I would like to admit something to all of our readers; I admit that I am addicted. It snuck up on me out of nowhere, and I do not know what to do. I am talking about golf. I went out to play golf three weeks ago for the first time ever and I am hooked. I never in a million years thought that I would enjoy this game. My husband has always played since I have known him and I could never under-stand what was so much fun about chasing a small ball over acres of hills, sand and even
water. Then a friend of mine who went out for her first time and got hooked pressured me in to playing. She cornered me at a friend’s picnic and would not take no for an answer. So I agreed to play the following day. I played nine holes with her and then went back that afternoon and played another nine with my husband and have been out on the golf course ever since. I have been playing at Stamford Valley Golf Course, which is a beautiful place. We even played in a 27 hole tournament there last week, yes you heard me right, 27 holes and I was not even sick of it when we were done. The golf course owners were wonderful during that tournament catering to my diet needs and cooking me
gluten free foods. I dream about golf, talk about it and shop for it. I have spent more
money on golf attire, shoes and clubs than I have spent sending my kids to col-lege. That is a lot considering how cheap I am. I should also tell you that I am not very good, so why do I keep going back for more? I guess that is the reason people get addicted, you just keep thinking about how to improve. When I tell people my score, they don’t think it is a bad score for 18 holes. Some times I do not have the heart to tell them it was my score for 9 and not 18.
So, if you are like I was and want to pick up a new hobby or interest I encourage you to do so. Blow the dust off those new clubs and get out there before the season is over. It won’t be long - our leaves are really starting to turn. People travel here from all over to look at our foliage, and we are lucky enough to see it everyday. So get out and enjoy it!
I hope you enjoy our Fireman Salute section. Thank you to all of our sponsors. This is a great way for people to show gratitude to all the firemen and woman in the area. As always we encourage your feedback. Feel free to send us your press releases to [email protected] or [email protected]. Check us out online at www.ishopberk-shires.com.
Brian Dempsey, Advertising SalesMelissa Miller, Art Director
Jen Hathaway, ArtistChris Sobolowski, Artist
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published before major holidays.
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Notice: The Berkshire Penny Saver 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.
Martin Hersam, Chief Operating OfficerThomas B. Nash, Publisher
Penny SaverBerkshireFrom my Corner
— by Susan J. Coons ...looming in the distance...
I can feel its a p p r o a c h . . . i t ’s looming off in the distance, but
I know it’s coming! I know because the days are get-ting 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 morn-ings 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 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 day 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 morn-ing. 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!
4 Berkshire Penny Saver October 6, 2010
Gail M. Burns to Read at WordPlay At Papyri Books October 9
North Adams, MA - WordPlay@Papyri Books, the monthly reading series and open mic for local authors, welcomes Williamstown theatre critic and widely unpublished author Gail M. Burns on Saturday, October 9 at 7 p.m. The reading will be hosted by Paul W. Marino of North Adams.
Born and educated in New York City, Gail M. Burns moved to Berkshire County in 1980 and promptly became the wife of a Williamstown native and the mother of two more. During a checkered career that has included stints as a playwright, director, elementary school teacher, fund raiser, journalist, volunteer coordinator, receptionist, and copywriter, she has settled into her current split personality as a mild-mannered church secretary by day and crazed theatre critic (www.GailSez.org) by night. She has seen numerous newspaper and magazine articles printed and penned chapters in a couple of books, but the one thing she has never been is a bona fide “published author.”
Nonetheless, as the host of WordPlay@Papyri Books since 2005, she continually inflicts her theoretically humorous essays on unsuspecting audiences. In the hope of silencing her for good, they have foolishly invit-ed her to be the featured reader on October 9, when she will read pieces complaining about being a woman, a wife, a mother, a church secretary, a theatre critic, and a dachshund owner until the room is entirely empty. If that doesn’t work, she will sing at them.
Papyri Books is located at 45 Eagle Street in North Adams, Massachusetts. The store is open Monday-Saturday noon-6 p.m. and is handicap accessible. For more information call 413-662-2099, e-mail [email protected], or visit http://www.papyribooks.net The store is also home to the Papyri Books Gallery, this month featuring the paintings and photographs of Tony Israel http://www.tonyisrael.com/ .
All WordPlay events are held on the second Saturday of the month from 7-9 p.m. at Papyri Books, 45 Eagle Street, North Adams, MA.
Pittsfield, MA – Barter Theatre will bring their show: Forever Plaid to the Colonial on October 15 at 8 p.m.. Tickets are $55 and $35 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., performance Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
It is February 9, 1964, and four young male singers have landed their first big gig at an airport bar, but on the way to pick up their tuxes, they are slammed broadside by a busload of Catholic teenagers. That’s where our story begins, as the boys are given a second chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the concert that never was. Singing in ’50s four-part harmony, Forever Plaid showcases the upbeat music made popular in the ’50s by artists and groups such as Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, The Four Lads and The Ames Brothers and includes such hits as “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Chain Gang,” “Heart and Soul” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” This hilarious production is fun for the entire family.
Join Jinx, Sparky, Francis and Smudge in this musical comedy that centers on four young, eager male singers killed in a car crash on the way to their first major concert, and now miraculously revived for
a second chance to fulfill their biggest dream and perform the show that never was.
Written and originally directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross, Forever Plaid is directed by Robert Randle, who has been the associ-ate director for Ross on many productions around the world, includ-ing the holiday hit and sequel Plaid Tidings. “When most of us think of the ’50s, we think of Rock n’ Roll, greasers, hot rods, Elvis, Annette, Fabian, D.A. haircuts and teenage rebellion. But there was a ‘flipside’ to this era—the side of harmony, innocence and the sincerity of dreams. It was a time when every family worked hard to fulfill the American dream,” remarked Randle.
The Colonial Theatre Presents Barter Theatre’s Forever Plaid
Three of the stars of Forever Plaid made their Barter debut in Barter Theatre’s 2009 production and are reuniting for this national tour. With numerous Broadway, regional theatre and television cred-its, Kevin Greene (Francis), Steven Douglas Stewart (Sparky) and Chris Vaughn (Smudge) lend their incredible vocal and performing talents that will have you singing along. Joining them will be Byron DeMent (Jinx) along with Scott Guthrie (swing), Lee Harris (piano) and Garrett Jones (bass).
You won’t want to miss this fun-filled American musical performed by a classic American theatre. During the Great Depression, Barter Theatre opened its doors in Abingdon, Virginia proclaiming, “with vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh,” beginning a grand experiment that has not only survived, but thrived. In 1946,
the theatre was designated the State Theatre of Virginia. Two years later, Barter’s founder Robert Porterfield received a Tony Award for his contribution to the development of America’s regional theatre movement. Currently celebrating its 77th anniversary, Barter is one of our country’s last theatres with a year-round professional resident repertory company and boasts an annual attendance of over 163,000 theatergoers — an astounding figure considering the theatre’s rural Appalachian location. Famous Barter alumni include Academy Award winners Ned Beatty (Network), Ernest Borgnine (Marty), Patricia Neal (Hud) and Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mockingbird); Tony Award winner Hume Cronyn (Hamlet); and Wayne E. Knight (Seinfeld), to name a few. Today patrons pay with cash, but on two selected days during the summer, non-perishable food items are accepted for admission with all proceeds donated to the local food bank. Find out more about Barter Theatre at www.bartertheatre.com.
Polaris ATV and Ranger vehicles are not intended for on-road use. ATVs with engine sizes over 90 cc’s may not be ridden by anyone under 16 years of age. Be sure to take an ATV safety training course. Drivers
of Ranger vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license.
2010 Rush 600Sale $9,210
2010 Sportsman 550 XP EPS With Winch & Plow Set up
High Fructose Corn Syrup Might Get a Sweet New Name
High fructose corn syrup has been getting bad press for a while now. Food manufacturers are pulling it out of some products, and everyone from soc-cer moms to nutritionists are blaming obesity rates on consumption of corn syrup. Is this sweetener really at the root of obesity?
While the nutritional value or detriment of corn syrup is still open for debate, companies that manufacture high fructose corn syrup are trying to rename the product to give it a better public relations spin. The Corn Refiners Association wants to change its name to corn sugar, after consumption of the sweetener reached a 20-year low.
The corn syrup industry is already using the name in advertising and seek-ing the approval for the name change from the Food and Drug Administration. Such approval could take as long as two years.
The Corn Refiners Association claims sugar is sugar, whether it comes from sugar cane or corn. The body uses it the same way, and corn syrup and cane sugar are nutritionally the same. That means the products that contain sugar are just as likely to contribute to obesity as those with corn syrup.
Sugars are found in many products, including cereals, pickles, breads, and even pet foods. Nutritionists urge individuals to cut down on consumption of all sugary products for a healthier diet.
It is still unsure whether “corn sugar” will be adopted and whether consum-ers will be “fooled” by the name change. If history repeats itself, it just may be a boon to the corn industry.
When “prunes” were changed to “dried plums,” the fruit was more warmly received. Although public relations officials deny that the former Kentucky Fried Chicken was changed to KFC to limit usage of the word “fried,” connot-ing unhealthy foods, the name change did help alter the image of the chicken, though how much or how little is likely impossible to calculate.
