Dec 2014-Jan 2015, vol 17 (28)

Take One, It's Free!

Our BerkshireTimes

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

O Real Estate & Professionals Buy Local Marketplace & Gift Guides O
O Online Coupons at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com/Coupons! O

Community matters.
Buy local food.

42 Bridge Street, Great Barrington

413.528.9697
www.berkshire.coop

FOOD SHOPPING WITH VALUE(s)

December - January 2015

Our BerkshireTimes
PUBLISHERS
Kathy I. Regan
publisher@ourberkshiretimes.com
Kevin J. Regan
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
_______________
EDITORIAL
Kathy I. Regan
editor@ourberkshiretimes.com
Rodelinde Albrecht
rodelinde@ourberkshiretimes.com
Copyeditor/Proofreader
Rodelinde Albrecht
_______________
DESIGN
Magazine Design/Layout
Kathy I. Regan
AdsIndependent Designers
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_______________

Contents
4
6

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

COVER ILLUSTRATION

There is No Finer Place

by Carol Frances, Artist

Carol Frances oil

paintings are richly
layered with a variety
of mixed media
including gold leaf,
phototransfer, and
text. Her current work
focuses on birds,
flowers, and goldfish.
She has gallery
representation in CT, MA, NY, and NM,
and is in collections in the United States and
Europe. Carol sells giclee prints of her work
and beautiful notecard sets, which can be
found at www.carolfrances.com

IT'S TIME TO DETOX YOUR PET

18
20

TINY WORLDS AND

MINIATURE GARDENS

real estate & professionals

PILASTERS, PLINTHS & PALLADIO
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

14

education & workshops

LEARNING BY DOING

home & garden

GIFT GUIDE

10

animal talk
GIFT GUIDE

holiday marketplace!

reflections
GRACIE

21

health & wellness

DETOXIFICATION 101

23

food & drink

BRETON-STYLE BUTTERY SABLES

featured advertisers

his publication is
printed with soy ink on
FSC-certified paper.

Our BerkshireTimes
The Voice of Our Community! Like Us On

Savings! Go to:

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT
Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.
P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
Phone: (413) 274-1122
advertise@OurBerkshiretimes.com
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com
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16

art, culture & entertainment

EVENT SAMPLER

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com/coupons
to find advertisers who are offering additional online coupons
and deals with fantastic savings! Join our mailing list to receive
our informative eNewsletter and coupons directly.
Our BerkshireTimes magazine is a bimonthly publication (six issues yearly, starting in
February), free to the public, and is enjoyed by community members and visitors
alike. Most of our editorial content is contributed by our readers. We welcome
your ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit original material
for consideration through our website. To find out more about advertising,
submitting editorial, and posting events on our free community calendar, see our
websites at left, and join our mailing list to receive our free monthly eNewsletter.
This months cover illustration, There is No
Finer Place, measures 18" x 34". Many of
Carol Frances paintings are available in limited
edition giclee prints both on canvas and on
paper. Contact the artist through her website
at left for more information.
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.

art, culture & entertainment

event sampler

Take Her
Breath
TakeAway!
Her
Breath Away!

SEE MORE EVENTS OR POST YOUR

EVENT FOR FREE AT
www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com

Fine Jew
s

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

Open 7 days a week until Christmas.

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

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

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

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

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Holiday Market and Tree Lighting

Date: Fri, Dec 5, 2014, 4:30-8pm
Place: Gallery Space at 6 Harris Street,
West Stockbridge, MA - Price: Free.
Tree lighting and Indoor Holiday Market
sponsored by the West Stockbridge Farmers
Market. Live music, tree lighting with Santa
and caroling at 6pm on Center Street. Bring
your own camera for free photos with Santa.
Find handmade holiday gifts, decorations,
party foods, and more! Warm up with a hot
beverage and do some holiday shopping.
Most village stores will be open late.
www.weststockbridgefarmersmarket.org
Breakfast with Santa Weekend
Date: Sat, Dec 6, and Sun Dec 7, 2014
Place: Ioka Valley Farm, Rt. 43, Hancock, MA
Come join us for breakfast with Santa. We
offer a free hayride on our Santas Cap wagon
to the Christmas tree plantation where you
may cut your own Christmas tree. You will
receive our traditional annual Ioka Valley
Farm ornament with the purchase of a tree.
Delicious hot cocoa and cider donuts will be
available for sale again this season.
www.iokavalleyfarm.com
It's A Wonderful LIfe: A Live Radio Play
Date: Sat, Dec 20, 2014, 2pm
Place: Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, 70
Kemble Street, Lenox, MA - (413)637-3353
Price: $14.50-$39.50
Nows your chance to catch the return of
our hit holiday production that enthralled
audiences with its live sound effects and
rapid character changes. Follow George
Bailey as he journeys to discover the value
of this wonderful life, guided by angel
second-class, Clarence who is on his own
quest to earn his wings . . . and remember,
no man is a failure who has friends.
www.shakespeare.org
Chanukah Family Festival
Date: Sun, Dec 21, 2014, 4pm
Place: Berkshire Mall at Macys Court, Rt.
8, Old State Road, Lanesborough, MA
Price: Free. Chabad of the Berkshires,
cosponsored by the Jewish Federation of

art, culture & entertainment

the Berkshires, invites you to join the festivities including Menorah
lighting, childrens crafts, live music, family entertainment, hot
latkes, dreidels, donuts - sufganiyot, face painting, a raffle, and more!
All are invited. To find out more, call (413) 499-9899, or visit their
website at www.jewishberkshires.com.
Christmas at Ventfort Hall
Date: Fri, Dec 26 through Mon, Dec 29, 2014
Place: Ventfort Hall, 104 Walker Street,
Lenox, MA - (413) 637-3206. Price: $15 adults, $7 children ages 5
to 17, and free for children age 4 and under.
Puppeteer Carl Sprague will bring to life the classic fairy tale titled
Sleeping Beauty. The audience will have the opportunity to meet
this wizard for childrens holiday punch and cookies. Performances
on Fri, Dec 26, and Sun, Dec 28, both at 3:30pm.
Gifted musician, artist, teacher, and storyteller Tom Hooker
Hanford will present ancient Christmas and Winter Solstice
traditions of the British Isles and the United States. Tom delights
audiences young and old with his highly interactive performances
accompanied by guitar, harmonicas, and violin. Tom will appear
on Saturday, Dec 27, at 3:30pm, and will meet the audience for
childrens holiday punch and cookies. www.gildedage.org

M X

Tea &
Portrayal

Lecture Series
Queen VictoriA
reiGnS,
PreSentAtion
AnD teA:
Sun., Dec. 7,
3:30 PM.

Holiday Week Childrens Programs

Sleeping Beauty MArionette ShowS
Fri., Dec. 26 and Sun., Dec. 28, 3:30 pm
by puppeteer Carl Sprague.
StorieS & SonGS, Sat., Dec. 27, 3:30 pm.
Wassail, Wassail, All Over the Town! Tom Hooker Hanford
presents ancient Christmas and Winter Solstice traditions
MAGic Show, Mon., Dec. 29, 3:30 pm.
Pete and Chris present Two-Man Kids High Energy Magic Show.

104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA

413-637-3206

GildedAge.org

on

main

7 2 5 N O R T H M A I N S T R E E T, S H E F F I E L D M A
413-229-8900 WWW.MIXONMAIN.COM

725 NORTH MAIN STREET

SHEFFIELD, MA 413-229-8900
www.MIXONMAIN.COM

Arts
HotcHkiss
The

at

VINTAGE MODERN
DECORATIVE

All are welcome!

hotchkiss.org/arts
(860) 435 - 4423

programs september through July

The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT

guest concert series ~ tremaine gallery

dance ~ hotchkiss dramatic association

~ film screenings
~ summer portals

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

holiday marketplace!
THE

BOOKLOFT

Celebrating our 40th year as an

independent bookstore. Thank you!
We sell eBooks! for your
iPad, iPhone, Android or
Kobo device
Great Barrington
413 528 1521
thebookloft.com

make a wish!
WE CAN MAKE HOLIDAY GIFT SHOPPING FUN AND EASY

his holiday season, take the frustrating guesswork out of gift

shopping! Have your friends and family (and you too) come
in and fill out a Wish List at The Bookloft. Well keep track of
your wished-for books and products, so anyone asking for your
Wish List can see exactly what to get you. Well also make sure
to cross off items as they get bought, so you dont end up with
doubles. Its handy for the holiday season, but dont forget birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays and events too!

fresh christmas trees

Meadow Farm
Market

AND DELICIOUS HOME-BAKED TREATS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Procuring exceptional organic and conventional

produce and goods, both locally and regionally
grown, as to ensure the best quality
offerings for our customers.

Serving certified free trade organic coffee, nitrate free meats

and cheeses, dairy from local farms, bakery fresh breads
and of course sundries.

(413) 394-4308 | MidgesMarket@yahoo.com

Route 102, 905 Pleasant Street, South Lee, MA

www.MeadowFarmMarket.com

LIKE US ON

facebook

ome get your fresh Christmas tree, wreaths, and delicious

holiday treats at Meadow Farm Market. Print and bring in
our coupon (found at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com/coupons)
to get a 10 percent discount off any tree. Our farmers section
offers a wide variety of the Berkshires freshest and tastiest food
and many delicious homemade pastries and delicious ice-cream
for your holiday gatherings. We are open year round and look
forward to welcoming you with down-to-earth hospitality.

silver and gold

MAKE YOUR JEWELS SPARKLE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

rown Jewelers has been a solid jewelry business for more

than 35 years, in our Allendale Shopping Center location.
We have earned our stellar reputation by adhering to our motto:
Treat every customer better than you expect to be treated; to
include respect, honesty, and impartiality. This philosophy, combined with an extraordinary selection of jewelry from $25 to
$25,000 makes holiday shopping truly joyful! Pandora jewelry,
LeVian chocolate diamonds, and many other wonderful designers
will make your holidays bright!
Everyone likes clean, sparkling jewelry for the holidays. The best
option is to bring your jewels to a reputable jeweler to be cleaned and
checked. Prongs break off, components wear out, and you chance
losing your jewelry. If you prefer to clean your jewelry at home, there
are specific jewelry solutions available for gold or silver jewelry.
There are many options now to buy jewelry on line, but we cant
stress how important personal, face-to-face service is at Crown
Jewelers. You know what youre purchasing and customer service
doesnt end after the purchase is made.

Extended Holiday Hours

Allendale Shopping Center | Pittseld, MA | 413-442-9073

*Ask about our interest free financing.

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Happy Holidays!

holiday marketplace!
festive holiday beer & food
A BERKSHIRE HOLIDAY TRADITION

arrington Brewery & Restaurant, Berkshire Countys only

brew pub, offers great one-stop shopping for the beer and
food lovers in your lives. T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, posters, glasses,
growlers, 22-oz. bottles, and more. Dont forget our signature Yule
Fuel, our Holiday Barley Wine, that has become a Berkshire holiday
tradition and is available for purchase at area package stores and at
the brewery. Gift certificates are also available for purchase right up
until Christmas Eve. Best wishes for the holiday season!

BARRINGTON
BREWERY

Join us for
LUNCH & DINNER DAILY

& RESTAURANT

SO

L AR

E
BREWED B

ER

420 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

www.barringtonbrewery.net (413) 528-8282

topnotch entertainment

42 Wendell Ave
Pittsfield, MA

THE WHIT IS YOUR TICKET TO AFFORDABLE ART EXHIBITIONS

413-443-0289

ocated in the Cultural District of Pittsfield in a historic mansion,

Whitney Center for the Arts entertains audiences with its
impressive, unique, and high-quality programming and art exhibitions. Crowd favorites are musical concerts and the Whits regular musical series such as Opera Notte (an evening of arias) and
NYC Style Cabaret taking place in a bistro setting, allowing audiences to enjoy tapas, wine, and beer. Average ticket $20, food $7,
and beverage $6. Reservations recommended.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Gift Certificates
Beer to go, Hats
Sweatshirts, T-shirts

For more Info

www.TheWhit.org

Theatre . Opera Nights . Cabaret . Art Exhibits

Chamber Music . Private Events . Office Space

hosting a holiday party?

WE CAN HELP WITH CUSTOMIZED EVENT PACKAGES

aving a special event or hosting a

holiday party? Let us help you with
your plans. We have a wonderful banquet
room located in our Pittsfield restaurant.

Baba Louies Pizza is a family owned

and operated business. We strive to treat
everyone like a member of our own family. Every meal we serve comes from the
highest-quality ingredients. We select the freshest veggies, fruits,
cheeses, and meats to create our wood-fired pizzas and heaping
salads. Let our team help you host your special event in our Pittsfield restaurant; from the planning stages to the final wrap-up,
whether 20 to 100 people attend, we are here to serve you.
Event packages can be as simple as pizza and salad, or customized
to include special pastas, appetizers, and desserts. We have hosted
many wonderful events from business luncheons and meetings to
baby showers and bar or bat mitzvahs.
Call our Catering Manager at (413) 499-2400 or just stop by and
check out the space. www.babalouiespizza.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

gift guide

Our Berkshire Marketplace

HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2014!

ENJOY

Cellarbration Wine, Beer & Spirits

Cellarbration offers a unique hand-picked wine selection, generally retailing for $15 or less, craft and domestic
beer, and a great selection of spirits. Cellarbration Wine, Beer & Spirits, formerly called Grape Finds, offers "Big-City" sophistication
with the warmth of a small-town store. We are located inside Great Barrington's Big Y Worldclass market and are perfect for all of your
one-stop shopping needs. Cellarbration also offers entertaining and educational wine classes (taste wines from diverse regions, learn
about wine and food pairing, enjoy access to special pricing on select wines, and more). Gift cards available. Open seven days a week,
Monday -Saturday, 9am-9pm, and Sunday Noon -8pm. (413) 528-6600, www.cellarbrationwinebeerspirits.com

ENHANCE

Karen Keenan Gifts & Home - Frasier Fir Reed Diffuser

This holiday season, spread your favorite home fragrance in a festive, ecofriendly way. Evoking Frasier Firs forest inspiration, this pinecone-shaped diffuser enhances any dcor.
Fill the 3-inch-tall bronze receptacle with the fragrant oil; reeds layer the air with fresh-cut fragrance.
Karen Keenan Gifts & Home is located in downtown Lee in the heart of the Berkshires, and is
filled with items that will enliven your senses. We carry well-known brands such as, Vera Bradley, Alex
and Ani, Crabtree & Evelyn, Willowtree, Wilton Armetale, Gund, Bunnies by the Bay, and Brighton, just to
name a few. You can find a gift here for everyone on your list and we are happy to gift wrap. Vsit us at
69 Main Street, Lee, MA. (413) 243-2689, www.karenkeenangifts.com

TREASURE

Mix on Main - Antique French Book-bar Tantalus

This antique French book-bar tantalus is an example of the type of item

used by the master of the house to secretly secure his favorite libation and to keep it out of the hands
of snoopy servants and other thirsty interlopers. At Mix on Main, our emphasis is on 20th Century
furnishings and accessories, but our constantly changing collection often features an eclectic
array of antiques and collectibles of every vintage. Our store is located at 725 N. Main Street on
Route 7 in Sheffield, and our prices are within reach of most design-oriented collectors. We may not
be the largest shop, but our distinctive pieces are not likely to be found in most other shops in the region.
(413) 229-8900, www.mixonmain.com.

CREATE

Wonderful Things - Yarn, Kits, and Gift Certificates

Soon to celebrate their forty-third year, Wonderful Things, owned by Harry and
Debbie Sano, has the largest selection of yarn, needlework, and craft supplies in the Berkshires. Give
the creative person in your life a fabulous selection of yarn, a kit, or a gift certificate. Make sure to go
to their Annual Yarn Sale, starting on January 22, 2015. Wonderful Things is also well known for
its large selection of American-made and artisan gifts, so you will find just the right gift for everyone
on your list. Visit Wonderful Things at 232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA.
Open Mon-Sat 9:30-5 and Sun 12-4. (413) 528-2473, www.wonderful-things.com

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

home, garden & landscape

tiny worlds and miniature gardens

CREATE YOUR OWN ENCHANTED SPACE / By Kathy I. Regan

to buy your plants and supplies from a place that offers specific
materials for this purpose so they can also give you helpful advice
(I recommend Wards Nursery and Gardening Center in Great
Barrington or Guidos Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield).

f you miss gardening in the winter, or simply do not have

the time, ability, or funds to outdoor garden, consider the enchanted and magical world of miniature indoor gardening.
Tiny World Terrariums ($19.95), by Michelle Inciarrano and
Katy Maslow, offers a 120-page, step-by-step guide to create tiny
themed worlds that even the green-thumb-challenged among us
will be able to make and maintain. With the addition of miniature figurines (available at many hobby shops) Michelle and Katy
apply a sense of humor and whimsy to their creations. Along
with thorough, easy-to-understand instructions and advice, 100
vibrant imaginative full-color images will inspire you to create
miniature worlds beyond your wildest dreams.

` If your terrarium does not have drainage holes, you must

supply a one-to-four-inch drainage layer (gravel, small stone, or
broken pottery) with a thin layer of charcoal on top. The depth
of the drainage material, charcoal, and soil should be equal to
about one-third the height of the container. Make sure the root
ball of each plant is completely covered.
` The type of soil used will depend on the type of plants you
wish to grow. This is where consulting your garden center will be
most helpful. Do not over water. For plants that like moist soil, the
top earth should feel barely moist before you add water. For cacti
and succulents, touch below the surface layer. Lower soil should be
only slightly damp. Closed terrariums rarely need water.
` Start with a clean container and keep your container clean. Be
sure to remove excess moisture and algae on the glass as well as dead
leaves, to prevent fungi growth. Prune plants as needed and enjoy!

Gardening in Miniature ($19.95) by Janit Calvo one of my very

favorite books is a complete guide to creating lush, living, smallscale gardens. If you have been longing to add
a luxurious patio, outdoor living space, wood
or waterscape, or secret garden to your home,
consider the fun of living out your fantasy in
miniature. This colorful book has everything
you need to know, including scaled-down garden designs, techniques for creating tiny hardscapes, valuable miniature garden care and
maintenance advice, and where to find lifelike
accessories, along with detailed instructions.
Do you have a valued possession that is damaged beyond repair?

Antique Repair
Good as Old

Small Container Gardening Tips

` The container you choose can be open or
closed. Open gardens can tolerate some direct sunlight, but too much sun may burn the
edges of leaves. Closed terrariums should be
placed where they will receive bright light, but
no direct sunlight (also keep away from radiators) so the temperature inside the container
does not cook your plants. Consider artificial
light (compact plant lights) where needed.

I can fix it! I will restore it toGood as Old. ~ Peter K. Lilienthal

Porcelain/Statues Marble/Stone Furniture

Signs Frames Paintings Leather
Professional Mending by Peter K. Lilienthal, Stockbridge, MA
(413) 298-1051 (413) 854-7803 pklilienthal@gmail.com
Before

After

Before

After

` Choose healthy, slow-growing plants

carefully. Plants should have similar light,
moisture, and soil needs. If you want to grow
sun-loving plants, use an open container. If
you want to grow plants that require high
humidity, use a closed container. It is best
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

Real Estate & Professionals

House Proud

Pilasters, Plinths & Palladio / By Gladys Montgomery

Georgian Federal Facade

Palladian Window, Tracery Sidelights

Greek Revival Temple & Wing

Colonial Revival Style

Doorway with Fanlight & Pilasters

Greek Revival Style

onsider a Berkshire porch with tall columns, a fireplace

with a mantel supported by fluted pilasters, crown moldings
where walls meet ceiling in a room these details come
to us from ancient Greece and Rome. How they found their way
into American homes is a great story. It begins in northeast Italy,
where architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) began designing villas
for the aristocracy, based upon the work of Roman architect
Vitruvius, who lived in the first century BC. Though Palladio had
a profound influence on architects throughout Europe, the Neoclassical style didnt become widely fashionable until the 1730s
and 40s when excavations began in Herculaneum and Pompeii
(Greek towns destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79
AD). Pompeii was hit by hot ash and burned, but Herculaneum
was submerged by mud slides, so its buildings and furnishings
were miraculously well preserved. These excavations ignited the
Neoclassical fashion in architecture and design, which was enthusiastically embraced by the well-to-do.
In America, the Neoclassical style went through three phases.
The first, from 1725-1785, during the Colonial period, is the
Georgian style. Bringing a new elegance and symmetry to homes
of the wealthy, Georgian architecture featured weighty details:
strong dentil moldings, heavy pediments, substantial multi-tiered
crown moldings, and raised-field paneling and bolection molding
around fireplaces. It also gave us the split pediment overmantel
and Connecticut River Valley doorway, including the one at Mission House, added in about 1750. By 1790, the United States had
achieved independence. The Georgian taste ceded to the more
refined Federal style, which brought a lightness and grace to dentil
moldings and other details, and added embellishments that included fanlights (semicircular windows), the fireplace mantel, and

10

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Federal Style with Hip Roof

Federal Style

applied decorations featuring floral swags, urns, bell flowers, and

sheaves of wheat.
The Neoclassical style didnt become truly democratic and
affordable until the Greek Revival period (1825-1860), when bold
architectural elements mirrored the bold mood of the new nation. Borrowing the designs of public buildings, churches, and
banks, homes featured prominent triangular front gables facing
the street and outlined with moldings, along with wide fascia
boards, blocky corner pilasters, and columned porches. Thanks
to factory-made goods, shipping via new canals and railroads, and
newfound prosperity, middle-class people could copy the homes
of the rich. This was a first: because of its egalitarian character,
the Greek Revival was known as Americas national style.
By 1850, Victorian styles had captured the public imagination,
and the Neoclassical fell out of favor. But fast forward to the late19th and early-20th centuries: Neoclassical details emerged again
during Americas Colonial Revival. In the 21st century, these details are still creating grace notes in new traditional homes. To
see them online, search Federal and Greek Revival styles on the
Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey and
check out sources on www.traditionalbuilding.com.

~ Gladys Montgomery is a Realtor with

William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty in Great
Barrington. Attuned to the needs of buyers and
sellers, and specializing in architecturally distinctive
homes in all price ranges, she is licensed in Massachusetts and New York State. Her background
includes a 30-year career as a marketing specialist
and as a writer/editor/author specializing in architecture, design, and lifestyle topics.

Real Estate & Professionals

THE PREMIERE SECOND-HOME MARKET IN THE NORTHEAST

ince the Gilded Age when Americas wealthiest families built

summer cottages in Lenox and Stockbridge, the Berkshires
has been one of the premiere second-home markets in the Northeast, attracting buyers from Boston, New York, Europe, and other
parts of the globe. Our smart, savvy agents and full staff at BPA are
as worldly and well-educated as their savvy clients, both local and
worldwide, providing an unrivaled level of customer service that
has made BPA one of the leading real estate agencies in the area.

BERKSHIRE GLOBAL REACH

PROPERTY BOLD TARGETED
MARKETING
AGENTS.COM
MAXIMUM

INTERNET
MARKETING AND SELLING BERKSHIRE, EXPOSURE

413 528 6800

COLUMBIA, AND LITCHFIELD COUNTIES

12 RAILROAD ST
GREAT BARRINGTON MA

income tax credits

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www.bpvs.com
413-743-0152
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id you know that Massachusetts has an income tax credit for

individuals who install renewable energy systems (solar or
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BPVS will be happy to explain other federal and state incentives
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Berkshire Photovoltaic Services, BPVS

baby it's cold outside

SMART ADVICE TO HELP PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE

rrrr its cold outside!

But is it cold inside too? Furnace out? No

power? How do you know if you leave
your Berkshire home unattended for even
a few days in the winter? Frozen pipes can
cause damage that rivals a fire. Temperatures drop quickly if the heat is off. What
can you do to put your mind at ease? If
you do plan to leave your home unattended for even a few days,
turn the main water feed off. If there is a break for any reason, the
only water that will leak is the small amount left in your pipes.
Always keep your thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees. To
be warned if the temperature is low, the power is out, or there
is water leaking, install a cost-effective, reliable system that can
notify you in time.

46 Howland Avenue, Adams, MA 01220

Tel. 413-743-0152 www.bpvs.com

MA LIC #'s HIC131996, CSL 73150

ince 1985, recognized for careful designs,

proven components and high quality workmanship,
BPVS solar electric systems are user friendly,
efficient and reliable.

rr

Member: American Solar Energy Society, Northeast Sustainable Energy

Association, Solar Energy Business Association of New England,
Solar Energy Industries Association.

Call us today, sleep better tonight.

413.442.5647
www.nedynamark.com

Since 1978
MA 982 C

DYNAMARK
SECURITY
CENTERS

Do you want the convenience of checking or even controlling the

temperature in your home or office remotely? This is possible from
your phone or computer. New England Dynamark can help.
Give a call today and we will he happy to answer your questions.

We Protect America
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

11

Real Estate & Professionals

own a piece of history

HISTORIC BUILDING FOR SALE IN NEW MARLBOROUGH

A
Historic Building for Sale in Hartsville, Massachusetts

circa

Your Resource for Big City Style in The Berkshires

Your Resource for Big City Style in The Berkshires

Danish and Mid-Century Modern Furnishings and Lighting

Danish and Mid-Century Modern Furnishings and Lighting

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

413-445-7200
413-445-7200

413-445-7200
Now
Open Sundays!

re you looking for the ideal place for your new antique shop,
caf, country store, wood shop/showroom, art studio, museum, or unique home? Originally built as a Methodist church in
1849, this historic building is permitted for both commercial
and residential use. It has a massive chestnut post and beam frame
situated on its original stone foundation. Interior renovations
include new insulation, drywall, 400-amp electric service, and new
heating system. (413)-274-1122, kevin@hartsvilledesign.com

shop local for the holidays

UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND THEIRS

n addition to carrying the largest selection of Quality Midcentury and Danish Modern furnishings, circa has a great
selection of gift items. Locally made soy
candles, handblown glass items, vintage
clothing and jewelry, local artisan wares, collectibles, local Berkshire
items, and much more. We also have gift certificates! As always,
plenty of parking. We look forward to your visit.

luxury property

The newest development from LD Builders...

BARRINGTON BROOK
From $499K
Now in pre-construction
Minutes from downtown GB
Set on 156 acres
Swim club with heated pool
Furnished model open daily

SINGLE FAMILY CONDOS IN THE HEART OF THE BERKSHIRES

Barringtonbrook.com 413-637-0843

arrington Brook is an open space residential development set on

156 acres of scenic beauty and privacy, only minutes from Main
Street in Great Barrington and many of the Berkshires most cherished
cultural attractions. These single-family condos have 3-5 bedrooms, 2-3
baths, and range from 2,000-3,500 sq. feet in size. Spacious great room
has an 11-foot ceiling. All units have garages, screened-in porches, an
open deck, and Energy Star Rated appliances. Enjoy maintenance-free
living with lovely common grounds. www.barringtonbrook.com

General
een Minds, Gre
ducts, GrContractors

we do it all!

en
Gre

Pro

en Pla
net

ANY JOB LARGE OR SMALL WE DO IT RIGHT OR NOT AT ALL

Prot

et
ect ou
plan
r
u
o
r
g
f
u
n
ture by pOr
ti At All
rotecNot
We Do It Right
674 North St Pittsfield MA 413-442-3001

MorrisonsHomeImprovement.com

12

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

orrisons Home Improvement has been serving the

residences and improving the homes of Berkshire County
since 1992. Our goal is to provide the people of the area with
outstanding customer service, coupled with the highest quality
products, resulting in complete customer satisfaction. We have a
variety of products and services available to fit any need and budget and we do all phases of home improvements! Call us today for
your FREE estimate and see what we can do for you!

Real Estate & Professionals

experience the difference

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND SATISFYING THEIR NEEDS

R
David St. Laurent
Berkshire Realtor

ealLiving is a brand of The Berkshire

Hathaway Home Services with stateof-the-art technology and both national and
international advertising. This coupled with
13 years of real estate sales experience specializing in country and waterfront properties has resulted in the creation of a new real
estate office with already proven results.

We dont just want to list your house or land, we want to sell it!
We dont just want to find you a house, we want to find you your
dream home!
I have spent 40 years in sales, have built and contracted beautiful homes in the area, and learned many fundamental lessons
about successfully selling real estate in this specialized market.
We at Country & Waterfront Properties understand that real
estate practice is not just about the sale of real estate, its about
the people and satisfying their wants and needs. This mindset
becomes a tool which makes the personal difference to a quick
smooth real estate transaction. Come and experience the
difference!

more than you expect

WE ARE NOT JUST A DISASTER RESTORATION COMPANY

erviceMaster of the Berkshires has been proudly, confidently,

and professionally serving Berkshire County residents for more
than 20 years. While we are primarily a disaster restoration company which simply means we clean up after water and fire damage,
we also do so much more.

Country &Waterfront
Properties

COUNTRY AND WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

413-269-4040
413-528-2020
COUNTRY
WATERFRONTPPROPERTIES
48 East AND
Otis Road
O Box 600
Otis, MA
01253
(413) 269-4040
(413)
528-2020
countryandwaterfronts@gmail.com
48 East Otis Road, Otis MA
Visit us: www.countryandwaterfronts.com

countryandwaterfronts@gmail.com

www.countryandwaterfronts.com

COUNTRY AND WATERFRONT PROPERTIES

413-269-4040
413-528-2020
48 East Otis Road
P O Box 600
Otis, MA 01253
countryandwaterfronts@gmail.com
Visit us: www.countryandwaterfronts.com

ally

Loc

ned rated
Ope
And

Ow

Over 20 Years Experience In

Disaster Restoration

CERTIFIED & TRAINED

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

We detail clean new homes after the contractor has finished (post
construction cleaning).
We detail clean homes for buyers purchasing an existing home.
We detail clean homes for existing homeowners looking for that
one-time big cleaning.
We professionally steam clean carpets and upholstery in your home.
We clean out and clean up homes in hoarding situations.
We are not a janitorial company and we are not a housekeeping
company, we are the cleaning professionals you need to handle the
job! If you are overwhelmed with the task, we can help! If you
dont have the time, we can do the job! If the unexpected occurs,
we can help!
We are the professionals to call for your homes large cleaning needs
in addition to disaster restoration.

Fire, Soot & Smoke Remediation Mold & Odor Remediation

ServiceMASTER of the Berkshires,

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

www.servicemasteroftheberkshires.com

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

800-707-1441

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

EMERGENCY ON CALL SERVICE

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

13

food & drink

breton-style buttery sables

SIMPLE AND UNADORNED YET AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS! / By Rachel Portnoy, Chez Nous Bistro

s a baker, I live for the holidays. What better way to fight off
any blues coming on from the shorter days or cooler temperatures than lighting up the oven and giving yourself a good reason
to stay in by watching your cookies bake and enjoying the results?
Icing covered, sprinkled, jam filled, I love them all! The simple,
unadorned Breton Sable, however, is really my ultimate cookie.
Despite their humble appearance, these cookies are the most
amazing and delicious cookies in the world!
Ingredients - Makes approximately 24 cookies
2 sticks soft butter
cup (100 g) sugar
cup (30 g) powdered sugar
tsp (3 g) salt
2 egg yolks
2 cup (350 g) Einkorn flour (available locally at Berkshire
Organics - see ad at left. Or use 320 g all-purpose flour)
Directions
1. Cream butter with sugars and salt until very fluffy. Add yolks
one at a time to make an emulsion, then add the flour. Mix just to
thoroughly combine, scraping down the bowl to make sure there

arent any stray butter lumps. Chill dough until firm, then form
into rolls about 1 inches in diameter. Wrap each roll in plastic
wrap and then roll on the counter into the roundest shape you
can. At this point you can freeze the dough, or just chill it well so
that it keeps its shape when you slice it.
2. Heat oven to 350F. Pull dough logs out of the fridge and unwrap. Brush lightly with lightly beaten egg and then roll in decorating sugar crystals. Use a sharp knife to cut through the dough,
making just under -inch-thick sliced rounds.
3. Place cookies on a greased or parchment-lined cookie tray, spacing them about 1 inches apart. Bake for about 14-17 minutes
until the edges start to brown, and they smell delicious. Your oven,
the thickness of your baking tray, the actual size that your logs ended up being, all of this will affect the baking, so you need to use my
guidelines, but verify well for yourself before pulling them out.
4. I think that these cookies actually taste best when completely cool, and the butter has set up again so that it melts in your
mouth. This doesnt mean that you cant try a warm one if you
want to, though!

La Fogata Restaurant

Hawthorne Valley Farm Store

Colombian and Latin Cuisine

Lunch & Dinner

Biodynamic, organic, and local

770 Tyler Street

Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 443-6969
443-6969
(413)

This holiday season, experience our full-line natural foods store featuring Biodynamic,
organic, and local foods. From artisan breads and pastries to cheese and lacto-fermented
vegetables, we have everything you need for your holiday table, all made on our farm.
Order your organic turkey and holiday pies today!

518-672-7500 x 253

Farm Store | www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org

327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 | 518-672-7500
14

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Come Visit Us at
Our Brand New
Second Location in
Stockbridge!

Hand Cut Home Made Doughnuts

Bagels Homemade Soups Wraps
Breakfast Sandwiches All Day

(413) 298-0272

31 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA

Original Location (413) 717-4144
258 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

food & drink

NORTH EGREMONT
COUNTRY STORE
Wholesome Homestyle Delicious
Warm & Friendly Service

We offer a full line of groceries and spirits.

Let us help you with your holiday needs!
Photo by John Phelan

Monday-Thursday: 6a-6p
Friday-Saturday: 6a-7p Sunday: 6a-5p

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

Call (413) 528-4796

Leon & Sons

Taste, Quality, Service,

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

389 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA

413-528-2022 www.themeatmarketgb.com

HIGHLAND RESTAURANT

Serving the Best in Italian American Cuisine

Take out Available Daily Specials (closed Mon)

Family Dining Family Prices Since 1936

Buy Your Holiday Gift Certificates Now!
413.442.2457 100 Fenn Street, Pittsfield, MA

Off North Street Across From City Parking Lot

Your
hosts, the
the Arace
Your hosts,
Arace Family,
Family, wish
wishyou
youBuon
BuonAppetito
Appetito

Local and Organic

Home Delivery or Market
Open 7 Days a Week

413.442.0888

813 Dalton Division Rd., Dalton, MA

www.BerkshireOrganics.com

entres
available

M-m-m-yum!
casual french dining

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

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

15

gift guide

Our Berkshire Marketplace

HOLIDAY SHOPPING 2014!

FEED

Wild Birds Country Store - Squirrel-Proof Feeder

This attractive bird feeder is guaranteed squirrel-proof as well as large-bird-proof and has a lifetime warranty. Effective against red and gray squirrels, as well as grackles, starlings, doves, and more. It is
dishwasher safe, built-to-last rust-proof construction with powder-coated aluminum and stainless steel components.
Wild Birds Country Store is a birding supply center that specializes in all the essentials for your backyard bird
watching and feeding. Owners Dave and Jody Soules carry a complete line of products to enjoy bird watching,
bird feeding, and species preservation. The store carries many unique birdfeeders, birdhouses, birdbaths, fountains,
and outdoor furniture. Many of the products they carry are created by local artists and artisans here in the Berkshires.
783 South Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. 413-644-9007, www.wild-birdstore.com

PLAY

BensDotters Pet - SmartCat Peek & Play Toy Box

The SmartCat Peek & Play Toy Box requires cats to paw and pull their toys out to
play, satisfying their desire to hunt and stalk, and providing much-needed mental stimulation. The
fun starts even before they get the toys out! The toy box comes with two toys, but can be used
with any appropriately-sized toy or treat. Durable wood construction. Specially priced for this
holiday gift guide at just $20. BensDotter's Pet carries a full range of foods, equipment, and
supplies for dogs, cats, and parrots. In addition to carefully selected conventional canned and
kibbled foods, BensDotter's specializes in granular and raw food diets for both cats and dogs.
A little bit conventional. A little bit alternative. A whole lot different! 940 Main Street,
Great Barrington, MA. (413) 528-4940, www.bensdotters.com

RELAX

Camp Wagalot - Boarding & Daycare for Dogs

Going away for the holidays, or just planning a day at the mall? In the frantic
rush of the season we often forget how our pets feel when we leave them behind. They become
bored, and this can bring out the naughty side of man's best friend! Instead, bring your dog to
Camp Wagalot for a day of exercise and mental stimulation, or board them for a week or more.
Your animal companion can play in a safe, supervised environment (it's like giving your
dog a vacation too!) and it will put your mind at ease. After a healthy day of activity,
your pooch will have visions of sugarplum bones dancing in their head while
sleeping safe and sound at night. Gift certificates make a terrific gift for that hard-to
-buy-for relative or friend. Call for an appointment or more information.
Rte 7, Stockbridge, MA. (413) 298 5300, www.lovecampwagalot.com

DRESS

CATWALK Boutique - Eclectic Clothing, Jewelry & Accessories

If you are looking for just the right holiday gift items including lovely woolen sweaters,
fanciful scarves, gorgeous handbags, and fun, funky jewelry, Great Barrington's upscale women's resale
shop, CATWALK Boutique, is the place to visit! All items are carefully curated to provide our customers with
an exciting and adventurous shopping experience. If you are looking for that perfect holiday outfit, our
experienced staff will assist you in putting together a beautiful ensemble culled from our extensive inventory.
All CATWALK profits directly benefit Berkshire Humane Society . . . this is truly guilt-free, fun shopping! So
this holiday season please help support the homeless animals of Berkshire County by shopping at
CATWALK. 325 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA (next to Happy Nails). Prices vary, with many
items under $15. (413) 717-4005, www.catwalkboutique.org
16

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

animal talk

it's time to detox your pet

CHALLENGING CONVENTIONAL VETERINARY PRACTICE

By Kristina Dow

any pet owners routinely use topical applications of

insecticides to ward off and eradicate the fleas, ticks,
and mosquitoes that can plague their pets during the
warm times of year, and some of those pet owners, on the advice of their veterinarians, use those topical applications yearround, and use them in conjunction with flea bombs in their
houses, tick collars on their pets, and oral deworming medications. Add to that the oral parasiticides prescribed for heartworm prevention, vaccinations administered for Lyme disease
prevention, and all the other routine annual vaccinations for
all manner of disease prevention, and we find that our pets
bodies are carrying substantial toxic loads.
Many veterinarians are dismissive of the intuitively sensible thought that the repeated use of toxins on and in our
pets bodies could have serious consequences for their quality
of life, vitality, and longevity. Moreover, many of those same
veterinarians will chastise pet owners as not being responsible
in the care of their pets should they come to question the sensibility of prescribed toxic regimens.
But who is the irresponsible party in that equation? Is it the
loving pet owner concerned about toxic overload, or is it the dismissive veterinarian who follows insecticide, parasiticide, and vaccine producers protocols without question, and who offers yet
another toxic prescription to mask the effects of toxic overload?
So what can we concerned pet owners do to eliminate, or
at least mitigate, the bombardment of toxins to which we are
expected to routinely expose our pets, and still feel that we are
being responsible in the care of our pets? First, we must find a
truly holistic veterinarian who is supportive of identifying safe
and effective alternative solutions to the routine toxic veterinary regimens, and if the best we can do is find a veterinarian
who is at least amenable to thinking intuitively, to questioning,
and to working with us through that process, weve struck gold
well worth our time and money to mine. Here are a few of the
nuggets Ive mined over the years . . .
Use food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) and phenolfree cedar oil with hydrated silica, labeled for use on pets, for
general pest and parasite control. Phenol-free cedar oil with hydrated silica is for external use only, and eradicates pretty much
every bug in existence. Food-grade diatomaceous earth, however,
can be used both on the pet for external pest control, and orally
to eradicate intestinal parasites (but be especially careful not to
breathe in the dust). Using the protocols for general pest and
parasite control described above, be especially vigilant in protecting your pet from the carriers of heartworm (mosquitoes)
and Lyme disease (ticks). Blood test (titer) for heartworm and
Lyme disease at least twice a year, and treat conventionally as
required. Itchy, flaky, and weeping skin can be the first sign
of a body in detoxification crisis. A pet manifesting detox crisis is likely severely immune-compromised, and should never be
vaccinated or otherwise exposed to additional toxins, nor should
the detoxification process be suppressed. Consult your holistic
veterinarian for supportive protocols. ~ Kristina Tina Dow is sole

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957

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

BENSDOTTERS PET 413-528-4940

940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 01230

Convenient Location with Ample Parking

on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guidos

Mon-Fri 10a-6p

Sat-Sun 10a-4p

www.bensdotters.com

proprietor of BensDotters Pet, a pet supply store in Great Barrington.

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

17

Children are human beings to whom respect is due,

superior to us by reason of their innocence and of
the greater possibilities of their future.
Maria Montessori

Gl
ob

al A

Eve
ry

ch

ild

wa
ren
ess
...

e
s
e

es
v
r

tessori advantag
n
o
M
e.
the

p,

h
ds

En
ga

ge d L

e a rn i n g , Env

n ta
e
m
n
i ro

lS

a
te w

Now enrolling for the

2015-2016 school year.
Call to schedule a time to visit the school
and observe classes in session.
15 months through 8th grade Only a few spots left for the current school year.
Individual tours daily by appointment

We are located at 21 Patterson Road in Lenox Dale, MA.

To register, visit www.BerkshireMontessori.org or call (413) 637-3662.

education & workshops

learning by doing
TAKING OWNERSHIP OF YOUR SCHOOL

By Justina Trova

t Buxton School, students take pride in the fact that

they are the ones who are central to sustaining it. Work
Program is a twice-a-week community gathering where
a variety of different tasks are carried out around campus. Both
students and faculty break into crews and tackle whatever it is
that needs to be done, whether it is seasonal tasks, such as chopping wood to heat some of the buildings, harvesting vegetables,
mowing lawns, shoveling, raking, composting, picking apples to
make cider, or general maintenance such as cleaning bathrooms
and building spaces, helping out in the offices, and the overall
enhancement of the facilities around campus. In addition, they
make all of the costumes and sets for the school plays.
Intentionally, the school does not have a hired maintenance crew
in charge of these duties. There is no nameless janitor, explains
Ben Gross, a senior at Buxton. It is the students who are accountable for the upkeep of the school. Work Program is about giving
back to the school that gives so much to us. It also adds a connection
to the community, a sense of responsibly that you can't find anywhere else, Gross says. Giving the students the opportunity to take
on these responsibilities allows them to grow, not only as a community, but also as individuals who are acquiring invaluable life skills.
In addition to Work Program, students are assigned to everyday
jobs as well as volunteer services. On a day-to-day basis, students
take charge of chores similar to what they may do at home, such
as taking out the garbage, cleaning a toilet, vacuuming a hallway, or
making snacks for other students. On Saturdays the kitchen staff
takes the day off and the students are in charge of all of the meals
that day. They order the ingredients/food ahead of time, and prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entire school and faculty.
Work program teaches us to be aware of our campus . . . we appreciate it because it teaches us how to problem solve and learn new
skills, states Nyasha Franklin, also in her senior year at Buxton.
Learning by doing is a way of life at Buxton School. Not only
is this philosophy present during Work Program, it is also fundamental in the classroom, with a model that encourages studentdriven discussion. The passionate faculty equips students with the
confidence to solve problems and disentangle this complicated
world in which we live. Buxton produces students who think independently, and who mature in a way that prepares them for life
after high school. Experience is a powerful teacher: At Buxton,
kids learn in an interactive, participatory environment, where they
are expected to contribute as much as they take away, explains
Franny Shuker-Haines, Associate Director of the school.
Once a year, the students and faculty take part in their Annual Urban Intensive, where students get to use the practical
skills they are gaining at school, and put them into practice. The
all-school trip consists of traveling to either a North or Latin
American city. While there, the students are able to delve into the
social and political concerns of the area and obtain an immediate
and personal experience through this journey. ~ Justina Trova is an

Admissions and Communications Associate at Buxton School. For more

information, visit buxtonschool.org, or call 413-458-3919 ext. 109.

Buxton

Meet our students and faculty, tour the campus,

and see us in action!

Admissions Open House

Monday, January 19, 2015

To RSVP and for more details:

admissions@buxtonschool.org, 413-458-3919
GRADES 9-12 CO-ED BOARDING & DAY COLLEGE-PREPARATORY

Educating Progressively and Living Intentionally Since 1928

291 South Street, Williamstown, MA www.BuxtonSchool.org

Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School

Parent-Baby Pre-K Kindergarten

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

(413) 528-4015

www.gbrss.org

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Great Barrington, MA

December | January 2015

19

reflections

gracie

MEMORIES OF GRANDMA / Painting and Essay By Deborah Hanson Greene

y grandmother Grace,
known to close friends and
family as Gracie, was a gentle
steady presence in my childhood. She lived with our family
in rural East Lenox more or less
until she died around my twelfth
birthday. A handsome soft-spoken woman with silver wavy hair
pulled back in a bun, her stern
demeanor, upright posture, and
New England stoicism intimidated my mother but belied the tenderness and love she bestowed on me her first granddaughter.
Gracie had been destitute most of her early life, raising herself and her tow-haired brother on the city streets of Boston
mill towns while her widowed mother worked as a housekeeper.
She learned early to hide her feelings, and I remember seeing her
face often frozen in a grimace as she stared blankly at a wall. But
most of all, I remember her hands wide with short fingers and
paper-thin skin hands that expressed tenderness. Never once
were they raised to anyone in anger, although I later was told that
they fended off blows from her former husband.
When I think of Grandma Gracie, I often see myself as a
wide-eyed six-year-old pixie perched high on a stool at an enameltop kitchen counter, entranced as her white-floured hands kneaded
the dough, inviting me to do the same, and then enjoying our first

Tis The Season To B e Stressless!

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Body & Soul Gift Certificates
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FACE & BODY CARE PRODUCTS

Call us for weekly specials.

Stop by or call to have your gift certificate
mailed or emailed.
And while youre at it . . . get something for yourself too!
Mention this ad for 10% off any full priced service
or gift certificate one discount per person.

slices of warm bread from the oven, smothered in butter.

I remember those broad hands brushing my long tangled hair in
slow easy strokes a daily ritual passed on to my father. Whenever I
was sad or angry, her hands beckoned me, and then she lightly caressed
my shoulders in ever-widening circles. I recall most fondly sitting on a
worn leather hassock, my back to her, anticipating her gentle back rubs.
She performed this and other small rituals with all her grandchildren as she visited each of her sons, always careful not to stay
too long, living among their young broods in towns nestled in
mountain river valleys of New England. She traveled with very few
possessions, took up residence in a spare sewing room or a small
bedroom, and quietly blended into the fabric of a household. She
never complained. Year after year, it seemed she wore the same
shoes, the same winter coat, and the same housedresses.
I never heard Grandma sing, but she whistled beautifully the
only person in our home to do so. Always the same tune perhaps
a hymn from the Methodist church. Today, whenever I wash dishes
or fold laundry, I hear in my mind the same few bars she whistled
as she mended or ironed or puttered about. After she died, when I
was a grown woman, I appreciated how poor she must have been,
and how enriched I was by her presence and her memory.
Many years later, far away from my childhood home, I taught
my new husband Grandmas gentle caress. I worked hard to build a
friendship even after he and I parted ways. And one time, he came to
my hospital bedside as I recovered from emergency surgery for a lifethreatening tumor his hands caressing my feet just as I had once caressed him. Gracies ritual of touch always quieted my racing thoughts
and brought me back to center, just as Grandma herself once had.
When I moved to Baltimore some time later, I bought a
tiny old row-house and soon began inviting neighbors and other
strangers to my cozy kitchen for tea or supper. Like Grandma
Gracie, I blended quietly into the fabric of a new community,
a new job, a new life. The gift of a smile, a few measures of
conversation with neighbors who also lived alone or faced big
challenges, or a small kindness made my own life less empty. Local merchants started calling me by name whenever I dropped in.
And I began to forge new relationships.
Some time later, in the autumn, I began dating again a
gamble with my still fragile heart. Our relationship evolved slowly.
One evening as he readied to leave, he asked, Could you rub my
back? I grinned. And so began a conversation rooted in the vocabulary of touch. Months later, sitting in my cheerful kitchen at
my green enamel-top table, sipping mugs of chamomile tea, our
conversation drifted to our chance meeting . . . I feel Ive known
you all my life, I said. Thats nice, he said shyly, surprised. But
by the spring he left. And as the crisp autumn nights brought
full circle another year, and the leaves blushed scarlet and orange
once more, I sat quietly in the amber glow of my kitchen in the
evenings, letting go of grief, inviting stillness, invoking grace.
Visions of Grandma Gracie her steady gaze, her quiet voice,
her silver hair pulled up off her neck, and silk fingers caressing my
shoulders drifted into my consciousness, into a canary yellow
kitchen infused with the smell of chamomile and fresh Christmas
narcissus, into the light warm home I recreated in memory of her
and all she had been, all she had given. ~ A Berkshire native, Deborah Han-

son Greene is a writer and painter. A graduate of Vassar college, she lived and worked in
the Washington metro area and the Midwest, and now lives and works in the Berkshires.
20

December | January 2015

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

health & wellness

heilaa Hite
Intuitive Counselor

Featured in Paulette Coopers directory,

THE 100 TOP PSYCHICS in AMERICA

Tarot Astrology Palmistry Psychometry

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Hypnotherapy Life Coach
Consultations in Person, by Phone or Skype
Classes, Parties and Events

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SHEILAAs accuracy rate is 95-100%.

MANAGER

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Upcoming Program Dates

Holistic Massage & Facial

Way to Health: Jan 4-10 and Feb 15-21

Way to Health Plus: Jan 11-17 and Feb 22-28
Healthy Weight Loss: Jan 18-24
Yoga Retreat: Feb 1-7

Jennifer A. Coppola

Licensed Massage Therapist/Esthetician

Bring in the New Year with a Retreat!

Hot Stone Swedish Massage Reiki

Learn Meditation, Palm Reading,

and the Art of Empowerment: Dec. 28-Jan 2

Dr. Hauschka Facial Treatments

Infant Massage Instruction
On-Site Seated Massage
Pregnancy Massage

Phone: (413) 499-0916

1063 North Street, Pittsfield, MA

sauna

therapy

46 Main Street
South Egremont, MA
Behind Zorn Chiropractic

Convenient | Private | Single Sessions | Packages

Infrared Sauna
Health Benefits
Lyme Symptom Relief

gol dm an / tripp
osteopathic healthcare

Detoxification
Pain Relief
Weight Loss

As osteopathic physicians, we use our comprehensive knowledge of

anatomy and physiology to promote health and healing. We work gently

Relaxation

with our hands to help your body restore optimal function based on
optimal structure to help solve musculoskeletal problems
and health issues of all kinds.

Improved Circulation
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As fully licensed physicians, we have all of the full and current medical
pharmacopeia, nutritional science and medical training at our disposal.
Your individual treatment may include a wide range of approaches,

Winter Special!

One month of unlimited

sessions for only $100.
Call for appointment.

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

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

(518)-965-3315 www.enlightensauna.net
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

December | January 2015

21

health & wellness

detoxification 101

Flowing Form
Bodywork
Deborah Gerard

e are exposed to an astronomical

number of toxic substances every
day including natural toxins such as mold,
yeast and fungus, bad bacteria and viruses, spirochetes, parasites, and negative
thoughts (fear and anger that can create
very real biochemical changes), and man
made toxins including pesticides, genetically modified foods (GMOs), heavy metals, dirty electric, WiFi frequencies, and
countless chemicals.
We regularly consume these harmful substances, inhale them inadvertently
or on purpose, absorb them through our
skin, and expose ourselves to them by
proximity. Our body is designed and able
to detoxify (neutralize, transform, or get
rid of) many (but not all) of these toxins so that they do not impair our health.
However, when our detox system is compromised in any way, impurities are not
properly filtered and every cell in the body
is adversely affected. The result can be as
mild as just not feeling our best, or a much
more serious degenerative condition.
Performing procedures to assist your
bodys natural detoxification process is
said to be an absolute necessity by some
health care professionals, and yet others
firmly believe some can be harmful. So, it
is best to obtain advice and guidance from
a professional, carefully listen to your
body, and do your own research.
In a future issues of Our BerkshireTimes magazine we will include specific
detox procedures recommended by local
professionals. But for now, we feel that reviewing a few basic (and sometimes overlooked) health practices that can have a
profound effect on your health over time is
an important step in the right direction.

Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner

Licensed
Physical & Massage Therapist
Craniosacral Therapy
_________________

Pain relief through gentle touch

and movement. Individual
sessions and classes are offered.

www.flowingform.com
debhands1@gmail.com
413-429-5438
22

December | January 2015

IT JUST MAKES SENSE / By Kathy I. Regan

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

1) The Joy Factor. Make a conscious effort

to pay attention to how you feel and flood
your body (and your bodys biochemistry)
with positive emotions throughout each
day. Learn how to forgive others (for your
sake) and take time out to pamper yourself and relax. Treat yourself to massage at
Body and Soul Thera-Spa (see ad page
20), Jennifer Coppola (see ad page 21),
and Flowing Form Bodywork (see ad
this page). Learn how to meditate or experience a yoga retreat at the Kushi Institute
(see ad page 21). Contact Sheilaa Hite for
intuitive counseling (see ad page 21).
2) Heal Your Gut. Consider the GAPS nutritional protocol by Dr. Natasha CampbellMcBride, www.gapsdiet.com. A healthy gut
will allow your body to clear out unwanted
substances by restoring and switching on
your natural detoxification system. In addition, your body needs the right nutrition
to function properly. Try adding fresh, raw,
organic juices to your diet, and use natural
food-based supplements available at Lenox
Village Integrative Pharmacy (see ad this
page). To help your body restore optimal
function on every level, we also highly recommend Goldman/Tripp Osteopathic
Healthcare (see ad page 21).
3) Exercise, Breathe, Sweat. More than
just a means to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and weight, regular movement and working up a sweat can greatly
assist your detoxification system. Contact
exercise and movement specialist Ming
Lash (see ad below). Walk whenever you
can, combine with deep breathing exercises, and be sure to drink enough pure water.
Infrared sauna sessions are extremely beneficial try Enlighten Sauna Therapy (see ad
page 21). Drink bone broths to replace minerals and to help your body and gut heal.
4) Reduce Your Exposure to Toxins. It
just makes sense. Eat organic food and use
organic products. Reduce your exposure to
heavy metals, dirty electric, and WiFi, and educate yourself about the toxicity of fluoride.
Carefully avoid sugar, cancer-causing GMOs,
and chemical additives like aspartame that
disrupt your entire system. Empower yourself by reading back issues of Our BerkshireTimes magazine to learn more about
specific topics from local professionals (click
on the magazine cover on the home page of
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com).

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(413) 637-3662

December | January 2015

23

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