Yankee Shopper by Hersam Acorn

Yankee We Don’t Sell Advertising… We Sell Results!

www.yankeeshopperonline.com

Shopper

October 12, 2011

Guide to the Inside Crossword........................... Page 6 Business & Services ........... Page 5 Classiﬁeds ........................... Page 6 Real Estate ........................ Page 16 Auto ................................... Page 16 Help Wanted..................... Page 17

editorial email yankee@hersamacornma.com

advertising email art@hersamacornma.com

��

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

Classiﬁed Deadline: October 24, 2011

Display Deadline: October 24, 2011

Manager’s Memo

��

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 Kitty Lewis, Advertising Sales Sarah Masiero, Advertising Sales Jen Hathaway, Production Director Chris Sobolowski, Art Director Barbra Retzlaff, Graphic 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. ■

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.

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

I don’t really consider myself an animal lover. I like them, have had them most of my life but I think I could live without them. I espeRenee Tassone, General Manager cially could live without them ruining my house and the clean-up. I am also extremely allergic to cats and dogs so I could live without the constant sneezing, wheezing and antihistamines. There are some people I know who are just crazy about their pets. They dress them up and hold birthday parties for them and buy them presents. My sister-in-law is an animal lover. She would do anything for an animal, even rodents. I remember one time her cat had gotten ahold of a mouse; my sister-in-law nursed that mouse back to health all day. She even put the blow dryer on it to warm it up, since it was shivering. That night she placed it in a basket and put it in the bathtub so the cat could not get at it again. Unfortunately, during the night the mouse was feeling so good it climbed out of the basket towards the drain. The bathtub had a constant drip and the poor guy drowned. It was sad although I didn’t think so. I hate mice! One time I found a dead mouse under my desk at work. I was physically sick for hours, could not even go back in the building the rest of the day. I swear my sister-in-law understands animal language. She will suddenly say, wait, shhh did you hear that? I heard nothing. Then she will say that she thinks she hears an animal crying outside off in the distance. I feel that way about my beer sitting in the fridge. It is constantly crying for me. I hate when I can’t go save it, makes me sad. All of my married life (23 years) we have had German Shepherds – three of them total, and I must admit they are incredible dogs. Every time we lose one I would say “that’s it no more animals” only to find we have a new puppy three weeks later. We have lost four animals in the last two years – two of Yankee Shopper

our Shepherds and two cats. I was embarrassed last week when I stopped at our Vet’s for some Frontline. The woman behind the desk said oh this must be for Hannah (our younger Shepherd). I said nope, she passed away last summer. She said ok then it must be for your cat Salem. Nope I said, she left and never returned. I see then it is for the little kitty Tux, nope wrong again. Finally, I just told her it was for Sam our newest cat. It is sad when you lose a pet. They are such a part of the family. Most of them we have buried out in the yard and one of our Shepherds, Sable’s ashes are on our living room table. Sable was very claustrophobic so we didn’t feel right burying her. We knew she would not have liked that. She could escape from any cage, kennel or room where she was confined. We once kenneled her at the Vet for a weekend. When they came in to work on Monday morning they found that she not only escaped from her personal cage but from the room where they kennel the animals, which had a locked door. They were amazed, had never seen anything like that

before and said we could not kennel her there again for liability reasons. My husband, who has had Shepherds all of his life, would never even consider having any other breed and he never liked cats at all. It is funny now to see him snuggling with our cats. He won’t admit how much he loves them. Of course, they are not the protectors that the Shepherds were, but they show him a lot of love and attention. Our first Shepherd’s name was Krista; we had her before we had our children. Actually Krista was the baby for a long time but when the real babies came along she watched over them like a hawk. She was the best babysitter I ever continued on page 3 October 12, 2011

Fall Registration at Berkshire Music School The Berkshire Music School (BMS), as a private, non-profit organization, has been offering the highest quality music education experiences to the Berkshire community for over 70 years. Located in the heart of Pittsfield in two historic buildings, the School has a faculty of 42 professional musicians, 50% with Masters Degrees and all active performers. The School has 14 private teaching studios and a 90-seat recital hall which hosts nearly 40 public recitals by students, faculty and guest concerts, master classes by professional musicians, and an annual student music marathon weekend. Because the community looks to BMS for musicians and musical groups, the School is able to provide its students with numerous performance opportunities at highly visible functions including events at the Colonial Theatre, Tanglewood and Pittsfield Third Thursdays. BMS is currently taking new registrations for the fall session, which begins in September, but parents may enroll their child at any time during the year. The School offers private lessons on nearly any instrument, from piano, violin, cello, guitar, voice, brass and winds, percussion, to music theory and sightsinging courses. Classes range from

Music for Infants and Toddlers and Preschoolers, to Introduction to Suzuki, and two levels of Cabaret Workshops for Adults. KinderChoir is a preparatory choir class designed for children in PreKindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade. Kindred Spirits is designed for girls from second grade through high school. Chamber groups include jazz ensemble, a community drum circle, a student chamber orchestra, Build a Band (for young rock and rollers), and two levels of Guitar Club. All chamber groups are open to members of the community, of any age or level of ability. All lessons and classes take place on the BMS campus, with plenty of free, off street parking, and are offered Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am until 8:00 pm, Fridays from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm, and Saturdays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Classes for youngsters usually take place on Saturday mornings. More information about BMS classes and lessons and their tuition fees can be found on the BMS website: berkshiremusicschool.org or by calling BMS at 413-442-1411. The School is located at 30 Wendell Avenue in downtown Pittsfield.

Manager’s Memo continued from page 2

Enjoy the Majesty of Fall

had for those kids. Even though our daughters used to sit on her and pull her ears, she never got upset with them. We still reminisce about her even though she has been gone for 17 years. Every day Krista and I would meet our oldest daughter at her school bus. One day when the bus driver opened the door, Krista jumped in and ran to my daughter’s seat and blocked her in and would not let her out. I was yelling at her and my daughter was pushing her body against Krista’s so that she could get out. But Krista did not budge, after about two minutes we saw why, there was a dog walking unleashed down our street. Once the strange dog was totally out of sight, Krista led our daughter off the bus. Everyone was speechless at what we had just witnessed. I like the saying “The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.” So, even though I do not consider myself an animal lover, deep down I do love having animals around the house. They are great company, even though they drive my allergies crazy. Don’t tell anyone but today I am going to pick up our new kitty. He is a surprise for my husband and a new friend for our cat, Sam. Then after these two, that’s it. No more animals. Check out our special section for Breast Cancer and in this issue we honor our local firefighters. Please remember to tell our �� advertisers you saw their ad in the Yankee Shopper and Berkshire Pennysaver. As always we encourage your feedback. Feel free to send us your press releases to �� yankee@hersamacornma.com �� or berkshire@hersamacornma. com. Check us out online at �� www.ishopberkshires.com. �� -Renee Tassone, �� General Manager ��

The Arbor Day Foundation will brighten up your fall by giving you 10 free autumn classics trees when you join the organization in October. The free trees are part of the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation’s Trees for America campaign, a program dedicated to environmental stewardship through the planting of trees. Everyone who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in October will receive 10 free autumn classics: Two sugar maples, two red maples, a scarlet oak, a sweetgum, northern red oak, silver maple, white flowering dogwood, and Washington hawthorn. “You’ll especially enjoy these trees for years to come during the autumn months because they’ll add abundant, vibrant color to any yard or landscape,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, continued on page 5

��

October 12, 2011

��

Yankee Shopper

��

� �

�

��

Yankee Shopper

��

October 12, 2011

Enjoy the Majesty of Fall continued from page 3 between November 1 and December 10. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Planting instructions will be enclosed with each shipment of trees. New members of the Arbor Day Foundation also receive The Tree Book, which includes information about tree planting and care.

To receive 10 free autumn classics, send a $10 membership contribution to Autumn Classics Trees, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by October 31, 2011, or join online at arborday.org/october.

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

■

FROM MY CORNER

■

— by Susan J. Coons ...dangling... Congress left us dangling for weeks before they allowed the government to raise the debt ceiling. Last week they tried holding FEMA hostage. Our nation has suffered great physical and financial loss due to devastating tornados caus-

��

CLASSIFIEDS ��

��

ing floods and wind damage and most recently Hurricane Irene. Everyone reading this paper knows someone personally or of someone who suffered property loss due to Hurricane Irene. Many hard-working Vermonters were affected by this storm and they aren’t rich folks with second homes that they can run away to while others clean up the mess. They’re people who have to go to work, take their kids to school, prepare meals, do the laundry, and all the other things we do every day and never think about. Some of these people have been without power for weeks. Many have been cut off due to the collapse of roads. They have run out of food, water and other supplies that we use daily in our lives and never give it a though until we’re without it. Kind and generous Vermonters used fourwheelers to get supplies to those folks and helped them to dig out. They didn’t have time to work on their tan at a country club. They didn’t have time to schlep down to the 19th hole and buy a round of drinks. They didn’t take time out to have their nails manicured. No, they were too busy helping out those less fortunate by building temporary roads, bringing food and water to those who were working as well as digging their homes out of the mud and debris. That’s how it works up here. And while all this was going on in Vermont, some members of Congress were trying to hold FEMA hostage. The ‘suits’ in Washington don’t care how badly this country is hemorrhaging, they just want Obama out. They scream about jobs and putting Americans back to work yet they won’t vote in favor of projects that will help their own constituents in their very own congressional districts. Do you think that if they keep this up, voters will begin to see the light? Nah. I think there are too many Rip Van Winkles out there asleep at the voting booth. I hope I’m wrong.

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

1,201,428 Attend 2011 Big E The Big E, in West Springfield, Mass., ended its 17-day run Sunday with a final attendance of 1,201,428. Three single-day attendance records were noted during the run of the Fair: Opening day, 60,744, the third Friday with 90,549, and the final Sunday with 136,412. Weather conditions included rain on eight days, a number of hot, humid afternoons, and cooler temperatures to close the Fair. “The Big E Super Circus, The Circus Around the Clock exhibit, top name talent and the Mardi Gras Parade shared the grounds with longtime favorites and new sights and sounds, offering an unlimited bill of fare of activities and features with something for everyone,” ESE President Wayne McCary said. A sold out concert by Blake Shelton, as well as shows by Darius Rucker and Reba took place on the Comcast Arena Stage. Free shows on the stage included Freestyle Motocross, Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Party, Jake Owen and Cheap Trick. On the Court of Honor stage, sponsored by Comcast, were the talents of Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, The Buckinghams and Yvonne Elliman as well as Extreme Vegas, a magic and illusion show. Galaxy Girl amazed audiences with her death-defying stunts atop a 120’ sway pole. The 2011 Big E Super Circus, sponsored by Coca-Cola, featured “America’s Best Clown,” Bello Nock, Olate Dogs, Juggler Picasso, Jr., Alexandra’s Net Trapeze, the Big E Super Circus Elephants and Ringmaster Ty McFarlan. Bello surprised fairgoers by performing a wire walk across the top of the circus tent. The Fair opened for the fourth year with Military Appreciation Day with free admission for military personnel, their dependents and veterans. It was also Be A Kid For A Day – all ages paid the children’s price of $10. On the last day of the Fair, The Big E saluted the people and work of Special Olympics Massachusetts. Activities included Opening

Ceremonies and a Law Enforcement Torch Run that culminated with the lighting of the Special Olympics Caldron. The group was highlighted in Storrowton Village all day with demonstrations, speeches and displays, and the entire contingent marched in the Daily Parade. Exciting Exhibits — Circus Around The Clock, sponsored by Uncommon USA, depicted a day-in-the-life story of the largest circus of all time, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The exhibit was filled with historic photographs, memorabilia and film footage as well as the Mother Goose Float, a brilliantly carved circus parade wagon that was built in the mid 1800s for Barnum & Bailey’s glorious horse-drawn street parade. Three parades passed along the byways of the Fair on weekdays: The Daily Parade with contingents, animals, hitches and marching bands; and two Big E Mardi Gras Parades, sponsored by Mohegan Sun, which featured costumed revelers tossing well over 500,000 beads to excited guests. The parades were combined on weekends to present The Big E Grande Mardi Gras Parade. New England Navy week took place Sept. 24 to Oct. 2 with an FA/18 flight simulator, Chevy Suburban Tour of interactive video consoles, participation by the USS Constitution sailors each day as well as a visit by Rear Admiral Walter E. Carter, Jr. Governors from Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut visited on their state’s special day. A Band Organ rally the final Friday and Saturday filled the grounds with the lively music of the historic instruments. Food & Beverage — The 2011 Big E Corn Challenge encouraged vendors to come up with their own creative concoctions using corn as the main ingredient. The participants included Red’s Red Apples with Red’s Tutti Frutti Popcorn, Osborn Mushroom Farm with Corn Poppers, EB’s with Country Fried Shepherd’s Pie and Scirrotto’s Cinnamon City with Corn Cake Pulled Pork Muffin. The winner of continued on page 8

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

1,201,428 Attend 2011 Big E the challenge, hosted by CBS3Springfield.com, was EB’s Country Fried Shepherd’s Pie with 65% of the votes. Other new additions to The Big E’s mouth-watering menu included F&W’s Red Velvet Funnel Cake, Sugar Shaker’s Deep Fried Whoopie Pies, Marion’s Fried Kool-Aid, Coffee Break’s Fried Brownie Bits and the Fried Cheesecake trailer’s Deep Fried Twinkies. Captain Nemo’s Galley also introduced two new dogs, the New England Dog, wrapped in bacon with baked beans and cheddar cheese, and the Hot-Diggid-E Dog, a hot dog wrapped in bacon with spicy coleslaw and jalapeno, named in a Facebook contest. Back for its third year was the must-have food of the Fair -- The Big E Craz-E Burger, a taste sensation consisting of a grilled glazed donut sandwiching two crispy thin-cut strips of bacon, a grilled beef patty and a slice of cheese. 12,500 Craz-E Burgers were served over the Fair’s 17 days. The Big E Cream Puff Bakery was sweetness itself as 45,000 Big E Cream Puffs, the Fair’s signature delight, and 35,000 Big Eclairs were consumed by hungry fairgoers. Getting these delectable treats ready to satisfy took 2 tons of chocolate, 22,300 eggs, 1,641 gallons of heavy cream and 1,080 lbs. of butter. The winners of the Fair’s sixth annual Big E Northeast Gold Wine Competition and fourth annual Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition were on display in the new Mallary Wine Shoppe and the Mallary Cheese Shoppe, sponsored by Keep Local Farms.

continued from page 7

Agriculture — The Big E hosted thousands of animals from across the country in the largest livestock show in the East. Exhibitors at this year’s Fair showed 811 dairy cattle producing 35,000 lbs. of milk, 423 beef cattle, 1,390 sheep, 103 dogs, 112 llamas and 240 alpacas. Exhibitors included 1,967 4-H participants and 3,215 FFA members. 1,440 fluffy chicks were hatched in Farm-A-Rama. The Big E was a great place to see a myriad of farm animals and learn about advancements in agricultural technology and animal care. From shearing sheep to giant pumpkins to baby chicks, the Fair offered a wide variety of exhibits. The 4-H Beef Grand Champion Steer, weighing 1,125 lbs., was purchased at the Fair’s auction for $5.75/lb. by Robert, Edwin and Richard Beckwith of Hilltown Pork, Inc., in Canaan, New York. The grain-fed steer are raised from birth by 4-H youngsters who purchase them and carefully record every aspect of their growth. The Giant Pumpkin contest was won with a 1,278 lb. entry in the adult class, a new Big E record, and a youth entry weighing 653 lbs. The Giant Squash contest was won with a 590 lb. entry in the adult class and 286 lb. entry in the youth class. The new $2 million Equine Arena was dedicated and horse exhibitors were, for the first time, able to warm up and ride into the Coliseum to compete completely under cover. The Eastern States Exposition continued on page 9

Devonshire Estates

Independent Retirement Living

413.637.1700 www.devonshireestates.com Join us today for a tour and a complimentary, chef-prepared, meal. Welcome to Holiday. Welcome Home!

Devonshire Estates 329 Pittsﬁeld Road Lenox, MA 01240 8

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

2011 Big E

continued from page 8

��

Horse Show, sponsored by Williams Distributing, featured Hunters, Jumpers and Hunt Seat Equitation as well as a show for Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Arabians and The Big E Draft Horse Show, which included the $30,000 Big E Draft Horse Showdown. New England Traditions — The Avenue of States, where each New England state is represented by a replica of the original capital building, showcases the native foods, products, crafts and tourist information of each state. Storrowton Village Museum, an authentic reconstructed 19th century New England village, presented 19th century craft demonstrations, children’s games, tours of historic buildings and wine tasting in its Gift Shop. The New England Center’s Creative Arts Showcase displayed handcrafted treasures and winners of competitions in Fiber Arts, Photography and Cake Decorating among others. The North American Midway brought 47 rides for kids of all ages to this year’s Fair. Fun Facts — The Big E has always been known for its variety of delicious foods, and the 2011 Fair was no different. 148 vendors provided tasty treats to suit every fairgoer’s taste, from sit-down dinners at Storrowton Tavern and the Italian Pavilion, to fun Fair favorites. While strolling through the grounds, visitors enjoyed 2,512 bowls of cream of broccoli soup in a bread bowl, 10,000 hamburgers and 5,000 hot dogs from the White Hut, 4.5 tons of grilled chicken and 1,125 pulled continued on page 10

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

1,201,428 Attend 2011 Big E barbeque chicken sandwiches from the Agawam Lions Club, and 6,750 gallons of Rondeau’s Dairy Bar ice cream. Visitors enjoyed culinary delights in the different State buildings. In the Connecticut Building, 3,000 chocolate-covered bacon strips were served. In Massachusetts, 4,200 Finnish pancakes were enjoyed and 7,200 lobster rolls devoured. In the Rhode Island Building, 6 tons of Kenyon’s Clam Mix created countless fritters, and in the Vermont Building guests enjoyed 30,000 slices of hot Vermont apple pie topped with 425 pounds of cheddar cheese or 1,000 gallons of ice cream in addition to 20,000 servings of apple crisp, 2,500 gallons of apple cider and 50,000 apple cider donuts.

continued from page 9

At the close of the Fair, The Big E had 73,500 fans on Facebook. Visit TheBigE.com for details as plans begin to take shape for the next edition of The Big E, which takes place September 14– 30, 2012. Find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join our mailing list – all from our home page. Eastern States Exposition hosts more than 100 shows & events throughout the year including the Second Annual Fiber Festival of New England, November 5 & 6 with 178 booths, demonstrations, workshops, live animal displays and more.

��

�� 10

Yankee Shopper

��

�� October 12, 2011

��

Joanne’s Elm St. Luncheonette 123 Elm Street Pittsfield MA

��

413-447-9375

October 12, 2011

��

�� Yankee Shopper

��

�� 11

Solo Pianist Frederick Moyer Appears at Williams College The Williams College Department of Music presents visiting artist Frederick Moyer in a solo piano recital on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall on the college campus. The event is free. In addition to this, Mr. Moyer presides over a master class of piano students during the afternoon at 2 p.m. During over 25 years as a concert pianist, Frederick Moyer has carved out a vital and unusual career characterized by an exacting approach to music-making and a wide variety of interests. Deeply interested in education and outreach, Mr. Moyer combines major performances, master classes, workshops, school performances and other activities to promote classical music within communities. His appearance on the Williams campus includes a master class with Williams piano students in the afternoon, and as part of his performance he will also be giving a presentation based on his research into the Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 14 by Robert Schumann. His performance also includes works of Dussek, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt. Born of a musical family, Mr. Moyer received a full scholarship to

��

attend the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He later attended Indiana University. His major teachers were his mother, Theodore Lettvin, Eleanor Sokoloff and Menahem Pressler. Shortly after graduation, a highly acclaimed New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall launched the young pianist on a career that has flourished ever since, bringing him to forty one countries, and to such venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle and the Kennedy Center. Mr. Moyer’s repertoire reflects an affinity for a wide variety of styles and composers. He has recorded five Mozart concerti for the Norwegian radio and performed a series of three Rachmaninoff piano concerti with the Japan Philharmonic. His 22 recordings span virtually the entire piano repertoire from Bach to the latest composers. A champion of contemporary music, many composers have written for him including Louis Calabro, George Walker, David Kechley, Ned Rorem, Kenneth Frazelle, Gordon Green, Donal Fox and Andersen Viana.

��

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

Classical Rock Chamber Jazz Features Larry Chernicoff Sextet at The Clark Art Institute The eclectic Larry Chernicoff Sextet will be appearing at the Clark Art Institute on Saturday, October 8 at 8 p.m., playing an improbable genre-bending repertoire of original music. Berkshire resident Larry Chernicoff is an award-winning composer, instrumentalist, and record producer, whose music combines the detail of classical composition and the spirit of jazz exploration, with unusual influences and instrumentation sneaking in at every turn. The players themselves are all composers, band leaders, and virtuosos on their instruments: bassist Tom Schmidt, from Woodstock, New York, has worked with Lee Konitz, Sam Rivers, Ed Blackwell, and Jack DeJohnette, and is one of the few Westerners empowered to play traditional Tibetan musical instruments in public Buddhist ceremonies. Saxophonist Don Davis is a member of the Microscopic Septet, one of the most acclaimed bands of the NYC ‘downtown scene’. You can hear him on alto sax every day, in the opening theme music of NPR’s “Fresh Air”. Percussionist Tony Vacca has been a World Music pioneer since the 1970s, and has worked with Sting and with African superstar Baaba Maal. Derrik Jordan plays an unusual hand-made five-string electric

violin, and is also a songwriter and composer of orchestral music. Charlie Tokarz is a multi-talented horn player and one of the only musicians who plays two saxes at the same time. He has performed with jazz masters Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Larry Coryell, and has appeared at the White House and on the Today Show. The group will be performing Chernicoff ’s original compositions, including fanfares and waltzes, sometimes meditative and quiet, sometimes jazzy and funky, with influences ranging from New Orleans, India and South Africa to 1960s doo-wop. Tickets: $25 / $20 for Clark Art Institute Members. Available at the door, or in advance by calling 413-528-6021. The Clark Art Institute is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

��

�� 13

Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe in Pittsﬁeld

��

The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe (RBIT) will perform at Barrington Stage Company Stage 2, 36 Linden Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on October 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. RBIT is a comedy improv group that has been delighting audiences with its own brand of non-scripted comedic mayhem since June of 2001. Performing a mix of theater games reminiscent of the TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” the group models its work on the teachings of renowned theater games/ improvisation instructor Keith Johnstone. Through audience participation, RBIT’s mission is to create entertaining scenes which explore the boundaries of theater improvisation. For more information visit their Web site at berkshireimprov.com.

��

�� 14

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

Safety First on Halloween For kids, few holidays are more anticipated than Halloween. The chance to dress up in costume while collecting treats is the highlight of many a child’s autumn. For parents, anticipation is replaced by anxiety. While kids are out trick-or-treating, parents may be home or at work hoping their kids are safe and sound. Because Halloween is so popular among kids, it’s hard for parents to forbid trick-or-treating. But parents should instruct kids on the following tips to ensure this Halloween is as safe as it is fun. * Strangers’ homes are off limits. Make sure kids know they should never enter the home of a stranger, no matter how friendly or welcoming that stranger may seem. * There’s no going it alone. Kids should not be permitted to go out alone. When trick-or-treating, kids should always be accompanied not only by their friends, but there must be at least one adult chaperone present at all times. * Stay close to home. Kids should stay in their own neighborhood and only visit homes of neighbors they know. Advise kids to steer clear of homes whose doors are hidden from street view. Chaperones should accompany kids to the front door if visibility from the street is poor. * Choose safe costumes. Kids should wear cos-

tumes made of light colored material. If a child insists on a favorite costume that uses largely dark material, attach reflective tape to the costume so your favorite reveler is easily visible to motorists during twilight and nighttime hours. * No toy guns. Toy guns are just asking for trouble, as many of today’s replicas are easily confused with the real thing. * Bring a flashlight along. Night falls quickly in late October, so kids and chaperones alike should carry a flashlight to improve their visibility and make them more visible to passing motorists. * Stick to the sidewalks. Trick-or-treaters should stick to the sidewalks and always cross the street at corners. Don’t walk in the street, and never walk between parked cars when crossing the street, as it’s especially difficult for motorists to anticipate pedestrians walking or running from behind parked cars into the street. * Be wary of masks. Many masks restrict a child’s vision, so look for one that provides sufficient visibility. If a child’s favorite mask is low on visibility, make children agree to remove their mask when crossing the street. Parents understandably worry when kids go trickor-treating. But a few simple safety lessons shared with children can ensure everyone gets home safe. TF11A360

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

JOBS

AUTOMOTIVE

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

REAL ESTATE

��

PAYMENT INFORMATION

�� ❑ ��❑ ��❑ ��

��

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

��

�� 18

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011

Yankee Shopper

��

Yankee Shopper

October 12, 2011