Our BerkshireTimes Magazine, Spring/Summer 2019

Spring/Summer 2019, vol 52 Complimentary
Our BerkshireTimes ™
Local Events | Art & Culture | Home & Garden | Vibrant Living
Cover Art by Ken Musselman / www.kenmusselman.com

Spring / Summer 2019
Our BerkshireTimes™
PUBLISHERS
Kathy I. Regan Contents
publisher@ourberkshiretimes.com
4 art, culture & entertainment
Kevin J. Regan
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com UPCOMING EVENTS
_______________ FAMILY EXCURSIONS IN THE
EDITORIAL BERKSHIRES
Kathy I. Regan
editor@ourberkshiretimes.com
8 food & drink
UP IN SMOKE
Proofreader
Rodelinde Albrecht
BERKSHIRE ORGANICS 6
rodelinde@gmail.com SWEET AND SAVOURY
_______________
SIMPLE ASPARAGUS
DESIGN GOLDEN MILK WITH LOCAL SPICES
Magazine Design/Layout
Kathy I. Regan 14 home & garden
Brianna I. Regan NONCHEMICAL STRATAGIES
_______________
HOUSEHOLD HACKS
TO ADVERTISE CONTACT
Account Representatives
18 shop local
Kevin J. Regan PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS
kevin@ourberkshiretimes.com
20 animal talk
Debra Johnson PET FOOD PANIC
19
mickschix2@aol.com
Nina Anderson
24 health & wellness
safe@bcn.net CHECKS AND BALANCES
_______________ THE FUTURE OF NONINVASIVE
Our BerkshireTimes is a division MEDICINE

of Visionary Group Unlimited 28 education & workshops
P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236
FEELING HEARD
Phone: (413) 274-1122
advertise@ourberkshiretimes.com 30 cover artist spotlight
COVER ILLUSTRATION 31 featured advertisers
Berries and Cream by Ken Musselman THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 26
www.kenmusselman.com
ON THE COVER - Berries and Cream is an 8” x 10” painting by talented

local Connecticut painter/illustrator Ken Musselman. We have heard Ken
described as an immensely talented artist with a friendly and kind personality
and we could not agree more. To read Ken’s bio and view more of his work
see page 30 of this issue and visit www.kenmusselman.com. To purchase
Ken’s paintings and illustrations, call him directly or go to www.fineartamerica
.com/profiles/ken-musselman/shop.
Our BerkshireTimes magazine has been proudly created without Wi-Fi since it
was first published in 2009. This publication is printed with soy ink on Forest
Stewardship Council® certified paper. Most of our editorial content is contributed
by our community members.
All content in Our BerkshireTimes™ is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily

advocate and cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by
our authors, illustrators, and advertisers. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any
reason. For printing errors of the publisher’s responsibility, liability is limited to the cost of the
ad space in which it first appeared. Unless otherwise noted, we use a Creative Commons
License in place of a standard copyright.
4 Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
art, culture & entertainment
Explore the Berkshires

AND BEYOND - FUN THINGS TO DO!
Spring Flower Walk: Taconic State Park Cost: Included in admission/free to members
When: Saturday, June 1, 2019, 10am-1pm Hear the bellows blow, smell the coal smoke, and watch hot iron
Where: Taconic State Park (Cedar Brook), Copake Falls, NY worked by hammer and anvil as New England blacksmiths converge
Cost: Free at Hancock Shaker Village. Talk with blacksmiths and see traditional
and modern methods in use. www.hancockshakervillage.org
Join Claudia Knab-Vispo and Conrad Vispo from the Hawthorne Valley
Farmscape Ecology Program in welcoming spring during a walk in Taconic Mt. Washington Church Fair 2019
State Park (Cedar Brook), Copake Falls. Participation is free, but space
is limited. Please register with Claudia Knab-Vispo at (518) 672-7994 to When: Saturday, August 3, 2019 10am-3pm rain or shine
reserve your space and receive directions. www.hawthornevalley.org Where: Church of Christ, East St and Cross Rd, Mt. Washington, MA
Cost: Free and includes a ticket for door prize drawings
Heirloom By Design Come see crafts and art by local artists. Enjoy yummy fresh food from
Spring/Summer Festival the grill, an extensive salad bar, and treats from our homemade desserts
table. Take home mountain-made jams, granolas, cookies, and more! Shop
When: Saturday, June 8, 2019, 10:30am-6pm at Second Hand Rose Clothes and the White Elephant Tent. Have your
Where: Greylock WORKS, 508 State Rd, North Adams, MA family heirlooms appraised for only $5 by Lenox gallery antique expert
Cost: $5 entry, kids under 12 free Charles Flint at the Antiques Roadshow (until 1:30pm). Enjoy activities for
kids and families including an art table, games, face painting, a scavenger
Celebrate the Berkshires’ passion for authentic, handcrafted design and hunt, and Silent Auction. Live music provided by local faves Sandy and
local food. Our spring/summer festival features our favorite Berkshire Sandy! Everyone is invited . . . sorry, no pets.
artisans and is complemented by a lineup of local food vendors, talented
acoustic musicians and poets, kid-friendly activities, and a full day of
delicious programming in the gWorks kitchen. Set in our light-filled
weave shed, this unique marketplace brings together regional artisans,
curators, chefs, and farmers to delight guests of all ages and interests.
Peruse and procure quality local crafts and discover exciting new flavors.
www.greylockworks.com
Celebrating
Celebrating 95
92
97
93
Celebrating 92
92 Amazing Summersin
Summers
Amazing Summers
Summers Inthe
theBerkshires!
Berkshires!
Celebrating 93Amazing
93 inin the
the Berkshires!
Berkshires!
Berkshire Backyard Beekeepers
When: Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 6pm
Where: Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Rd, Stockbridge, MA
Cost: Free
Join local beekeepers on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm on the
grounds of Berkshire Botanical Garden. Each month’s meeting will involve
season-appropriate discussions and demonstrations using the BBG apiary,
Enroll Today
Enroll Today
Enroll For
Today For Summer
For Summer 2015
2019
Summer 2015
20157
weather permitting. We will focus on sustainable beekeeping techniques:
raising and sourcing bees locally, managing pests and diseases ecologically, Day Camp
Camp and
and Sleepover
Sleepover Camp ~~ Ages
Ages 3 to 16
16
and creating beneficial habitats for honeybees and native pollinators Day
Day Camp and Sleepover Camp
Camp ~ Ages 33 to
to 16
alike. All levels of experience are welcome. These meetings are free and
Flexible Sessions
Flexible
Flexible Sessions ~~ Beautiful
Beautiful Lake
Lake Buel
Buel Campus
Campus
Campus
Only555Miles
Only milesfrom
fromGreat
Gt. Barrington,
Barrington,
Barrington,MAMA
S40658
registration is not required. Please see the kiosk in front of the Welcome
S40658
Only miles from Gt. MA

S40658
Center for meeting location. www.berkshirebotanical.org

camphalfmoon.com
9 camphalfmoon.com
Camp Half-Moon
9 Camp Rd
Half-Moon ~ 888-528-0940
| P.O. Box
Road 188
99 Camp
Camp Half-Moon
Half-Moon Rd~~888-528-0940
Rd || P.O.
P.O. Box 188
Box 188
Age of Iron Great
Great Barrington,
Monterey, MA
Barrington, MA
Great Barrington, MA 0123001245
MA 01230
01230
(888)
(888) (888) 528-0940
528-0940
528-0940 | (413) 528-0940
(888) 528-0940 || (413)
(413) 528-0940
528-0940
When: Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4, 2019, 10am-5pm www.camphalfmoon.com
www.camphalfmoon.com
Where: Hancock Shaker Village, 1843 West Housatonic St, Hancock, MA www.camphalfmoon.com
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 5
Family Excursions in the Berkshires
BREAK OUT OF HIBERNATION / By Nina Anderson
W
e have skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and fishing boats, pontoon boats, and canoes at O’Hara’s Landing.
many indoor activities to keep kids smiling during They even have a nice lakeside restaurant that is open for
the cold months of winter. But once it starts to lunch during the season. Sailing is popular on that lake as well
warm up we come out of hibernation and start so you may wish to charter a mini-cruiser with the Captain
looking around for things to do that are fun for the entire family. from www.nashallasailing.com.
If your kids are into art, a cool place to visit is the Frelinghuysen Nearby in West Cornwall, CT, Clarke Outdoors provides river
Morris House & Studio in Lenox, MA. After a short walk (or a rafting experiences along with canoe and kayak sales and rentals
ride in the golf cart) through a pineforest and over a stream you on the Housatonic River. This section of the river is a mixture
come to a wonderful modern building that is filled with cubistic of moving flatwater and easy whitewater so is suitable for novice
art and even a unique living room floor made from leather. At paddlers. The famous Covered Bridge in West Cornwall marks
the end of your tour you will enter the studio and be given a the halfway point of your journey and is a scenic stop for a picnic.
pad and a little drawing instruction to teach you how to draw
like the masters. This is always fun for young artists. Fridays Travel back up north to Lenox, MA, to find Berkshire Canoe and
are painting demo days outside on the 46-acre estate, with local Kayak Tours for fun-filled guided canoe and kayak trips on the
professional artists demonstrating their techniques and talking Housatonic River. This is a more tranquil section of the river and
about their process. they also give instruction to first-time paddlers. Along this stretch
of the river you will see abundant wildlife including red-tailed
If you want to immerse your family in history, head to the hawks, owls, Canadian geese, great blue herons, kingfishers, and
Trustees’ William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, many types of foliage. Beavers, muskrats, and turtles will also
MA. Here you can go back in time seeing rural New England life delight river explorers.
through history, art, food, and nature. Family programs, special
events, and farm-to-table dinners bring the Homestead’s stories If you have children interested in science, technology, engineering,
and landscapes to life! The Homestead’s pastoral landscape, and mathematics (STEM), you may want to introduce them to
largely unchanged for more than 150 years, includes pastures, flying. Berkshire Aviation, at the charming Great Barrington,
fields, maple sugar bush (that has been tapped for more than 200 (MA) Airport, gives introductory flight lessons. I gave one to my
years), and woodlands. Self-guided trail maps are available as well grandson when he was nine and he took many lessons as he got
as tours through the Victorian-style home. older. They also have scenic tours if you want to take the family
up and get a bird’s-eye view of our beautiful mountains, farms,
What about water sports? As the season progresses, the and lakes. So, to make the summer one to remember, load the
Berkshires have a multitude of lakes and rivers that provide great kids into the car and start exploring the many fun, family-friendly
opportunities to cool off. On Onota Lake in Pittsfield, MA, you’ll things to do in our area.
find Onota Boat Livery that rents fishing boats, pontoon boats,
rowboats, kayaks, and canoes. The lake is terrific for fishing as it ~ Nina Anderson is a retired jet pilot and author of 18 books, www.
is stocked each spring and fall with trout, and you can buy fishing safegoodspublishing.com. She is certified in neurolinguistics and Reiki II,
supplies right at the Livery store. A little farther south just over and is a specialist in performance nutrition as well as pulsed electromagnetic
the border in Salisbury, CT, on Twin Lakes you can also rent therapy (PEMT). www.nlpberkhires.com
art, culture & entertainment

Nashalla Sailing O’Hara’s Landing

Located on beautiful Twin Lakes
Charter with us! in Northwest Connecticut
Twin Lakes, Salisbury, CT
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860-824-7583 ● Salisbury, CT
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Classes, Parties and Events
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www.SheilaaHite.com
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Enjoy the Natural Beauty of the Berkshires
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Enjoy the Natural Beauty of the Berkshires
Beautiful selection of name-brand and local yarn, patterns, knitting

needles, crochet hooks, gifts, and thousands of beautiful buttons.
Open Tue & Thu 12-5, Wed 12-7, Fri & Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4. Closed Monday
Norad Mill ~ 60 Roberts Drive, Suite 302 North Adams, MA
MODERNISM. INSIDE
www.spinoffyarnshop.com AND OUT.
● 413-344-6257
MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT.

MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT.
Berkshire Canoe
• Great for Novice or Experienced Paddlers
• Approx. 1.5 - 2 hr. Kayak / Canoe Tours
and Kayak Canoe
Berkshire Tours •• Great
$50 per
for Adult
•• Approx.
Novice/or$30
Reservations
per Child Paddlers
Experienced
Recommended
1.5 - 2 hr. Kayak / Canoe Tours
and Kayak
413-442-2789 Tours
Trips operate out of Deckers• $50
Landing
per Adult on
| Berkshirecanoetours.org
Road in historic • Reservations
Lenox,
/ $30New
Recommended
Massachusetts.
Lenox
per Child
Featuring Cubist masterworks, including pieces by Picasso, Braque, Gris & Leger
FRELINGHUYSEN MORRIS HOUSE & STUDIO 413-442-2789 | Berkshirecanoetours.org

92 Hawthorne Street | Lenox | 413 637 0166 | Thursday–Sunday | Tours | frelinghuysen.org
Featuring Cubist masterworks, including pieces by Picasso, Braque, Gris & Leger
FRELINGHUYSEN
Featuring Cubist masterworks,MORRIS including pieces HOUSEby Picasso,& STUDIO
Braque, Gris & Leger www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 7
FRELINGHUYSEN MORRIS HOUSE & STUDIO
food & drink
Up In Smoke
WITH APOLOGIES TO CHEECH AND CHONG
By Michael Romano
T
he smoking of food is one of the oldest methods of piece and each had their own favorite wood and method for
preserving known to man. It was probably discovered smoking their products. Most them prefer to use lighter-tasting
by accident when one of our ancestors left their fish woods, many of which come from the area. The knowledge they
too close to the fire and found out it stayed edible for a have acquired allows them to pair certain types of wood with the
long time. The drying action of the smoke naturally preserves the meat or fish being smoked, much in the same way different wines
meat and in older times it was one of the only ways to preserve can be paired with food to complement a dish. The flavors of
food besides drying or salting it. wood are varied to accompany the heaviness or lightness of the
product. The pairing of wood to foods can be different for each
Over the years modern food smoking has evolved into its own chef and recipe. Sometimes a mix of different woods is used for
sophisticated art form, and what a beautiful evolution it’s been. a specific flavor. The milder-flavored woods like apple, alder, and
The activity has a large and growing culinary following as people maple (bark peeled) are good with most fish, poultry, cheese, and
are rediscovering this method as a way of flavoring food. It has produce. The medium-flavored woods such as peach, pear, plum,
even inspired television shows; just ask any fan of Steven Raiclen, cherry, apple, and oak pair well with poultry, pork, oily fish, and
the PBS host of Primal Smoke. Steven smokes everything from duck. Strong-flavored woods such as hickory, walnut, and other
meats, fowl, and fish to veggies, cheeses, fruits, and even hard- nut woods do well with beef and most pork, but it is a matter
boiled eggs! Smoking is done less for preservation these days and of taste. It should be noted that the pit masters stay away from
more for taste and texture. orchard wood as the trees may have been sprayed with pesticides
that would transfer to food. You can buy smoking wood in stores,
We have a lot of different types of deciduous trees that grow in but it is usually chipped for grills and won’t do well in a big smoke
the Berkshires whose hardwood can be used for smoking food. project. Most smoke chefs or pit masters prefer wild woods and
Smoking can take hours or even days – this process is not to be some cut it themselves for the size they need.
confused with wood grilling which uses a hot, fast fire to sear the
meat and impart a rich flavor. Those who remember the Dakota Kevin Beaumont, owner of Bash Bish Brew & ‘Que in Sheffield,
Restaurant in Pittsfield will also remember the smell of food being MA, and an old friend I know from Cape Cod both use a secret
cooked on mesquite, which is a fast-burning, very powerful-tasting dry rub before anything goes into the smoker. Kevin has two
wood. Great for grilling, but not so great for smoking. The harder smokers in back of his Sheffield restaurant and he uses apple
deciduous woods such as fruit, nut, maple, and others burn evenly and pearwood to smoke pork shoulder, beef brisket, chicken,
and slowly and impart flavors that are perfect for smoking a variety and fish. The pearwood in fact once lined the streets of Great
of foods. This does not include any of the softer coniferous woods Barrington before the trees were cut down and replaced. Jim
(pine, spruce, and so forth), which burn fast and leave a bitter, Hallock from the Morgan House will only use a local red oak
pitch flavor not suitable for smoking or grilling. for all his smoking and he peels the bark off each piece of wood
because the bark can give an oily taste to the food. He also
Almost as important as the wood, the smokers themselves factors in atmospheric pressure and temperature when doing a
can range from inexpensive backyard homemade versions to batch and he says he would rather smoke in below-zero weather
professional multi-floor smokehouses. Foods can be cold smoked as it’s easier to control the fire. David Pullaro of Fiddleheads has
or hot smoked and the more indirect the heat source the slower the biggest smoker I have ever seen, capable of holding tons of
the smoke process. An indirect cold smoke can be as low as 100 to chicken, whole pigs, and a side of beef.
120 degrees and is usually reserved to flavor cheeses, fish, veggies,
fruit, and such. Some foods that are cold smoked can be cooked I have maple, black walnut, oak, and crab
thoroughly later, like bacon. Hot smoke typically runs between 165 apple growing in my yard and an old
and 185 degrees and is used on foods that can be eaten without smoker coming up from the cellar. I’m
cooking, like hams, kielbasa, and some hard sausages. One of inspired! It’s trout season and we love
the most imaginative smokers I ever saw was an old refrigerator, smoked trout so if I happen to catch a few
motor removed, with holes cut in the top and bottom. A remote “we’ll be smoking.” Just follow your nose!
firebox and adjustable stovepipes made it usable as a cold or a hot
smoker, and all you had to do was open the fridge door to obtain ~ Michael Romano, has lived with his
the finished product. It actually worked great! wife, Susan, in Great Barrington, MA, for
almost 40 years. He is a retired chef, an avid
I interviewed several local pit master chefs while writing this fisherman, and writer.

food & drink
SMOKED MEATS & BBQ

90+ BEERS & WINE
10 DRAFT LINES
PIZZA & DAILY SPECIALS
CATERING &
PRIVATE PARTIES
BREAKFAST ● LUNCH ● DINNER
413-248-1232
113 Main Street, Sheffield, MA
www.bashbishbrewnque.com
Take $35 off when you spend $100 or more*

*Please present this coupon found in Our BerkshireTimes Magazine to server
at start of meal. Offer expires Sept 30, 2019. Not valid for wine dinners or holidays.
One coupon per table. Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions.
“Come taste the ancient flavors of authentic Pompeian brick oven

cooking and grilling, savored in an elegant, romantic, intimate
setting in downtown Pittsfield.” ~ Davide Manzo, Proprietor/Chef
Dinner daily starting at 5pm. Closed Tuesdays. Reservations suggested.
26 McKay Street, Pittsfield, MA

10 MILL RIVER, GREAT BARRINGTON RD, MILL RIVER
(413) 499-1192 • www.trattoria-rustica.com
413-229-2663 ● VISIT US ON FACEBOOK
½
entrées
available
Blue Hill Flowers, Country Store and Cafe

Wedding & Special Event Flowers ● Gifts ● Cafe ● And More!
176 Ashley Falls Rd., Canaan, CT ● 860-824-0808
NORTH EGREMONT
D-e-e-licious! 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)

Tues-Sat dinner only • 150 Main St., Lee 413.243.6397 cheznousbistro.com Call (413) 528-4796

food & drink
Sweet (and Savoury) Somethings

GRAND OPENING MID-MAY! / By Rodelinde Albrecht
H
ungry for something special? Here’s great news hearts. Mmmmm! My mouth is watering just thinking about
for those who find themselves in Lee, MA, at these. Livia also offers locally made soups at lunchtime.
breakfast, lunch, or snack time! Livia Landry,
proprietor of Sweet and Savoury on Main in And when your sweet tooth starts acting up, treat yourself
Stockbridge for more than three years, now offers her delectable to pound cake or coffee cake or – one of Livia’s specialties –
creations in Lee. The grand opening of Sweet and Savoury on Mexican chocolate pumpkin seed cake. Smaller, locally handmade
Main at 56 Main Street in Lee (the former site of the Cakewalk confections are also on offer, including sweet and salty caramels,
Cafe) is scheduled for mid-May. and modjeskas (marshmallows dipped in chocolate or caramel).
You can wash down your meal or treat with locally sourced coffee
Sweet and Savoury will continue as a boutique bake shop, with and espresso, Harney & Sons tea, or a cold beverage.
all goodies baked from scratch, by hand, from locally sourced
ingredients without the use of preservatives, additives, pesticides, Here’s more good news, especially for you doughnut fans: John
and dyes; wheat-free and grain-free items are also available. Livia and Debbie Scalia will be making their handcut Home Sweet
bakes the way your grandmother did, with care and consideration, Home Doughnuts specifically for Livia’s Sweet and Savoury on
creating wholesome, nourishing food. “Good baking is not to be Main in Lee.
hurried,” says Livia; she cuts the butter into the flour by hand,
not with a machine! Livia prides herself on using the finest available ingredients
sourced locally from family-run businesses. The quality of the
Enter the welcoming, comforting, yet sophisticated premises of ingredients is manifest in the quality of the finished products.
Sweet and Savoury on Main in Lee and make yourself at home. Sweet and Savoury on Main offers a discount to active military
In the morning (starting at 7:30), indulge yourself with breakfast as well as to veterans. Visit sweetsavourymain.com and follow
sandwiches. For lunch, try Livia’s panini or her savoury hand pies on Facebook and Instagram. ~ Rodelinde Albrecht is a writer,
stuffed with portobello mushrooms, caramelized shallots, and proofreader (see ad on page 25), and owner of Concerned Singles,
fontina or with sundried tomato, roasted garlic, and artichoke www.concernedsingles.com.
boutique bake shop on main street in lee, ma

small batch ● handcrafted on the premises daily
locally sourced when possible ● scratch made
Doughnuts made by John and Debbie Scalia, formerly of Home Sweet Home Doughnuts.
pastries ● savoury hand pies ● soups ● specialty cakes ● paninis ● coffee & espresso
breakfast & lunch | 413-243-7777 | 56 main street, lee, ma | www.sweetsavourymain.com

food & drink
Berkshire Organics
even more great products, develop practical recipes and cooking
instructions for you to use, and will be offering products and
tools to help empower you to feel your best.
Home Delivery and Online Shopping

In addition to replenishing the stock in our market, we’re
working tenaciously to offer exciting new home delivery
baskets every week packed full of produce grown right here
in the Berkshires. We also encourage everyone to check out
our website at www.berkshireorganics.com to see how easy it is
to order online. Have all the grocery staples you need for meals,
picnics, and snacks delivered to your door. Customers control the
frequency and contents of every order, and are never locked in.
Keeping Our Doors Open

We look forward to rebuilding the business and are enthusiastic
about what the future will bring. Our sincere appreciation for
your continued support.” ~ Shaun and Amanda Opperman
F
or more than a decade Berkshire Organics has been Where to Find Us
connecting customers with scores of farms in the area Berkshire Organics is conveniently located at 813 Dalton Division
and delivering the bounty year-round to homes and Road in Dalton, MA. Our market is open seven days a week and you
businesses throughout Berkshire County. Their market in can also order online through our website at www.berkshireorganics
Dalton is open daily. New owners Shaun and Amanda Opperman .com at any time. We look forward to meeting you!
have been involved with the business for many years. They say
“The heart of the business is our home delivery service because we
can reach people who otherwise would not have access to nutrient-
packed food every week of the year. It’s like bringing the farmer’s
market directly to their door. It’s a commitment to the ancestral
production of food. It’s all the benefits of a CSA. It’s organic for
any budget. And it’s conveniently ordered online and delivered.”
We Make Organic Affordable

“Because we work closely with our local farmers we are able to
offer exceptional produce at amazing prices. It’s absolutely false
that organic food must be expensive. In addition we accept SNAP
benefits, offer purchase discounts to everyone including seniors
with our stamp card loyalty program, and always have imperfect
IRES
“second chance” produce available at a fraction of the retail price.
KSH
Food Our Ancestors Would Recognize HE BER
Our commitment to ancestral, organic, and biodynamic growing ST OF T
D BE
VOTE
practices ensures the production of nutrient-rich food; we simply
refuse to settle for less. Nothing we offer is grown conventionally.
We also know our customers are faced with a daunting amount of
information about what and what not to eat; it can be extremely
confusing for health-conscious consumers. Our market is stocked
only with real food options so customers can thoroughly enjoy
their shopping experience, develop a nourishing relationship
with food, and ultimately have a love affair with cooking and
cuisine. Using our knowledge of the human body and nutrition
(we both have medical backgrounds), and collaborating with like-
minded folks in the area, Amanda and I are working to bring in
Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com 11

Golden Milk with Local Spices
By Guido’s Fresh Marketplace
healthy, delicious treat, this warming milk uses fresh local ginger and turmeric from
A Mill River Farm. Make a big batch, and drink right before bedtime. Serves 4 to 6.
Ingredients
3 c. canned coconut milk 2 T grated fresh young 1 pinch salt
3 c. plain unsweetened nut ginger Several grinds of black
or dairy milk 2 cinnamon sticks pepper
3 T grated fresh young 2 T coconut oil
turmeric 2 T maple syrup or honey,
or more to taste
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture
is hot and the liquid is infused with spice, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain if you wish. Taste, and add more
turmeric, ginger, or sweetener if desired.
~ Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com
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newsletters, website design,
business card design, and more.
Let us know how we can help!
413-274-1122 ● www.OurBerkshireTimes.com
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food & drink
Simple Asparagus
QUICK AND EASY RECIPE / By
S
pring comes to the Berkshires at more or less the same Otherwise, err on the side of undercooked and let the residual
time every year. Even so, year after year, we await its heat do its thing.
arrival with an edge of despair, half-believing it might
not ever come. We sit tight and try to be patient. We Toss the spears in the best olive oil you have and sprinkle with
complain of the April snow. (Even though we get it every year!) Parmesan cheese. For a bright finish, grate some lemon zest over
We commiserate about how long this winter has been. (In truth the top.
it’s about the same length it was last year.) And then eventually,
inevitably, thankfully, the sun does shine, the earth does warm, Take a taste and savor the moment . . . spring has indeed finally
and we are rewarded for our patience when the surest sign of arrived, and it’s as delicious as you’ve been dreaming it would be!
spring arrives . . . local asparagus!
~ Berkshire Food Co-op, located in downtown Great Barrington, MA,
Trading favorite asparagus recipes is as much a rite of spring as (413) 528-9697, www.berkshire.coop. Photos by © New Africa/Adobe
raking out your flower beds. Crêpes, stir-fries, and risottos are Stock, © geniuslady/Depositphotos.
delicious. Grilled, roasted, or even pickled are good too! But, here
at the Co-op, we think the first crop of asparagus is best enjoyed
in a simple preparation.
Our recommendation?
Blanch your asparagus quickly so that it stays bright green and

firm. Aim for just barely done. If you’re feeling ambitious,
shock the cooked spears in ice water to halt the cooking process.
same SMilEs, WIder AiSLEs!

Opening this summer!
located in downtown Great Barrington | www.berkshire.coop

Nonchemical Strategies
FOR MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES IN YOUR BACKYARD / By Jessica Toro
M
any of us understand the ecological Nonchemical strategies require longer periods of time and greater
concern of the impact of invasives on our repetition to achieve desired goals. Start small and be successful!
natural world. But it’s also important to
be aware of how invasives directly impact Manual control includes hand pulling, cutting of seedheads, and
you. Barberry is increasing tick abundance and the number digging up smaller shrubs, trees, and vines. The manual approach
of infected ticks found both in the natural landscape and in is great for herbaceous invasives (garlic mustard, dame’s rocket,
our lawns. Giant hogweed can cause second-degree burns to narrow bittercress) and when shrubs, trees, and vines or knotweed
exposed skin. Invasive plants degrade garden beds and vegetable are small. The area you can cover is directly related to the amount
gardens, and impact farming on all scales. We need to broaden of time you have, and the size and abundance of the invasives.
our perspective that invasives are damaging just nature, and also For many landowners, an area over a half acre may not be
include ourselves as being threatened by these species. feasible for handpulling. Digging in wetlands or wetland buffer
should be discussed with your local conservation commission.
When considering nonchemical strategies to control invasive
species, this subset of approaches includes hand pulling (hand Mechanical treatment can be accomplished with brush cutters,
removal), mechanical, propane torching, biocontrol, smothering chain saws, tractors with brush hogs, or larger equipment such
treatments, grazing, or a combination of these strategies to as forestry or flail mowers. This could be a good option if you
manage a variety of invasive plants. have larger-sized invasives like honeysuckle or buckthorn trees.
Large equipment will even mulch up the vegetation, returning
Paramount to the success of your project is the need to evaluate the nutrients to the ground. Mechanical treatment can be timed
the entire property for the presence and absence of invasive when the invasive’s root storage is depleted, which requires the
species, environmental conditions, and the context of the site plants to put energy into regrowth instead of restocking the
in the larger landscape. This will help you determine the size of root reserves through photosynthesis.
the project and whether you want to tackle control efforts all at
once or in phases. Once you have a list of invasives, think about Mechanical is also good to do prior to grazing or propane
the biology of each species. Are some a greater concern or have torching. Propane torching is another tool that is selective
a greater urgency for control? for invasives and can be used easily in garden, landscape, and
farming areas. It works better on certain species than others.
It may be best to start with the species that has just entered the The downside to propane torching is that you are using fuel
property and has spread the least. They will be fewer and smaller, to power the torch and multiple tanks over small areas. How
making it easier to control them with nonchemical methods. quickly you cover an area is dependent on the size of the torch
You will be preventing them from spreading and becoming and the number of plants.
more problematic. If working in phases, you may want to
consider looking where there are no invasives and expanding For specific species such as purple loosestrife, biocontrols have
that area instead of dealing with the heaviest invasion first. been very successful. Unfortunately, most biocontrols are still
in development.
It is important to understand the environmental conditions of
your property. If it is wet, even nonchemical approaches may Each approach is a different tool that should be kept as an
need wetland permits. In a garden setting, you may not want to option. Every situation is different, and each management
smother all the plants. tool has its limitations. To achieve success, landowners need to
match their goals, site, species, and biology to the appropriate
Think about how your property fits into your neighborhood management options.
and larger landscape. If all your neighbors have bittersweet
vines, there is a seed source to reinvade your property even after ~Jessica Toro is the co-owner of Native
you have gained successful control. You may wish to prioritize Habitat Restoration, based in Stockbridge,
species for control that don’t have nearby seed sources. In this Massachusetts. She has designed and
vein of thinking, highway departments are one of the most implemented many invasive control and
common spreaders of invasive species along roadsides. You may restoration efforts over the past 18 years.
want to work with them so that their mowing equipment does Prior to starting Native Habitat Restoration,
not bring seed and plant material onto your property. In the end, Jessica worked for 11 years at the Nature
prevention is the cheapest approach for invasive control. Conservancy as the conservation program
manager of the Berkshire Taconic Landscape.
The two greatest things you will need are patience and commitment. www.nativehabitatrestoration.weebly.com

home & garden
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www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring
46 Howland Avenue, Adams, MA/ 01220
Summer 2019 15
Tel. 413-743-0152 • www.bpvs.com

Dress Up Your Windows
Solar Shades
home Douglas
Hunter & garden● Graber ● Norman Shutters
Upholstery, Draperies, Fabric & Wallpaper
Berkshire Fabric Household Hacks

& Wallpaper By Kevin J. Regan
M
Window Treatments, Fabric,
Upholstery & Wallpaper for ake your sink fixtures gleam with wax paper.
all of your decorating needs. First scrub them with a little baking soda and a
● Hunter Douglas ● Graber damp sponge, rinse and dry, then polish them with
Window Treatments ● Norman Shutters some wax paper. The wax will help remove water spots and
Hunter Douglas • Graber • Comfortex • Norman Shutter
prevent future stains.
For all Your Decorating Needs 274 Wahconah St. Pittsfield, MA
Upholstery, Draperies, Fabric & Wallpaper Open daily 10-5, Sat 10-4, closed Sun
Vinegar. It can do so much. We get the inexpensive large
(413)Fabric
Berkshire
Berkshire 442-4420
Fabric ● www.berkshirefabricwallpaper.com
& Wallpaper
& Wallpaper
274
274Wahconah
WahconahSt.,St.,
Pittsfield, MA MA
Pittsfield, bottles of white vinegar at the supermarket to use for cleaning.
(413) 442-4420
413-442-4420 It’s a good counter disinfectant, especially when applied directly
Open
Open dailydaily 10-5,
10-5:30, SatSat
10-4,10-4, closed
closed SundaySun
www.berkshirefabricwallpaper.com after a quick spray of hydrogen peroxide. It can be used in
your washing machine (see the final hack below) or in your
Alliance Appliance dishwasher to help make glasses sparkle (add 1½ to 2 cups
YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR NAME to the bottom of your dishwasher). Vinegar does a great job
BRAND APPLIANCES, REPAIR & PARTS cleaning hard-to-reach areas in coffee makers (fill the reservoir
(413) 443-1230 with a few tablespoons of white vinegar mixed with water, run
the coffee maker, then rinse). It’s extremely helpful for cleaning
mineral buildup in toilets – whenever you won’t be using the
toilet for a few hours fill up an empty jug of water and quickly
pour down the toilet without flushing to lower the water level.
Then, add a few cups of vinegar and let soak for several hours.
Vinegar can also be used to clean clogged shower heads (soak
www.alliance-appliance.com overnight), and to prevent soap scum build-up – wipe tubs and
shower doors with a sponge soaked in distilled white vinegar.
Clean and remove difficult stains on your wood cutting

boards with lemon and salt. After washing, sprinkle kosher salt
on your cutting boards and use a half of a lemon to rub it in.
Let the mixture sit on your boards for a few minutes, then rinse
with clean water.
One of my pet peeves is secondhand chemical-scented

detergent and dryer sheet odors wafting around the
Bed | Table | Bath - Linens for All Occasions neighborhood. Not only is the odor overpowering, it also
exposes us (both by breathing it in and by dermal absorption)
to an unhealthy chemical cocktail of known carcinogens
and hazardous endocrine-disrupting pollutants. Our current
US Consumer Product Safety Commission does not require
dryer sheet manufacturers to list actual ingredients, including
the chemicals used for fragrances. The solution? Instead
of using chemical dryer sheets, try adding a quarter cup of
white vinegar to your washer’s rinse cycle and then place
wool dryer balls in your dryer for the dry cycle. You can also
add a few drops of organic essential oil to the wool balls to
add a natural pleasant scent. The Berkshire Food Co-op in
Great Barrington carries essential oils, and you can purchase
wool dryer balls directly from Community Access to the Arts,
(CATA), at www.cataarts.org/product/dryer-balls. CATA is
Visit our new location. We look forward to meeting you. a wonderful local nonprofit organization that unleashes the
85 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 creative talents of people with disabilities, using the arts
to connect them with the wider community. ~ Kevin Regan,
413-528-3556  www.linengb.com Hartsville Design, www.hartsvilledesign.com

home & garden
Mountain Electronics Quality since 1988

TV, VCR & Stereo Repair Licensed and insured
In business since 1996,

helping you keep your music
and memories alive!
Eric Mazur, Proprietor, emtelect@verizon.net (MA Lic #9116)
(413) 664-2007 ● 16 Taft Street, North Adams, MA
CT Lic #4485 MA Lic #20390

CT HIC #578070 MA HIC #137599
R einer White & Sons, a family-run business since 1988, is known

for attention to detail and quality work. Our company offers
a wide variety of industry contacts and is able to meet all of your
Commercial ● Residential ● Industrial construction needs. Whether you’re thinking of a new home, or would
Jungle Gyms!
● Automatic Gates like to renovate or add onto your existing home, contact us today so
● Security Control Specialist we can discuss your project and help make your dreams a reality.
● Free Estimates New Construction ● Additions ● Remodeling ● Siding ● Windows
at our Sheffield location
● Credit Cards Accepted Decks & Porches ● Sunrooms ● Kitchens & Bathrooms ● Roofs
Interior Finishes ● Trimwork & Moldings ● Free Consultation & More
Sheffield: 413-229-9900 ● Pittsfield: 413-443-4515
Two Locations! ● www.berkshirefence.com
(413) 229-8450 | www.reinerwhiteandsons.com
Emergency Water & Fire Remediation F & T Cleaning Services, Inc.

Residential & Commercial
ServiceMASTER of the Berkshires Your satisfaction is our goal
ServiceMASTER of Columbia County, NY ● Window cleaning
● Power washing
413-445-5678 ● House cleaning
800-707-1441 ● Gutter cleaning
● Office cleaning
• Licensed
• Bonded 800-707-1441
Call (413) 841-5168
• Insured ftcleaningexperts@gmail.com ● Pittsfield, MA
With FARM FAMILY , you’ll get an agent who has the know-
With FARM FAMILY , you’ll get an agent who has the know-
how and products to help you properly manage your family’s
how and products to help you properly manage your family’s
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK risks. An open appointment book, along with options for
risks. An open appointment book, along with options for
EMERGENCY ON CALL SERVICE home, auto and life coverage, means you can feel good that
MORE YOUR ALLY THAN YOUR AGENT
home, auto and life coverage, means you can feel good that
you’re getting more an ally than just an agent.
you’re getting more an ally than just an agent.
● Emergency Water Damage Remediation Locally Owned SINOPOLI INSURANCE AGENCY
● Emergency Fire, Soot and Smoke Remediation and Operated.
DOMINIC SINOPOLI
DOMINIC SINOPOLI
● House Wide and Post Construction Cleaning ● Floor Maintenance
Agent
● Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning ● Animal Debris and Odor Clean Up Agent
● Mold and Odor Remediation ● Sewer and Septic Clean Up 30 STOCKBRIDGE RD
30 STOCKBRIDGE RD
GT BARRINGTON, MA 01230
● We Will Use Green Cleaning Products Upon Request GT BARRINGTON, MA 01230
Certified & Trained Technicians With More Than 15 Years Experience. dominic.sinopoli@farm-family.com
dominic.sinopoli@farm-family.com
3 Westview Road, Pittsfield, MA 413.528.1710
413.528.1710
www.ServiceMasteroftheBerkshires.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE: AN.INSURE/SINOPOLIAGENCY
http://www.farmfamily.com/agent/dominicsinopoli
http://www.farmfamily.com/agent/dominicsinopoli
American National is a group of companies writing a broad array of insurance products and services. Products and services may not be
www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019
available in allAmerican
available
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states. Terms, is a group
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93674.V1.12.2015
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SPRING/SUMMER 2019
shoplocal
IN THE BERKSHIRES!
ENJOY Ice Cream & Sorbet / Chocolate Springs

Enjoy delicious, creamy, freshly made ice cream, gelato, and
sorbet at Chocolate Springs. This European-style chocolate and dessert café run
by proprietor Joshua Needleman, who has decades of experience in crafting the
finest handmade bonbons from natural ingredients, is located conveniently in Lenox,
MA. Chocolates at the café (and for online purchase) include milk and dark, truffles,
award-winning ganaches, and amazing hot chocolate using only the finest seasonal
and organic ingredients whenever possible. In addition to the treats mentioned above,
enjoy coffee, espresso, specialty desserts, and much more. Buy gifts online at any
time, or stop by in person to visit the café at 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA.
(413) 637-9820, www.chocolatesprings.com
CELEBRATE Be Berkshire Ready / Bella Flora

If you are Berkshire proud, come on by and
check out our “BRK” offerings at Bella Flora. Great for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day,
Graduation Day, heck why not Every Day! Bella Flora, a family-based company
that is fueled by passion and creative energies, is dedicated to local artisans,
sustainable products, Fair Trade, and the latest styles. Owners Annie and
Chris Whalen offer beautiful floral arrangements, gift baskets, plants, personal
accessories, and more. Bella Flora is located in Guido’s Fresh Marketplace in
Great Barrington and Pittsfield, MA. Their Pittsfield location is bigger, better,
and even more beautiful than ever. Local delivery available. Order today!
(413) 496-8242, www.bellafloraberkshires.com
10% OFF Fishing & Boating Await You / Onota Boat Livery
Onota Boat Livery is your one-stop shop for all fishing and boating
needs. The store is open seven days a week and offers a huge variety of fishing
tackle, live bait, marine accessories, and boat/motor sales. Boat rentals are
available and include kayaks, canoes, small fishing boats, and pontoon boats.
The Livery offers a full-service marine repair shop and has a huge inventory
of engine repair parts. Dock slips are also available. Located on Onota
Lake at 463 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, MA. Visit our website at
www.onotaboat.com or call (413) 442-1724. Mention this
ad to receive 10% off your tackle/rental purchase.
(413) 442-1724, www.onotaboat.com
DELIGHT Fly with Berkshire Aviation
Berkshire Aviation, LLC, has been serving
aviators and the flying public for more than 65 years at the Great
Barrington Airport, providing maintenance, flight instruction,
and scenic flights. It is home to both private and business-
owned general aviation aircraft. Whether you are looking to see
the Berkshires from the air, want to learn to fly, are looking for
a charter flight, need aircraft maintenance, or are an aviation
enthusiast, the staff invites you to the friendliest airport in the
Northeast. 70 Egremont Plain Road, Great Barrington, MA.
(413) 528-1010, www.berkshireaviation.com
DAZZLE Glass & Sterling Silver Bracelets / Cheshire Glass

Glass bead and sterling silver bracelets are eye-catching
and unique. Earthy with an elegant flair. Sure to get compliments! These beautifully
handcrafted beads are made right here in Berkshire County at Cheshire Glassworks
by artist Jill Reynolds. Jill’s independently owned studio and gallery, located in the
northern Berkshires, is filled with sparkling pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings, glass
vases, and imaginative sculptures. Jill lovingly creates each one-of-a-kind piece with
the magic of fire, glass, and brilliant color. Now celebrating 12 years in business!
Custom orders are always welcome. Located at 24 South Street, Cheshire, MA.
(413) 743-7828, www.cheshireglassworks.com
RELIEVE Heritage Hemp CBD / Berkshire Food Co-op

All-natural, high-quality CBD products from Heritage Hemp CBD
are organically grown and crafted in small batches right here in Western Massachusetts.
Heritage grow and process their own cultivars of full-spectrum hemp with high levels of CBD
and never use artificial colors or flavors. Third-party tested for purity, Heritage Hemp CBD
products contain less than .3 percent THC. Find hemp extract gummies (shown at right),
tinctures, capsules, and salves right here at Berkshire Food Co-op, located in
downtown Great Barrington. Watch for our grand opening this summer! We’ll
be bigger and brighter than ever with more than 700 new products available!
(413) 528-9697, www.berkshire.coop
EXPLORE William Cullen Bryant Homestead

Join the Trustees at the Bryant Homestead this
summer and explore rural New England life through history, art, food, and nature.
From its iconic red barn to the elegant allée of maples leading to the main house,
this lovely property is testament to the celebrated poet’s ideal of living mindfully
on the land. Family programs, special events, and farm-to-table dinners bring the
Homestead’s stories and landscapes to life! Whether it’s our Homestead History
Days, a hike through old-growth forest, or enjoying a beautiful meal surrounded
by the Berkshire hills, come experience the beauty and history of the Bryant
Homestead this summer. 207 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA.
(413) 200-7262, www.thetrustees.org/bryanthomestead

animal talk
Pet Food Panic

SEPARATING THE FACTS FROM THE RHETORIC
By Kristina Dow
I
n July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration English Setters, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands,
(FDA) issued an alert that it was investigating a and Irish Wolfhounds, and particularly males of middle to older
possible link between canine heart disease and grain- age, would seem to be among those at greatest risk of developing
free dog foods containing white potatoes, peas, DCM. Although the incidence of DCM is less common in small
lentils, and other legume pulses as main ingredients. Reports to and medium-sized breeds, American Cocker Spaniels are also among
the FDA of an increased incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy those that would seem to be genetically predisposed.
(DCM) occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the
disease, along with anecdotal evidence of a connection to grain- A primary concern raised by the increased numbers of cases of
free diets, prompted the pet food alert. DCM reported to the FDA was that the cases involved a wide range
of dog breeds and ages not thought to be genetically predisposed
An update notice in February 2019 revealed little more, noting only to the disease. However, consistent with what has been observed
that the potential association between grain-free diets and dilated with the genetic form of the disease, the recent cases reported to
cardiomyopathy in dogs was proving to be a complex scientific the FDA have also shown a greater proportion of males affected
issue involving multiple factors. The statistics accompanying that than females. Are we, therefore, looking at a male/female metabolic
update were, however, quite sobering. Between January 1, 2014, distinction that makes males more vulnerable, regardless of breed
and November 30, 2018, 294 cases of dilated cardiomyopathy and breed predisposition? Are we looking at a case of more breeds
in dogs were reported; however, of those 294 cases, 273 were being genetically predisposed than we’d thought? And how does
reported just since the FDA’s July 2018 public alert. And with pet food factor into this? Is it nature? Is it nurture? Or is it a perfect
some of the total 294 reports involving more than one affected storm of a variety of factors?
pet, the total number of individual case reports totaled 325 and
included reports of 74 deaths. Nutritional Aspects of DCM
If pet owners weren’t concerned after the FDA’s July alert, they When we talk about the nutritional aspects of heart health, the
certainly were after the FDA’s February update, especially in light essential amino acid taurine invariably jumps to the top of the list.
of the ongoing, expanding FDA recalls of both dry and canned Taurine is a free-form amino acid found in animal tissue and blood,
pet foods for toxic levels of synthetic vitamins. and is absolutely essential for heart health. Taurine is not, however,
present in vegetarian protein sources such as grains and legumes.
What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)?
We already know that without the provision of sufficient amounts
The canine heart disease in question, DCM, is a serious, of free-form taurine in their diets, cats can rapidly develop DCM
sometimes fatal disease in which the muscles of the heart and die. Dogs, however, are known to be able to manufacture
weaken and the heart’s ability to pump blood is compromised. their own free-form taurine from its two amino acid precursors,
As the disease progresses, the chambers of the heart enlarge, cysteine and methionine.
the heart continues to lose muscle efficiency, and fluid begins to
accumulate in the lungs, causing congestion and coughing. Left In the ongoing FDA DCM case studies, the availability (presence
untreated, the eventual course of the disease leads to congestive within the body) and the bioavailability (delivery and utilization
heart failure, and, in some cases, sudden death. within the body) of taurine and its precursors have been at the
forefront of the investigations, but no definitive connection
DCM can be hereditary, dietary, or idiopathic (of unknown origin), to taurine, methionine, or cysteine deficiencies has yet to be
or a combination thereof. Early signs of DCM can be lethargy established. Nevertheless, the possibilities for those deficiencies
and/or a persistent cough. As the disease progresses, shortness of remain a core concern. Even though those amino acids appear to
breath, rapid or excessive breathing, or difficulty breathing may be be supplied at adequate levels in the foods being scrutinized, their
observed, along with episodes of sudden collapse. availability and bioavailability across the broad spectrum of cases
remains a looming question.
Factors Leading to DCM
The Path to Plant-Based Pet Foods
Certain breeds of dogs are recognized as being genetically predisposed
to DCM, although we are not sure why. Large or giant breeds such Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the diets of domesticated dogs
as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, were generally reflective of the diets of their class of owners.

animal talk
While some shared their owners’ pâté de foie gras, others shared CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957
their owners’ meager scraps. But with the Industrial Revolution, CARING
CARING FOR
FOR PETS
PETS SINCE
SINCE 1957
1957
many things began to change, including how people fed their
pets. Everyday life began to move more quickly, convenience
was elevated to a necessity of life, and inexpensive and easy-to-
serve manufactured dog cakes and biscuits, made from grains
and vegetables and held together with a bit of animal blood,
dominated the American dog food market until the early 1920s
and the introduction of canned dog food.
The invention of the automobile in the early 1900s caused

horsemeat prices to drop, an opportunity that Illinois horse
dealer P.M. Chappel used to his advantage, introducing canned
horsemeat for dogs in 1922 under the brand name Ken-L
Ration. The manufacture of canned dog food stumbled a bit
BBENS
ENSDOTTER’S PET
DOTTER ’S PET
BENS
with the setting aside of tin for the WWII war effort, but as that
demand eased, the manufacture of canned dog food picked up
again, and canned dog food was the choice of most consumers 940
940 MAIN
OTTER
MAIN STREET,
STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON
GREAT BARRINGTON
into the mid-1950s when, with the development and refinement 940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON
940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON
Quality
Quality Foods,
Foods, Equipment
Equipment and Supplies
and Supplies
of extrusion processing, inexpensive and convenient “kibbled” Quality Foods, Equipment and Supplies
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health. The high-temperature processing required to produce proudly
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extruded, plant-based diets not only damaged free-form taurine Abady’s expertise as veterinary nutritionists, coupled with
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Abady’s
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Try Abady’s time-tested corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free,
free-form taurine in the large intestine. (In the world of haute Try Abady’s time-tested corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free,
Try and
TryAbady’s legume-free
Abady’s time-tested
time-tested dry,corn-free,
kibbled Chicken
soy-free, andwheat-free,
Rice or
cuisine, the Maillard Reaction is known as a flavor-producing, and legume-free dry, corn-free,
kibbled Chicken soy-free,
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Rice or
Lamb and
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Lamb
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and Ricefoods
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those
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simple sugars into a taurine feast for large intestine bacteria.) Check out Abady’s canned formulas that begin with your
Check out Abady’s canned formulas that begin with your
Checkpup’s
Check out
out weaning
Abady’s
Abady’s and carryformulas
canned
canned through the
formulas thatneeds
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begin all life
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heart health brought about by the use of nonnutritional dietary stages, including the special needs of your older dog.
stages,including
stages, includingthe thespecial
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dog.
fibers in extruded pet foods. Required to promote firm stool Learn about Abady’s low-carbohydrate dry “granular”
Learn about Abady’s low-carbohydrate dry “granular”
formation when a carnivorous mammal is fed a plant-based diet, Learnabout
specialty
Learn about Abady’s
formulas,
Abady’s with low-carbohydrate
over 90% of the dry
low-carbohydrate dry “granular”
protein“granular”
in those
specialty formulas, with over 90% of the protein in those
nonnutritional dietary fibers have been found to adversely affect specialty
specialty formulas,with
formulations
formulas, with
comingoverfrom
over 90%of
90% of the
the protein
animal protein
sources.in in those
those
formulations
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sources.
free-form taurine levels in blood plasma. Recent studies have formulations
exonerated rice bran, but beet pulp and other nonnutritional fibers And if you’re in the market for an affordable,
And
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you’re
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inthe market
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fordiet, affordable,
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have been implicated as culprits in the decreased bioavailability complete
And you’rebalanced
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complete
complete and
and balanced
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raw food
food diet,
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Abady brings it
of free-form taurine and its precursors, with a resultant elevated homeand
complete in 1lb and 3lbraw
balanced chubsfood fordiet,
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Abady
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incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy in large-breed dogs. home
Abady is a family-owned and operated northeast brand,
Abady isisaafamily-owned
Abadyis family-owned and operated
andand
operated northeast brand,
northeast brand,
manufactured
Abady in Poughkeepsie,
a family-owned and delivered
operated direct brand,
northeast to us from
Reduced by recipe changes, degraded through high-temperature 940 Main
manufactured
manufactured in Street,
Poughkeepsie,
inPoughkeepsie,Great
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delivered
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delivered direct
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to us from
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food processing, carried out of the body bound to bile salts, 413-528-4940
(and
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by)the good
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(and by) the
destroyed by intestinal flora, and removed from circulation by
nonnutritional dietary fibers, it’s a wonder that any free-form
continued on page 22
animal talk
Pet Food Panic

SEPARATING THE FACTS FROM THE RHETORIC
Continued / By Kristina Dow
taurine and its precursors are available to dogs and cats fed Either way, the herbivores and scavenging carnivores would teach
extruded plant-based kibble! their young to avoid legume pulses, just as nature intended. For
pet owners, however, the effects of legume plant toxins were not
How Legumes Got Into Pet Food always so clear. While vomiting might occur, diarrhea was often
masked by the large volume of fiber added to extruded kibble in
Travel back perhaps 10 to 15 years ago and we find the indie an effort to ensure the production of firm stools. Although the
pet food sector having finally succeeded in eliminating corn and premature emptying of the stomach would occur, there would
wheat as carbohydrate-fiber sources in extruded kibbles. For likely be no sign of diarrhea. But the effects of the digestive
far too long, those high-gluten grains had been pet food staples disruption would manifest in other ways.
that clogged pets’ intestinal villi, damaging them beyond repair,
and leaving in their wake leaky gut syndrome, with symptoms In the case of poultry, meat, and fish proteins, when those
including systemic food sensitivities. Gut-damaging soy had also complex, long-chain amino acids would enter the intestines
disappeared. But, unfortunately, it was not all good news. In place and bloodstream completely digested, they would be seen by
of the corn, wheat, and soy was white potato, a nightshade family the body as the same amino acid units that would naturally
vegetable known to be high in solanine, a plant toxin produced as occur in the body itself, and they would not prompt an immune
a defense against insects and herbivores, and decidedly not good response. If, however, the breakdown of those complex, long-
for digestion. But white potato was not to be long in pet food . . . chain proteins was disrupted so as to leave protein chains
sufficiently intact to be recognizable to a dog’s or cat’s immune
Fast forward a few years, and we find bags of kibble touting their system as something other than the dog or cat itself, then an
contents to be both grain-free and white potato-free. It seems immune response would be prompted and the undigested
that the surge in inflammatory bowel disease, symptomatic of proteins would register as an allergen. But the poultry, meat,
solanine poisoning, caused a rethink of the use of white potato, or fish proteins themselves would not be the problem; rather
and a new trend emerged with legumes (primarily peas, chickpeas, they would be a manifestation of a problem with digestive
lentils, and beans) as a white potato substitute. Those legumes disruption caused by natural legume toxins.
supplied the starch and fiber necessary to make extruded kibble,
and came with an added bonus of a cheaper protein boost than And now, in the midst of this DCM crisis, it begins to become clear
meat would afford. They, however, did not come problem-free. why legumes might well be a factor in the crisis, both as antinutrients
inhibiting the complete digestion of food and absorption of
At the outset, there were predictably two problems with feeding nutrients, and as digestive disruptors interfering with the breakdown
pets a diet high in legumes. The first was legume phytates, and the of complex, long-chain proteins into amino acid precursors.
second was legume lectins. Both are classified as antinutrients as a
result of their action as binders that inhibit the complete digestion Recommended Feeding Options
of food and absorption of nutrients. As such, and not unlike
soy and white potato, both of those legume binders were known With so many questions remaining unanswered regarding plant-
to cause intestinal inflammation. In addition, the legume lectin based diets and the associated risk factors for canine heart
binders, not unlike corn and wheat glutens, were known to cause disease, prudent alternate feeding options for dogs specify diets
the breakdown of the lining of the intestine and lead to leaky gut. that demonstrate the inclusion of high amounts of quality meat,
As the use of legumes in pet food gained popularity, yet a third poultry, or fish proteins, along with the elimination of any reliance
issue with legumes began to manifest as veterinarians became on plant-based proteins, and a limited use of nonnutritional
heavily invested into the notion that poultry, meat, and fish dietary fibers. Avoid corn, wheat, soy, white potato, and legumes,
proteins were responsible for an epidemic of yeasty, itchy dogs. even as starch and fiber alternatives (corn, wheat, soy, white
While poultry, meat, and fish proteins manifested as the problem, potato, and legumes all interfere with healthy digestion). Instead
legumes were actually responsible for it. consider white rice or brown rice, barley, millet, or oatmeal as
viable starch and fiber alternatives in dry, kibbled foods.
Just as with white potato, legumes brought with them naturally
occurring plant toxins that protected the legume pulses from And now might be a good time to consider feeding your pet
insects, herbivores, and scavenging carnivores. In a more natural a traditional complete and balanced raw food diet, naturally
setting, those legume plant toxins would either heave out of the high in quality animal proteins, naturally devoid of plant-based
body with violent vomiting, or trigger the gut to empty prematurely, proteins, and naturally low in dietary fiber. Beware, however,
causing the herbivore or scavenging carnivore to spew diarrhea. of some of the newer raw food diets that contain pea or other

animal talk
CARING FOR
CARING FOR PETS SINCE
SINCE 1957
legume proteins. They are an affront to the notion of a natural, CARING FOR PETS
PETS SINCE 1957
1957
biologically appropriate raw food diet for both dogs and cats. CARING FOR
CARING FOR PETS
PETS SINCE
SINCE 1957
1957
If you think raw-feeding might be an option, go online to the
Our BerkshireTimes magazine archive and read the article about
raw-feeding on pages 18-19 of the Autumn 2018 vol. 50 issue.
That will get you started with some myth-busting facts.
Caveat Emptor
When you’re evaluating a pet food, remember that ingredients
on a pet food label are listed by weight, and that a named
meat, poultry, or fish on the label is listed with its water weight
included unless it is listed as a meat meal, poultry meal, or fish
meal. Using water weight to their advantage while fractionating
(splitting up the weights of) dried grains, legumes, and BB
B ENS
ENSD
ENS DOTTER
D OTTER’’SS P
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potatoes, allows a pet food company to include far more plant
protein than animal or fish protein, even though the named B
940
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meat, poultry, or fish appears first on the ingredient panel. As Quality
Quality Foods,
940 MAIN Equipment
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and Supplies
such, a pet food may appear, with meat, poultry, or fish as Conventional
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a family-owned Beef, northeast
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who might have information to share, but that message Abady
Lamb,
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in Sardine,
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delivered Venison.
direct to Duck,
brand,
us from
translated into a rather oblivious accounting of the FDA’s Lamb,
variety
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Lamb, Rabbit,
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so as
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to
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us from
(and by) the good folks at the Abady Dog Food Company.
actions considering the tailspin the alert has created, and suitable
(and by)
940 Main for diet
the good rotation:
folks
Street, at
GreatBeef,
the Abady Dog Chicken, MA
Food
Barrington, Duck,
Company.
which the FDA should have anticipated. ~ Kristina “Tina” Dow Lamb, Rabbit, Sardine, Turkey, Venison.
is sole proprietor of BensDotter’s Pet, a retail pet supply store in Great 413-528-4940 ● www.bensdotters.com
Barrington, MA. www.bensdotters.com

health & wellness
Checks and Balances

AND VACCINES / By Adam Kerzner, DC
A
ll across our country there is an effort to remove which gives us the right to seek a trial for harm done to us. There
our legal rights surrounding the health choices is no other commercial product that enjoys such limited liability
for ourselves and our children. Why are there while admitting the product is harmful. So, we and our children
dozens of bills introduced in state legislatures can be injured and even die from a vaccine but have no legal right
over the past few years to limit or abolish vaccine exemptions? to sue for damages. Instead, our only recourse is to bring our
Is it just a coincidence? How do we maintain our legal rights of case to the vaccine court with the hope that in a few years we may
privacy and autonomy if we lose our freedom of choice? What receive money to help us care for the injured party – and even
are the implications of changing these laws? then only if we have an allowable diagnosis. (This is one reason
there is so much pushback on any suggestion that vaccines may
All products, whether they are drugs (including vaccines), tools, or be implicated in causing autism. It would cost them trillions
toys, have the potential to cause harm. In fact, of dollars if that diagnosis were added to
our government has paid out more than four Our government has paid the list.) But here comes what may be the
billion dollars in health damages to individuals out more than four billion most unbelievable part. The injured child is
and families affected by vaccine injury, and dollars in damages to still required to keep receiving vaccinations!
there are thousands more cases waiting to be individuals and families Medical exemptions are difficult to get even
processed. And yet, all of this has happened affected by vaccine injury where they are allowed. This is where our
without any liability on the part of the drug right to choose comes into the picture.
companies that created and sold these vaccines.
and there are thousands more
Where are the checks and balances in our legal cases waiting to be processed. The States
system to protect the public? In a country And yet, all of this has
that prides itself on individual freedoms, our happened without any liability Most states have some legal exemptions,
legal system is failing us. on the part of the drug based on medical, religious, or philosophical
companies that created and grounds. But for how long? There is a
The Congress coordinated effort to pass new legislation
sold these vaccines. Where including dozens of bills introduced in many
The Vaccine Injury Compensation act was are the checks and balances in states the past few years to limit or get rid of
passed by Congress in the 1980s protecting drug our legal system to protect the exemptions. This is being funded at least in
companies from being sued for any damages public? In a country part by drug companies. These new laws would
that their childhood vaccines may cause. A that prides itself on limit our rights of privacy and autonomy and
vaccine court was set up to compensate families individual freedoms, our take away the need for any informed consent.
who have been harmed by vaccines, thus taking
away our right to have a normal legal recourse
legal system is failing us. Whatever you feel about vaccines – pro, con,
in front of a jury of our peers. That also means there is limited questioning, or neutral – we need to be vigilant in maintaining
discovery of facts in these cases. There is a list of diagnoses that our legal rights. We have quadrupled our vaccine schedule since
are allowed (autism not being one of them) and it can take years for Congress acted to protect the drug companies. Vaccine injuries
these families to see any money. This law does not limit its protection claims have soared in recent years. If the present efforts succeed,
only to current vaccines, so drug companies continue to add then there is nothing stopping drug companies from an ever-
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virtually no legal liability for the safety of their products. choice. We have a constitutional right to privacy, autonomy, and
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~ Dr. Kerzner, Body Connection Chiropractic located in Great Barrington,
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health & wellness
The Future of Noninvasive Medicine

RECHARGING CELLULAR FUNCTION
By Nina Anderson
T
he Berkshires are filled with energy healers from electromagnetic fields created by the earth recharges them. But
all modalities and the people who have sought for the majority of the time shoes are the norm, preventing
out these integrative therapies have, in most cases, our bodies from receiving these important health-promoting
received wonderful results. Technology that used frequencies. The good news is that for the last century there
to exist strictly in the realm of sci-fi movies and for astronauts is have been great strides in the creation of machines that can
now becoming more available to everyone. replicate our earth’s generating fields to help provide us with the
frequencies necessary to charge up our cells.
One such treatment is pulsed electromagnetic therapy (PEMT),
which utilizes pulsed electromagnetic frequencies (PEMF), When utilizing low-frequency electromagnetic fields generated
developed by NASA in the late 1960s to help astronauts stay alive from a device, even the weakest frequencies pass right through
while in orbit and away from the earth’s magnetic field. PEMT the body in a safe manner, penetrating every cell, tissue, organ,
therapy has developed from many years of worldwide research and even bone, but many biological interactions do occur at the
by reputable scientists and has been utilized by thousands of cellular level. As electrical and chemical processes in the tissues
doctors, chiropractors, and trained therapists. PEMT is designed are stimulated, cell metabolism, regeneration, and tissue repair
to strengthen the health of the body’s cells by utilizing pulsed is improved. It is understood that when such an instrument is
magnetic waves, allowing your cells to absorb more oxygen and running on any frequency, the body takes on an electrostatic
nutrients, store more energy, detoxify all your systems, target charge. This process raises the electrical voltage of the cells, which
specific maladies, reduce pain, and facilitate the healing process. excites the cells in the body and enables them to communicate
The therapy increases energy levels in the cells, causing greater with each other more effectively (unlike Wi-Fi exposure, which
activity and increased ability to heal or fight bacteria and other confuses and disrupts cellular communication). The enhanced
pathogens. PEMT has been used to help manage pain and to communication made possible by PEMT assists the body in
enhance treatment for hard-to-treat illnesses like fibromyalgia, becoming more balanced – working towards homeostasis.
Lyme, arthritis, and many other conditions.
Based on the premise that all living matter (including pathogens)
Because our cells and organs are electrical by nature, there is vibrate to a specific frequency, it has been discovered that when
validity in treating the body as an electric being with each cell being you match that same frequency with a PEMF device the life
described as an energy producer – as if it were a little battery. And force of the pathogen is immobilized or devitalized over time.
just as when a regular battery runs down, your cells can become The receiving subject may then experience a temporary herx or
tired and worn down from lack of proper nutrients, Wi-Fi and detox, but ultimately the immune system becomes healthier, the
dirty electric exposure (harmful frequencies), age, stress, overuse, nervous system relaxes, and the bones
or damage, making it more difficult for them to fight off any type and joints become stronger. Targeted
of potentially damaging force or illness. Through PEMT therapy pulsed electromagnetic therapy addresses
(beneficial frequencies), your batteries (i.e., your cells) essentially dysfunction, and on a grander scale helps the
become recharged. This makes it easier for your body to restore its body reset its cellular energy and function.
health naturally, simply by using the electrical currents and impulses
that are already interacting within and throughout your cells. In ~ Nina Anderson, author of 18 books on natural
essence, PEMT is like a battery recharger for your depleted cells. health, is an NLP practitioner, Reiki II, and uses
PEMT therapy with a PEMF device with clients.
For those who regularly walk around barefoot outside, the www.nlpberkshires.com/pemf

health & wellness
In the very first session

healer/therapist.
is a very talented
“Lisa Baumgart
few weeks time, I had
well over 50%. In a
she reduced my pain Lisa Baumgart, MPT, FAFS Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency
“Lisa Baumgart
Restoring
is a very talentedFunction & Fitness Therapy for Pain and Illness
healer/therapist.
31 Williamstown Rd., Lanesboro, MA
W
In the very first session
e offer a different approach
413-442-7007 tomyphysical Originally developed by NASA
Lisa Baumgartt, r agmuaB asiL“

she reduced pain
therapy by treating thewellwhole
over 50%. body
In a while
to help astronauts, PEMF
few weeks time, I had
MPT
focusing on specific areas of pain
almostwhich
no pain.”allows us to
addressFunction
Restoring the cause&of dysfunction. We
Fitness - Donare now also therapy is the noninvasive
detnelat y rev a si
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offering functional medicine consulting on a self- healing modality of the future.
We focus on dynamics
A
pay basis to facilitate optimal wellness.
sk Lisa of the whole body to
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~ Lisa Now used by doctors and trained
.tsipareht/relaeh
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speak to your
and weaknesses.
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ecWuenddey r ehs
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also found it difficult to make it through a day of work. I have been using
PEMF for over one year. I am very pleased with my results I feel that so far
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nI .%Baumgart
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Wendy is a licensed optician with friends and family have noticed a great improvement in me overall.” ~ Carol
tragmua
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dahisI ,aem veryit sktalented

eew wef
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customers with beautiful frames and “I personally have experienced success with my cat (they have pet
lenses in the Berkshires. protocols) who had asthma. Within three weeks of using a PEMF device
REPAIRS | CLEANING | ADJUSTMENTS on him the vet confirmed he had little or no
healer/therapist. Flex Spend - Use it or Lose it! wheezing or congestion.” ~ Nina
MA oleInhcthe
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oD - first sessionssentiF & noitcnuF g

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oR nvery
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she reduced my pain

imwell
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anMaureen o su&c50%. f eW InViglielmo
oJeffrey a Biological Dentistry
t y d few
o b e l weeks
PT almost no pain.” The
o o h w
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As biological dentists we provide safe mercury removal,
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n- physical therapy is called www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 27
ary!
Engaging children
15 months
through
8th grade
Montessori means
expression
education & workshops
Feeling Heard: The Practice of Active Listening

By K. Meagan Ledendecker
R ecently my son was exploding in frustration when I

responded to him. He would ask a question and then,
when I would try to answer, he would shout, “Stop
interrupting me!”
To reset my thinking, I turned to Positive Discipline and the
approach of active listening. Rather than a quick retort, I worked
to reflect my son’s request back to him.
When he asked, “Can I watch a movie?” I paused, took a breath,

At first, I was baffled. I didn’t think I was interrupting at all. and thoughtfully responded. “It sounds like you’d really like
He would ask a question. I would answer. But my answer was to watch something. I understand how fun that can be. I’m
coming immediately after his question. There was no pause. not willing for you to watch something, though, because we
No reflection. As he was asking, I was already formulating my had a movie night last night.” Certainly he didn’t like all of my
response. And this clearly irritated him. responses, but when I practiced active listening, he was calmer
and less prone to react emotionally.
Twenty years ago, in my graduate program, the students and
teachers practiced a technique of leaving space after another I begin to try the approach at other times, too, like when he would
person’s comments or questions. In discussions, the expectation angrily say, “I hate you!” Using active listening, I would reflect
was that there would be a pause before anyone responded. If a back that it sounded like he was upset or angry with me. I focused
thought came to mind, you would allow room for it to breathe on validating his emotions and in the process helped him identify
and sometimes others’ responses might enter into the space feelings that could be hard to name. On good days I could allow
first. This practice required an intense amount of patience and him to explore even more deeply by asking, “Is there more?”
mindfulness. We became very attuned to noticing body language
and subtle clues that might indicate another person’s desire to As a result of my active listening, my son began to feel heard
participate in the conversation. We became more thoughtful and his behavior shifted. He was more regularly brimming with
about different perspectives. We became less attached to goodwill and cooperation. Which makes sense, because don’t we
inserting our ideas. all just want to feel heard?
As I went about my week, I thought about this process of pausing ~ When life gets really busy, K. Meagan
and listening. In meetings I focused on really hearing colleagues Ledendecker has to work harder to practice
who wanted to express their concerns. When a parent needed active listening with her family. Her husband,
to talk through a challenging process, I didn’t focus on my own her sixteen-year-old, and her almost-eleven-
thoughts or potential responses, but rather opened my heart to year-old tend to be more understanding in these
everything she had to say. I realized that at home I also needed busy times. But her six-year-old son is always
to show my son that I was giving his thoughts and questions this a good barometer about the importance of
kind of careful consideration. slowing down. www.berkshiremontessori.org

Ken Musselman
OUR BERKSHIRETIMES MAGAZINE'S SPRING/SUMMER 2019 COVER ARTIST
B
All images © Ken Musselman
orn and raised in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, Ken From that point on, although his job descriptions have varied, Ken’s
Musselman was interested in art from a very early age. hand has always been in art one way or another, from illustrating
Although a primarily self-taught artist, he spent his technical manuals and missiles for the navy to designing beach
teenage years taking Saturday morning classes at the T-shirts and hand-drawn layouts for Preppy jewelry catalogs and
Cooper School of Art. resort hotels, as long as there was a pen or brush involved.
Ken’s heart’s desire was to continue studying art in college. This same theme continues with Ken’s palette and subject range.
However, upon his high school graduation he followed his father’s On his easel, at any given time, you may find a rustic barn scene,
advice to “take up a trade” and joined the U.S. Navy to train as a someone’s favorite island bar, a group of whimsical animals, a
structural mechanic. While attending technical training in Memphis, vintage automobile, or a pop culture icon. Every day he goes where
Tennessee, Ken’s artistic talent could not be subdued and he found the winds of inspiration may take him.
an outlet in painting murals on the walls of the base’s dining and
entertainment facilities. His superiors soon observed that he could To see more of Ken’s paintings, upcoming shows, and galleries that
better serve the Navy as an illustrator/draftsman, and Ken’s career exhibit his work, visit his website at www.kenmusselman.com as
as a mechanic came to an end. well as his Facebook page.

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Spring/Summer 2019, vol 52 Complimentary

Cover Art by Ken Musselman / www.kenmusselman.com

Our BerkshireTimes is a division MEDICINE

ON THE COVER - Berries and Cream is an 8” x 10” painting by talented

All content in Our BerkshireTimes™ is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily

Explore the Berkshires

Only miles from Gt. MA

Center for meeting location. www.berkshirebotanical.org

Nashalla Sailing O’Hara’s Landing

‘THE 100 TOP PSYCHICS in AMERICA’

Beautiful selection of name-brand and local yarn, patterns, knitting

MODERNISM. INSIDE AND OUT.

FRELINGHUYSEN MORRIS HOUSE & STUDIO 413-442-2789 | Berkshirecanoetours.org

8 Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

SMOKED MEATS & BBQ

Take $35 off when you spend $100 or more*

“Come taste the ancient flavors of authentic Pompeian brick oven

26 McKay Street, Pittsfield, MA

Blue Hill Flowers, Country Store and Cafe

D-e-e-licious! COUNTRY STORE

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

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 9

Sweet (and Savoury) Somethings

boutique bake shop on main street in lee, ma

10 Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Home Delivery and Online Shopping

Keeping Our Doors Open

We Make Organic Affordable

Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com 11

~ Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, www.guidosfreshmarketplace.com

Like our style?

Berkshire Record’s ‘Best of the 2017’ Voted

12 Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

Blanch your asparagus quickly so that it stays bright green and

same SMilEs, WIder AiSLEs!

located in downtown Great Barrington | www.berkshire.coop

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 13

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Native Habitat Restoration

Present this ad for a FREE gift. Expires 9-30-19

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Berkshire Fabric Household Hacks

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Pet Food Panic

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The invention of the automobile in the early 1900s caused

Pet Food Panic

22 Spring / Summer 2019 | www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com | Spring / Summer 2019 23

Checks and Balances