Yankee Shopper by Hersam Acorn

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September 8, 2010

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Guide to the Inside Crossword......................... Page 11 Business & Services ......... Page 11 Classiﬁeds ........................... Page 2 Real Estate ........................ Page 12 Auto ................................... Page 13 Help Wanted..................... Page 15 ��

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editorial email yankee@hersamacornma.com

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advertising email art@hersamacornma.com

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Editorial Deadline: 20th at noon the month before publication.

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Classiﬁed Deadline: September 20, 2010

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Display Deadline: September 20, 2010

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Manager’s Memo

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800.234.1432 Fax 802.447.3270 Classiﬁed 800.234.1432 editorial email yankee@hersamacornma.com advertising email art@hersamacornma.com ■

Renee Tassone, General Manager Linda Devlin, Circulation Manager Carrie Devlin, Advertising Sales Brian Dempsey, Advertising Sales Sarah Masiero, Advertising Sales Melissa Miller, Art Director Mary A. Garcia, Artist Jen Hathaway, Artist Chris Sobolowski, Artist ■

Editorial Deadline*: 20th of month prior Classiﬁed Deadline*: 20th of month prior Display Deadline*: 20th of month prior *Deadlines will change due to Holidays. See special deadline notices published before major holidays.

Renee Tassone, General Manager I refuse to believe that it is the end of summer. Leaves are already starting to change and I even drove by a vegetable stand over the weekend that had an entire wagon filled with pumpkins. I couldn’t believe it, but they must be growing early like everything else has been due to the wonderful weather we have been having. I have a hard time enjoying fall because I know winter is not far behind. Did any of you see Mars over the last few weeks? They say we will not see it again for over 200 years - amazing. My husband and I have spent many nights this summer sitting on our deck by the pool admiring the stars, the moon and now Mars. It makes you wonder about so much, like life on other planets, how the universe began and how little we all mean in the whole scheme of things.

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You may all be happy to hear that things are finally starting to get back to normal. My husband was released to go back to work after being out for 11 weeks. He had to find two neurologists to overturn the original diagnosis of a seizure. Basically, the UPS doctor needed another doctor to be responsible if something else happens in the future. I hope we never have to deal with him again. He has full control over people’s livelihood; it made us feel completely helpless. I have also been able to get my Celiac under control, which has been a challenge. It seems almost impossible to completely eliminate gluten. I have had two instances of ingesting gluten by accident by cross contamination and I suffered for about 4 continued on page 4

Submission Guidelines: Those wishing to submit event listings or editorial content may email yankee@hersamacornma.com. ■

Notice: The Yankee Shopper will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The publisher reserves the sole right to edit, revise, or reject any and all advertising, with or without cause being assigned, which in the publisher’s judgement is contrary to the interests of this publication. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. ©2010, Hersam Acorn Newspapers. All contents of the Yankee Shopper are copyrighted, and any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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Martin Hersam, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Thomas B. Nash, Publisher

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Manager’s Memo Continued continued from page 2 weeks each time. I even had to undergo additional testing because they thought maybe Celiac was not the full diagnosis, but everything turned up fine and found out that I was feeling so terrible because I had gluten in my system. It has been tough to attend parties, weddings and eating out (which I love to do), I envy the people that can look over a menu and have so many options that they cannot decide what to order. When I look over a menu I am lucky to have two or three options and they usually are not dishes that would be at the top of my list on a normal day. I also have to make sure I am prepared every time I leave my house. I keep gluten free salad dressing and soy sauce in my car along with some snacks. I even had to smuggle a cooler filled with gluten free beer into a wedding a few weeks ago. Imagine going to a wedding and not being able to have a drink or two. If that is what I need to do to feel better then I will continue to do it. Unfortunately it is a life-long disease so I guess I better get used to living this way. I guess I shouldn’t complain. It could be worse. Speaking of worse, one of my husband’s cousins passed away this week from Leukemia. Such a horrible disease. She fought the courageous battle for 20 months, unfortunately the Leukemia won in the end. She was an incredible woman. It was amazing to see the number of lives she touched. Her philosophy was that life is too short to be mad, so be patient with one another. I agree with that philosophy, life is definitely too short. The older I get the faster time goes. For example, we just brought our daughter back to college for her final year, and it seems like yesterday we were bringing her there for the first time. So enjoy the

remainder of your summer. Have fun and soak up as much sunshine as you can. Get out and enjoy the fun events that are still going on for the whole family; fairs, Lee Founder’s Day, Irish Festival and Garlic Festival in Bennington and many more. I hope you enjoy our Lee Founder’s Day section, which has the schedule and history. As always, we encourage your feedback. Feel free to send us your press releases to yankee@hersamacornma.com or berkshire@hersamacornma.com. Renee Tassone, General Manager

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September 8, 2010

Berkshire Music School Celebrating 70 Years The Berkshire Music School is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2010. It is the School’s mission to provide quality education in music, and musical opportunities to people in the greater Berkshire community, regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnic origin, age, or disability or ability to pay. No one is ever turned away because of financial constraints. This past fall we awarded over $17,000 in need and merit based scholarships. BMS is an independent, non-profit organization. Tuition covers 55% of actual expenses; the rest comes from our generous local community. In 2010, BMS boasts nearly 400 students taking regular weekly lessons taught by 40 talented and dedicated faculty members. Instruments taught include violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, recorder, trumpet, cornet, French horn, trombone, baritone horn, and percussion, as well as voice, theory and composition. BMS offers a wide

range of chamber music, including three children’s choirs, four smaller string groups, a chamber orchestra, two levels of adult cabaret workshops, and a jazz ensemble. Our youngest student is 16 months; our oldest is 86 years. New programs this fall include a Boys’ Glee Club for ages 6 – 12, taught by Doug Schmolze, a community Drum Circle, led by Otha Day, and a Great Composers class for ages 9 – 12. BMS student ensembles present numerous outreach performances and have visited nearly every nursing and assisted living facility in Berkshire County. Our Cabaret To Go Company has performed at numerous civic functions in addition to gigs at the Colonial Theatre, Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge Library, Cranwell and international conferences held at the Crowne Plaza . These BMS ensembles are available for hire. For more information about the Berkshire Music School, visit our web site at berkshiremusicschool.org or call us at 413-442-1411.

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From my Corner — by Susan J. Coons

...looming in the distance... I can feel its approach...it’s looming off in the distance, but I know it’s coming! I know because the days are getting shorter. You know what I’m thinking about, don’t you? Yes, you do. First fall and then...and then winter! Oh, no! This week and for the next couple of weeks, I’m going to begin my summer wind-down and make the necessary phone calls for furnace cleaning, filling the tank (I only use one tank of oil for the winter since I have been using my pellet stove), and ordering pellets. I have to paint the cellar door this week and take care of some trimming in the yard. I want to get the outside of my house and yard secure before the leaves fall and the snow flies. In a few weeks the early mornings will be covered with blankets of fog along the streams and rivers as their warmth evaporates into the cooler morning air. And before you know it, we’ll be picking apples on brisk September afternoons and enjoying hot cider as we sit around the wood stove. I enjoy autumn. The crisp air is invigorating and the colors are beautiful. It’s just that what follows is not my favorite season! About the only good thing about winter is that there’s wall-to-wall football on television! I start to count the hours of daylight in each from the winter

solstice to spring. I’ve tried many ways to keep the dark and gloomy days of winter from getting me down. I turn on my happy lights (soft, warm lights), I light all the candles, I play the Beach Boys, Abba, Frank, Rolling Stones, Beatles, symphonic and classical music, I draw and paint, and I work. I like to bake in the winter. The wonderful aroma of pies or bread baking in the oven fills the house on those closed-in afternoons, while I lie back on the sofa and read my New Yorker. I won’t think about having to bundle up and dig myself out to get to the trash can. I won’t think about what would happen if the power went out. I won’t think about how cold the kitchen is when I get up in the morning (sometimes 36 degrees). I won’t think about having to warm up the car every morning. I won’t think about the car not starting when the temperature is 20 below! I won’t think about falling on the ice! I won’t think about having to keep my dog, Jill, company when she goes out to do her business because she doesn’t like the cold any more than I do. I won’t think about boots on and boots off. OMG! I just remembered! I have to get my coats cleaned! CYA!

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September 8, 2010

Kids are Using More and More Electronic Devices This School Year (ARA) - Kids are using more electronic devices throughout the school year than ever before. They’re on cell phones to connect with friends and family, handheld computers for homework, downloading music videos and searching the net and carrying MP3 players for jamming to music. But because students are always on the go during the busy, hectic school year, there’s always the possibility that these electronic devices don’t get fully charged at night with a tangle of cords stretching from outlets all around your house. In fact, two-thirds of parents report that their children use a dead cell phone battery as an excuse for not communicating with them, according to an Ipsos poll conducted in July on behalf of Duracell. You can remove that excuse and set an example for your children by keeping your own cellphones, BlackBerrys, iPods and other electronic communications devices fully charged - without the cords or multiple outlets. The Duracell myGrid Charging Pad is a high-tech and hasslefree charging station that eliminates the mess of cords and charges up to four electric devices at once. You just equip your cell with the compatible Power Sleeve or Clip and drop it on the Grid to let it charge. Busy school schedules can also have your family scrambling one or two nights a week, preventing everyone from taking the time to charge their electronic devices at home. Send your teen to school with a reserve power source from Duracell in her purse or backpack. The Instant Charger and the Powerhouse Charger both work with BlackBerrys, iPods and most cell phones, and can provide up to 35 hours or 60 hours of extra power respectively. With so many families mobile and on the go during the school year,

keeping schedules organized is less of a hassle if everyone has good electronic communication equipment. Cell phones can also keep your family safer, and 90 percent of the survey respondents reported that’s the reason they gave their children cell phones. They’re great for helping all family members check in so you know where they are - especially before and after school. If you do give you child a cell phone, make sure you discuss the school rules with her. Some districts don’t allow cell phones to be on in the school building, while others just don’t allow them in the classroom. Teach your child about taking responsibility for his or her phone, following the school rules, keeping it charged and using it appropriately. Visit Duracell.com for more information. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Think You Might Be Gluten Intolerant? How to Know and What to Do About It (ARA) - Does the thought of a big bowl of pasta fill you with dread? Not because of the calories, but because of the digestive discomfort you might experience after eating it? If so, you may be one of the millions of Americans who unknowingly live with gluten intolerance. Simply put, gluten intolerance is the body’s inability to digest a certain type of protein commonly found in products made from wheat, rye and barley, such as pasta, cereal and bread. Mild gluten intolerance can cause minor to severe symptoms, ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to fatigue, weight gain and even depression. Severe gluten intolerance is called Celiac disease, and if left untreated can cause debilitating problems and perhaps worse. Because people with Celiac disease cannot digest gluten, the protein sits in the intestines, often triggering an immune system reaction that damages the lining of the small intestine. “We know that Celiac disease is more prevalent than previously thought, affecting nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population, and remains under-diagnosed,” according to Dr. Griffin Rodgers, former acting director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, who was quoted in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) newsletter a few years ago. WebMD reports that 3 million people may have the disease, and

many may be unaware of it because the disease can be difficult to diagnose. Gluten intolerance and Celiac disease are on the rise, health experts agree. And many people don’t even know they have the problem. Common symptoms include recurring, unexplained gas, diarrhea and intestinal distress. Only a doctor can diagnose gluten intolerance for certain, so consult your healthcare provider if you suspect you have a problem. And changing your diet can help alleviate symptoms. “Following a gluten-free diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage and prevent further damage for most people with (Celiac disease),” the NIH reports. “Improvements usually begin within days of eliminating gluten.” One way to rid your diet of gluten is to give up anything made with grains that contain it. That hasn’t always been so easy to do, however, because gluten is present in many processed foods, including some that may surprise you, such as cold cuts, salad dressings, flavored potato chips and even beer, WebMD says. continued on page 9

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Think You Might Be Gluten Intolerant? How To Know And What To Do About It cont. continued from page 8 Recently, a new dietary alternative has come on the scene gluten-free foods such as new English muffins. Made with organic brown rice, Food for Life Bakery’s Gluten Free English Muffins are specifically developed without the protein that causes intolerance symptoms, enabling those with gluten intolerance to enjoy some traditional breakfast foods. Log on to www.foodforlife.com to learn more. “Gluten gives bread its elasticity and chewy texture by trapping the gases released during fermentation in the dough,” says Gary Torres of Food for Life. “Once gluten is removed from dough, the resulting bread can be dense, dry and unappealing. We design our gluten-free products to be moist and flavorful; our gluten-free English muffins have the same moisture

content - approximately 40 percent - as conventional English muffins. The result is a gluten-free product that will exceed your expectations.” In addition to eliminating products made with grains that contain gluten, or substituting gluten-free products, those living with gluten intolerance may also increase other grains in their diets, including quinoa, buckwheat, popcorn, cornmeal and millet. NIH recommends you work with your doctor and a dietitian experienced with Celiac disease to create a meal plan that will help you eliminate gluten from your diet. “People with celiac disease need to eliminate gluten for the rest of their lives, not just until they’re healed,” NIH says. “Eating any gluten, no matter how little, can damage your small intestine again, whether or not you have noticeable symptoms. Newly diagnosed people and their families may find support groups helpful as they all learn to adjust to this new way of life. With practice, looking for gluten becomes second nature.” Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Six Apps That Will Assist You in Healthy Living

(ARA) - When fingers get pointed in debates over the obesity epidemic in the United States, technology sometimes shoulders some of the blame. Time in front of computer screens or television is often listed as part of the reason why Americans aren’t as healthy as they have been in the past. But the truth is there are also technological advances that have the potential to guide you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle, whether that is eating right, exercising or keeping tabs on vital numbers that are important to your health. Take smart phone applications for example. Nowadays, you can find applications for just about anything in life that might capture your inter-

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est, and healthy living is no exception. So if you’re looking to stay fit and healthy, here are six mobile apps that give you and your family a little extra help: Lose It!: Counting calories is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep track of your health goals, especially if it involves weight loss. But it’s difficult to do all the adding and subtracting in your head, which is where the free app Lose It! comes in. The app allows you to enter what you eat each day and calculates not only calories, but fat, protein, cholesterol and carbohydrates based on portion size. It also allows you to enter different types of workouts, from walking to yoga, to see how many calories you will burn while you are exercising. Carb Counting with Lenny: This app is designed to help children with diabetes count carbohydrates to help manage their diabetes, but can be of use to anyone. Using their mascot Lenny the Lion, who also uses insulin pump therapy, Medtronic Diabetes introduced this app, which allows children with type 1 diabetes to learn about carbohydrate levels in basic foods. The application also allows users to create a customizable food guide using their own photos or ones they find on the Internet, as well as play games to test their carb-counting knowledge. Periodic contests and giveaways (www.medtronicdiabetes.com/carbcounting-contest) are announced to reward registered users who get highest game scores. Medtronic Diabetes, which makes such products as continuous glucose monitoring devices, designed the app to be useful and educational for both children with diabetes and others who are interested in monitoring carb intake. Size Me Up: Another application for kids. This one allows children to enter their current height and receive estimates for how tall they might be in the future, at any given age. This can be used to help keep your child motivated to eat right, so they can grow up to be tall and healthy. BP Buddy: This application allows people who are monitoring their blood pressure to input their blood pressure numbers and heart rate numbers and log them for up to 60 days. An e-mail feature allows users to send their numbers to their doctor for analysis. The Carrot: As an interactive journal, this application allows you to track multiple items related to health. In addition to entering information on meals, workouts, and even medication, you can also enter your assessment of your moods or the level of job satisfaction you are feeling at the moment to see if you can pinpoint what healthy habits work best for you. FitReach: This training and diet application allows you to enter information on your meals, as well as workouts. It also encourages you to do regular weigh-ins so you can compare your weight loss with your goals on graphs that are a part of the app. Applications are available on iTunes and can also be downloaded through your iPhone, smart phone or other compatible mobile device. Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Furniture Store Opening in Berkshire County Simmons Furniture, Inc., founded in 1879 in Adams, Massachusetts, is set to add a third location in Berkshire county. In addition to a 15,000 square foot showroom in Adams and a 20,000 square foot showroom on Route 20 at the Pittsfield Plaza, Simmons will open another 25,000 square foot showroom in the Allendale shopping center in October. Phyllis Riley, owner, said,“This new location, named “Simmons Lifestyle Furniture” will hearken back to the roots of the original intent of the company: stylish, customizable, unique furniture at affordable prices.” The brands displayed in this Allendale location will include handmade, custom furniture with luxury and sustainability as a major focus; organics, all American-made furniture, as well as stylish imports and accessories by local artists. All selections displayed will have a focus on comfortable and

healthful living, on helping you live well in your own home. “Normally people believe that, if you pay with peanuts, you’re going to get a monkey.” said Donna Riley, General Manger,“but with our volume of buying power, sometimes you can pay for a Prius and expect to drive away with a BMW.” To that end, the Pittsfield Plaza location will be re-branded as an outlet store, carrying much of the value-oriented furniture it currently displays; Ashley, Broyhill, Lane, Serta... in addition to closeouts and truckloads of an even wider variety of brands. The Riley family is undertaking this expansion based on Simmons Furniture’s success in a down economy. This expansion will mean more jobs for the county. Potential salespeople and delivery staff are currently being interviewed for positions in all three stores.

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