Carolyn Hayes-Knoll to speak at Berkshire Writers Room workshop

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Author Carolyn Hayes-Knoll will speak at the Writing for Children & Young Adults workshop offered by The Berkshire Writers Room, on Monday, January 8th, 7-9 PM at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, in the Melvillle Building, room 217. Originally from Tennesse, Carolyn is presently in our area until May when she will leave for the Peace Corp. Art has always been a part of Carolyn Hayes-Knoll's life expression. Beginning in her early 20's, writing began to weave in and out of her art as another expressive form. She wrote her book, Ista Cante with her two daughters in mind. Ista Cante has been a labor of love and passion for Ms. Knoll. It has been a process of teaching, of understanding herself and her own mother more. Her search for a clearer understanding of her own inner voice has led her to study many religious faiths, including Catholicism, Native American beliefs, Sufism, and most recently Tao. Her artwork and writings reflect love of nature and her spiritual quest to find, for herself and the world, a sacred path with heart. Ista Cante: A story, resembling a myth or folktale utilizes strong, colorful images of a young child growing up, learning to listen to her own intuition through interaction with a cloth doll her mother made from scraps of her "mother's mother's mother's dresses." The mother named the doll Ista Cante (ishta chanta), Lacota Indian words meaning the-eye-of-the-heart--intuition. Ista Cante may speak to people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. The book is a complete artistic creation in itself. Whether you write poetry, fiction, nonfiction, plays or scripts, all children's authors and lovers of children's books are welcome. A reading/discussion will follow the lecture. For further information about The Berkshire Writers Room, meeting times, and The Berkshire Review, call (413) 236-2191 or email theberkshirewritersroom@yahoo.com
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BVNA Nurses Raise Funds for Berkshire Bounty

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Nursing Association members of the Berkshire Visiting Nurses Association raised $650 to help with food insecurity in Berkshire County.
 
The nurses and health-care professionals of BVNA have given back to the community every holiday season for the last three years. The first year, they adopted a large family, raised money, bought, wrapped and delivered the gifts for the family. Last year, they sold raffle tickets and the money raised went to the charitable cause of the winner. 
 
This year, with food insecurity as a rising issue, they chose to give to Berkshire Bounty in Great Barrington.
 
They sold raffle tickets for a drawing to win one of two items: A lottery ticket tree or a gift certificate tree, each worth $100. They will be giving the organization the donation this month.
 
Berkshire Bounty seeks to improve food security in the county through food donations from retailers and local farms; supplemental purchases of healthy foods; distribution to food sites and home deliveries; and collaborating with partners to address emergencies and improve the food system. 
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