Click on the photo at left to read the latest issue of Our BerkshireTimes Magazine. Our BerkshireTimes is the voice of our community. It's a unique leading resource for local events, community news, personal growth, and vibrant living in the Berkshire region. It's neighbors talking to neighbors, and local professionals you may already know, recognize, and admire, passionately sharing their knowledge and insight. It's creative, fun . . . and different. It makes it easier than ever to get to know and reach the heart of our community by helping us all connect, share, grow, and prosper. Published bimonthly, Our BerkshireTimes has over 75,000 readers per issue and is free to the public. We deliver 400 plus high-traffic locations in western MA, southern VT, eastern NY, and northern CT, and also offer the advantage of online viewing.

In the U.S., we pride ourselves on having choices and making informed decisions.  Under current FDA policy, we don't have that choice when it comes to genetically engineered (GE) ingredients in the foods we purchase and feed our families.  But thanks to your tireless support, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) will introduce new Federal legislation next week that would require the labeling of all genetically engineered (GE) foods; the first labeling bill to be introduced in the Senate in over a decade!
Tell your Senators and Representative to Co-Sponsor the GE food labeling bill! 
Without mandatory labeling of GE foods, consumers are being left in the dark about the foods we are purchasing and feeding our families.  Sixty-four countries have mandatory labeling policies for GE foods including South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, South Africa, Australia, the the European Union, and many others.  The U.S. is one of the only developed countries in the world that doesn’t require labeling.  Yet there is overwhelming public demand—consistently near 95%—for the labeling of GE foods.  Already in 2013, 53 GE labeling bills have been introduced in 26 states, including Hawaii, Washington, Indiana, Missouri, and Vermont, with more expected by year’s end.

New GE Labeling Bill Being Introduced in Congress!

Send an email to your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor the new federal
GE labeling bill

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

So many people are exposed to very unhealthy chemicals in their skin care products every day so I wanted to share this terrific workshop  . .  . 
Radiant Natural Skin Care Workshop
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 12-3:00pm
Place: TriYoga Berkshire, 1124 North Main Street ( Route 7), Sheffield, MA - (413) 854-3177
Price: $50 all material included. Advanced Registration Required by 4/1/13. 
Come join us for this riotously fun time of making delicious natural skin care products using all natural ingredients from the kitchen and garden - fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, essential oils and your creative spirit will make up salves, creams, masks, lip balms, and more. Bring your notebook to record these amazing recipes and wear clothes that you can play in! Offered by Pam Youngquist, PhD, Traditional Naturopathic Care. To register call (413) 229-9013 by 4/1/13 

The first ever Berkshire Flea, artist, designer, and vintage market will be held at the St. Francis Gallery in South Lee on Saturday March 9th from 11am-5pm.

This event was coordinated to showcase local designers and treasure finders and we hope to hold it at least once a season. The Gallery is located on Rt 102 beside the fire station and there is parking on Fairview and Church Streets, both sides of Rt 102, and in the Gallery parking lot. There is a $2 entrance fee and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Sawa Sawa Foundation Inc. supporting humanitarian health, education, and agriculture projects in Kenya. There will also be a 50/50 cash raffle at the door. 

Visit www.facebook.com/berkshireflea for updates. 

DARROW WELCOMES COMMUNITY
TO MAPLE FEST 2013, MARCH 13   
   
NEW LEBANON, NY--When daytime temperatures rise above the freezing mark, while nights stay cool, the Darrow School community swings into action to begin the process of producing its signature maple syrup. According to the School's Maple Sugaring Director, Nancy Dutton, in the 2012 season, faculty members and students gathered more than 3,500 gallons of sap from the maple trees surrounding the hillsides of the campus, and processed it in the Darrow Sugar House to make hundreds of gallons of syrup. The gathering process begins as soon as the sap starts running and continues until the trees produce their first buds.

The next Great Barrington Green Drinks is Thursday, Feb 7, at Route 7 Grill, from 5:15 on. This month they have their semi annual Benefit Book Sale of great, brand new green titles on topics like: Green building, Sustainable agriculture, Green living Natural history, Gardening . . . and more, all received at the Orion magazine office from book publishers eager for a review in the magazine. The best part is that whether you buy a book for your organization or for personal enjoyment, all the proceeds will go to Route 7 Grill's nonprofit of choice, and this time, Greenagers gets all the cash!

Jow Ga Kung Fu for Adults - Mixed Levels
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 5-6:00pm at Healing Rhythms Center at the Lenox Commons, 55 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA (413) 551-9581
Every Wednesday this adult Kung Fu class is an effective, “no frills” form of self-defense, as well as an excellent activity for building muscle tone and a balanced cardiovascular exercise. Visit www.rhythmscenter.com/class-schedule. 

Visit www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com to see more events or to post your event for free!

Starting January 23 at Matrushka Toys and Gifts - Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School (GBRSS) announces the Spring 2013 performance schedule of children’s puppet plays, starting with “The Starry Night,” a gentle tale about a baby who cannot sleep and a mother who lulls the child by reminding her about the stars and moon watching lovingly from above.  “The Starry Night,” first of three puppet plays in the series to take place at Matrushka Toys and Gifts, 309 Main Street, Great Barrington, starts Saturday morning January 26 at 10:30am, with a second show at 11:30am. More “Mornings at Matrushka” puppet plays continue February 16 and March 23, 2013, with two morning shows each performance day. As spring advances, puppet plays will continue in the GBRSS Early Childhood center at 35 West Plain Road, Great Barrington, on April 6 and May 11 at 10am, followed by an opportunity to learn more about early childhood programs at the school. All events are free. To learn more, call Tracy Fernbacher at (413) 528-4015, ext. 106 or visit gbrss.org 

What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a bike that needs repair? Or with a pair of pants when a seam rips? Or a partially dysfunctional umbrella? Throw it away? Certainly not! 

The Pittsfield Resilience Circle is organizing the Berkshires’ first ever Repair Café. It will be held in Pittsfield on Saturday,‏ ‎January ‬19, 2013,‭ ‬from‭ ‬1‭-‬5‭pm‭ ‬in the St.‭ ‬Stephen's Church basement at‭ ‬67‭ ‬East Street. ‭‬
The event is entirely free.‭ 

The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents Energize with Tai Chi — A Workshop,with certified traditional Tai Chi instructors Kathy and David Crowe.  These workshops are open to the public.

Mondays, January 14 & February 4 & 25 | 1pm | Congregation Knesset Israel | 16 Colt Road | 413-442-4360 x15 | $3

Try Hilltop Orchards award-winning Furnace Brook Wines, produced on their site. Warm up by the fire with their free wine tasting! Also taste their delicious cheeses and fresh baked good.  RSVP for moonlit snowshoe trek & bonfire on Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Dr. Mercola Interviews Caroline Barringer (You Tube clip below). Learn how "reseeding" your gut with fermented foods and probiotics may be one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health. Poor diet and antibiotics can wipe out the beneficial bacteria in your gut, giving pathogens free rein to proliferate unchecked. Historically, people used to get large quantities of beneficial bacteria, i.e. probiotics, straight from their diet in the form of fermented or cultured foods. Each mouthful of fermented food can provide trillions of beneficial bacteria--far more than you can get from a probiotics supplement. Fermented foods are cost effective, easier than you might think to make, and give you a wider variety of beneficial bacteria. To learn more, visit Dr. Mercola's website and click on the "Read more" link below to listen to his interview with Caroline Barringer, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) who has been involved with nutrition for about 20 years. She's now one of Dr. Campbell-McBride's (the GAP Diet) chief training partners, helping people understand the food preparation process.

Buy $100 worth of Gift Cards and get a $10 Gift Card Free*! 

Polishing off your holiday shopping list?  Wrap it up with Guido's Gift Cards - everybody loves 'em! With a $100.00 purchase of their gift cards, Guido's will gift you, too! Hurry in! This deal is going fast, and supplies are limited.

*For every $100 in Gift Cards purchased, Guido's will give you a $10 Gift Card. Cannot be used with other special offers. Offer ends 12/31, or while supplies last.

Dr. Mercola states, "The importance of your gut flora, and its influence on your health cannot be overstated. It's truly profound." Taking an over the counter probiotic supplement is rarely sufficient. Learning how to truly heal your digestive track and gut flora can be the key to healing a wide range of health problems including arthritis, serious nervous disorders, learning disabilities, autism, skin disorders, colon disorders, and other degenerative conditions. For more information, listen to the excellent video below and read a fascinating article by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBrides called One Man's Meat is another Man's Poison!

Our BerkshireTimes Magazine's upcoming February-March 2013 issue will contain an exciting feature for all things bride and wedding related. 

If you would like your business, product, or service to reach well over 75,000 readers (including all those future brides and engaged couples out there) contact us now. Deadline for this feature is December 31, 2012. 

Categories include but are not limited to:

Alchemy Initiative Fifth Annual Handmade Holiday Festival
Mark your calendars for the best holiday shopping in the Berkshires . . . Alchemy Initiative is thrilled to present their fourth annual Handmade Holiday Festival!  

Date: Sat, Dec 1, 2012, 10am-5pm, 
          and Sun, Dec 2, 2012, 10am-5pm
Place: Masonic Temple, 
           116 South Street,  Pittsfield, MA - (413) 394-9942
Price: $4.00/children under 12 free

GoodWorks Insurance Inc., a full-service, independent insurance
brokerage with offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut, is seeking new recipients for several grants of $5,000 or more as part of its ongoing commitment to donate half its operating profits to local non-profits with a distinguished record of service to worthy causes.

7th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow Wow
America – Healing Her Spirit!

WHEN: Saturday, August 11, 2012 (10am-7pm)
             Sunday, August 12, 2012 (10am-6pm)
             Grand Entry on both days at 1pm.
WHERE: Mount Greylock (at the base of the mountain)
              Wirtes Farm, 45 Greylock Road , Lanesboro, MA 
              (Access road from Route 7 next to Vacation Village)

• Grammy & Nammy Award Winner Joseph FireCrow!
  
• Nammy Award Winner, “Lord of the Strings,” Arvel Bird!
  
• A Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire 2012 grant recipient!

Pow Wow is happening rain or shine! Rain place - Mt. Greylock High School on Route 7, Williamstown, MA. All tickets are available at the gate. Pow Wow One Day Admission: $8 for Adults, $6 for Seniors 65+ and Youth 11-18, free for Children 10 and under.