Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, May-June 2017

May-June 2017 vol 31 (42) Complimentary
Our BerkshireTimes
Local Events | Art & Culture | Home & Garden | Vibrant Living
Health & Wellness / Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Cover Art by Elisabeth
Cover Ladwig
Art by Leon VisitJr.us
A. Comstock at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
/ www.neumannfineart.com

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957
Convenient Location with Ample Parking
on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guidos
Monday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday-Sunday 10a-4p
BENSDOTTERS PET
940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 413-528-4940
photo courtesy of Alden Beane, True Balance Animal Wellness
Sometimes you will never know the value

of a moment until it becomes a memory.
- Theodor Seuss Geisel -
Our BerkshireTimes
May - June 2017
Contents
PUBLISHERS
Kathy I. Regan
publisher@ourberkshiretimes.com
4 art, culture & entertainment 20 health & wellness
Kevin J. Regan
FUN THINGS TO DO AAARGH! MENOPAUSE
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
_______________ THE FISH WHISPERER BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS
EDITORIAL ELISABETH LADWIG GLUTEN-FREE DIET UNHEALTHY?
Kathy I. Regan EXPAND YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS
9 shop local gift guide
editor@ourberkshiretimes.com MESSENGER DIGITAL DENTISTRY
10 fashion & beauty
Copyeditor/Proofreader 1900-1925 WOMEN'S 27 mind & spirit
Rodelinde Albrecht RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN
_______________ FASHION HISTORY
DESIGN 12 food & drink 29 education & workshops

Magazine Design/Layout LAMB AND LENTIL CHILI LET'S GO OUTSIDE
Kathy I. Regan
Brianna I. Regan
14 home & garden 31 featured advertisers
_______________ MOTHER'S DAY & FATHER'S DAY TELL OUR ADVERTISERS
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT SOLAR ELECTRICITY YOU SAW THEM HERE!

Account Representatives 18 animal talk
Like Us On
Kevin J. Regan
ZELDA'S STORY
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
Debra Johnson
debra@ourberkshiretimes.com
S
_______________ This publication is printed with soy ink on environmentally
friendly satin Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.
Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.
P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
Phone: (413) 274-1122
advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com
Once Upon a Time
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
_______________ O ver the course of our lives, together in this
fairytale land, we all will have watched winter
beckon spring, spring grow to summer, summer
COVER ILLUSTRATION
produce autumn, and autumn yield to winter once
Cover - Once Upon a Time again. This is the beautiful, predictable flow of
by Elisabeth Ladwig, Artist the storyline, the events in which we can always
www.elisabethonearth.com place our faith and trust. But once upon a time,
there was a plot twist. Once upon a time, there
Elisabeth Ladwig is was You. This is your story, and its never too
an award-winning late to fill the chapters with wonderful surprises.
photographic artist Prints available framed and unframed in various
who lives with her sizes at www.elisabethonearth.com
husband, David,
and dog, April, in Our BerkshireTimes magazine was first published in early 2009 and is enjoyed
the New Jersey by community members and visitors alike. We publish and distribute bimonthly
Highlands (a.k.a. (six times per year). Most of our editorial content is contributed by our readers.
bear country), where We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit
an abundance of original material for consideration through our website. To find out more about
protected land offers endless opportunities advertising and submitting articles, see our website at left, and join our mailing
for creative inspiration. More of Elisabeths list to receive our free eNewsletter.
striking creations are on display locally at
The Wit Gallery in Lenox, Massachusetts, 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
www.thewitgallery.com. Also see Elisabeths by our authors, illustrators, and advertisers. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any
website at www.elisabethonearth.com, and reason. For printing errors of the publishers responsibility, liability is limited to the cost of the
read more about her on page 8 of this issue ad space in which it first appeared. Unless otherwise noted, we use a Creative Commons
of Our BerkshireTimes magazine. License in place of a standard copyright.
May | June 2017 3

art, culture & entertainment
Break Out & Explore

the Berkshires!
FUN THINGS TO DO
Sit & Knit Emerson String Quartet

When: Every Wednesday & Friday, 2-4pm When: Saturday, May 13, 2017, 7pm
Where: The Spin-Off Yarn Shop, 130 Water Street (lower level), Where: The Hotchkiss School, Katherine M. Elfers Hall, Esther Eastman
Williamstown, MA Music Center, 11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, CT
Cost: Free Cost: Free
Knitters, crocheters, and yarn enthusiasts of all skills welcome every The Hotchkiss Concert Series is thrilled to present the Emerson String
Wednesday and Friday. Project help, inspiration, and fellowship are plenty. Quartet, which has long enjoyed exuberant praise. The Times (London) says
Join this lively group at The Spin-Off Yarn Shop for an afternoon of fun! of the Emerson String Quartet . . . with musicians like this there must be
(414) 344-6257, www.spinoffyarnshop.com some hope for humanity, while the Boston Globe asserts The Emerson
performances represented an extraordinary fusion of experience and
authority with audacity and freshness. The program will include Mozarts
Kenneth Young Solo Exhibition Quartet in C Major, K. 465, Dissonance; Debussys Quartet in G minor;
When: Saturday, May 6, 2017, 5:30pm artist reception; art on exhibit and Dvoks Quartet in C Major, op. 61. (860) 435-4423, www.hotchkiss.org
through June 24, 2017
Where: Neumann Fine Art, 65 Cold Water Street, Hillsdale, NY CATAs Annual Performance & Gala:
Cost: Free
Everyday People
Oil paintings on exhibit by Kenneth Young. Artists reception Saturday, May
6, 2017, at 5:30pm. Ken Young has been sketching and drawing with pencil When: Saturday, May 13, 2017, 5pm; Sunday, May 14, 2017, 1pm
and with pen and ink from a very young age, but oil is his favorite medium. Where: Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA
Young takes a deeply spiritual approach to his art. His subjects range from Cost: Call for more information
landscapes of every season to human and animal portraits. (413) 246-5776, Please join Community Access to the Arts (CATA) for Everyday People,
www.neumannfineart.com CATAs annual performance and gala celebrating the artistry of people with
disabilities. Saturday, May 13 CATAs Gala evening includes cocktails at
Tea & Talk, 1900 to 1925: 5pm, performance at 6pm, buffet reception with music and dancing to follow.
Sunday, May 14 CATAs Matinee is $20 for adults and $5 for children under
Revolutionary Fashion at Ventfort Hall 12. Performance begins at 1pm. (413) 528-5485, www.cataarts.org
When: Saturday, May 13, 2017, 3:30pm
Where: Ventfort Hall, 104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA Great Barrington Farmers Market
Cost: $35
When: Every Saturday from May 13 through October 28, 2017, 9am-1pm
Lynda Meyer, fashion historian and Adams vintage clothing shop owner, will Where: 18 Church Street, Great Barrington, MA
focus on what she calls the most revolutionary generational transition in Cost: Free
fashion history. She will examine the circumstances that forced the world
to be reconfigured. Art, technology, a tragic world war, and womans suffrage The 2017 season will include several community events celebrating local
created not only a new look in fashion, but new roles and aspirations as well. food and agriculture including a Kids at the Market day in June, multiple
Lynda will demonstrate with original period clothing, photographs, and food-themed festivals throughout the summer, produce tastings, kids
period magazines the amazing clarity of fashion changes taking place within cooking classes, and food and cookbook swaps. Weekly music throughout
one generation, but worlds apart. A special Victorian tea will be served. the season. The market is a 100-percent producer-only market offering a wide
Reservations are recommended. (413) 637-3206, www.gildedage.org assortment of vegetables, fruit, cheese, bread, bagels, seedlings, cut flowers,
4 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

honey, maple syrup, mushrooms, eggs, sauerkraut, coffee, dried and fresh
herbs, pastured meats, baked goods, jam, prepared foods, and more.
Ventfort Hall Summer Tea & Talk Series

When: June 6, 2017, 4pm every Tuesday afternoon throughout the summer.
Where: Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum
104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA
Cost: $26 with advance reservation; $32 day of
Series of lectures by different presenters each week on a variety of historical

topics related to the Gilded Age. Every lecture is followed by a Victorian tea.
Call for reservations as seating is limited. (413) 637-3206, www.gildedage.org
Jacob's Pillow 85th Anniversary Gala

When: Saturday, June 17, 2017, 5pm
Where: Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, Becket, MA
Cost: $375
Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival and

start your summer dancing! Highlights of the event include cocktails
with pop-up performances, a performance in the historic Ted Shawn
Theatre, a fabulous Browse & Bid Marketplace, dinner on the Great
Lawn, and an after-party with live music and dancing under the stars.
Contact Gretchen Weber, (413) 243-9919 x126, gweber@jacobspillow.org.
413-458-7077
296 Main Street, Williamstown, MA
www.jacobspillow.org/events/gala
Emerson String Quartet
LODGING FOOD MUSIC SPECIAL EVENTS
May 13, 7 p.m. ~ free

SAVE THE DATES
Hotchkiss Portals ~ Piano Concert Series &
July 15 - July 30, 2017

Featuring
Fabio Witkowski, Gisele Witkowski,
Luiz de Moura Castro, Benjamin Loh,
John Perry, Mina Perry
The Hotchkiss School
11 Interlaken Road, Lakeville, ct
17 Main Street theegremontvillageinn.com
South Egremont, MA 01258
860.435.4423 | hotchkiss.org/arts 413-528-9580 theegremontbarn.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 5

The Fish Whisperer
By Michael Romano
Here fishy, fishy, fishy . . .
M any of us have heard about a gentleman called The

Dog Whisperer. You may also have heard of The
Horse Whisperer. But I bet Im the only guy who
knows The Fish Whisperer!
They say all good things must come to an end, however, and
our good fortune ended the day we went fishing for pike in
the Housatonic River. Those familiar with the river know it
was infamous for being very polluted. Its somewhat better
now but still kind of scary. We arrived at a part of the river
The practice started quite by accident when my friend Mark and I called Oxbow in Sheffield, carried our tackle down the steep
went fishing at a local pond. We had a beat-up old canoe bungee bank, and prepared to go after giant pike. I looked at the slow-
corded to the top of my car that we were planning to launch from moving muddy water and then at Mark, he looked at the water
the bank. We undid the cords and carried the canoe to the water and then at me and said no way! I couldnt blame him, the water
so we could load up our tackle and launch it for an afternoon of even smelled bad. We didnt catch any fish that day and that
fishing. Mark was not watching where he was going and tripped broke our string of good luck. A few weeks later Mark moved
on an exposed root from a nearby tree, falling face first into the north with his family and we had to stop fishing together
shallow water. He yelled an expletive while his face was still in the the end of a sacred tradition.
water, much to my hysterical delight! This caused a fairly large fish
who happened to be near him to jump and swim away to deeper I sometimes drive by the boat launch where our tradition began
waters. When Mark pulled his face from the water, I told him he . . . hapless Mark with his face in the water whispering here fishy,
would have to talk nicer to the fish if we were going to catch any. fishy, fishy, and to this day I still break out laughing. The Fish
He responded by sticking his face back in the water and whispering Whisper will always live on in my memory and probably in a few
here fishy, fishy, fishy, and we dissolved into fits of laughter . . . but it of the fishs memories as well!
worked! We ended up catching and releasing loads of fish that day.
So began the tradition of The Fish Whisperer! ~ Michael Romano, a Great Barrington,
MA, resident for almost 40 years, is an avid
We went fishing a lot that summer. Not wanting to jinx our new- fisherman who in his own words kind
found good luck, Mark started off each trip by sticking his face in of treats fishing as a contact sport and has
the water and whispering here fishy, fishy, fishy, and each time we were had more than a few misadventures in the
not disappointed. We caught and released bass, trout, pickerel, and process. He has fished many local waters
other assorted species, all larger than the ones we usually caught. I and also enjoyed quite a few saltwater trips.
told fishing friends about this trick and they would tag along just to Michael is a retired chef he and his wife
watch Mark perform his magic ritual. We became kind of famous Susan worked at the now closed Kolburne
with the locals but also earned some strange looks from other School in New Marlborough, MA, for many
fishermen. I didnt care because it was Mark getting his face wet years where he enjoyed taking many of the
(not me!) and most importantly we were catching fish! students fishing.

Join us for Sit & Knit!

Wed & Fri, 2-4pm. All skill levels welcome.
Open Wed-Thurs 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 10-5pm
130 Water Street, Lower Level, Williamstown, MA
www.spinoffyarnshop.com (413) 344-6257
SATURDAY JULY 89 Free Family

North Becket Village Activities
Unusual and Thoughtful Gifts Book Sale &
A Treasure Trove of Beautiful Things
Silent Auction
Visit our store in Lee or shop online
at ebay: stores.ebay.com/arcnoli Music &
Entertainment
413-358-0170
266 Main Street, Lee, MA Food & Beer
gifts@theuptownstore.org
Food Fun Dancing Vendors &
See Becket Washington Community Partnerships
www.theuptownstore.org Facebook page for more information.
More
Visit us and find out more about

TO our Frequent Buyer Program!
READ? Discounts available for seniors,
teachers, students, and military.
C: 413-441-2239 P: 413-243-0025
395 Laurel Street (RT 20), Lee, MA
www.RetroPopShop.com (413) 528-1521 Great Barrington, MA www.thebookloft.com
TOONERVILLE TROLLEY Stop by the GREATEST
RECORDS & CDs

Hobby Shop in all of
New England!
New Used Imported For Fathers Day, check
out our wide selection
Stop by for a visit! of Metal Detectors and
10am-6pm Tues-Sat, 12-4pm Sun accessories.
413-458-5229 models & kits kites remote control trains airplanes

cars metal detectors puzzles paint sets and more!
131 Water Street, Williamstown, MA (413) 743-7223 171 Grove Street (Rt 8), Adams, MA
www.toonervilletrolleyrecords.com www.hobbyworldonline.com follow us on Facebook

Elisabeth Ladwig
OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINE'S
MAY-JUNE COVER ARTIST
A
ge 11, I think. Thats about the age when
I decided adults were wrong: magic does
exist. As I lay in the grass watching pre-
tornado skies, I realized it was all around
me, hidden behind the sciences of meteorology, botany, astronomy
. . . the warmth of miracles suppressed by experiments and
equations and proofs. It became clear that the beauty of
science, nature, and magic was indeed one and the same, and
it saddened me that the miraculous nature of it all had been
dismissed so irresponsibly over time. Photo compositing allows
me to create metaphorical reminders of the magic and miracles
in an attempt to bring humanity back home to its roots: kin
of the Earth. So with a nod to Mother Nature and her fairy
tale existence, I work to seek out equal beauty in the storm
as in the sunrise.
~ Elisabeth Ladwig
Elisabeth Ladwig is an award-winning photographic artist living allows the viewer to take part in writing the story, she says, and
in West Milford, New Jersey, with her husband, David, and dog, that story is going to be different for everyone.
April. Upon finishing her studies in graphic and digital design at
Parsons School of Design in NYC, her artistic career began in the Elisabeths current photo artistry has been represented by galleries
music industry where she designed for the likes of Liza Minnelli, from Scottsdale to Rome, and has been digitally displayed in Times
Barry Manilow, and Patrick Stewart, as well as for Broadway and Square and at the Louvre. Elisabeths work was also chosen for
major motion pictures. Presenze (Presence), an international exhibition of Women
in the Arts 2016.
Her work is the convergence of a graphic design career and
a fondness for collage art and photography. A grade-school Visit The Wit Gallery in
revelation connecting science, nature, and magic fuels her Lenox, MA, to view more
creations the idea that all of lifes mysteries fall within the of Elisabeths work. You can
parameters of scientific explanation, that science abides by the also visit her website at www.
Laws of Nature, and that all of it is magical. The result is a elisabethonearth.com to order
collection of surreal, painterly artworks that offers viewers a limited editions in a variety
variety of metaphors for humankinds relationship with the of sizes, unframed or framed.
Earth and with the Cosmos. Each piece is printed on
museum-grade, textured fine
Once an idea is born in her sketchbook, Elisabeth sets out to art paper (100% rag archival)
take the photographs she needs to create the image. Her process with Canon IPF Pro-2000 and
is variable and spiritually instinctive; often, an image is well on 11-color Lucia Pro pigment
its way or even completed before its concept is fully understood, inks that ensure visibility of
and that meaning may vary from one viewing to the next. All of the smallest details, and colors
her scenes have a strong natural connection, set completely or that appear as fresh as day one,
partially outdoors, often with an anonymous subject. Anonymity even after 100 years.

SHOP LOCAL GIFT GUIDE
Mother's Day: Sunday, May 14, 2017 Father's Day: Sunday, June 18, 2017
STYLISH Gazebos / Sheds-N-Stuff

Our stylish gazebos come in a variety of shapes, sizes,
styles, and materials, and upgrades such as screens, windows, railings, and benches.
Sheds-N-Stuff has been in business for more than 25 years and we have built solid
relationships with residents in Berkshire County, Bennington County, and across Massachusetts.
We strive to build all our relationships on mutual trust, honesty, and respect. We sell quality,
Amish-made products ranging from mailboxes to gazebos and everything in between.
We also have the ability to customize almost any project to your specific needs.
(413) 743-9964, www.berkshiresheds.com / contact us for price quote
PEACHY Naturally Beautiful / Face Haven

Spring is in Bloom with Jane Iredales Makeup On
Nude for Spring 2017. Stop in at Face Haven to try this fresh new peachy
pink collection featuring two lovely easy-wearing Eyeshadow Triples $30, and
two classic PureMoist Lipstick Shades in Lisa, and back by popular demand,
Susan $25. Candid In Touch Cream Blush will be your new go-to staple
for any occasion $28, and for a naturally brilliant glow try our new favorite
Peaches & Cream Bronzer $44. Walk in any time at Face Haven; were here to help!
323 Main Street, Great Barrington, (413) 528-4053
SWEET Its Thyme! / Bella Flora

Bella Flora brings to you the spring collection by Thymes offering a
variety of artisan bath and body products. Indulge in eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender . . .
so sweet just like Mom. The Bella Flora staff can compose a beautiful gift for her with our
amazing selection of plants, cards, gift baskets, and the freshest floral arrangements you
can find in town. Inspired from our family to yours. Visit us at Bella Flora in Guidos Fresh
Marketplace in Pittsfield and Great Barrington, MA. Also, watch for our Pop-up Shop
at 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA, opening soon! Local delivery available. Order today!
(413) 496-8242, www.bellafloraberkshires.com / $35 - $200
VERSATILE Purple Pebble CuddleMat / BensDotter's Pet

The Purple Pebble CuddleMat is plain in appearance, but this
hypoallergenic, versatile bedding has many healthful benefits and is an outstanding option for dogs
with special needs. Its soft loft lends itself to elderly, arthritic dogs that require extra cushion;
however, it is stuffing-free for safety. Its moisture-wicking properties make it perfect for both
untrained puppies and incontinent older dogs. CuddleMats hold up to chewers, and are 100%
washable and quick drying. CuddleMats come in eight standard sizes, ranging in price from
$28 (cat) to $106 (XXXL). Our cats and dogs love their CuddleMats, and we love them, too!
Visit BensDotter's Pet at 940 Main Street (Rte 7), Great Barrington, MA.
(413) 528-4940, www.bensdotters.com / $28-$106

fashion & beauty
1900-1925
The Most Revolutionary Years
in Womens Fashion History
By Lynda Meyer / Photos by Kate Coulehan
countries on earth were finally awarded full civil rights

alongside their male fellow citizens.
By the mid 1920s, a new generation arose out of the ashes of

World War I, as did a new art. The Exposition Internationale
des Arts Dcoratifs et Industriels (International Exhibition
of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris 1925
brought forth the Art Deco movement that predominated
style and fashion for the next 20 years: the revolution in
womens fashion (and lives) was born. Much of the fashions,
inspired by painters like Picasso and carried out by designers
like Chanel, were characterized by clothes that were simple,
mobile, and aerodynamic. Most importantly, the new clothes
were not only much simpler in line, eliminating the necessity
for layers of tight structured undergarments, they were short.
As the 1920s progressed, skirt lengths rose to just below the
knee. Never before in the annals of hundreds of years of
fashion history have women appeared in public revealing their
legs. Prior to this, no reference was ever made to the lower
part of the female anatomy.
The result of shorter dress lengths not only liberated women

physically, but politically and socially as well. Clothes that
no longer inhibited women created an environment that
encouraged fuller personal freedom.
The 1920s Art Deco movement was truly an art movement. The
new esthetics in fashion were quite wonderful clothes were
Rack of Edwardian dresses (1901-1915), Lyndas Antique Clothing Loft, Adams, MA designed in such a way that the garments assumed the shape of
T
each persons unique body type. Dresses and gowns were cut on
he first 25 years of the twentieth century brought the bias, had lots of floating parts, and moved in many ways. Also
unprecedented change into the world. In the beginning the workmanship of these clothes still retained former standards
of the century, technology was revolutionizing societies French seams, hand beading, and the use of fine materials. The
with amazing new inventions that came to fruition almost all revolution in fashion created a new look and freedom, while still
at once. There were telephones, motion pictures, airplanes, providing high standards in art and design to the masses.
radios, and the start of mass production to mention just some
of the applications of the new sciences being carried into Although the Art Deco movement of the 1920s swept away the
everyday life. prior fashions of the early 1900s, lately there has been a kind
of dewy-eyed nostalgia for the beautifully crafted clothing of
World War I, a truly horrifying and monumental event, changed the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Thankfully, though
the world power structure for generations to come. It left most woman no longer have to wear the terribly uncomfortable
of Europe in ruins, resulting in the evolution of a new social and enforced restrictive clothing of that time on a daily basis,
order. Women were called upon to take on roles never asked antique clothing shops have made it possible to revisit the past
of them at any other time. At the end of the war, women in for special occassions. Today, we have come to a place where
the United States and Great Britain the two most powerful efficiency and uniformity dominate style, and a wide array of

fashion & beauty
synthetic materials require very little attention. But in comparison to the beauty,
workmanship, and fine detail of vintage clothing, the fashions of today can leave
us a bit discontented. Sometimes looking backward can have a positive (and more
stylish!) influence on the future.
The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts

The Exposition Internationale des Arts Dcoratifs et Industriels Modernes in
Paris was a vast state-sponsored fair that dazzled more than 16 million visitors
during its seven-month run. [More than 15,000 exhibitors from twenty countries
were invited to participate.] The works exhibited everything from architecture
and interior design to jewelry and perfumes were principally intended to promote
and proclaim French supremacy in the production of luxury goods. The primary
requirement for inclusion was that all works had to be thoroughly modern, no
copying of historical styles of the past would be permitted. Nonetheless, much of
what was exhibited was firmly rooted in the traditions of the past. The stylistic unity
of exhibits indicates that Art Deco was already an internationally mature style by
1925 one that had flourished in the years following World War I and peaked at
the time of the fair.
~ Lynda Meyer is the proprietor of Lyndas Antique Clothing Loft in Adams, MA. Ms. Meyer has
lectured on the history of fashion for more than 20 years, covering 160 years of fashion from 1800
to 1960. Venues for these lectures have included Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge Library,
Clark Art Museum, Rowe Historical Museum, The Mount, Williams College, Miss Halls School,
Pittsfield Library, Adams Library, Bennington College, and Skidmore College.
Tea & Talk, 1900 to 1925: Revolutionary Fashion at Ventfort Hall
Ms. Meyers next lecture Tea &

Talk, 1900 to 1925: Revolutionary
Fashion will be held at Ventfort
Hall in Lenox, MA, on Saturday,
May 13, 2017, at 3:30pm. Lynda
will focus on what she calls the
most revolutionary generational
transition in fashion history. She
will examine the circumstances that
forced the world to be reconfigured.
Art, technology, a tragic world war,
and womens suffrage created not
only a new look in fashion, but new
roles and aspirations as well. Lynda
will demonstrate with original
period clothing, photographs, and
period magazines the amazing
clarity of fashion changes taking
place within one generation, but
worlds apart. A special Victorian
tea will be served. The cost is $35.
Reservations are recommended
as seating is limited. Call Ventfort
Hall at (413) 637-3206 for more
information about the event and Lynda Meyer wearing a 1920s cut velvet chiffon gown, made
for reservations. www.gildedage.org in France, from Lyndas Antique Clothing Loft in Adams, MA

food & drink
Lamb and Lentil Chili

By Rachel Alves, RD,
Guidos Fresh Marketplace's Dietitian
T he zing of the lemon highlights the rich lamb in this bright and tasty chili, while the lentils create a smooth and lovely base.
Red lentils are hulled and split for quicker cooking, so this dish comes together quickly enough for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients (serves 4 to 6)
1 T olive oil 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
pound ground lamb 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
3 large cloves garlic, minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium poblano pepper, seeded and chopped cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
1 T ground chili powder 1 tsp grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
1 tsp ground cumin Low-fat sour cream, lemon wedges, crumbled feta,
1 tsp ground sweet paprika olive oil, for serving (optional)
1 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven set over medium-high
heat. Add lamb and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon,
until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, peppers,
chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano, stirring well to
combine. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onions
and peppers are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the lentils and cook
for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
Add the tomatoes along with their juice, the broth, 1 cup of
water, teaspoon of salt, and several grinds of pepper to the
pot. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to
a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat to a simmer, partially cover
the pot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are just
tender, 15 to 17 minutes. Add the kidney beans and cook until
heated through, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the pot from heat. Stir
in the fresh herbs, lemon zest, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve
with a dollop of sour cream and lemon wedges, or feta and a
drizzle of olive oil, if desired.

home, garden &
food
landscape
& drink
Haflinger Haus
Restaurant Tavern Inn
Austrian-American Cuisine

entres
17 Commercial Opening for Mothers Day from noon to available
Street, Adams, MA 6pm. Make your reservation today!
413-743-2221
Welcome to the Haflinger Haus! 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!
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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 Tues-Sat dinner only 150 Main St., Lee 413.243.6397 cheznousbistro.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May
May| June
| June
2017
2017 13
13
home & garden
Mother's Day & Father's Day

WHY NOT TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT? / By Julie A. Ulmer
Mother's Day: Sunday, May 14, 2017 Father's Day: Sunday, June 18, 2017
W e appreciate our parents in so many ways throughout

the year, and at holidays we try to find the perfect gift
to express our affection and show them how much they
mean to us. But over the years, no matter how well intentioned,
weve probably unknowingly given them gifts that ended up
Purchase an online subscription to a newspaper or magazine
you know are favorites. How about a subscription to satellite
radio, audio books, or a season pass to their favorite arts and
culture venue? For the movie lover, a full access pass to a local
film festival.
becoming clutter. Then the clutter winds up getting shuffled from
room to room, but mom and dad are too guilt stricken at the idea One of the best gifts that I can think of is about taking
of letting go of that book they are never going to read, the fancy away instead of giving. As a professional organizer, Ive been in
artwork they really dont like, or that expensive cologne they are hundreds of homes and something I come across all the time
never going to use. This Mothers Day and Fathers Day why not is space that is being taken up by belongings of adult children
try something different and show your appreciation by giving who no longer live there. Some baby boomers are trying to
your time to create fond memories instead of giving more stuff? begin the downsizing process but their attic, guest bedroom,
Spending quality time together is a great gift! or garage is filled with boxes of memorabilia, books, graduate
school papers, and all sorts of stuff that belong to their adult
Create Fond Memories children. Mom or Dad have been so generous with their space
but its hindering their progress to declutter reclaim your stuff
Turn your time together into something special by signing so they can reclaim their space!
up for a class that you know your parent would like but does
not want to try alone. Even if youre not that interested in the You can help them with their project by tackling the sorting
subject, youre being supportive and you might end up enjoying process together. Offer to get those old Super-8 films or VHS
something new! tapes transferred to DVD or digital format, coordinate and host
a tag sale to get rid of unnecessary belongings, and make a slide
Go to a ball game, a concert, a museum, or to a vineyard show of old photographs for extended family. You can also go
for a wine tasting. Try a scenic hike or a relaxing spa day. Giving through old paperwork together and then take what needs to be
a gift certificate is okay, but putting a date on the calendar and shredded for bulk shredding, or offer to list unwanted furniture and
following through is part of making it special. deal with the transaction through a local buying and selling group
or app. This is a good chance for you to get on the decluttering
Volunteer together at a charity thats close to Mom or Dads bandwagon. Do you really need all of those papers from graduate
heart such as being a dog walker or a cat cuddle buddy at an animal school? Maybe you could have the important ones scanned. Are
rescue shelter. Run or walk together in a fundraising 5K. There are all you planning on keeping your Little League or soccer trophies and
sorts of volunteer opportunities such as teaching literacy, delivering ribbons forever? Maybe youll be okay with a photo of all of your
meals to seniors or those who are homebound, mentoring to at-risk trophies instead of the actual objects. Sometimes parents work
youth, helping immigrants or refugees with assimilation, building better with an unbiased outside party if the decluttering process
low-cost housing, or as greeter for a historic house. seems daunting, charged with emotion, or adult children live far
away. If so, they might benefit from working with a professional
Unique Clutter-Free Ideas organizer if your loved ones are receptive.
Buy a farm share from a CSA Farm (community supported To all the moms and dads out there, may you have a delightful
agriculture) for the upcoming growing season for a parent who day this Mothers Day and Fathers Day. Thank you for all you do!
enjoys cooking or wants to eat more local, sustainable food. Farm
members pay for the seasons harvest up front in the spring to ~ Julie Ulmer is a professional organizer, productivity
support a farmer or grower as they buy seeds, fix equipment, consultant, and speaker who founded Minding Your
and of course begin farming or growing. Members pick up their Manor in 2003. Julie is a member of the National
subscription of food throughout the main growing season and Association of Professional Organizers, the
there are almost always opportunities to volunteer. Some farms Institute for Challenging Disorganization, and the
require membership participation in one form or another such as Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. Please
helping with the distribution, administration, or even getting into visit www.mindingyourmanor.com, email julie@
the dirt and helping to grow your own food! mindingyourmanor.com, or call (518) 821-4682.

home & garden
Sisters Used Furniture

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More hours/days as the summer unfolds.
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home & garden
Solar Electricity
From the Center for EcoTechnology's GoGreen Mailbag / By Kevin Pink
only collecting a fraction of that light, its easy to imagine how it

could fulfill your home energy needs. However, solar electricity
has many other benefits, many of which are listed below.
Nonpolluting: Since the fuel is sunlight, once a solar system

is installed, unlike most other methods of generating electricity it
does not need to be mined, transported, or burned, and adds no
carbon to the atmosphere.
Quiet: The solar panels make no noise while operating. The only
moving or mechanical components are the inverters and possibly
a tracking system.
Cost-effective: Due to generous federal and state tax credits and
S
incentives, decreasing panel prices, increasing system efficiency,
ome of the most common questions we receive at the Center increasing electricity prices, and the ability to receive net metering
for EcoTechnology are related to solar electricity. Solar credits for excess power you generate, solar PV systems installed
is rapidly expanding its footprint across Massachusetts as in Massachusetts can pay for themselves in as little as 5 to 10
businesses and homeowners learn about the benefits of renewable years. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on
energy. Below, weve answered some basic questions about how incentives for solar electricity, go to the database of state and
solar electricity works, why its a great source of electricity, and federal incentives website, www.dsireusa.org.
how you can go about getting your own solar system.
Spins your meter backwards: Through a system called net-
How Does Solar Electricity Work? metering (www.tinyurl.com/h4len4o), any electricity your
system produces (but you do not use) essentially causes your
The sun has always been an important source of heat and light electric meter to run backwards. In Massachusetts you
for us. Now we also have technology to convert the suns light receive a credit for the value of the excess electricity you have
into electricity using solar cells called photovoltaic (PV) cells produced against the electricity you have to buy from your
- photon meaning light and voltaic referring to electricity. PV utility company/supplier.
cells are made of semiconductor materials, such as silicon, to
generate direct current (DC) electricity. PV cells can be packaged Widely applicable: Solar systems can generate electricity for
into solar panels and installed on a rooftop or pole or a ground- your urban, suburban, or rural home, a cabin far removed from
mounted system to provide power for our homes and businesses. civilization, and even satellites in space! As long as the site receives
Since most of our homes and businesses are connected to the strong sunlight, especially with a southern exposure to take
electric grid and use alternating current (AC), an inverter is advantage of the strongest solar radiation being at the equator
generally required to convert DC to AC electricity to run our (and thus, south in relation to the Northern Hemisphere), you
lights, appliances, and other electrical devices. For more detail can generate solar electricity almost anywhere.
about how solar PV works, check out:
Dependable: Because the sun is a resource nobody can own
How Stuff Works: www.tinyurl.com/95egj8e and it will be there for millions of years, solar power is a very
About Solar Electricity: www.tinyurl.com/mehj3d7 stable source of electricity in a world where electric prices are
sometimes volatile. It provides a buffer of stability from market
What Are Some of the Benefits of Solar Energy? swings.
Glad you asked! First of all, by harnessing the power of the sun Great! How Can I Get Solar?
you are using a renewable resource that will never run out. The
sun is roughly 93 million miles away from Earth, but its ability As you can see, there has never been a better time to go solar, and
to provide us with power is enormous. Just 20 days of sunshine the good news is that there are a variety of ways to affordably
hitting the planets surface is equal to all of the energy stored in generate and utilize solar power. The Massachusetts Clean Energy
the planets reserves of oil, coal, and natural gas. Even if youre Center provides a wealth of information for everything from
continued on page 30
home & garden
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Zelda's Story
A Lesson in Overreach
in Conventional Veterinary Care
By Kristina Dow
T
his is the story of Zelda, the blind, formerly morbidly The veterinary prescription weight-loss diet mandated by
obese BensDotters store cat whom many of you the shelters supervising veterinarian met with no success, and
used to affectionately call Fatso, a nickname Miss Zelda reached the point of morbid obesity with chronic diarrhea.
Zelda carried without shame and with a fair amount Course after course of anti-diarrheal medications and antibiotics
of swagger. To say that Zelda is healthier now without all her were administered, and then came the steroids for the asthma
excess weight would be to tell only a part of the story of her that she developed. Despite her spunk, Zelda was well on her way
road to recovery and good health. Just as important as her weight to very ill health.
loss was her rescue from a world of chronic illness brought on
by overvaccination, the idiopathic use of antibiotics, and the I adopted Zelda sight unseen, and as my friend Eve and I first peered
suppressive use of steroids. When I adopted her, Zelda suffered into her carrier upon her arrival, Eve exclaimed, Oh my goodness!
not only from morbid obesity, but also from serious overreach in She looks like an engorged tick! Zelda was gray; she did indeed
conventional veterinary care. looked like an engorged tick. And was she ever tough to handle! You
try cleaning an angry cats tush two times a day! To perform that task
Zelda came to me through an appeal from an area rescue at the shelter, they needed three people to wrestle her down. Alone,
organization from whom I had adopted other pets. The shelter I was lucky to get a spray bottle squirt when she passed by one way,
staff adored the little blind curmudgeon, but, after three years and a paper towel swipe when she passed by the other.
of trying, they still could not find anyone willing to adopt her.
Maybe it was because she was blind with a fearless shoot first, Per the instruction of a certified veterinary homeopath, Zelda was
ask questions later attitude. Or maybe it was because her morbid immediately taken off the veterinary prescription diet and put
obesity precluded her cleaning her own tush. Or maybe it was the on a complete and balanced prey-model raw food diet consisting
asthma and chronic diarrhea that turned people off. of just muscle meat, organ meat, bone, and a whole-body fish oil
balanced with plant-based omegas. Steroid tapering was begun as
By all accounts, Zelda had arrived at the shelter a bit overweight, a homeopathic clearing remedy was administered.
but really packed on the pounds by ravenously stealing the other
shelter cats food. A barrel-chested cat with a tiny head and Zeldas chronic diarrhea began to clear up almost immediately,
frame, Zeldas body seemingly told the story of a kitten who had and, by the end of the third day, her stools were firm and odor-
suffered severe malnutrition. The barrel chest, disproportionately free. Three weeks later, a homeopathic upper respiratory remedy
large for the overall size of the cat, spoke to a metabolic focus was administered, and Zeldas asthma, too, cleared within days.
on organ growth and preservation during early development, and Placed under strict house arrest with no means of access to any
Zeldas wicked, wild, no-holds-barred pursuit of food seemed to food other than the carefully measured quantity she was given,
confirm the suspicion that she had a severe malnutrition-induced Zelda very slowly but very surely lost ten pounds (half her body
eating disorder. She could never be satiated. weight) over a period of just under two years.

animal talk
Pet Partners Provides

of the Tri-State Berkshires
Food for needy dogs and cats

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Call Faith 518-781-0362
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But truly the most interesting thing about Zeldas recovery P.O.Box
P.O. Box1073,
1073,Pittsfield,
Pittsfield,MA
MA01202
01202
was the appearance (and disappearance) of a hardened mass www.BerkshireAnimalDREAMS.org
www.BerkshireAnimalDREAMS.org
across her shoulders that revealed itself as the pounds melted
away. The certified veterinary homeopath surmised that the
mass was a collection of crud under the skin from all of the
vaccinations and subcutaneous antibiotic and steroid injections
Zelda had endured. But as the pounds melted away so did the CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957
mass, weeping its crud out through the skin and leaving the fur
in that area sticky to the touch.
Your trusted source
Zelda is a happy and healthy kitty today, still not wanting
for attitude, and forever maniacal about food. But none for quality foods
in the house is more affectionate than Zelda; I doze at and supplies.
night with the weight of a purring cat on my chest, her
head jammed beneath my chin, waiting for me to get up Your trusted resource
and feed her. for raw-feeding
Did you read the Bloomberg article linked with my article in information
the March-April 2017 issue of Our BerkshireTimes Magazine and advice.
(currently found at www.ourberkshiretimes.com/magazine-
archive.html)? If you didnt, do it now lest you, too, find your
BENSDOTTERS PET 413-528-4940

beloved pet overvaccinated, overmedicated, and chronically
ill. Forewarned is forearmed in the
coming age of corporate overreach in 940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 01230
veterinary care! See also www.tinyurl.
com/htkvc7j.
~ Kristina Tina Dow is sole proprietor of on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guidos
BensDotters Pet, a retail pet supply store in
Mon-Fri 10a-6p Sat-Sun 10a-4p
Great Barrington, MA, that specializes in raw
food diets, including those designed as Nature www.bensdotters.com
intended. www.bensdotters.com

health & wellness
Aaargh! Menopause
A DEER ANTLER SUPPLEMENT SAVED MY SANITY
By Nina Anderson
A aargh! Menopause Ive been through it and

although mine wasnt as bad as some of my friends,
it was not without consternation. Also known as the
change, menopause is a normal part of a womans life when her
menstrual cycle and reproductive years stop (average age 51), but
will help us keep healthy, active, and looking good as we get older.
Are there also simple things you can do to help? Sure. If you
search the internet, though, you will find a bazillion products,
books, and articles that preach the ultimate cure for menopause.
This myriad of information can be overwhelming and its hard to
the years leading up to that last period (perimenopause) can be determine who is telling the truth and what really works. Plus, if
a challenge for some. During this transition lasting an average you are like me you cringe at the thought of having to spend each
of four years but widely ranging anywhere from several months day sorting out a complicated health regime. Starting with just
to 10 years the production of estrogen and progesterone can one or two things is easier and a much better way to figure out if
vary dramatically and unpredictably, resulting in changes in our its helping or not.
bodies including hot flashes, fluctuations in our monthly cycles,
brain fog, and mood swings to name a few. And men dont always A few years ago I was lucky enough to be introduced to a deer antler
get what we are going through even though they may be on the supplement that saved my sanity. You may remember that I wrote
receiving end of some of our rage. about the benefits that deer antler can have for pets in a previous
issue of Our BerkshireTimes magazine. Well, in menopausal and
The mood swings are bad enough, but if you are one of the postmenopausal women, deer antler is thought to behave almost
unlucky ones with heavy hot flashes, beware! You will need to identically to the diminishing hormone estrogen. It also contains
go out and buy several sets of jammies or nighties because you so many menopause symptom alleviators that I call it my miracle
will wring them out time and time again and change the sheets pill. Made from the humanely harvested antlers of New Zealand
as well, put your sweaters on, take your sweaters off, and then deer (they lose them anyway after rutting season), it has been used
put them on again. And before each hot flash you may get this as Traditional Chinese Medicine in Asia for 2000 years to lessen
feeling of impending doom, shortness of breath, or even panic. joint pain and arthritis, reduce hot flashes, soothe cranky moods,
Your emotions will sit on a roller coaster with fits of frustration improve quality of sleep and memory, and support the immune
being taken out on anyone within reach, interspersed with bouts system. Ive personally used it to repair my blown-out knee from
of crying and depression. skiing, to diminish hot flashes, and to reduce my senior moments.
Sounds like fun, eh? Theres more! Things will start to sag as In my free ebook Aaargh! Menopause (which you can download at
the collagen goes on vacation, and your spine will compress, www.menopausebook.gr8.com) you can find out more about deer
reducing your tall lanky appearance to a midlife squatty bulge. antler as well as additional supplements (such as specific electrolytes
Wrinkles will start looking like craters in a dried-up lake bed, and not found in sports drinks) that can help significantly during and
your hair will default to grayscale on a color chart. Even if you after the menopausal transition.
go to the gym, the hair salon, and have daily facials, underneath
you are still aging and there is no getting around the fact that ~ Nina Anderson holds certification as a
menopause is the cause. specialist in performance nutrition and as a
neurolinguistic practitioner. She is a retired
So okay, okay, maybe Ive exaggerated just a little! But there will corporate pilot and in the last 25 years has written
more than likely be times during this transition that the average 20 books on natural health and on aviation.
woman feels this way, even if she doesnt look it. There is hope You can find more about Ninas book Aaargh!
however. Keeping your mind sharp and your attitude positive, Menopause and the products she recommends
exercising, taking supplements, and eating right are all things that on the website www.4easymenopause.com.

health & wellness
the gift of independence

ITS LIKE GETTING A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND
W e understand that no one wants to ask for help. Seniors

Helping Seniors works with you to provide just the right
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help, throughout
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region.
check us out. If you decide its a good idea, well match you with a
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really is like getting a little help from a friend. Its like getting
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lives in Lanesboro with her husband, Bill, and senior canine, Max.
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with translates into an accurate and meaningful treatment program.
speak
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consistency in
company,
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club or and weaknesses.
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organization - physical therapy is called
on this, our patients cancomplimentary!
achieve healing with Applied Functional positions allow muscles, joints, and nerves to link and react with each
minimal to no discomfort.complimentary! ScienceApplied
or ChainFunctional
Reaction
~ Lisa Baumgart, MPT, FAFS Science orTransformation.
Chain Reaction other. As all individual parts are moving and interacting with one
Transformation. another, we guide motion directly to improve standing mobility and
strength. Traditional techniques on the table are also incorporated, as
Improve
Improve
needed, to facilitate healing. Customized home exercises are given at
the initial evaluation and flow directly from functional testing. Each
Mobility
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with increased frequency. This will strengthen and maintain muscle
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home & garden
Gluten-Free Diet
CAN IT BECOME INCREDIBLY UNHEALTHY?
By Mark Hyman, MD
D r. Hyman, Ive recently gone gluten-free, and Ive

seen tons of replacements for traditionally gluten-
laden foods, a writer recently emailed me. Im a
little suspicious, but are any of these choices healthy?
If a food label boasts a health claim, chances are that food (or
food product, more likely) is not good for you.
So while those cookies say gluten-free in big bold letters, turn

the box around and read the ingredients: you will find high sugar
We are all aware that gluten-free has become a major buzz content, flour (which converts to sugar), and weird food-like
term. Restaurants proudly offer options like gluten-free bread, additives that add up to big profits for these companies, while
and even mainstream supermarkets have whole aisles dedicated adding pounds around your midsection and sabotaging your health.
to the trend. Nearly everyone has jumped on the gluten-free
bandwagon. Sometimes patients switch from cupcakes and cookies to gluten-
free cupcakes and cookies. And then they wonder Why do I feel
I dont recommend this to everyone at least not until you like crap and struggle to lose weight?
understand a few facts . . . and heres why.
Please dont shoot the messenger, but gluten-free cupcakes and
As a doctor who treats sick patients, I find that gluten often cookies are still cupcakes and cookies. Besides usually being
is a major cause of digestive, autoimmune, weight, mood, and higher in sugar and other junk ingredients, the gluten-free
neurologic problems. While one would think that I would be 100 claim creates a health halo so youre often reaching for seconds
percent pro gluten-free, I want to be clear that there are some and thirds.
downsides to this trend.
These gluten-free, sugar-loaded, flour-filled foods raise blood
The biggest problem with demonizing a food substance is caused sugar levels and contribute to inflammation, both of which play
by the food industry. In a nutshell, this industry manipulates a role in nearly every disease on the planet.
basic foods items and turns them into Frankenfoods. It does
this by removing naturally derived ingredients and adding in Sugar and flour are the main reason we get sick and fat. They form
other bad stuff to make up for loss of taste, consistency, etc. the root cause of our obesity epidemic and most chronic diseases,
Witness the past popularities of, say, low-carb or fat-free diets sucking the life out of our people and our economy. Whatever
and the so-called healthy fake foodstuffs that manufacturers the problem heart disease, cancer, dementia, type 2 diabetes,
invented to replace the foods containing the maligned depression, and even acne sugar probably plays a key role.
ingredients.
Dont be fooled: Gluten-free junk food is still junk food
A low-carb fake food might be higher in trans-fat, artificial loaded with artificial sugars, food coloring, added gums to help
sweeteners, and excessive amounts of sugar alcohols. And a fat- things stick together, and additives to increase shelf life while
free food is surefire code for higher sugar or artificial sweeteners. decreasing yours.
Likewise, as gluten-free gains popularity, food companies that They can also lead to serious health challenges like leaky gut
are well-aware of a potential marketing opportunity turn out syndrome. Even products like brown rice flour or quinoa flour sound
processed, sugary junk foods as healthy gluten-free alternatives. healthy; however, they are also highly refined and behave like sugar
Look at most grocery aisles and youll find gluten-free chocolate once ingested. Whole-kernel grains are fine, but not flours made
chip cookies, breads, and pretty much any conventional sugary, from them. You might as well just have a soda because it all breaks
junky food. down into sugar and by the way, I recommend none of the above.

health & wellness
Gluten-free products are also often filled with a deadly fat, such it. Naturally gluten-free foods dont come in a box and certainly
as processed vegetable oils or hydrogenated oils and trans-fats. dont have a ton of weird ingredients.
These clear, tasteless, highly refined and processed oils include Eat out smartly. If you eat out, choose the restaurant yourself
corn, soybean, canola, safflower, and sunflower oils. Like sugar, to find the best quality with the most options. Remember, gluten-
these inflammatory omega-6 fats crank up inflammation while free menus are great, but dont replace one bread or pasta with
blocking anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. an even worse form of bread or pasta (based on the weird
ingredients used to replace the gluten and the effects they have
Today, we have a huge imbalance among omega-6 and omega-3 on your blood sugar). Choose grilled or baked chicken, fish, or
fats, and those imbalances lead to things like mental illness, another protein and pair it with a side or two of vegetables and
violent behavior, suicide, and homicide. some healthy fats like avocado and extra-virgin olive oil.
When I tell patients to eat a gluten-free diet, I dont give them Dont let the food industry trick you. If you see a health
license to eat gluten-free cookies or gluten-free bread. Remember: claim on the label, be very suspicious: The label is food marketing
Nature created its own gluten-free diet; an avocado is gluten-free, at its cleverest, designed to seduce you into an emotional purchase
as are almonds! that tricks you with misleading claims.
Go gluten-free, but do it correctly. Here are nine take-homes Study the ingredients. Pay attention to the order in which
I recommend to my patients who are confused about how to ingredients are listed. If a real food is listed at the end and sugar
go gluten-free without falling into the duplicitous food industry or ingredients that you dont recognize are listed at top, put it
marketing trap: back. The most abundant ingredient is listed first. Others are
listed in descending order by weight. If you see any words on the
Cook at home. The cure for what ails you in your body and label you cant pronounce, you should definitely avoid it.
in our nation can be found in the kitchen: the very first step to
reclaiming your health. Go one step further and avoid all foods with labels.
Heres an extra step to guarantee you avoid sugar, trans-fats,
Beware of trigger foods. The industrial food system and other junk ingredients. Just eat real, whole foods! Its really
has created uncountable foodlike substances that hijack your that simple. Before you analyze numbers or anything else on a
biochemistry, creating hunger, obesity, and disease. Your taste label, ask yourself if this food could have been served at your
buds become manipulated, your metabolism spins out of control, great-grandmothers table. Odds are, she only served real food.
and your brain gets addicted to that slick sugar-salt combo
pumped into factory-made foods, yet your biochemistry cannot A gluten-free diet is a great way to reduce inflammation, improve
handle these foods. If it sounds too good to be true were gut function, lose weight, and improve mood and energy. But this
looking at you, gluten-free oatmeal raisin cookies it probably is. only happens when you eat real, whole foods like fruits, veggies,
nuts, seeds, clean animal foods, whole gluten-free grains, and beans.
Stop buying into the myth that healthy food costs more.
We have become brainwashed into thinking cooking real food
costs too much, is too hard, and takes too long, so we rely on
inexpensive convenience foods that ultimately take a toll on
our wallets and our health. We trade health for convenience
that hardly proves convenient when we become sick. Research
shows eating real food doesnt have to be more expensive or take
longer to make.
Tighten your wallet. Make your own food in your own

kitchen. Use fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed and organic
meats (focus more on plant foods if these are too expensive), ~ Mark Hyman, MD, is a practicing family physician, a ten-time #1 New
healthy fats and whole grains in their whole kernel form if you can York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader,
tolerate them. For more strategies, check out the Environmental speaker, educator, and advocate in his field. He is the director of the
Working Groups Good Food on a Tight Budget. Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. Mark is also the founder
and medical director of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, MA, chairman
Tally it up. Always ask how many steps did it require for food of the board of the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical editor
to get from the farm to your fork? If it took a pit stop in a factory of The Huffington Post, and was a regular medical contributor on many
or was made in a factory, avoid it! As Michael Pollan said, if it was television shows including CBS This Morning, Today Show, Good Morning
grown on a plant, eat it; but if it was made in a plant, dont eat America, CNN, The View, Katie, and The Dr. Oz Show. www.drhyman.com

health & wellness
Expand Your Consciousness

Gaia, previously known as Gaiam TV, is an online
video subscription service providing the worlds MISSING LINKS Explore the deep truths of our
origin, history, destiny, and fate, with
largest resource of conscious media for the mind, body, and soul. Missing Links series on Gaia. The biggest questions concerning
Enjoy movies, documentaries, interviews with the top luminaries who we are, where we come from, and where we are going have
of our time, and unlimited exercise, yoga, and meditation captivated scientists and mystics for centuries. Luminary Gregg
programming for $9.95 per month. You may remember Gaia Braden connects the missing links between science and spirituality
(under their former name Gaiam), for their fitness products and to complete our understanding of humanitys history, the origins
yoga videos. Stream Gaias unique programming on Apple TV, of civilization, and our interconnectedness with all things. Watch
Roku, IOS, Chromecast, and on the web. www.gaia.com the first episode at https://youtu.be/GxERTlbAo7g. You will
find the full series at www.gaia.com.
HeartMath was founded by
Doc Childre in 1991 to help Dr. Joe Dispenza explores the science behind
individuals, organizations, and the global community incorporate spontaneous remissions and how people heal
the power of the hearts intelligence into their day-to-day themselves of chronic conditions and even
experience of life. They do this by connecting heart and science terminal diseases. As an author, teacher,
with technology (like their emWave2 hand-held device), to and lecturer, he has been invited to speak in
provide heart rhythm feedback and training. You can connect the more than 27 countries, educating thousands
emWave2 to your computer for new sessions, games, and access of people about how they can rewire their
to their HeartCloud to greatly reduce stress, build resilience, brains and recondition their bodies to make
improve immune function and health, and unlock your natural lasting changes. This October 20-27, Dr. Joe
intuitive guidance for making better choices. HeartMath is being will be presenting locally at Kripalu Center
utilized in more than 100 countries and has transformed more for Yoga & Health in Lenox, MA. Register by phone or online,
than 5 million lives to date. www.heartmath.com www.kripalu.org. Visit Dr. Joes website at www.drjoedispenza.com.
Messenger Digital Dentistry

One visit crowns with no impressions.
Single visit root canal therapy, post, core, and crown.
Computer guided implant placement allows for less
invasive surgeries and precise implant placement.
Amalgam (silver)-free fillings.
Digital x-rays we use allow for 90% less radiation.
On-site laboratories for denture repairs and relines.
One visit smile makeovers, veneers, crown, and bridges.
Computerized periodontal evaluation.
Advanced Zoom tooth whitening.
Six Month Smiles - clear braces.
Dr. Gene Messenger (front center) Dr. Mohammed Forhad (2nd from right)
More than 25 Years in Practice Graduate from the University Extraordinary Dental Care.
Received Diplomate Status in the IDIA of Pennsylvania
Has a Fellowship in ACCD and Special Training in Surgical Extractions,
Laser Dentistry from WCLI Bone Grafts, Endodontics,
Mentor/Trainer for Implants and Cad Cam and Pediatric Dentistry
1111 South State Street (413) 664-6545

North Adams, MA 01247 www.reasons2smile.com

health & wellness
for general well-being Naomi Alson

LIC. ACUPUNCTURIST & HERBALIST
ACUPUNCTURE WILL PROMOTE THE FLOW OF QI
For general wellbeing . . .
N aomi Alson offers acupuncture, a component of Traditional

Chinese Medicine that promotes the flow of Qi (internal
energy) to allow the body to heal through stimulating points along
With specialized training in:
Alleviating the side effects
chemotherapy
pathways, or meridians of the body, and rebalancing its systems. Infertility Herbal treatments
Herbal medicine is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, as Regulating the immune system
are various manual techniques. Numerous studies support the use
of acupuncture and herbal medicine in reducing symptoms such At Lee Family Practice, Lee, MA
(413) 243-3223 naomifalson@gmail.com
as depression, pain, fatigue, nausea, hot flashes, and infertility.
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in Pittsfield, MA (next door to the Clip Shop).
moving & healing arts

INTEGRATIVE HEALING BODYWORK & MOVEMENT
M ing Lash, Somatic Movement Therapist, believes in

the innate intelligence of the whole person. Ming provides
an informed, safe presence, and listening hands and heart,
to encourage relaxation, coherence, and wellness. Supportive
therapies include GYROTONIC exercise, creative movement,
experiential anatomy, flower essences, and use of grounding and
Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field mat, for improved emotional and
physical health and well-being. Classes and workshops available.
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health & wellness
Messenger Digital Dentistry
M essenger Digital Dentistry, located in North Adams,

Massachusetts, is a state-of-the-art dental practice
devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural
beauty of your smile. Complete oral health is their main focus
and commitment. Dr. Gene Messenger, his colleague Dr.
south of our original practice. My staff now consists of two
dentists, one periodontist, four assistants, four hygienists, three
receptionists, an office manager, and a business manager.
Q: What do you offer?

Mohammed Forhad, and their team, provide excellent service A: I am a high-tech general dentist. I have integrated as much
with the highest quality of care in a relaxed, friendly, upscale technology into my practice as possible, and continue to do so
environment. See their display ad on page 24. as new technology is introduced. I offer no-impression and one-
visit inlay/onlays, and crowns and veneers using CEREC. I place
Q: Dr. Messenger, please tell us more about what you do guided dental implants with the help of my Galileo 3D imaging.
at Messenger Digital Dentistry. I also offer six-month smile and Zoom teeth whitening. To keep
A: In additional to preventive dentistry, like checkups and current with the ever-changing world of dentistry, I obtain about
cleanings, Dr. Forhad and I offer the latest cosmetic dentistry 300 hours of continuing education a year. This includes advanced
enhancements such as dental implants, six-month smile, Zoom classes in CEREC, implants, and lasers. In addition, I take my
teeth whitening, one-visit porcelain crowns and veneers, and staff to educational meetings and conferences to give them the
much more. tools they need to provide optimal care to patients.
Q: How did you get started? Q: How can our readers find you?
A: I purchased my first practice in 1994 with a client base of 1,800 A: We are located at 1111 South State Street in North Adams,
patients and a staff of three. Over the past 20 years my practice Massachusetts. For more information, you can visit our website
has expanded, and the growth has resulted in the relocation of my at www.reasons2smile.com, our Facebook page, or give us a call
practice to our current 12,000-square-foot building just three miles at (413) 664-6545.

mind & spirit
Retrain Your Brain

RELEASE LIMITATIONS AND CREATE SELF-EMPOWERING BELIEFS / By Vicki Baird
H ave you ever had the desire to get away from your own
thinking and feeling? Wished that you could take a break
from whatever was going on in your brain? Perhaps even
longed to trade your brain in for a new model one that spoke
to you kindly and supported your ideas? And if your ideas turned
According to the EMDR Institute after successful treatment
with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs
are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced. It is quite
powerful how the brain will unwind the trauma around an event
or emotion to create peace within. When unable to move forward
out to be unfruitful, responded in a way that encouraged further in life as one would wish, so often the idea of admitting there is
exploration rather than a feeling of failure? I would venture a guess trauma to be released from the body and mind is overlooked.
that most of us have had these experiences. Why? Because we are
complex human beings, and while we may know what we want to Belief Re-patterning
do, we often have a difficult time actually shifting our beliefs so we
can cultivate a healthy self-support system. Knowing that there had to be another way for us to enjoy being
human, and still have emotions while feeling secure in who we are,
Luckily we are very fortunate to have many wonderful techniques led me to discover another technique called Belief Re-patterning,
and modalities available to us today that can help. But since www.beliefrepatterning.com. Belief Re-patterning is a technique
humans also have many layers, programs, and beliefs running developed during the 1990s by Suze Casey to assist individuals to
at the same time, it may take some trial and error to discover release limitations, visualize a more joyful and loving life, and create
what works best. Negative beliefs (that were either taught to us self-empowering beliefs. When you work with a practitioner, you
or formed by repetitive thoughts) are often what holds a person move quickly through limiting emotions that have tied those old
back and contributes to poor self-esteem and other issues. Beliefs beliefs in place. The shifting of perception allows you to create
can be shifted however to become supportive, and the following positive beliefs that support your dreams and desires. Telling
techniques are very useful. These methods combine our language, your story is not necessary and acknowledging patterns that may
emotions, and physiological action all of which need to work keep you spinning in circles becomes a discovery process. If you
well together to create lasting peace within. can breathe and speak, you can do Belief Re-patterning. Using
a combination of identifying emotions, statements, and deep
Emotional Freedom Technique, EFT breathing, the brain will create new neural pathways that in turn will
support new behavior. How many times have you tried to move
You may have heard of Nick Ortners The Tapping Solution, past a certain experience or feeling about yourself, only to realize
www.thetappingsolution.com. Tapping has become very popular that you wrapped yourself back up into the story and didnt make
in the last five years, although it has been around for much any progress? Belief Re-patterning connects our physiological
longer. By using the techniques in tapping, either with a certified body to our emotions to help us create the happy life that we are
practitioner or on ones own, the unsupportive beliefs a person all striving for.
carries are addressed by voicing them and shifting the language
while tapping specific activation points on the body (like ancient ~ Vicki Baird is an intuitive life coach and certified Belief Re-patterning
Chinese acupressure). Sometimes referred to as EFT, or Emotional practitioner located in Pittsfield, MA. She is currently the only Belief Re-
Freedom Technique, tapping has helped people overcome many patterning practitioner in the United States. You can reach Vicki at
issues including pain, healing childhood traumas, clearing limiting (413) 499-9791, www.vickibaird.com.
financial beliefs, weight loss, fears and phobias, and more.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, EDMR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR),

S heilaa Hite
Intuitive Counselor
Featured in Paulette Coopers directory,
www.emdr.com, is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally THE 100 TOP PSYCHICS in AMERICA
designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic Tarot Astrology Palmistry Psychometry
memories. EMDR can only be performed by a qualified therapist, Mediumship Past Life Regression
but we are fortunate to have a couple of these therapists in Hypnotherapy Life Coach
the Berkshires. It is an eight-phase treatment that utilizes eye Consultations in Person, by Phone or Skype
movements (or other bilateral stimulation) and patients can Classes, Parties and Events
experience the benefits of psychotherapy that used to take SHEILAAs accuracy rate is 95-100%.
413-637-0085 MANAGER MALIBU SHAMAN BOOKSTORE MALIBU, CA
years, much more quickly. It is an amazing technique that I have
used to reprocess some of the trauma I suffered in childhood. www.SheilaaHite.com

education & workshops
Lets Go Outside:
Benefits for Our Children (and Ourselves!) / By K. Meagan Ledendecker
E xhausted and emotionally drained after a ten-hour day,

I made a last-minute decision and turned my mini-van
toward Kennedy Park. Fifteen years ago the trails of
Kennedy Park were my evening stomping grounds, where dog
walks brought me out of doors on a daily basis. I needed to again
biophilia hypothesis. Numerous studies outline quantifiable
benefits to being out of doors. Business Insider even offers 11
Scientifically Proven Reasons You Should Go Outside. From
restored mental energy to immune system boosts, we benefit
from getting out into the natural world.
walk along the worn path, let the sounds of cars and stress fade,
breathe deeply, and reconnect. In this age of trying to provide our children the best opportunities,
shouldnt we be giving them more time outside? This summer
Within minutes of walking in Kennedy Park, I began to cry, is an excellent time to pay attention to those opportunities for
an emotional release I didnt even know I needed. A childrens children to connect to their place and to just be outside. If you
book by Molly Bang immediately came to mind. In the story, are in need of fresh ideas for the children in your life, and even for
Sophie, a young child, runs outside. Upset and angry she runs yourself, Richard Louvs new book, The Essential Guide to a Nature-
and runs until she cant run anymore. Then she cries. She climbs Rich Life: 500 Ways to Enrich Your Familys Health & Happiness, is an
her favorite tree and the wide world comforts her. excellent resource.
Whenever I read this book, When Sophie Gets Angry Really, Really After my fifteen-minute walk in Kennedy Park, I definitely
Angry, to children, they hang on every word, as if soaking up emerged a different person. The stress of the day disappeared.
Sophies experience. Yet how often do we let our children slam I looked forward to heading home for dinner and bedtimes. I
the door, run outside, and seek solace in nature? How often do found the solace I had needed.
we, as adults, do this?
I want my children to have this experience, too. Whenever possible,
I think about Richard Louvs book, Last Child in the Woods, in which Im sending them outside. And in my search for summer camps,
he coins the phrase nature-deficit disorder to describe the costs Ill be paying attention to how much time
of our alienation from nature. Certainly I see a difference in my they have for exploratory outdoor play!
own children after theyve spent time being outside. Maybe its
the fresh air, or the room to run, or just the possibility they find ~ K. Meagan Ledendecker, cofounder and
in a corner of grassy field. I feel a difference in myself when I Director of Education at The Montessori School
take the time to be outdoors, even if only to take a stroll down of the Berkshires (MSB), loves the summer
the street as the day shifts to dusk. camps at MSB that incorporate art, movement,
music, and science through exploration of the
As humans, were biologically designed to be outdoors. E.O. natural world. Over the years, her three children
Wilson described this predisposition to connect to nature as the have, too! www.berkshiremontessori.org.

home & garden
Solar Electricity
Center for EcoTechnology / By Kevin Pink
Continued from Page 16
selecting a contractor (www.tinyurl.com/ljqc656) to financing come together to establish a community shared solar site
your system (www.masssolarloan.com). The Massachusetts Clean on that unused field, all investing in a share of the up-front
Energy Centers Residential Guide to Solar Power (www.tinyurl. cost, and reaping the benefits of solar electricity once the
com/kt7x93r) contains step-by-step information for interested system comes online. CET is developing a toolkit for groups
homeowners. interested in developing a participant-owned Community
Shared Solar project.
What Are Some of My Options?
Green up your electricity: Another option for supporting solar
Install solar on your home: You can purchase your own panels electricity is to match 100 percent of your electricity usage with
and have a contractor install them for you, assuming the up-front electricity generated by a variety of clean energy technologies
costs and enjoying all the benefits as you pay yourself back over by paying a small additional premium on your electric bill each
time with the savings. And, if you need to finance the system, the month. You can green up your electricity by enrolling in Mass
good news is that Massachusetts has just announced a Solar Loan Energy Consumers Alliances New England GreenStart and
Program for residents to obtain low-interest loans to purchase New England Wind programs (www.massenergy.org/cet). Your
and install solar systems on their homes. For more information, contribution is 100 percent tax deductible and 100 percent of
go to www.masssolarloan.com. the electricity sold through New England GreenStart is produced
by renewable sources in New England, with 74 percent of that
Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Another business model energy supply coming from low-impact hydroelectric power and
in the solar market is the power-purchasing agreement (PPA)/ 26 percent coming from New England solar, wind, and anaerobic
leasing model. Under this model, the homeowner does not digester installations.
purchase the solar panels. Instead, a third-party company provides
and installs the panels, and the homeowner either leases or agrees We hope you found this article helpful and informative. For more
to purchase the power. This model helps homeowners avoid information about solar power including exciting developments,
the up-front cost of solar installation. However, the customer keep an eye on our GoGreen News Blog, www.cetonline.org (or
is responsible for paying a lease fee or purchasing the electricity you can go directly to the blog at www.tinyurl.com/mftsqdq).
generated by the panels, and the contractor gets to claim any tax
credits and other financial incentives. ~ The Center for EcoTechnology, www.cetonline.org, helps people and
businesses save energy and reduce waste. We make green make sense. For
Community Shared Solar: However, if you dont have a 40 years weve offered proven advice and resources to save you money, make
good site for solar power, or dont have the financial ability you more comfortable at home, and help your business perform better. As a
to purchase a solar system of your own, there are still ways to nonprofit 501(c)(3), CET works with partners throughout the region to help
benefit from solar electricity. Community Shared Solar (www. transform the way we live and work for a better community, economy, and
tinyurl.com/kkngghf), for example, allows several community environment now and for the future. We provide practical solutions that save
members to invest in and/or purchase the power of a system energy, materials, and money and have a positive impact on our environment
hosted on an appropriate site. For example, a landowner may and community. We serve residents, businesses, and communities in the
have an unused field that gets enough sunlight to make it an areas of energy efficiency and waste reduction and through our retail store,
attractive site for solar electricity. A group of individuals may EcoBuilding Bargains, www.ecobuildingbargains.org.

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May-June 2017 vol 31 (42) Complimentary

Health & Wellness / Visit us at www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

photo courtesy of Alden Beane, True Balance Animal Wellness

Sometimes you will never know the value

DESIGN 12 food & drink 29 education & workshops

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT SOLAR ELECTRICITY YOU SAW THEM HERE!

May | June 2017 3

Break Out & Explore

Sit & Knit Emerson String Quartet

4 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Ventfort Hall Summer Tea & Talk Series

Series of lectures by different presenters each week on a variety of historical

Jacob's Pillow 85th Anniversary Gala

Celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival and

Emerson String Quartet

LODGING FOOD MUSIC SPECIAL EVENTS

May 13, 7 p.m. ~ free

July 15 - July 30, 2017

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 5

Here fishy, fishy, fishy . . .

M any of us have heard about a gentleman called The

6 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Join us for Sit & Knit!

SATURDAY JULY 89 Free Family

Visit us and find out more about

TOONERVILLE TROLLEY Stop by the GREATEST

RECORDS & CDs

413-458-5229 models & kits kites remote control trains airplanes

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 7

8 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

STYLISH Gazebos / Sheds-N-Stuff

PEACHY Naturally Beautiful / Face Haven

SWEET Its Thyme! / Bella Flora

VERSATILE Purple Pebble CuddleMat / BensDotter's Pet

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 9

countries on earth were finally awarded full civil rights

By the mid 1920s, a new generation arose out of the ashes of

The result of shorter dress lengths not only liberated women

10 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts

Tea & Talk, 1900 to 1925: Revolutionary Fashion at Ventfort Hall

Ms. Meyers next lecture Tea &

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 11

Lamb and Lentil Chili

12 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

~ The Haflinger Haus Restaurant and Inn was

~ From Wiener Schnitzel, Hungarian Goulash, and Lobster

~ Make it a special treat and

Like us on Facebook and

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

Mother's Day & Father's Day

W e appreciate our parents in so many ways throughout

14 May | June 2017 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Sisters Used Furniture

Find up to date inventory

(413) 274-9900 www.sistersusedfurniture.com

Dress Up Your Windows

968 South Main Street open Mon-Fri

Window Treatments Mountain Goat Artisans

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com May | June 2017 15

only collecting a fraction of that light, its easy to imagine how it

Nonpolluting: Since the fuel is sunlight, once a solar system

Cost-effective: Due to generous federal and state tax credits and

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK