Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, Oct-Nov 2016

Oct-Nov 2016 vol 28
(39)
Complimentary
Our BerkshireTimes
Local Events | Art & Culture | Home & Garden | Vibrant Living
Get Ready for the Holidays / Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Cover Art by Leon A. Comstock Jr. / www.neumannfineart.com
Do you want the kitchen that

youve always dreamed of?
It's time.
Hartsville Design
Woodworking
Call today.
(413) 274-1122
FSC Certified Wood Upon Request
Kevin@HartsvilleDesign.com
Kitchens Baths Entertainment Centers Display Cabinets Big & Small Jobs
www.HartsvilleDesign.com
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PUBLISHERS
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publisher@ourberkshiretimes.com
Contents
4
Kevin J. Regan
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
_______________
EDITORIAL
Kathy I. Regan
editor@ourberkshiretimes.com
Oct - Nov 2016
art, culture & entertainment

LEON A. COMSTOCK JR.
A TASTE OF TEA & HONEY
MORE FUN THINGS TO DO
get ready for the holidays

GIFT GUIDE
Copyeditor/Proofreader
Rodelinde Albrecht
_______________
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT
Account Representatives
Kevin J. Regan
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
Debra Johnson
debra@ourberkshiretimes.com
education & workshops

MAKING IT RIGHT
24
health & wellness

A BEE STING SAVED MY LIFE
30
mind & spirit

SHEILAA HITE
food & drink

SLOW COOKER BRISKET
THAI RED LENTIL SOUP
16
22
ELLIE LOBELS BVT PROTOCOL
FUN FACTS
13
animal talk
THE BEAVER
Rodelinde Albrecht
rodelinde@gmail.com
DESIGN
Magazine Design/Layout
Kathy I. Regan
_______________
20
NEUMANN FINE ART
31
home & garden
featured advertisers
THANK YOU!
Like Us On
THE SURPRISE
RIGHTSIZING
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This publication is printed with soy ink on environmentally
friendly Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.
Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.

P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
Phone: (413) 274-1122
advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
_______________
COVER ILLUSTRATION
An Early Show
by Leon A. Comstock Jr., Artist
www.neumannfineart.com
Leon A. Comstock Jr.
was born and currently
lives in Springfield,
MA. Since 1970 his
love of art has been in
constant competition
with his love of
motorcycling and guitar
playing. Comstock
works out of his home
studio in Springfield producing landscapes,
seascapes, still life, and fantasy pieces in his
signature style of exacting yet deeply personal
realism. He has won multiple awards in juried
art exhibits and you can find more of his work
at Neumann Fine Art Gallery in Hillsdale, NY.
www.neumannfineart.com
Our BerkshireTimes magazine was first published in 2009 and is

enjoyed by community members and visitors alike. We distribute
bimonthly (six times per year) starting each February. Most of our
editorial content is contributed by our readers. We welcome your
ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit
original material for consideration through our website. To find out
more about advertising and submitting articles, see our website at
left, and join our mailing list to receive our free eNewsletter.
All content in Our BerkshireTimes is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily
advocate and cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied
by our authors, illustrators, and advertisers. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any
reason. For printing errors of the publishers 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.
Oct | Nov 2016
Neumann Fine Art building is home to my studio, where I create

my own oil and watercolor paintings. Visitors to Neumann Fine
Art enjoy looking behind the scenes to the studio area, where
I am happy to share my work in progress and illuminate my
working processes. My aim is to create deeply personal work that
reflects the soul of America.
Some of the artists I represent include Our BerkshireTimes
Magazines current cover artist Leon A. Comstock Jr. (spotlight
on facing page), as well as Ron Goldfinger, Joel Griffith, Joel
Mark, H. M. Saffer II, Margot Trout, Don Wynn, Ken Young,
Anni Maliki, and more.
n a quiet street in the scenic hamlet of Hillsdale, NY, art

lovers come to discover a world of quality, excellence,
and aesthetics under the red metal roof of Neumann
Fine Art, owned by Jeffrey Neumann. Presenting changing shows
by regional and internationally exhibiting artists, the gallery always
offers something fresh to delight the eyes. Visitors are treated to a
diverse selection of paintings in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, as well
as prints and drawings by gallery artists, in addition to museum
quality furniture and a very special line of designer jewelry.
Q: What is your philosophy?

A: Neumann Fine Arts mission is to showcase work by serious
accomplished artists dedicated to producing fine art of the highest
quality, and to present the work in a friendly and relaxed environment.
The gallerys small-town setting and focus on accessible art allows
anyone from first-time art buyers to experienced connoisseurs to
enjoy a comfortable art buying experience.
Q: Jeffrey, please tell us more about what you do.
A: With a focus primarily on representational art, I represent a

select group of accomplished artists whose common denominator
is that each has achieved success with their own individual style.
I tightly curate my shows to present the singular vision of each
artist in their best light. I love presenting artists who put their
heart and soul into their work. When artists create their work
with great emotion, care, and intelligence, those feelings come
across to others. The fun in my position as a gallery owner is in
helping people discover art that moves them in ways that words
cannot express. Consulting with my clients and assisting them in
confidently making a purchase that will provide them with years
of happiness is something I find very rewarding.
Q: How did you get started?
A: I hold a bachelors degree in fine art and a masters degree in

art education. I opened Neumann Fine Art in 2009 after a 20-year
career in the fine art papers industry. My 40 years of personal artistic
practice include multiple awards, commissions, and representation
in numerous private and corporate collections and in other galleries.
Q: What do you offer?
A: In addition to the main gallery space, the rear portion of the
Oct | Nov 2016
Q: How can our readers find you?

A: Neumann Fine Art is located at 65 Cold Water Street,
Hillsdale, NY, on the corner of Anthony Street and Cold Water,
one block off of NY State Route 23. The showroom is open
Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 4pm and by appointment.
(413) 246-5776, www.neumannfineart.com. See ad on page 5.
Leon A. Comstock Jr.

Old Man Winter (self portrait) graphite and acrylic on panel, 2015
OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINES OCTOBER - NOVEMBER COVER ARTIST
orn in Springfield, MA,

L eon A. Comstock Jr.
has drawn and painted for
as long as he can remember.
As a toddler he was
encouraged to fingerpaint
directly on the family
kitchen table by his mother,
who would then wash the
paint off before meals.
Since 1970 his love of
art has been in constant
competition with his love
of motorcycling and guitar
playing.
In the 1970s and 1980s Comstock won multiple awards in juried

art exhibits. His tribute to Norman Rockwell, an oil on canvas
titled Thank You Mr. Rockwell, was exhibited at the original
Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in
1983 and 1984.
In 2009, after a 29-year career as a prepress graphic artist for

a large decorative engraving company, Comstock returned to
painting and actively exhibiting his work.
Previously known for his earlier trompe loeil paintings in oil,
Leon has been rewarded for his return to fine art with juried
competition awards for his equally accomplished acrylic paintings.
Working with renewed enthusiasm out of his home studio in
Springfield, Massachusetts, Comstock is once again producing
landscapes, seascapes, still life, and fantasy pieces in his signature
style of exacting yet
deeply personal realism.
You can find Comstocks
paintings and leaf
sculptures on display
at Neumann Fine
Art at 65 Cold Water
Street in Hillsdale, NY.
(413) 246-5776, www.
neumannfineart.com
Celebrate Our Forty-fourth Year!
Wonderful Things
Largest Selection of Yarns

and Unique Handcrafted Gifts in the Berkshires
Gift Certificates S Free Knitting Lessons
Open Mon-Sat 9:30-5, Sun 12-4
Harry and Debbie Sano
232 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-2473 www.wonderful-things.com
Oct | Nov 2016
A Taste of Tea & Honey at Sheep Hill

SAVE THE DATE! VISIT SHEEP HILL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, AT 4PM
ees Across Massachusetts and the Williamstown Rural Lands

Foundation invite you to a honey tasting at Sheep Hill on
Saturday, October 29, at 4pm. Sheep Hill is located at 671
Cold Spring Road (Routes 7 & 2), approximately one mile south
of the rotary in Williamstown, MA. The cost of the tasting is $10,
and will include a pound of honey to take home. Preregistration by
October 26 is required for the program, which will also include tea
and honey treats. Walk-ins may attend the tasting for $5 (additional
honey not included but honey can be purchased at the event).
Russell Wilson of Bees Across America will have a seasons
worth of honey from around Berkshire County for tasting. Is it
possible to tell the difference between apple and clover? Find out
in this unique program. Mr. Wilson will discuss the life history
of honeybees and the project to gather information about
pollinators and the flowering plants they prefer.
Sheep Hill is an ideal place for bees and other pollinators since
the meadow has flowers blooming from spring through fall and
is free from herbicides and pesticides.
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a nonprofit
member-supported land conservation trust celebrating its
30th year in 2016. Its headquarters is located at Sheep Hill, in
Aug | Sept 2016
Williamstown. The main goal of Bees Across Massachusetts is

community education, research, and assisting new beekeepers
with proper management of honeybees.
For more information, contact ruraland@wrlf.org, or visit
www.wrlf.org. Register at beesacrossmassachusetts@gmail.com.
Have You Heard?
ccording to the National Honey Board, the color

and flavor of honey differs depending on the
nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honeybees.
There are more than 300 unique types of honey
available in the United States, each originating from
a different floral source. Honey color ranges from
nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies
from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending
on where the honeybees buzzed. As a general rule,
light-colored honey is milder in taste and darkcolored honey is stronger.
Some common U.S. honey floral varieties include
alfalfa, avocado, blueberry, buckwheat, clover,
eucalyptus, fireweed, orange blossom, sage, tupelo,
and wildflower.
More Fun Things to Do

Bizarre Bazaar
When: Saturday, October 15, 2016, 9am-4pm
Where: Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center
165 East Street, Pittsfield, MA
Cost: $2, children under 12 free
This community craft fair is one of Berkshire Countys favorite
autumn traditions! Handmade crafts, fine arts, gifts, and great
food make this our biggest fundraiser. The Bizarre Bazaar
features products from all over New England as well as a bake
sale and raffles for crafts, cakes, and a money tree. Food will
also be available for purchase. All proceeds support Brigham
Center programs and services that are designed to empower
children and youth, with a special emphasis on girls, to become
responsible, confident, and personally fulfilled individuals.
www.brighamcenter.org
The Pumpkin Trail

When: Thursday-Saturday, October 20-22, 2016, 5-7:30pm
Where: Naumkeag
5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge, MA
Cost: member adult $12, child $6; nonmember adult $20, child $10
children under 3 free
Berkshire South Arts & Crafts Festival

When: Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10am-3pm
Where: Berkshire South Regional Community Center
15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA
Be sure to visit this holiday market featuring contemporary, local
artisans, crafters, and food producers. From clothing, pottery
and jewelry to gourmet foods and locally roasted coffee, it is
one-stop holiday shopping. www.berkshiresouth.org
Festival of Trees: Festive Premiere Party

When: November 18, 2016, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Cost: $50 adult, $25 child; museum members $30 adult, $15 child;
children 3 and under free
Lights! Camera! Action! Join us for a family-friendly movie-themed
extravaganza as you walk the red carpet to see more than 100 dazzling
decorated trees, bedecked in cinematic finery, reflecting this years
movie theme. The festival of trees is a true celebration of cinema,
from film noir and sci-fi to action-adventure, westerns, and animation.
Come to the Naumkeag Pumpkin Trail for a magical treat. With

a guide, walk along a pumpkin-lit garden trail where nocturnal
woodland creatures from our local forests emerge to share their
stories. Learn fact from fiction about some of your favorite local
critters. This is a non-scary event for all ages! Costumes welcome and
reservations recommended. Guided tours leave every 15 minutes and
fill up quickly. Rain or shine; flashlights are encouraged. The trail is
not stroller friendly and does have uneven footing. Find out more
about Naumkeag by visiting www.thetrustees.org.
A Berkshire Home Companion

When: Saturday, November 5, 2016, 6pm
Where: First Congregational Church UCC
4 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA
Cost: $20 for adults; kids under 12 free
An evening of storytelling, singing, and all-around merriment!
Enjoy music by folksinger JoAnne Redding, the Mount Everett
Madrigal Singers, Stockbridge Opera All-Stars: Marjorie Dix,
Nellie Rustick, Steve Hassmer, and John Demler. Also, The
Intercontinental Radio Theater: Hana Kenny and Chris Brophy.
Proceeds will benefit historic preservation of the 1824 Stockbridge
Congregational Church. Pie contest with all entries available for
purchase after the show! Our guarantee: No election jokes!
www.stockbridgeucc.org
Oct | Nov 2016
giftguide
SHOP LOCAL
GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Necklaces / Cheshire Glassworks

MAGICAL Stunning
Handspun glass adds life and beauty to any situation. If you love eye-catching jewelry, or are looking for a
special gift for a friend or loved one, you will adore these stunning, creative necklaces handcrafted from sterling silver and artistic
handblown glass. Cheshire Glassworks, run by artist/owner Jill Reynolds, is an independently owned studio and gallery located in the
northern Berkshires. You will find everything from pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings to whimsical glass vases and imaginative
sculptures. Jill lovingly creates each one-of-a-kind piece with the magic of fire, glass, and brilliant color. Celebrating 10 years in
business! Visit Cheshire Glassworks for a truly unique shopping experience at 24 South Street, Cheshire, MA.
(413) 743-7828, www.cheshireglassworks.com / $125-$145
FRESH
Gift Basket / Berkshire Organics
Our signature gift basket highlights the finest the area has to offer with locally
made jam and granola, honey and maple syrup, Ooma Tesoro homemade marinara sauce, Klaras
cookies, Berkshire Bark, a fresh assortment of freshly picked local apples and pears, and much,
much more. Beautifully arranged in a wicker basket, wrapped with a bow, and delivered to their
door. Help support our local community of farmers, producers, and artisans while delighting
everyone on your list! Available in three sizes year round to suit your gift-giving needs. All of our
gifts are available for shipping, and will be shipped in a gift box with the Berkshire Organics logo.
(413) 442-0888, www.berkshireorganics.com / $29 and up
ENTERTAINING
Subscriptions / Our BerkshireTimes
Dont miss a single issue! Enjoy the convenience of

home delivery with a year-round subscription. Our BerkshireTimes magazine is independently
published, locally grown (in the Berkshires since 2009), and oers six print issues per year.
We print on high-quality, gloss, 80# FSC-certified paper with soy ink. Most of our editorial
content is contributed by community members, and we welcome your editorial and artistic
contributions. We publish a variety of editorial content that informs, educates, enlightens,
entertains, and inspires. Share your passion! Go to our website home page to subscribe.
(413) 274-1122, www.ourberkshiretimes.com / $5.95 per issue
CHARMING
June-July 2016 vol

26
(37)
Complimentary
Our BerkshireTi
mes
Local Events | Ho
Art & Culture in the
Berkshires / Visit
Cover Art by Deborah
den | Vibrant Living

| Art & Culture
us at www.OurBerk
Van Auten / www.van
shireTimes.com
auten.com
The Wrens Inn Birdhouse / Backyard Heirlooms
37 bronze screen windows, mahogany doors, copper valleys

and flashing, and a cedar shingled roof grace this charming, realistic birdhouse. Its also easy
to clean! Imagine an heirloom dollhouse replica of the home you were raised in not just any
old dollhouse, but one that you will cherish for generations. Or, how about that tree house you
have been dreaming of for your grandkids? Did you know that every piece I build, whether it be
a birdhouse replica, dollhouse, or treehouse, is worth more today than the day I built it? Thats
what an heirloom is and that is what I can build for you! Visit Backyard Heirlooms at 525 Main
Street, Great Barrington, and on Facebook. Open Sat-Sun from10am-5pm and by appointment.
(413) 528-3095, atbackyardheirlooms@gmail.com / a price for every budget
8
BEAUTIFUL
One Evening in Monson / Leon A. Comstock
This strikingly beautiful painting (32 x 48 acrylic on panel)

will create a sense of tranquility in any room that it is displayed in. Leon Comstocks
compelling work goes beyond mere virtuosity; opening a door to the artists intensely
personal reality, says gallery owner Jeffery Neumann. Leon, a Springfield, MA, native has
won many awards for his art and works with enthusiasm out of his home studio producing
landscapes, seascapes, still life, and fantasy pieces in his signature style of exacting yet
deeply personal realism. You can see more of his work at Neumann Fine Art in Hillsdale, NY.
(413) 246-5776, www.neumannfineart.com / contact for pricing
EXOTIC
Winter Holiday Potpourri / Campo de' Fiori
Our winter holiday potpourri is composed of locally harvested

botanicals, exotic spices, and 100 percent essential oils. The crisp wintry fragrance
of balsam fir combines with the warmth of cinnamon, sweet oranges, and rare
frankincense and myrrh to create an ambiance of hearth and holiday. Each autumn
we handcraft and cure a fresh batch of potpourri, offering it to you at Thanksgiving.
Display in a shallow bowl (seen here in the Aged Venetian Fruit Bowl, always in
stock), and toss gently now and then to release fragrance. Available mid-November.
(413) 528-9180, www.campodefiori.com / $15-$30
Cake / Chocolate Springs

BLISSFUL Chocolate
Nothing is more decadent, more delicious, more blissful than
chocolate cake for a holiday, for a special event, for a romantic evening, or even for
your own enjoyment! Chocolate Springs is a European-style chocolate and dessert caf
with decades of experience in crafting the finest handmade bonbons. Milk and dark
chocolate, truffles, amazing ganache, and award-winning hot chocolate are made fresh
every day using only the finest seasonal and organic ingredients whenever possible.
Visit Chocolate Springs Caf in person at 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA.
(413) 637-9820, www.chocolatesprings.com
STYLISH
Mid-Century Modern Side Chair / Sisters Used Furniture
Make a statement in your favorite room with this rich honey-colored midcentury modern chair that will complement any decor. At Sisters Used Furniture, you will find beautiful
contemporary previously owned pieces that fit every budget and style. From mirrors, lamps, and
original artwork to dining sets, sofas, and dressers. Discover one-of-a-kind treasures for yourself or as
a unique gift. Join us for our only sale of the season Thurs-Sun, Nov 3-6. Our season ends
November 6 at 4pm. We will be reopening May 2017. Visit Sisters Used Furniture at 402 Park Street
(Route 183), Housatonic, MA. (413) 274-9900, www.sistersusedfurniture.com / $225
Oct | Nov 2016
Get Ready for the Holidays!

Fun Facts
alloween is on Monday,
October 31, 2016. Fun
facts did you know that:
Ireland is typically believed to
be the birthplace of Halloween.
The first jack-o-lanterns were
actually made from turnips.
Halloween is thought to have
originated around 4000 BCE,
which means it has been around
for more than 6,000 years.
Boston, Massachusetts,
holds the record for the most
jack-o-lanterns lit at once.
Halloween is the second most
commercial holiday of the year.
A full moon on Halloween is
actually quite rare.
hanksgiving is Thursday,
November 24, 2016. Fun
facts did you know that:
Thanksgiving is not just an
American holiday. Canadians
celebrate it too, but on the
second Monday in October.
It was not until 1941 that
congress declared Thanksgiving
a national holiday.
A spooked wild turkey can
run at speeds up to 20 miles per
hour and can burst into flight
between 50-55 mph in a second.
The first Thanksgiving took
three days and Pilgrims ate
items like lobster, hickory nuts,
cabbage, goat cheese, and squash.
anukkah begins this

year the evening of
Saturday, December 24, and
ends the evening of Sunday,
January 1. Fun facts did you
know that:
The Hebrew word
Hanukkah means dedication.
Hanukkah is the preferred
spelling, but it can also
be spelled Chanukah or
Chanukkah.
Though it is one of the most
well-known Jewish festivals,
according to religious tradition
Hanukkah is actually a more
minor holiday than Passover,
Rosh Hashana, or Yom Kippur.
hristmas this year is

Sunday, December 25.
Fun facts did you know that:
Some zoos feed donated
Christmas trees to their animals.
A large part of Swedens
population watches Donald
Duck cartoons every Christmas
Eve ever since 1960.
A number of very popular
Christmas songs were written
by Jewish composers.
We frequently abbreviate
Christmas as X-mas because
of ancient tradition. X is the
Greek letter chi which is
an abbreviation for the word
Christ in Greek.
knit & crochet

VISIT US TO BEGIN YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY
Join us for Sit & Knit!

Wednesdays, 2-4pm. All skill levels welcome.
Open Wed-Fri from 12-5pm, Sat from 10-5pm
130 Water Street, Lower Level, Williamstown, MA
www.spinoffyarnshop.com (413) 344-6257
handcrafted gifts
FROM JEWELRY AND HANDBAGS TO QUILTS AND POTTERY!
ick up a special gift for a friend or for yourself! Mountain

Goat Artisans features the handcrafted work of local
artisans including pottery, furniture and woodwork, scarves, knits
and weavings, jewelry, candles, honey, totes, handbags, art and
photography, and more! Proprietor Mary Merselis has created a
serene, enjoyable atmosphere in which to shop and there is plenty of
convenient parking. Enjoy a free chocolate chip cookie to nibble on
as you browse and relax on our back deck overlooking Green River!
10
Oct | Nov 2016
ellowship and community building are crucial for humans to share

knowledge and grow in spirit. My favorite time at The Spin-Off
Yarn Shop is Sit & Knit, Wednesdays, 2-4pm, when knitters from all
walks of life gather with infectious enthusiasm. Whatever the reason
we knit and crochet to escape lifes stressors, keep hands busy, or
for creative outlet knitting provides health benefits by exercising the
brain and developing spatial skills, focus, and concentration. Visit
us to begin your creative journey. ~ Beth Phelps, Proprietor
Mountain Goat Artisans

Local, One-of-a-Kind
Handmade Gifts
Quilts Cards
Handbags Art
Soaps Jewelry
Pottery Clothing
(413) 884-5339
Open 12-5pm Wednesday - Saturday
130 Water Street, Williamstown, MA
www.mountaingoatartisans.com
get ready for the holidays!
new & vintage
TOONERVILLE TROLLEY
RECORDS & CDs
A MUSIC STORE THAT GOES BEYOND THE BAR CODE!
New Used Imported
oonerville Trolley Records & CDs is an independent

music store with a stock of thousands of new and used
vinyl treasures painstakingly accumulated from obscure
warehouses, now-defunct distributors, and discerning
collectors. We also carry a selection of (now hard-to-find)
interesting new and used CDs from all genres of music. ln
addition, we carry supplies for record cleaning, mailing, and
storage, plus guitar strings, picks, capos, and so on.
Planes, Trains &

Automobiles!
Find the perfect gift at
Hobby World! Come see
our extensive stock of all
things fun and creative . . .
models & kits kites remote control trains airplanes
cars metal detectors puzzles paint sets and more!
(413) 743-7223 171 Grove Street (Rt 8), Adams, MA

www.hobbyworldonline.com follow us on Facebook
MUSIC - A GIFT
THAT LASTS!
Open 10-6 Mon-Sat 413-458-5229
131 Water Street, Williamstown, MA

www.toonervilletrolleyrecords.com
toys for all ages

COME SEE OUR EXTENSIVE STOCK OF ALL THINGS CREATIVE
obby World, located in Adams, MA, was launched in 1999

by hobby enthusiast Bob Blanchette. During the last 18 years,
Hobby Worlds inventory has grown and diversified in many ways,
meeting not only the needs of their steady r/c car customers, but
almost every other type of hobbyist requirement including model
trains and radio-controlled vehicles, rocket kits, doll houses and
supples, stamp collecting, paint by number, and so much more.
Toys for all ages. You name it and Bob probably carries it!
studio space
GIVE THE ARTIST IN YOUR LIFE THIS LIGHT-FILLED SPACE
his historic structure, built originally as a Methodist church

in 1849, is ideally situated right up the road from Gedney
Farm, and backed by a tranquil stream and distant mountain
views. Permitted use of the property allows both commercial
and residential occupation so its ready and waiting to be
transformed into an amazing light-filled studio space, country
store, caf or restaurant, fabulous home, museum, antique shop,
bakery, or office complex. The building has a beautiful stone
foundation with original doors and double-hung windows. The
windows have their original wavy glass panes. The siding is
full thickness old growth clear pine and is in great shape (only
needs paint). The frame is a massive chestnut post and beam
design in excellent condition with high ceilings. This structure
has undergone careful internal renovations respectful of its
history and integrity as an historic landmark. The main section
has been gutted, insulated, and dry-walled (fire code). A new
400-amp electric service was added as well as a new Viessmann
boiler and cast-iron radiator heating system. The maple floors
have been refinished and are in good condition. Its located on
one-plus lovely acres with plenty of parking and newly planted
elm trees bordering the Route 57 side. For more information call
Russ Stein at Berkshire Property Agents at (917) 886-9652.
Oct | Nov 2016
11
get ready for the holidays!
TO
READ?
the perfect gift
Visit us and find out more about

our Frequent Buyer Program!
Discounts available for seniors,
teachers, students, and military.
(413) 528-1521 Great Barrington, MA www.thebookloft.com
IMAGINATION & DISCOVERY AWAIT!
ndependent since 1974, The Bookloft is conveniently located

in Great Barrington at Barrington Plaza, 332 Stockbridge
Road. We carry a wide variety of titles and subjects, and offer
gift certificates for all of your gift-giving needs to help make any
holiday special. If we dont have what you want in stock (feel
free to call and inquire), we will gladly order what you need.
Most orders arrive within 1-4 business days. Stop in to visit.
Under new ownership since May 2016.
beautiful things
Unusual and Thoughtful Gifts
A Treasure Trove of Beautiful Things
Visit our store in Lee or shop online
at ebay: stores.ebay.com/arcnoli
413-358-0170
266 Main Street, Lee, MA

gifts@theuptownstore.org
www.theuptownstore.org
SHOP ONLINE THOUGH EBAY OR VISIT OUR STORE
ocated in the heart of the Berkshire mountains on Main Street

in Lee (across from the world-famous Joes Diner) you will find
the most unusual gifts at Uptown including a large assortment of
art, furnishings, vintage stereos and equipment, crystals and eastern
Asian gifts, and so much more. From antiques to mid-century to
odd and ends and collectibles, we strive to have a little something
for everyone. We ship worldwide. Uptown can also assist you in the
valuation and sale of personal and business assets.
quality flooring & more

Carpeting & Flooring | Carpet Cleaning
Mattresses | Blinds | Shades | Area Rugs
(413) 274-6001
380 North Plain Road, Housatonic, MA
www.countrycarpetsma.com
FIND THE SERVICE THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU
urn to our family-owned business, Country Carpets, for the

personal, detailed service you deserve. We take pride in providing
the highest quality, affordable products that include carpet, tile, vinyl,
laminate, fiberglass, rubber, padding, natural fiber products, and
green options. Our services include carpet cleaning, professional
installation, and free estimates. We have Serta mattresses, Graber
blinds and shades, special order area rugs, and select wall to wall
carpets 20 percent off from now until the end of 2016!
take a peek inside . . .

1950s -1970s AMERICANA
C: 413-441-2239 P: 413-243-0025
395 Laurel Street (RT 20), Lee, MA
www.RetroPopShop.com
12
Oct | Nov 2016
ake a peek inside the Retro Pop Shop . . . its a very cool,
funky little eclectic shop in the heart of the Berkshires in
Lee, Massachusetts. It features a large variety of vintage sodarelated collectibles, an unsurpassed collection of advertising
pieces major signage! There are also fun vintage gas
pumps, telephone booths, jukeboxes, pinball machines, dozens
of classic soda machines, and one of the largest Coca Cola
collections anywhere, and so much more!
food & drink
Slow Cooker Brisket with Root Vegetables

A SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS WAY TO COOK BRISKET / From Guidos Kitchen
Ingredients (serves 8 to 10)

1 large onion, peeled and cut into -inch pieces
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into -inch pieces
2 carrots, peeled and cut into -inch pieces
1 purple-top turnip, peeled and cut into -inch pieces
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into -inch pieces
1 rutabaga, peeled cut into -inch pieces
1 brisket, 5 lb
5 T all-purpose flour
Salt and ground black pepper
3 cups beef broth
1 can crushed tomatoes, 15-oz
2 cloves garlic, minced
cup brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
Remove brisket from cooker and allow it to rest. Slice the brisket
against the grain, arrange it on a platter, and ladle the vegetables
and sauce over it.
Instructions
Arrange onion, sweet potato, carrots, turnip, parsnips, and
rutabaga in bottom of a slow cooker (a 6-quart slow cooker is best
for this recipe). Evenly coat the brisket by thoroughly rubbing it
with flour, and season with salt and pepper. Place brisket on top
of vegetables in the slow cooker.
In a medium bowl combine the beef broth, crushed tomatoes,
garlic, brown sugar, dry mustard, chili powder, and cumin. Pour
mixture over beef. Cook on low for 10 to 11 hours or until meat
can be easily pierced with a fork.
Pittsfield & Great Barrington, MA

guidosfreshmarketplace.com #guidosfresh
Oct | Nov 2016
13
food & drink
Thai Red Lentil Soup

SIMPLE, RICH, TASTY / By Rebecca Schirber
Ingredients
Instructions
Makes one gallon; serves 10
In a generous pot, cover lentils with water, add kombu, and bring
to a boil. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until soft.
1 cups red lentils, sorted and washed

2-inch strip of kombu (seaweed)
2 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into
smallish pieces
1 cups onions in large dice
cup grapeseed oil or coconut oil
Salt to taste (about T)
1 T Maesri (or brand of your choice) red curry paste
2 cans coconut milk, 14-oz each
In a large soup pot, saut squash and onions in grapeseed or

coconut oil with salt. When squash and onions are starting to
soften, add the curry paste.
Add the coconut milk and cook until squash and onions are
completely soft.
When the lentils are ready, add them to the rest of the soup. Puree
until smooth. Add water to bring to desired consistency. Salt to
taste. Red lentils tend to burn easily so heat soup over low flame.
Red lentils are high in fiber and lutein. High-fiber foods have
been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and to
help keep your digestive system healthy. Lutein is a yellow or
orange pigment found in some foods. Lutein is concentrated in
the retinas of your eyes and is necessary for good vision. A diet
rich in lutein many lower your risk of developing cataracts and
macular degeneration.
~ Rebecca Schirber is an acupuncturist (with a history as a
personal chef) currently practicing in Lenox, Massachusetts.
www.goingbeyondwellness.com
14
Oct | Nov 2016
food & drink
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139 Ashland St., North Adams, MA
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413-346-4097
Tues-Thurs 11am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Closed on Mondays
Let Us Host Your Holiday Party.

Buy Your Holiday Gift Cards Now!
Haflinger Haus
Restaurant Tavern Inn
17 Commercial
Street, Adams, MA
413-743-2221
Welcome
to the Haflinger Haus!
Austrian-American Cuisine
Book your Holiday Party with us.
Gift cards available!
www.haflingerhaus.com
LOCATED AT 17 COMMERCIAL STREET, ADAMS, MA 01220

~ The Haflinger Haus Restaurant and Inn was
voted Best of the Berkshires two years in a row
~ From Wiener Schnitzel, Hungarian Goulash, and Lobster
Sptzle, to fresh seafood, steaks and pasta, we bring the best of
Austrian and American cuisines to the Berkshires
~ Dine in the beautiful fireplaced dining room, the casual tavern or
seasonal outdoor Biergarten where you can catch a glimpse of our
vegetable and herb garden
~ Make it a special treat and
stay over in one of our guest
rooms located upstairs in this
turn of the century mansion
~ We also host special events
Like us on Facebook and
see our weekly specials
NORTH EGREMONT
COUNTRY STORE
NEWLY EXPANDED DELI - FOOD MENU!
Wholesome Homestyle Delicious

SoCo Ice Cream Local Free-Range Eggs
Milk Liquor Beer Wine Pastries
Lotto Post Office Fishing Bait
Photo by John Phelan
Route 71, North Egremont, MA (Near Prospect Lake)
Call (413) 528-4796
Oct | Nov 2016
15
16
Aug | Sept 2016
Throes of the Lure: The Surprise

By Michael Romano
hen I lived in rural New York several decades ago I

stumbled upon a pond right across the street from
my rented house. It had been created by a series of
beaver dams; they had stopped the waters of a small creek that
in turn had flooded the shower basin. It was surrounded by
brush and trees but the beavers had cleared some of the bigger
trees, leaving open spaces. A deer trail wound its way around
the perimeter. The first time I saw it I wondered if this little
body of water held any fish. I thought that maybe some bass or
sunfish lived under its shallow, weedy surface.
I sat and watched the pond one sunny day and thought
I noticed some kind of surface action, like a fish or frog
jumping. I walked back to my house and got my fishing pole
and a select bag of bass lures, and hurried back over to my
secret little pond. The first fishable clearing was about halfway
across the pond so I set out in that direction. I quickly found
out that a deer trail is not a man trail.
The path started out marshy and quickly turned muddy I
mean the kind of deep mud that sucks your shoes right off
your feet. I did almost lose my shoes so I took them off, left
them on the path, and continued barefoot. Then came the
thorns; they were everywhere along the path and by the time
I got through them I was bleeding from a dozen different
places, but still undaunted I pushed forward.
The next thing I encountered were bees thousands of them
a nest hung from the biggest oak tree in the area. Luckily
the bees were all very busy with the swamp blossoms, but I
crept warily by the nest just the same. My exertions did not
go unnoticed however, as I was soon covered by a swarm of
mosquitoes. One can only slap so many so I gave up trying
and let them feast.
I finally made it to my selected area a little muddy, bloody,

and bruised but still intact. I tied on my favorite bass lure, a
5-inch Rapala (a Swedish hand-carved balsa wood fish with
many hooks). These lures are kind of expensive so you can
understand how frustrated I was after trudging all that way,
only to have my first cast land on the beaver dam ten feet
in front of me. I gently tried to ease it off the dam but of
course one of the many hooks snagged a stick just above the
waterline. I made many new curse words as I tried yanking
the lure off the stick, but it wouldnt budge. I then waded in
a few feet with a long stick and tried to knock it free, again
with no luck. I was going to be damned if I was going to lose
my favorite and most expensive lure, so I did the only thing I
could think of and threw a log at it . . . it worked!
The lure now floated freely alongside the beaver dam and as I
reeled it in something grabbed it with a giant splash about five
feet from shore. There was a brief, fierce battle but I landed
it a beautiful five-pound brook trout! The biggest brook
trout I had ever seen, and this after screaming curses, beating
the water with a stick, and throwing logs at the beaver dam.
So much for spooking the fish! At that point there was very
little I even noticed as I rushed home with my catch not the
mosquitoes, not the bees, not the thorns, or even the mud,
although I probably should have grabbed my shoes.
~ Michael Romano, a Great Barrington, MA, resident for almost
40 years, is an avid fisherman who in his own words kind of
treats fishing as a contact sport and has had more than a few
misadventures in the process. He has fished many local waters and
also enjoyed quite a few saltwater trips. Michael is a retired chef
he and his wife Susan worked at the now closed Kolburne School
in New Marlborough, MA for many years where he enjoyed taking
many of the students fishing.
Oct | Nov 2016
17
home & garden
Multiples are low-hanging fruit. How many large stock pots
or 12 saut pans will someone need in their smaller home where

they will no longer be entertaining large numbers of friends and
family? Will Mom need 17 vases in a two-bedroom condo? Use
the words favorites, beloved, treasures, invaluable, and terms like
cant do without to help discern what to keep.
If were hanging onto the past, its more difficult to be active
in the present. Feeling guilty about a hobby or project you started

but didnt follow through with keeps you from trying other hobbies
or getting involved in new endeavors that you may really like.
Rightsizing
LESS IS TRULY MORE / By Julie Ulmer
ave you noticed some of the new lifestyle trends toward

downsizing such as tiny homes, minimalism, and the
magic of tidying up? These concepts are based on the
idea that less is truly more. Its about getting away from keeping
excess stuff so we can spend more time experiencing life instead
of dealing with our possessions.
Working as a professional organizer, Im the one that people
call when they are overwhelmed by their belongings paper,
clothing, knickknacks, and even digital clutter. Its not just
the newer generations who want to live with less. As the baby
boomers get older, they are faced with the idea of aging in place
or moving into smaller accommodations with a lifetime of
personal property to deal with. Just the thought of downsizing
can invoke negative connotations and overwhelm, which is why
some of my colleagues now refer to household decluttering as
rightsizing (a term often used for businesses). Following are
a few tips to keep in mind if you are ready to tackle excess and
send clutter packing.
Keep hands-on decluttering sessions somewhat short and

start small. Pick a drawer, shelf, cupboard or 3-foot by 3-foot area
to start with, and limit yourself to thirty minutes or an hour; less
if your attention span is short. Its mentally fatiguing making lots
of decisions. Dont expect to do it all in one day. It took time to
accumulate, it will take time to decimate. Sort into categories like
toss, recycle, donate, shred, and of course, keep.
Donate what seems like a gift, not a curse. For instance,

a nice set of coffee mugs would be welcome by most charities
but lose the five mismatched mugs with broken handles or deep
staining. Its OK to throw some things out, really it is. No one
wants old Tupperware!
18
Oct | Nov 2016
If youre thinking of passing heirlooms on to your adult

children, dont be offended that your offspring arent interested
in Grandmas tea sets, china, glassware, or knickknacks. They
are trying to keep their homes from being overrun and they
may prefer to keep just one thing and a few pictures or letters
instead of material things. Can you sell or donate what your
loved ones dont want?
If
youre keeping some things that were gifts that you

dont really like but feel guilty about, let them go and embrace
the good intentions in which the gifts were given. The gift
giver probably wouldnt want you to feel remorse and guilt over
something material. Keep the best of the best and lose the rest.
If
youre really unsure about a few pieces, put them on

probation in a box labeled with the contents and the date. If six
months or a year has passed and you havent needed, wanted, or
used whats in the box, you may be able to let go of the entire box
without even having to look in it!
Are you holding onto something just in case you need it

in the future, its broken and you fully intend to fix it, or because
you spent good money on it? These might be excuses that are
just holding you back. Depending on the item, the worst-case
scenario is that you might have to purchase a new one or borrow
it from a neighbor or a friend. You might be able to do without
or find something else to do the same job.
I dont believe in once-and-done decluttering solutions,
because clutter is a constant in our lives. We can limit what

comes into our homes but ultimately we will always have to make
decisions on what stays and what will go. I encourage people to
ask themselves four elemental questions; do you use it, need it,
want it, or love it. While toilet plungers may not spark joy, most
homes benefit from having one.
~ Julie Ulmer is a Columbia and Rensselaer County native who has built
an extensive business as a professional organizer since 2003. She services
the Capital District as well as Columbia and Rensselaer counties of New
York and the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Julie is a member
of the National Association of Professional Organizers, The Institute
for Challenging Disorganization, and the Columbia County Chamber of
Commerce. www.mindingyourmanor.com, (518) 821-4682
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19
animal talk
The Beaver That Changed My Life

TO THIS DAY I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN HIM
By Allen Timmons
ll my stories are true, to the best of my recollection. And

none is truer than this one! But before I can tell you this
story, I have to paint you a picture. I want you to understand
that I grew up in a different time and place than the world around us
now. I grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at the
very end of the trail. The other end, where the trail turns into red clay
and the hickory forest becomes cotton fields.
My ancestry is Scottish/Cherokee. My family came off the boat and
settled into the southern mountains. They founded Timmonsville, South
Carolina, and later moved into northeastern Alabama and built one of
the first water mills in the state. It was about this time, as Ive been told,
that one of my great-grandpas married a Cherokee woman. This story,
plus the fact you could see the native blood so pronounced in my father,
always fascinated me and made me proud. From my earliest age, the
American Indian held a special place in my life because of this.
My brother and I grew up not too different from Huck Finn. Every
day, we were either in the woods or floating down a river. The
Cherokee blood that flows through my veins had a huge impact on
me. I read anything and everything I could about Indians. I wanted so
desperately to be a native that I often felt I was born out of place and
time. That God had made a mistake. So, as I ran through those woods,
I would retreat into my imagination and pretend I lived a thousand
years before Columbus. I made my own bow from hickory and I
learned how to start a fire with nothing but what nature provided.
I knew everything there was to eat and I knew how to catch about
every critter there was, alive or dead. And I had become particularly
proud of my ability to trap. In fact, my brother and I had become so
good at trapping that we would often boast about how there wasnt a
creature in the forest safe from us.
I had taken this great gift of my native ancestry and misinterpreted it
to mean something entirely different than what it truly was. American
Indians didnt kill indiscriminately. In fact, they have special prayers
for every creature that falls prey to their needs. They have never taken
more than they needed and they always gave thanks for what the
earth provided. But the problem with me, not unlike many other boys
in my time, was the influence of television. How it portrayed Native
Americans is a horrible crime we committed in an ugly attempt to
whitewash the true history of this beautiful people. But there was no
one in my life to teach me otherwise. My dad was always ashamed of
his Indian blood and I never understood why.
It was one of those times when your very own words come back to
haunt you. We were running our trapline as usual and bragging to
one another about what great trappers we had become. We had mink
and muskrat and even a red fox, but when we pulled up our last trap
we had the greatest prize of all: a massive old beaver. Really old! He
20
Oct | Nov 2016
animal talk
Pet Partners
of the Tri-State Berkshires
was so old that his face was almost all white. I had never seen
a beaver this old and big before. Later, when we weighed him,
he turned out to be 55 pounds, the largest beaver on record
for that month, according to Fur-Fish-Game magazine, but we
couldnt report it because our trapline was illegal. (I was raised
to believe that the law is important only if you get caught....)
But the most striking thing was that, upon closer examination,
we realized this old beaver only had one leg and that was the leg
in my trap. He had been trapped at least three other times in his
life (probably by kids just like us) and chewed his leg off in order
to survive. I had read they would do that but had never seen it.
At first I was angry at the trappers before me who had done
this. This would never happen in one of my traps, I said. The
animals I kill all die quick and efficiently. Then, as I looked into
that old beavers face, something overcame me. For some reason,
I didnt feel so very proud anymore. Instead, I felt disturbed and
ashamed. I realized that in my boasting, I had actually described
the real sin here and it was of my own doing! That beaver had
such a thirst for life that it chewed off its own leg in order to
survive! Not once, but three different times! I tried to imagine all
the incredible hardships it must have endured and all the awful
suffering it went through. All those years! And then came I!
Provides
Food for needy dogs and cats
Reduced rate spay/neuter
Assistance with basic veterinary care costs
Call Faith 518-781-0362
Call 413.229.8579
or 518.781.0362
or visit www.petpartnersberkshires.org
We are
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413.528.1328
413-997-2287
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P.O.Box
Box1073,
1073,Pittsfield,
Pittsfield,MA
MA01202
01202
P.O.
www.BerkshireAnimalDREAMS.org
www.BerkshireAnimalDREAMS.org
CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957
To this day, I have never forgotten that old beaver. That

moment in my life was the last time I ever harmed another
living creature. I got rid of my guns and picked up a camera
instead. Dont get me wrong. Im proud and grateful for the
things I know and have learned in my life, but Im ashamed of
what I did with it. Our Earth is a precious gift. She provides all
that we need and asks nothing in return but to be respected. All
life is precious. From the unseen to that which has not yet been
seen, we are all connected and one!
Your trusted source

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When no man was there to teach me the way that I should

go, an old beaver taught me something that changed my life
forever: Respect!
~ Allen Timmons designs, builds, and sells one-of-a-kind custom
heirloom-quality architectural sculptures
including birdhouses, doll houses,
playhouses, tree houses, and more. His
business, Backyard Heirlooms, is located at
525 South Main Street in Great Barrington,
MA (across from the Wainwright Inn) and is
open on weekends and by appointment. You
can contact Allen and his wife, Nancy, at (413)
528-3095, atbackyardheirlooms@gmail.com,
and on Facebook.
find us on
find us on
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
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Making It Right
A Process of Restitution
By K. Meagan Ledendecker
fter a great deal of crying and feeling horrible about

how she had treated her sitter, my eight-year-old decided
to write an apology note. When she was done, we
brainstormed ways she could try to make amends for her actions.
The process wasnt an easy one. When we make mistakes, it can
feel like squeezing too much toothpaste out of the tube. Getting
the excess back in can feel virtually impossible.
My daughters process was fresh in my mind as I milled about
after a workshop with other Montessori teachers discussing how
children confront social challenges. One teacher shared that
when a child apologizes, he acknowledges the apology as a good
first step, but that it is only that . . . a first step. This comment
caught my attention.
How do we support children who have made a mistake and arent
sure about how to make amends? Genuine apologies certainly
arent easy, but its a lot easier to apologize for a mistake than it
is to fix it. With this in mind, I began exploring Diane Gossens
work on restitution. The definition of restitution revolves around
restoration restoration of something damaged, lost, or stolen
basically restoring what was affected to its original state.
Gossens recipe for restitution, though, is designed to help the
mistake-maker experience a healing process, a self-restoration
perhaps. According to Gossen, the process of making things
right again should include the following components:
The person(s) affected by the mistake will feel that the
restitution is acceptable and appropriate.
The restitution will require effort.
By making amends, the mistake-maker will be discouraged (or
at least not encouraged) to repeat the mistake.
For the process to be really exceptional, three other characteristics

may be involved:
The restitution will be logically connected to the mistake.
The process will connect to a deeper understanding or big

picture of how people treat each other.
The experience will actually strengthen the mistake-maker.
Gossen notes that in supporting the process of making amends,

we must be very careful to refrain from criticizing, inducing
guilt, or expressing anger. Also, we must not feel like we are
overextending ourselves. The person trying to fix the mistake
must own the process.
Ive been attentive to chances for my own children to try to
make things right. Recently when my four-year-old, in a state
of extreme frustration, tossed his plate to the ground, I saw his
outburst as an opportunity.
When the plate hit the concrete patio it shattered into an infinite
number of shards. Sharp shards. I didnt react, though. I let him
feel the intensity of the moment. After a bit of time passed I let
him know that I would be willing to help him, but that the pieces
would all need to be cleaned up from the patio so they wouldnt
cut our feet. He got me shoes. He picked up shards. He got a little
cut on his finger. He retrieved the dustpan and dust brush to help
sweep. The process was long and effortful.
Later when I was tucking him into bed, I reflected aloud about
how hard he had worked to fix his mistake. He nodded and
snuggled into me. Although the plate had shattered, my sons
sense of how to make things right certainly seemed strengthened.
He didnt need to apologize. His actions
were restorative.
~ K. Meagan Ledendecker, cofounder of The
Montessori School of the Berkshires in Lenox
Dale, Massachusetts, appreciates all shes learned
from her mistakes. She hopes one day her three
children will feel that way, too. You can learn
more about The Montessori School of the
Berkshires at www.berkshiremontessori.org.
Oct | Nov 2016
23
health & wellness
A Bee Sting Saved My Life:
Poison as Medicine
ADAPTED AND REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION FROM

WWW.MOSAICSCIENCE.COM (3/24/15) / By Christie Wilcox
moved to California to die. Ellie Lobel was 27 when

she was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease.
And she was in her early 40s when she decided to give
up fighting for survival.
just relapse right back into this horrible Lyme nightmare. And
with every relapse it got worse.
Caused by corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi,

which enter the body through the bite of a tick [and potentially
by other insects as well], Lyme disease is diagnosed in around
300,000 people every year in the United States. If doctors
correctly identify the cause of the infection early on, antibiotics
can wipe out the bacteria quickly before they spread through the
heart, joints, and nervous system.
Nothing was working any more, and nobody had any answers
for me, she says. Doctors couldnt help me. I was spending all
this cash and was going broke, and when I got my last test results
back and all my counts were just horrible, I knew right then and
there that this was the end. [Ellies doctor told her she had four
months to live].
But back in the spring of 1996, Ellie didnt know to look for the
characteristic bulls-eye rash [which does not always appear] when
she was bitten she thought it was just a weird spider bite. Then
came three months with flu-like symptoms and horrible pains that
moved around her body. Ellie was a fit, active woman with three
kids, but her body did not know how to handle this new invader.
She was incapacitated. It was all I could do to get my head up off
the pillow, Ellie remembers.
Her first doctor told her it was just a virus, and it would run its
course. So did the next. As time wore on, Ellie went to doctor
after doctor, each giving her a different diagnosis. Multiple
sclerosis. Lupus. Rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia. None
of them realized she was infected with Borrelia and potential
coinfections until more than a year after she contracted the
disease and by then, it was far too late. [Lyme bacteria are
exceptionally good at adapting; evidence shows that they are
capable of dodging both the immune system and antibiotics
unless caught very early. And even with early antibiotic treatment,
a percentage patients dont get better]. There are testimonies
of symptoms persisting sometimes even resurfacing decades
after the initial infection.
I just kept doing this treatment and that treatment, says Ellie.
Her condition was constantly worsening. She describes being
stuck in bed or a wheelchair, not being able to think clearly,
feeling like shed lost her short-term memory and not feeling
smart anymore. Ellie kept fighting, with every antibiotic, every
pharmaceutical, every holistic treatment she could find. With
some things I would get better for a little while, and then I would
24
Oct | Nov 2016
After 15 years, she gave up.
I had outlived so many other people already, she says, having

lost friends from Lyme support groups, including some who just
couldnt take the suffering any more. I didnt care if I was going to
see my next birthday. It was just enough. I was ready to call it a life
and be done with it.
So she packed up everything and moved to California to die. And
she almost did. Less than a week after moving, Ellie was attacked
by a swarm of Africanised bees.
Ellie was in California for three days before her attack. I wanted to
get some fresh air and feel the sun on my face and hear the birds sing.
I knew that I was going to die in the next three or four months. Just
lying there in bed all crumpled up . . . It was kind of depressing.
At this point, Ellie was struggling to stand on her own. She had a
caregiver on hand to help her shuffle along the rural roads by her
place in Wildomar, where she had chosen to die.
She was standing near a broken wall and a tree when the first bee
appeared, she remembers, just hitting me in the head . . . all of
a sudden boom! bees everywhere. Her caregiver ran. But Ellie
couldnt run she couldnt even walk. They were in my hair, all over
my head, all I heard was this crazy buzzing in my ears. I thought:
wow, this is it. Im just going to die right here.
Ellie, like 1 to 7 percent of the worlds population, was severely
allergic to bees when she was two, a sting put her into anaphylaxis,
a severe reaction of the bodys immune system that can include
swelling, nausea, and narrowing of the airways. She nearly died.
She stopped breathing and had to be revived by defibrillation. Her
mother drilled a fear of bees into her to ensure she never ended up
health & wellness
in the same dire situation again. So when the bees descended, Ellie
was sure that this was the end, a few months earlier than expected.
Bees and some other species in the order Hymenoptera, such
as ants and wasps are armed with a potent sting that many of
us are all too aware of. This is their venom, and its a mixture of
many compounds. Perhaps the most important is a tiny 26-aminoacid peptide called melittin, which constitutes more than half of
the venom of honeybees and is found in a number of other types
of bees and wasps. This little compound is responsible for the
burning pain associated with bee stings. It tricks our bodies into
thinking that they are quite literally on fire.
When we experience high temperatures, our cells release
inflammatory compounds that activate a special kind of channel,
TRPV1, in sensory neurons. This ultimately causes the neurons to
send a signal to the brain that were burning. Melittin subversively
makes TRPV1 channels open by activating other enzymes that
act just like those inflammatory compounds. Jellyfish and other
creatures also possess TRPV1-activating compounds in their
venoms. The endpoint is the same: intense, burning pain.
I could feel the first five or ten or fifteen but after that . . . All you
hear is this overwhelming buzzing, and I could feel them hitting my
head, hitting my face, hitting my neck, says Ellie. I just went limp.
I put my hands up and covered my face because I didnt want them
stinging me in the eye . . . The next thing I know, the bees are gone.
When the bees finally dissipated, Ellies caregiver tried to take
her to the hospital, but she refused to go. This is Gods way of
putting me out of my misery even sooner, she told him. Im
just going to accept this. I locked myself in my room and told him
to come collect the body tomorrow.
But Ellie didnt die. Not that day, and not three to four months
later. I just cant believe that was three years ago, and I just cant
believe where I am now, she tells me. I had all my blood work
done. Everything. We tested everything. Im so healthy. She
believes the bees, and their venom, saved her life.
The idea that the same venom toxins that cause harm may also be
used to heal is not new. Bee venom has been used as a treatment
in East Asia since at least the second century BCE. In Chinese
traditional medicine, scorpion venom is recognized as a powerful
medicine, used to treat everything from eczema to epilepsy.
Over millions of years, these little chemical engineers have
developed a diversity of molecules that target different parts of
our nervous system, says Ken Winkel, Director of the Australian
Venom Research Unit at the University of Melbourne. This idea
of applying these potent nerve toxins to somehow interrupt a
nervous disease has been there for a long time. But we havent
known enough to safely and effectively do that.
Despite the wealth of history, the practical application of venoms
in modern therapeutics has been minimal. That is, until the past
continued on page 26
Bee Venom Therapy for Lyme

For more information about BVT and
Ellie Lobels mission visit:
www.facebook.com/TheBeeBusMission
You can also request to be invited
into Ellies closed Facebook group:
Bee Venom Therapy for Lyme Disease
www.facebook.com/groups/398477540313310
BEE VENOM THERAPY MEETUPS

FOR LYME DISEASE & CO-INFECTIONS
BEE ABOUT
VENOM
THERAPY
MEETUPS
HAVE
YOU HEARD
BEE
VENOM
THERAPY
FOR LYME DISEASE?
BEE
VENOM
THERAPY
MEETUPS
BEE
VENOM
THERAPY
MEETUPS
FOR LYME DISEASE & CO-INFECTIONS
FOR LYME
LYME DISEASE
DISEASE &
& CO-INFECTIONS
CO-INFECTIONS
FOR
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT BEE VENOM THERAPY FOR LYME DISEASE?
HAVE YOU
YOU HEARD
HEARD ABOUT
ABOUT BEE
BEE VENOM
VENOM THERAPY
THERAPY FOR
FOR LYME
LYME DISEASE?
DISEASE?
HAVE
JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT THIS GROUND BREAKING PROTOCOL

JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT THIS GROUND BREAKING PROTOCOL
DEVELOPED
BY
LOBEL
DEVELOPED
BYELLIE
ELLIE LOBEL
JOIN US
US TO
TO LEARN
LEARN ABOUT
ABOUT THIS
THIS GROUND
GROUND BREAKING
BREAKING PROTOCOL
PROTOCOL
JOIN
TOPICS COVERED WILL BE HOW TO UTILIZE THE HEALING POWER OF BEE VENOM
TOPICS COVERED WILL BE HOW TO UTILIZE THE HEALING POWER OF BEE VENOM
DEVELOPED
BY ELLIE
ELLIE
LOBEL
TO
ERADICATE LYME BY
DISEASE
& CO-INFECTIONS
DEVELOPED
LOBEL
TO ERADICATE LYME DISEASE & CO-INFECTIONS
TOPICS COVERED
COVERED WILL
WILL BE
BE HOW
HOW TO
TO UTILIZE
UTILIZE THE
THE HEALING
HEALING POWER
POWER OF
OF BEE
BEE
TOPICS
ELLIES STORY HAS GONE VIRAL AROUND THE GLOBE AND CAN BE SEEN OR HEARD ON
VENOM
TO
HELP
CHRONIC
LYME
DISEASE
&
CO-INFECTIONS
NPR,
SMITHSONIAN,
MOSAIC
SCIENCE
VENOM FOR CHRONIC LYME DISEASE & CO-INFECTIONS
PLEASE
US!
ELLIES STORY HAS GONE VIRAL AROUND
THEJOIN
GLOBE
AND CAN BE SEEN OR HEARD ON
NPR, SMITHSONIAN, MOSAIC SCIENCE
ELLIES STORY
STORY HAS
HAS GONE
GONE VIRAL
VIRAL AROUND
AROUND
THE GLOBE
GLOBE
AND CAN
CAN BE
BE SEEN
SEEN OR
OR HEARD
HEARD ON
ON
MEETUP
1 AND
ELLIES
THE
PLEASE
JOIN
US!
WHERE: MASON
LIBRARY, 231 MOSAIC
MAIN
STREET,
NPR, SMITHSONIAN,
SMITHSONIAN,
MOSAIC
SCIENCE
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GREAT BARRINGTON MA 01230
PLEASE JOIN
JOIN US!
US!
PLEASE
MEETUP 1
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WHERE: MASON
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MAIN1STREET,ROOM
WHERE: HUDSON AREAMEETUP
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GREAT
BARRINGTON
MA
51
N
5TH
ST
HUDSON
NY 01230
12534
WHERE: MASON LIBRARY, 231
MAIN
STREET,
WHEN: NOVEMBER 2, 2016 AT 5:30-7 PM
WHERE: MASON LIBRARY, 231 MAIN STREET,

WHEN:
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AT 7-9
PM
GREATNOVEMBER
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01230
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01230
WHEN: NOVEMBER
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PM
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AT
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AT
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WHERE: HUDSON AREA LIBRARY

COMMUNITY
ROOM
MEETUP
2
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2
51HUDSON
N 5TH ST
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NYCOMMUNITY
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WHERE:
HUDSON
AREA
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COMMUNITY
ROOM
WHERE:
AREA
LIBRARY
ROOM
51 N
N 5TH
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ST HUDSON
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NY 12534
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WHEN: NOVEMBER 15, 2016 AT 7-9 PM
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Oct | Nov 2016
25
health & wellness
A Bee Sting Saved My Life:

Poison as Medicine / continued from page 25
ten years or so, according to Glenn King at the University of
Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. In 1997, when Ellie was
bouncing around from doctor to doctor, King was teasing apart
the components of the venom from the Australian funnel-web, a
deadly spider. Hes now at the forefront of venom drug discovery.
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Kings group was the first to put funnel-web venom

through a separation method called high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC), which can separate out different
components in a mixture based on properties like size or
charge. I was just blown away, he says. This is an absolute
pharmacological gold mine that nobodys really looked at. Clearly
hundreds and hundreds of different peptides. Glenn King
thinks his lab may have also discovered a major breakthrough in
pain relief in centipedes.
Over the course of the 20th century, suggested venom
treatments for a range of diseases have appeared in scientific
and medical literature. Venoms have been shown to fight
cancer, kill bacteria, and even serve as potent painkillers
though many have only gone as far as animal tests. At the time
of writing, just six had been approved by the US Food and
Drug Administration for medical use (one other Baltrodibin,
adapted from the venom of the Lancehead snake is not
FDA approved, but is available outside the US for treatment
of bleeding during operations).
The more we learn about the venoms that cause such awful
damage, the more we realize, medically speaking, how useful
they can be. Like the melittin in bee venom. Melittin does not
only cause pain. In the right doses, it punches holes in cells
protective membranes, causing the cells to explode. At low
doses, melittin associates with the membranes, activating lipidcutting enzymes that mimic the inflammation caused by heat.
But at higher concentrations, and under the right conditions,
melittin molecules group together into rings creating large
pores in membranes, weakening a cells protective barrier and
causing the entire cell to swell and pop like a balloon.
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26
Oct | Nov 2016
Because of this, melittin is a potent antimicrobial, fighting off a

variety of bacteria and fungi with ease. And scientists are hoping to
capitalise on this action to fight diseases like HIV, cancer, arthritis,
and multiple sclerosis. For example, researchers at the Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, have found
that melittin can tear open HIVs protective cell membrane without
harming human cells. This envelope-busting method also stops the
virus from having a chance to evolve resistance. We are attacking
an inherent physical property of HIV, Joshua L. Hood, the lead
author of the study, said in a press statement. Theoretically, there
isnt any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a
protective coat. Initially envisioned as a prophylactic vaginal gel,
the hope is that melittin-loaded nanoparticles could someday be
injected into the bloodstream, clearing the infection.
health & wellness
Ellie is the first to admit that her tale sounds

a little tall. If someone were to have come
to me and said, Hey, Ill sting you with
some bees, and youll get better, I would
have said, Absolutely not! Youre crazy in
your head! But she has no doubts now.
After the attack, Ellie watched the clock,
waiting for anaphylaxis to set in, but it
didnt. Instead, three hours later, her
body was racked with pains. A scientist
by education before Lyme took its toll,
Ellie thinks that this was not a part of an
allergic response, but instead indications
of a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction her
body was being flooded with toxins
from dying bacteria. The same kind of
thing can happen when a person is cured
from a bad case of syphilis. A theory is
that certain bacterial species go down
swinging, releasing nasty compounds that
cause fever, rash, and other symptoms.
For three days, Ellie was in pain. Then,
she wasnt.
I had been living in this . . . I call it a
brownout because its like youre walking
around in a half-coma all the time with
the inflammation of your brain from the
Lyme. My brain just came right out of
that fog. I thought: I can actually think
clearly for the first time in years.
With a now-clear head, Ellie started
wondering what had happened. So she
did what anyone else would do: Google it.
Disappointingly, her searches turned up
very little. But she did find one small 1997
study by scientists at the Rocky Mountain
Laboratories in Montana, whod found
that melittin killed Borrelia. Exposing cell
cultures to purified melittin, they reported
that the compound completely inhibited
Borrelia growth. When they looked more
closely, they saw that shortly after melittin
was added, the bacteria were effectively
paralyzed, unable to move as their outer
membranes were under attack. Soon
after, the membranes began to fall apart,
killing the bacteria.
Convinced by her experience and the
limited research she found, Ellie decided
to try apitherapy, the therapeutic use of
materials derived from bees.
Her bees live in a bee condo in her

apartment. She doesnt raise them
herself; instead, she mail orders, receiving
a package once a week. To perform the
apitherapy, she uses tweezers to grab a
bee and press it gently where she wants to
be stung. Sometimes I have to tap them
on the tush a little bit, she says, but
theyre usually pretty willing to sting you.
She started on a regimen of ten stings
per day on either side of her spine, three
days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Three years and several thousand stings
later, Ellie seems to have recovered
miraculously. Slowly, she has reduced the
number of stings and their frequency
just three stings in the past eight months,
she tells me (and one of those she tried in
response to swelling from a broken bone,
rather than Lyme-related symptoms). She
keeps the bees around just in case, but for
the past year before I talked to her, shed
mostly done just fine without them.
Modern science has slowly begun to take
apart venoms piece by piece to understand
how they do the things they do, both
terrible and tremendous. We now know
that most venoms are complex cocktails
of compounds, with dozens to hundreds
of different proteins, peptides, and other
molecules to be found in every one. The
cocktails vary between species and can even
vary within them, by age, location, or diet.
Each compound has a different task that
allows the venom to work with maximum
efficiency many parts moving together to
immobilise, induce pain, or do whatever it
is that the animal needs its venom for.
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Rare cases like Ellies are a reminder of the

potent potential of venoms. But turning
folk knowledge into pharmaceuticals can
be a long and arduous process. It could
take as long as ten years from the time you
find it and patent it, says King. And for
every one that you get through, ten fail.
Since the 1997 study, no one had looked
further into bee venom as a potential cure
for Lyme disease, until Ellie.
Ellie now runs a business selling beederived beauty products called BeeVinity,
inspired by how good her skin looked as
she underwent apitherapy. I thought,
continued on page 28
Oct | Nov 2016
27
health & wellness
A Bee Sting Saved My Life: Poison as Medicine / continued from page 27

Well, people arent going to want to get stung with bees just
to look good. Ellie has partnered with a bee farm that uses
a special electrified glass plate to extract venom. As the
bees walk across the plate on the way to and from their hive,
harmless currents stimulate the bees to release venom from their
abdomens, leaving teeny little droplets on the glass, which are
later collected. Ellie says it takes 10,000 bees crossing that plate
to get 1 gram of venom (other sources, such as the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the UN, quote 1 million stings per
gram of venom), but those bees are not harmed.
For her, it is more than just a way to make a living: its an amazing
blessing. Proceeds from her creams and other products support
bee preservation initiatives, as well as Lyme disease research. In
addition, she sends some of
the venom she purchases
which, due to the cost of the
no-harm extraction method
she uses, she says is more
expensive than gold to Eva
Sapi, Associate Professor of
Biology and Environmental
Science at the University of
New Haven, who studies
Lyme disease.
Sapis research into the
venoms effects on Lyme
bacteria is ongoing and as
yet unpublished, though
she told me the results from
preliminary work done by
one of her students looks very promising. Borrelia bacteria can
shift between different forms in the body, which is part of what
makes them so hard to kill. Sapi has found that other antibiotics
dont actually kill the bacteria but just push them into another
form that is more dormant. As soon as you stop the antibiotics,
the Borrelia bounce back. Her lab is testing different bee venoms
on all forms of the bacteria, and so far, the melittin venom seems
effective.
The next step is to test whether melittin alone is responsible, or
whether there are other important venom components. We also
want to see, using high-resolution images, what exactly happens
when bee venom hits Borrelia, Sapi told me.
She stresses that much more data is needed before any clinical
use can be considered. Before jumping into the human studies,
I would like to see some animal studies, she says. Its still a
venom. And they still dont really know why the venom works
for Ellie, not least because the exact cause of post-treatment
Lyme disease symptoms remains unknown. Is it effective for her
because its killing Borrelia, or is it effective because it stimulates
28
Oct | Nov 2016
the immune system? asks Sapi. Its still a mystery.

Theres a long way to go for bee venom and melittin. And it
takes a lot of work and money to turn a discovery into a
safe, working medicine. But labs like Kings are starting to tap
the pharmaceutical potential that lies in the full diversity of
venomous species. And King, for one, believes that scientists are
entering a new era of drug discovery.
In the past, venoms have been investigated because of their known
effects on humans. Such investigations required both knowledge of
the venoms clinical effects and large volumes of venom, so until now
only large species, like snakes, with easily extracted venoms have been
studied in any depth. But thats changing. Technological advances
allow for more efficient venom
extraction as well as new ways
to study smaller amounts of
venom. The preliminary tests
for pharmaceuticals can now
start with nothing more than
a genetic sequence. We can
now genomically look at the
toxins in these animals without
having to actually purify the
venom, says King, and that
changes everything. Ken
Winkel thinks venomous
animals will be excellent drug
resources for devastating
neurological diseases, as so
many of their venoms target
our nervous system. We really
dont have great drugs in this area, he says, and we have these little
factories that have a plethora of compounds.
No one knows exactly how many venomous species there are
on this planet. There are venomous jellyfish, venomous snails,
venomous insects, even venomous primates. With that, however,
comes a race against time of our own making. Species are going
extinct every year, and up to a third may go extinct from climate
change alone.
When people ask me whats the best way to convince people
to preserve nature, your weakest argument is to talk about
how beautiful and wonderful it is, says Bryan Fry. Instead,
he says, we need to emphasize the untapped potential that
these species represent. Its a resource, its money. So
conservation through commercialization is really the only
sane approach.
Ellie couldnt agree more. We need to do a lot more research on
these venoms, she tells me emphatically, and really take a look
at whats in nature thats going to help us.
health & wellness
Ellie Lobels BVT Protocol

By Kathy I. Regan
here are a growing number of people using Ellie Lobels

live bee venom therapy (BVT) protocol for Lyme and
associated coinfections (more information can be found
on Ellies closed Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
groups/398477540313310). The hope is that a 2- to 3-year course
of Ellies protocol will eradicate the infections. Although there is
some indication to support this theory in laboratory testing, it
has yet to be proven in human trials (you can however follow
the progress of members on Ellies Facebook group mentioned
above). The pain and general symptoms from chronic Lyme
and coinfections are so disabling and difficult to treat that the
discomfort of BVT is mild in comparison and offers hope and
notable relief for many. Anyone considering using BVT should
be certain to consult their professional health care provider
before starting any new treatment, and thoroughly do their
own research. Ellie indicates that is it absolutely imperative to
have an EpiPen available at all times during BVT treatment, to
understand all aspects of the protocol, and to carefully follow the
protocol instructions. Below are two local testimonials.
Before starting BVT [but after standard treatment] my Lyme symptoms
continued and included insomnia, brain fog, headaches, depersonalization,
adrenal fatigue, low cortisol levels, anxiety, liver and kidney pain, heart
palpitations, hot flashes/night sweats, and weight loss. Since starting
BVT six months ago my sleep has returned. The horrible feeling of
depersonalization has gone away. I have gained back most of my weight.
Liver and kidney pain have subsided. Heart palpitations are less frequent.
I have much more energy and a noticeable difference in brain fog. BVT is
by far the easiest therapy I have tried to date and Im seeing visible changes
in my health. I am fully committed to staying the course and would highly
recommend it for anyone with Lyme. ~ Stella Deluca, Egremont, MA
JAN HEALEY, RN
Palliative Planning
Animal Communication
Mediumship
(646) 284-5992 janhealey2@gmail.com www.janhealey.com
heilaa Hite
Intuitive Counselor
Featured in Paulette Coopers directory,

THE 100 TOP PSYCHICS in AMERICA
Tarot Astrology Palmistry Psychometry

Mediumship Past Life Regression
Hypnotherapy Life Coach
Consultations in Person, by Phone or Skype
Classes, Parties and Events
413-637-0085
SHEILAAs accuracy rate is 95-100%.

MANAGER
MALIBU SHAMAN BOOKSTORE MALIBU, CA
www.SheilaaHite.com
I had Lyme symptoms for 19 months before a diagnosis, meaning it was well
into the chronic stage. I did manage to get the infection load down [with prior
treatment], though I still had lingering symptoms including heart palpitations,
chronic sore throat and earaches, migrating back and torso pain, chronic lower
back pain, frequent headaches and nausea, random dizziness, constant fatigue,
no stamina, little enthusiasm, joint pain, constant gut issues, sleep issues, tight
lungs, rashes, difficulty with name and word recall (you dont want to hear what
is was like when it was bad!). I started BVT at the end of January 2016 and
worked my way up to the 10 stings per day, three times per week as per the
protocol by the beginning of April. The first positive thing I experienced was
euphoria! That was almost unfamiliar, it had been so long since I felt anything
like that. As I continued it was a mix of energy, enthusiasm, and profound
fatigue. It is a mingled experience that brings up many old wounds and makes
the chronic infections acute [as I heal], mixed with better stamina and energy.
The sore throat, earaches, and dizziness are gone. The gut is much better, lungs
are very good, headaches very infrequent, and better memory. It is an up and
down and around journey but I definitely do feel better than when I started. I
highly recommend BVT! ~ Lari Manz, Hudson, NY
Oct | Nov 2016
29
mind & spirit
The Center
forforPractical
Spirituality
The Center
Practical Spirituality
specialize in getting to the heart of any matter while helping

people find their truth and make their dreams come true. I am a
catalyst of the soul and mind and I have a gift for implementing the
practical, down-to-earth processes necessary to make rewarding,
empowering, transformational change for my clients and myself.
Q: How did you get started?
A: I come by it naturally I was born with this gift and was

fortunate enough to have the encouragement of both parents
a father who was a union organizer, negotiator, and marriage
counselor, and a mother who was a psychologist. People
were always coming to us for problem solving, healing, and
empowerment. It was what my family did, so it was a natural step
for me to choose helping people as a profession.
Q: What do you offer?
A: As an Intuitive Counselor, I offer my clients the opportunity

to see what was previously unknown to them. As a Certified Life
Coach, I teach them how to turn lead into gold spiritually,
figuratively, literally. As a leader of spiritual Odysseys (tours), I
guide them to a deeper relationship with themselves. And always,
I offer them an opportunity to see themselves as God sees them
worthy and entitled to a life of infinite joy.
Q: What is your philosophy?

A: To live in joy and encouraging everyone else to do the same
is the nature of my being. To work to make that a possibility
is my passion. I love seeing people tap into their potential and
awaken to the realization that life is a grand adventure and they
can live the life of their dreams. I love my work, love that Ive
been chosen to do it, and love that Im good at it.
heilaa Hite is a naturally gifted Intuitive Counselor with

an accuracy rate of 95 to 100 percent. Able to see and
interpret information from the ethereal plane far beyond
most in her field, she brings practical solutions to spiritual and
worldly issues as she helps clients understand and fulfill the
purpose of their lives. Featured in Paulette Coopers book, The
100 Top Psychics and Astrologers in America, Sheilaa is also a Tarot
Master, Astrologer, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Past Life
Regressionist and Certified Mentor/Life Coach. Through her
travel company, Odysseys, she also conducts tours and leads
retreats to inspiring, beautiful places throughout the world.
Q: Sheilaa, would you please tell us more about what you do?
A: As an Intuitive Counselor with a very high accuracy rate,

a Certified Life Coach, and a leader of spiritual Odysseys, I
30
Oct | Nov 2016
Q: How can our readers find you?

A: By going to my website, www.sheilaahite.com. I can also be
e-mailed at in2itivone@aol.com.
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enough
from
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to finish
and everything in-between.
to have
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wantchose
to liveto
through
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mess,
of not
forand
theinconvenience
winter because
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did not want to live through
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andtoo
inconvenience
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and that
or master
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is ankitchen
entire mess
in itself. Any
second we had the wood floors
homeowner
whotoo
thinks
to entire mess in itself. Any
refinished
andthey
thathave
is an
be around
micromanage who
any type
or they have to be around
asecondtohomeowner
thinks
scale of remodeling should speak to
to
micromanage
any
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or
scale of remodeling should
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to me;
it is not contractor
at all necessary when you have
havespeak
a superior,
trustworthy
like aSteve.
We hadtrustworthy
complete trust
and
superior,
contractor
like Steve. We had
concomplete
dence in MHI
andand
the confidence
crew. The
trust
in MHI and the crew.
communication between us was
constant with emails, photos, and
The communication between us was constant with emails,
phone calls. Questions and concerns
photos,
and
phone calls.
were
answered
immediately.
EachQuestions and concerns were
crew focused on the details
crewanswered
focused onimmediately.
the details andEach
it
shows
qualityinofthe
the quality of the workmanship. Even the
andin ittheshows
workmanship. Even the cleaning
cleaning crew did an exceptional job and we did not have
crew did an exceptional job and we did
from
thethe
floors
not any
have
any dust
from
oorsbeing
being refinished on both floors.
h dust
That isonremarkable!
Weiswill recommend you to everyone
re nished
both oors. That
remarkable!
We will
you
who needs
anyrecommend
work done
and will use you for everything
to everyone
needs
any future.
work done
we needwho
done
in the
So glad we found you! Thank
and will use you for everything we
you
again
for
a
very
easy
and
need done in the future. So glad we rewarding experience.
found you! Thank you again for a very
With much gratitude,
easy and rewarding experience.
With much gratitude,
Rhea and Ken Werner
Rhea and Ken Werner
Oct | Nov 2016
31
BensDotter's Pet
A Little Bit Conventional. A Little Bit Alternative.

A Whole Lot Different!
940 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 413-528-4940
www.BensDotters.com
painting by Ann Getsinger

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Oct-Nov 2016 vol 28

Get Ready for the Holidays / Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

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Oct - Nov 2016

art, culture & entertainment

get ready for the holidays

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health & wellness

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ELLIE LOBELS BVT PROTOCOL

NEUMANN FINE ART

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Our BerkshireTimes magazine was first published in 2009 and is

Oct | Nov 2016

art, culture & entertainment

Neumann Fine Art building is home to my studio, where I create

n a quiet street in the scenic hamlet of Hillsdale, NY, art

Q: What is your philosophy?

Q: Jeffrey, please tell us more about what you do.

A: With a focus primarily on representational art, I represent a

Q: How did you get started?

A: I hold a bachelors degree in fine art and a masters degree in

Q: What do you offer?

A: In addition to the main gallery space, the rear portion of the

Oct | Nov 2016

Q: How can our readers find you?

art, culture & entertainment

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OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINES OCTOBER - NOVEMBER COVER ARTIST

orn in Springfield, MA,

In the 1970s and 1980s Comstock won multiple awards in juried

In 2009, after a 29-year career as a prepress graphic artist for

Celebrate Our Forty-fourth Year!

Largest Selection of Yarns

Oct | Nov 2016

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A Taste of Tea & Honey at Sheep Hill

ees Across Massachusetts and the Williamstown Rural Lands

Aug | Sept 2016

Williamstown. The main goal of Bees Across Massachusetts is

Have You Heard?

ccording to the National Honey Board, the color

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More Fun Things to Do

The Pumpkin Trail

Berkshire South Arts & Crafts Festival

Festival of Trees: Festive Premiere Party

Come to the Naumkeag Pumpkin Trail for a magical treat. With

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