get wet. After about two or three
weeks it will be dry and ready for use. Wait for a dry (not hu-
mid) day, put some rubber gloves on to protect yourself from
its prickliness, cut it up, and grind the whole plant in your food
processor. Store in a ziplock bag for use in tea or baths. (Of
course you can always purchase this lovely herb from your lo-
cal herbalist if you dont want to grow it yourself.)
Borage is helpful in softening skin and has, throughout
the centuries, often been included by herbalists in recipes for
baths and creams to help cure eczema and psoriasis. Along
with other constituents, it also contains essential fatty acids,
which are crucial for healthy skin.
Put a handful of borage into a cheesecloth bag and place
that in a heatproof bowl. Pour almost-boiling water over it,
cover and let it steep for 10 minutes. In the meantime, draw a
bath and add two cups of Dead Sea Salt or Epsom Salts (yes,
use the full two cups!). These salts share similar properties in
that they both soften skin, pull toxins from the body, rejuvenate,
and replace magnesium and electrolytes. Add your body tea
of borage, cheesecloth bag and all, into the salt-bath. Bathing
in salts combined with herbs that are nourishing and healing
for the skin will not only assist your skin, but will make you feel
relaxed and pampered too, which is something we all need to do
now and then! After your bath, take a quick shower to rinse the
salt off, wrap in your favorite robe and snuggle up under your
covers for one of the best rests youll have had in awhile.
~ As a young mother in the late 1970s
Jean Pollock became interested in feed-
ing her growing family foods that they
produced themselves, and healing any
illnesses with natural medicines. Experi-
ence and study helped her become Na-
tionally Certifed as an Herbalist in 1999
by the American Board of Drugless Practitioners. She owns and oper-
ates a business called Mystical Rose Herbals, creating herbal extractions
and combinations as well as natural body creams, and more. Jean can be
reached at myrhmade@verizon.net, www.mysticalroseherbals.com.
Soft and Beautiful Skin

By Jean Pollock
October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

8
Special Home, Garden & Landscape Feature
Smart Home & Garden Improvement Tips!
Choosing Pillows to accessorize your
sofa should not be a daunting project! When
looking for pillows or the fabric to create
them, try not to duplicate the texture of the
upholstery fabric. Using a silk on a chenille,
for example, provides contrast, as does a cord,
tassel, or tape attached to the pillow. Varying
the texture, as well as the color, creates inter-
est and the pop youre trying to achieve!
For assistance and ideas
call Sue Schwarz at Gallery315HOME in Sheffield, MA, (917) 701-3841.
Your source for modern interior design in the Berkshires! See ad at left.
The Heating Season is about to begin. Following are some safety
steps you can take to help prevent fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
What is carbon monoxide? Known as the invisible killer, carbon monoxide
is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete burning
of fuels. Now is the time to have chimneys and furnaces cleaned. Make sure
any outside vents will not be blocked by snow. Clean out dryer vents. Check
and clean smoke detectors, and change all detector batteries. Install a carbon
monoxide detector if you have not already done so. Create a fire escape plan
and practice it. If you need help, we will be happy to send you an instruction
book. Contact Kathryn Mickle, New England Dynamark Security, (413)
442-5647, www.nedynamark.com. See ad on facing page.
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Sue Schwarz
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Store Hours:
Thursday - Sunday
By chance or by
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917.701.3841
755A North Main St.
Sheffield, MA 01257
www.gallery315home.com
Gallery315Home@gmail.com
S
Make Hanging Pictures Easy
by creating a template/pattern of each piece
to be hung with kraft paper (you can also
use brown paper bags a terrific way to re-
cycle!). Trace the shape of each picture, cut
out the shapes, and label them making certain
to draw an arrow to indicate whether the art
is vertical or horizontal. Then, lay each pic-
ture face down and place the kraft paper face
down on top of them. Through the paper,
use your fingers to feel where the hanging locations are, and mark each spot on the paper with
magic marker (exactly where you want the nail to go). Next, secure the templates to the wall in
the desired location with reusable adhesive so as not to mark the wall. When you are happy with
the arrangement, get ready to install your picture hanging hardware by nailing directly though
the kraft paper where you made your mark, and then tear away the paper.
Important Note: If your picture weighs less than 20 lbs. you can use standard picture
hanging hardware. If your picture weighs between 20 and 50 lbs., you should use anchors or
molly bolts. If it weighs more than 50 pounds it would be wise to attach a plywood reinforce-
ment board to the wall before you hang the picture, and make sure to secure the plywood to
a wall stud for safety. You can find your studs by slowly sweeping the wall with a magnet (the
magnet will stick to the nails where the plywood was attached to the studs. For creative one-of-
a-kind custom-made picture frames, contact Kevin Regan, Hartsville Design Woodworking,
(413) 274-1010, www.hartsvilledesign.com. See ad on facing page.
S

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013 9
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April - May 2012, vol 1 Take One, It's Free!
Our BerkshireTimes

Presented by Our BerkshireGreen

Community News | Local Events | Personal Growth | Vibrant Living
Connect, Share, Grow, Prosper It's All About Community!
Western MA | Northern CT | Eastern NY | Southern VT
Oct - Nov 2012, vol 4 Take One, It's Free!
Our BerkshireTimes

Community News | Local Events | Personal Growth | Vibrant Living

Connect, Share, Grow, Prosper It's All About Community!
Western MA | Northern CT | Eastern NY | Southern VT
Special Wedding
Feature Inside!
Our BerkshireTimes

Feb - March 2013, vol 6 Take One, It's Free!

Community News | Local Events | Personal Growth | Vibrant Living
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Connect, Share, Grow, Prosper The Voice of Our Community!

STONEMASON
Specializing in Dry Stone Walls,
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(413) 572 6808
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do . . . but
how much love we put in that action. ~ Mother Teresa
October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

10
Community Spotlight: Great Barrington & Housatonic
I
t seems like every large city has a special
arts district where those with a fair for the
creative can get together and appreciate
one anothers talents. Many smaller towns have
a beloved theater or music hall that plays host
to local art shows, plays, and concerts. Great
Barrington, tucked down in the western corner
of Berkshire County, is unique in that the entire
town is an arts community. On any given day in
the summer you can stroll through the town
and hear budding musicians playing from an
alleyway along Main Street or the lawn of the
Mason Library, and its hard to name a night
when there isnt a live band playing in at least
one of the restaurants in town. Colorful fy-
ers decorate every storefront window, sharing
news of performances, classes, and rehearsals
among the local regulars and seasonal visitors,
and almost every business has a corkboard or
wire rack where arts lovers can fnd informa-
tion on the towns latest offerings.
Visitors from all over are drawn to Great Bar-
rington for the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
and the Triplex Cinema. Devoted fans of Aston
Magna and the Berkshire Bach Society know
Great Barrington as a center for classical music
lovers. As with Great Barrington itself, though,
the arts community offerings are a mix of tradi-
tion and innovation. The Mahaiwe also regularly
hosts The Berkshire Playwrights Lab, the areas
only theater dedicated exclusively to develop-
ing new plays, and the Triplex is well known for
showing a mix of critically acclaimed indepen-
dent flms as well as blockbuster hits from ma-
jor studios. Many cafes and restaurants also host
live bands from around the Berkshires for those
who enjoy dinner and a show, and the Great Bar-
rington Bandstand behind Town Hall hosts live
bands through September for those who like
their music outdoors. The Mason Library pres-
ents a wide variety of performers, guest lecturers,
and musicians for locals and visitors looking for
entertainment on a budget, and there are all sorts
of family-friendly programs available at the Berk-
shire South Regional Community Center.
Great Barrington doesnt just showcase its
performers, though; encouraging the develop-
ment of budding talent is also a large part of
the towns arts scene. The shops around town
have everything an artist working in just about
any creative medium imaginable could want,
and fyers advertising group classes and les-
sons are as numerous as the announcements
for shows and events. Many locations in the
area offer space for classes or private tutoring
sessions, and the library often offers free or
discounted workshops for residents.
Of course, to really appreciate any artis-
tic community, you have to be willing to
explore. There is a lot more to Great Bar-
rington than its downtown area. Heading up
Stockbridge Road you will find Wonderful
Things, a haven for crafters of all ages, and
the Renaissance Arts Center, which offers
more than 20 courses in fine art instruction.
Events at Bard College at Simons Rock, in-
cluding performances by Berkshire Fringe
and Mass Live Arts, are frequently open to
the community as well as to students. Head-
ing towards Housatonic, the Arlo Guthrie
Center in the Old Trinity Church on Van
Deusenville Road hosts a constant variety
of musical events, including their popular
Thursday evening Hootenanny. Housatonic
itself has a number of arts galleries, and
the Ramsdell Library on Main Street holds
the bulk of the Great Barrington Libraries
arts collection, and serves as the site for the
monthly Creative Film Series.
The Berkshires are known for their extraordi-
nary music, theater, and galleries, and no town
embraces this love of art more than Great
Barrington. Visitors of every age, skill level,
and interest will fnd something to captivate
them here, and the more you explore, the
more you will discover.
~ Jessica Magelaner is the Assistant Director at Mason
Library in Great Barrington. www.gblibraries.org
Spotlight on Great Barrington

By Jessica Magelaner
Discover More
About Great Barrington, MA
Around Great Barrington
(Postcard History) by Gary
Leveille. This special book of
vintage snail-mail snapshots
offers rarely seen views of
Great Barrington, Housatonic,
Van Deusenville, and nearby
villages, providing a fascinat-
ing portal into our past.
Look Up, Great Barrington!
by Doug Gelbert. There is
no better way to see Great
Barrington than on foot with
a walkthetown.com walking
tour that includes a fascinat-
ing description of historical
and architectural landmarks
and much more information.

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013 11
Community Spotlight: Great Barrington & Housatonic
(413) 528-4015 www.gbrss.org Great Barrington, MA
We educate our students to meet life with courage, impart meaning and
purpose to their lives, and respond with creativity and integrity to the needs
of the world. Our well-rounded, hands-on education prepares students for
their choice of high school and collegeand to reach their full potential.
P a r e n t - B a b y Nu r s e r y K i n d e r g a r t e n
1 s t - 8 t h g r a d e S u mme r P r o g r a m
Andrew M. Goldman, DO is pleased to announce that
Kim Tripp, DO, PhD has joined the practice. Dr. Tripp
was originally a patient of Dr. Goldmans while she was
the Director of the New York Botanical Garden. In 2007,
Kim made the inspired decision to change her career and
become an osteopathic physician. She graduated from the
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
in 2011. She has now completed her required post-graduate
training. Many of Dr. Goldmans patients have already met
Kim while she was training in his ofce. Those patients
know how gifted Kim is and how much she will bring to
the practice.
Now Accepting Appointments
Great Barrington, ma 413-528-3334 | Sharon, ct 860-364-5990
Dr. Kim Tripp
ANDREW M. GOLDMAN, D. O.
OSTEOPATHI C HEALTHCARE
Celebrate Our Forty-first Year!
Wonderful Things
Harry and Debbie Sano
232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Largest Selection of Yarns
and Unique Handcrafted Gifts in the Berkshires
413-528-2473 www.wonderful-things.com
Open Mon.-Sat. 9:30-5, Sun. 12-4
Gift Certificates Free Knitting Lessons
AVAILABLE AT: AVAILABLE AT:
Crystal Essence Crystal Essence * * amazon.com amazon.com * * yoursoulpath.com yoursoulpath.com
AnnE ONeils deeply honest, deeply
courageous, and deeply human
sharing of her own journey offers an
experience of loving companionship to
those on their own journey from loss
and grief to renewed life and joy.
~Rev. Diane Berke, founder & spiritual
director, One Spirit Interfaith Seminary
G.B. Oct-Nov
Event Sampler
To see more events or to post
your event for free go to
OurBerkshireCalendar.com
Fire Roasted Catering
10th Anniversary Party
Date: Sat, Oct 12, 2013, 4pm
Place: The Meat Market, 389
Stockbridge Road, Great Bar-
rington, MA - 413-528-2022
Price: $40/per. Kids pay their age
Fire Roasted Catering, sister
company to local meat butcher
shop and caf The Meat Mar-
ket, will host a farm-to-table
feast. The al fresco event will
take place along the banks of
the Housatonic River in Great
Barrington, MA, adjacent to
The Meat Market. Cash bar.
www.themeatmarketgb.com
41st Annual Holiday
Handcraft Fair
Date: Sat, Nov 9, 2013, 10am-4pm
Place: Great Barrington Rudolf
Steiner School, 35 West Plain
Road, Great Barrington MA -
413-528-4015, Price: Free
A creative welcome to the
holiday season with family fun
such as puppet shows, hayrides,
candle dipping, and novel gifts
to make and give, the GBRSS
Holiday Handcraft Fair cele-
brates the joys of a handmade
holiday, in which all are invited
to join. www.gbrss.org
Powder Keg Sessions:
A Writing Workshop for
Mothers and Others
Date: Sun, Nov 24, 2013, 1- 4pm
Place: 11 School Street, Great
Barrington, MA - 413-429-1799
Price: $30 per session/$75 per
series. Ignite your creative
spark. Jump into one or all of
the upcoming Powder Keg
Sessions and let Suzi Banks
Baum spark your imagina-
tion, exploring together the
story of motherhood from
the inside out! The sessions
will run from 1-4pm on Oct
27 and Nov 24. For informa-
tion and registration, contact
Suzi Banks Baum at suzi@
laundrylinedivine.com,
www.laundrylinedivine.com
October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

12
Community Spotlight: Great Barrington & Housatonic
SUNDARI HAIR STUDIO
A Unique Berkshire Experience
for Hair and Skin Care
We carry an exceptional line of
JOHN MASTERS ORGANIC, MOROCAN ORGANIC AND
PUREOLOGY HAIR PRODUCTS / CIRCADIA SKIN CARE
Open Tues thru Sat by
appointment and walk-ins
are welcome.
www.sundarihairstudio.com
389 Stockbridge Road
Great Barrington, MA
(413) 528-4777

Contains probiotic, live active
cultures, vitamins and calcium
Rotations of & over to choose from

Non-fat, Low-fat, No-sugar-
added, Dairy-free, Gluten-
free, Kosher
The Libraries of Great Barrington
1087 Main Street
Housatonic
413.274.3738
cwmars.org
Ramsdell Public Library
231 Main Street
Gt. Barrington
413.528.2403
gblibraries.org
Mason Library
Berkshire County Hypnosis & Behavioral Change
Center
Control Anxiety ~ Manage Chronic Pain ~ Reduce Stress
Lose Weight ~ Increase Motivation ~ Stop Smoking
Karen O. Lindstrom, Ed.S., CH Integrative Wellness Life Coach
413.854.4520 www.bchbcc.com
Housatonic River Walk in Great Barrington
T
he Housatonic River Walk is a greenway trail along
the Housatonic River in the downtown center
of Great Barrington, MA, where 2300 citizen volun-
teers are working to reclaim the beauty of a working
river abused by years of industrial waste and neglect.
In 2009, the River Walk was designated as a National
Recreation Trail, joining it to Americas 12,000 mile
National Trail System. The River Walk roughly follows
the west bank of the Housatonic River between Cot-
tage Street and Bridge Street. The trails two completed sections are linked by Dresser Avenue and
River Street. The upstream section extends from the River Walk bulletin board at 195 Main Street
to the William Stanley Overlook. The trail exits at the stairs to St. Peters Church parking lot on
Dresser Avenue. The downstream section of the trail begins adjacent to the Berkshire Corpora-
tion parking lot on River Street and ends at Bridge Street. www.gbriverwalk.org
O
n the southwest side of Monument Mountain,
you will find Flag Rock, an open ledge with
views that overlook the town of Housatonic. Ac-
cording to www.berkshirehiking.com, it is a short
but rewarding experience, with easy to moderate
terrain that shouldnt pose too serious a challenge
nevertheless the (on average) two-hour hike will
race the hearts of even the most experienced trail-
blazer. The trailhead is across from a small field
owned by Taft Farms on Route 183 and it is not well marked. For more detailed informa-
tion, go to www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/flagrock.html.
Lake Mansfield in Great Barrington
T
he Lake Mansfeld Recreation Area (on Lake
Mansfeld Road off of Castle Hill Avenue in Great
Barrington), is a community natural resource area fea-
turing a 29-acre pond and an adjacent 29-acre Conser-
vation Forest. According to the Lake Mansfeld Alli-
ance (www.lakemansfeld.org), the pond is open to the
public for seasonal recreation and visitors are welcome.
A parking area provides access to the sandy beachfront,
grassy shaded picnic area, swings, and forest trails. Por-
table toilets are available May through September. Visitors to the Lake Mansfeld Recreation Area
enjoy swimming, boating, picnicking, fshing, walking trails, and nature watching. The beach area
is closed to pets. Dogs are welcome to access the lake at the boat launch area. The Lake Mansfeld
Recreation Area allows for road and forest trail walks, giving visitors opportunities to enjoy the
beauty and wildlife of the lake and forest. The Lake Mansfeld Conservation Forest features an
accessible trail network within its 29-acre woodland. The majority of the trail is built to accessible
standards, including gentle slopes and a crushed-stone trail surface. The shady trails provide a
complement to the open lake.
Many ponds are treated with poisons to control weeds and vegetation, but we are pleased to
note that Lake Mansfeld does not do this and has opted to install weed blankets each summer on
the bottom of the swimming area along with other nontoxic methods to preserve the pond.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors this Autumn
in Great Barrington & Housatonic
BENSDOTTERS PET



940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON
QUALITY FOODS, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES
SEE OUR ADS IN THE ANIMAL TALK AND SPONSORS SECTIONS
Flag Rock in Housatonic
13

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013
Education & Workshops
L
ike other towns across the Common-
wealth and the country, Great Bar-
ringtons first library sprang from local
citizens banding together to purchase books.
In 1800, the Union Library was lodged on the
shelves of Samuel Whitings store on Castle
Street and people bought shares to borrow
the books. By 1900, the books were free to all
with a circulation of two weeks.
Today, the Ramsdell and Mason Libraries
form the Great Barrington Libraries where we
house more than 92,000 materials, circulate more
than 148,000 items, offer more than 400 pro-
grams, and have had more than 128,000 people
come through our doors. Our quiet study rooms
have been used more than 1,750 times and our
meeting rooms have been used by outside groups
92 times. In short, the libraries are busy places
where large comfortable chairs beckon readers
and tables offer space to work or create.
Our focus is still on providing books to af-
ford entertainment and lifelong learning. Com-
bined, the libraries more than 61,000 books. To
address the wide and voracious reading desires,
we purchase different books for each library.
Therefore, the new fiction at Mason is different
from the new fiction at Ramsdell, with some du-
plication for bestselling books. Ramsdell Library
is home for our art and architecture materials, so
you will find a much wider selection of how to
paint, build, knit, craft, as well as art history and
biographies there. Ramsdell has the majority of
our Native American materials with more than
50 books covering everything from native plants
and cooking to biographies, battles, and the Wild
West. At Mason Library, we carry extensive col-
lections in history, poetry, and cooking, as well
as gardening and are increasing our Independent
Press collection. While we purchase about 700
books per month, patrons always have Interli-
brary Loan to fill their desire for that brand new
book, and can request a book through our cata-
log at any time of the day or night.
We offer 6 different daily newspapers, 10
free, local newspapers, and 70 magazines for
those who want to check their stocks, make
a soup, decorate their home, explore science,
catch up on celebrities, or read interesting sto-
ries from far and near. Our 2,000 books on CD
are used heavily since we travel so much. Our
Nooks have more than 270 titles, perfect for va-
cation time when youre not sure what to read.
Between the two libraries, there are more than
3,000 DVDs in the Adult collection full of pop-
ular movies, TV series, and 120 foreign films.
A childrens room was not added to Ma-
son Library until 1965, although there were
programs for children previously. Gone are the
days when children are not heard. Our lively
childrens rooms are often full of kids search-
ing in the stacks, coloring on their own, playing
with toys or on the computer with their parents
close by reading or finding information. The
childrens department has more than 20,000
books, 15 magazine titles, 1,200 DVDs, and
900 audio books, which are labeled or orga-
nized by age or reading levels. Our childrens
materials also cover a wide variety of topics
and our librarians are great at finding books
based on previous books or interests. This past
summer, there were 47 programs for children,
which introduced them to fossils, llamas, story-
telling, and many crafts. Mason Library offers
children kits to learn foreign languages while
Ramsdell Library offers kits to learn calligra-
phy, manga, or pen-and-ink drawing.
At Mason Library, a Young Adult room
was created last year to better accommodate
people from 13-24. Our teen spaces at both
libraries are great places for teens to work
together on a project, read, or just hang out.
We now have more than 3,300 items, includ-
ing graphic novels, manga, novels, DVDs, and
audio books. This area is very popular with
science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.
While once books lay behind circulation
desks and the guarding librarian, ever watch-
ful of foolishness, skullduggery, or noise, now
libraries are much more like bookstores where
patrons browse, and have a moment to think
while having a cup of coffee. Over the years,
the Great Barrington Libraries have grown
to be places that foster creativity and learning
through our book purchases, and through writ-
ing groups, craft workshops, and performances.
Knowing that the Berkshires are full of talent,
we want to assist that creativity, give it an outlet.
Mason has a local author section in the Reading
room and we encourage every writer we meet
to give readings. At Ramsdell Library, local chil-
dren have created their own Zine library where
their mini-books can be checked out. We hope
this inspires them to write their own stories.
You can find out what is happening at
Ramsdell or Mason Library by clicking on our
website (gblibraries.org), following us through
Facebook (www.facebook.com/gblibraries),
or giving us your email and we will send you
our calendar at the beginning of each month.
We look forward to seeing you and providing
you with materials you desire. We are always
interested in your suggestions for print and
nonprint materials. ~ Mason Library is located at
231 Main Street in Great Barrington, (413)528-2403.
Ramsdell Library is located at 1087 Main Street in
Housatonic, (413) 274-3738.
Great Barrington Libraries
Where You Can Grow & Learn / By Kate Deviny
(413) 528-4015 www.gbrss.org Great Barrington, MA
We educate our students to meet life with courage, impart meaning and
purpose to their lives, and respond with creativity and integrity to the needs
of the world. Our well-rounded, hands-on education prepares students for
their choice of high school and collegeand to reach their full potential.
P a r e n t - B a b y Nu r s e r y K i n d e r g a r t e n
1 s t - 8 t h g r a d e S u mme r P r o g r a m
The Libraries of Great Barrington
1087 Main Street
Housatonic
413.274.3738
cwmars.org
Ramsdell Public Library
231 Main Street
Gt. Barrington
413.528.2403
gblibraries.org
Mason Library
F
amilies with children six and older are invited to join the Mason
Library in Great Barrington, MA, for Mason Family Adventures
in Reading on Oct. 5, 12, and 19 and Nov. 2, 9, and 16, from 11am-
12:30pm. Enjoy beautiful picture books and great stories with sto-
ryteller Mary Jo Maichack. A healthy snack swill be provided. This
is a free program. Families who attend regularly will receive a canvas
book bag and a free book. Register online. Space is limited.
October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

14
Education & Workshops
Call (413) 637 - 3662 or visit BerkshireMontessori.org to register.
Lenox Dale, Mass.

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / November 2013 15
Health & Wellness
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L
emons possess antibacterial, antiviral, and
immune-building properties, and they are one
of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Fresh
organic lemon juice can improve your digestion and help
fush out unwanted materials, heavy metals, and toxins
from the body while fghting disease and infection with
high levels of biofavonoids, pectin, limonene, citric
acid, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins. To exercise
your liver and gallbladder, while supporting healthy
bile flow in the bile and pancreatic ducts, Dr. John
Douillard (www.lifespa.com) suggests mixing 1-2 tbsp
of olive oil with 1-2 tsp of lemon juice, shake, and drink every morning or night on an empty stomach
for one month. To improve digestion, lemon juice is preferably taken in warm water on an empty
stomach in the morning, 20 minutes before eating. If you choose to make this part of your morning
ritual, you may wish to drink it through a straw to protect your tooth enamel.
W
hen you think of cilantro, Mexican and Southeast Asian
cuisine comes to mind. It has a distinctive favor that
some people love . . . and some intensely dislike. But
cilantro is also considered a powerful medicinal herb that can
soothe chronic infammation, acting like a natural cleansing
agent noted for eliminating harmful heavy metals from the
body. Dr. Edward F. Group III, founder of the Global
Healing Center (www.globalhealingcenter.com) says
cilantro may be able to help prevent cardiovascular
damage, that it has strong antioxidant activity and
an anti-anxiety effect, it may help improve sleep
quality, and it has been examined and described as
having a blood-sugar lowering effect. Some chelation specialists suggest taking organic broken-cell-
wall chlorella half an hour before eating cilantro or drinking fresh juiced cilantro to help carry the
heavy metals out of your body as the cilantro helps release it from your cells.
B
eetroots are an amazing food that help support
good gallbladder and liver health organs that
are extremely important for breaking down and
removing toxins. When shredded and eaten raw, the high
amount of fber/pectin in beetroot improves digestion
and elimination of toxins by fushing it out of the system.
Beets are also a high-antioxidant vegetable that, according
to www.naturalnews.com, contain a number of important
substances, including betaine, potassium, magnesium, fber,
phosphorus, iron, vitamins A, B, and C, beta-carotene, and
folic acid. Raw beet juice can also be highly benefcial as it
improves liver function largely by thinning the bile, allowing it to fow more freely through the liver and
into the small intestine. Beets are also said by some to decrease the risk of coronary and cerebral artery
diseases, as they lower infammation in the body, allowing the many systems to work without interruption.

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October / November 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

16
Health & Wellness
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Intuitive Counselor
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heilaa Hite
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Mind & Spirit
T
o learn about your posture, your frst
need is to bone up (study) about
some necessary concepts. Consider
this: Standing up is hard work. If you have the
opportunity to watch a baby learn to stand on
their own, the effort and trial and error are ev-
idence of the struggle. After crawling around
for months, the baby observes others walking
and a desire to match their actions grows. But
getting up and standing on two legs requires a
strength and equilibrium that the child has not
yet developed. The child experiments with
balance, momentum, and propulsion. Even-
tually these all combine into the amazing feat
of ambulation on two feet.
As adults, these elements that the baby
struggles with are sublimated; and we expect
our bodies to coordinate these elements even
though we dont understand how they arise and
organize into the action of walking. The capac-
ity for our brain and neuromuscular system to
multitask movement actions could never be
part of our moment-to-moment conscious-
ness, or we would never be able to do much of
the amazing activities and cognitive functions
that require our attention to perform.
Then something happens to us. Perhaps
aging or an injury has impaired your posture.
Now you can try this idea: Return to the ele-
ments of standing and walking that frst or-
ganized your bodys abilities when you were
a baby. No, you dont have to crawl, but close
to it. You will break down the activity element
by element. This is how you can do it. But you
need to work with a professional, not a baby.
Working with a somatic movement thera-
pist provides opportunities to increase aware-
ness of postural alignment and fundamental
patterned actions like walking, turning, stand-
ing, bending, sitting, reaching, and lying down.
A somatic movement therapist offers lessons
designed to re-educate the neuromuscular sys-
tem, teaching the body new possibilities and
options for moving that improve patterns and
awaken the sense of movement. With added
awareness of how your body creates align-
ment from the inside out, you gain lifelong
tools to problem solve movement issues you
encounter as you go through life. With this
deepened understanding, you are living in
your bodymind more continuously and with
that as a support, you prevent injuries, pain,
and poor posture.
This journey through your bodys wis-
dom is the adventure you never forget. You
will have the advantage of knowing yourself
as a living body that senses and remembers the
fullness of each experience you encounter.
~ Megan Reisel has been a somatic movement
therapist since 1983. She is also a certifed Laban Move-
ment Analyst and utilizes the GYROTONIC

move-
ment system at her studio, Kinesphere, in Lee, MA.
Bone Up Your Posture / By Megan Reisel
High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving
Center (501C3) Registration For Fall Classes
Date: Mon, Oct 7, 2013, 11am-2pm
Place: 71 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY - 518-672-4202
Price: n/a. These classes are designed for children and adults with
special needs offering an opportunity for all abilities to learn and
develop their horsemanship skills together. www.high-n-mighty.org
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An education for life.
Childrens House
Elementary
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17

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com October / Novemberr 2013
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