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Sunday November 8, 2009
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Sports


High School Football
Hoosac Valley beats Drury in Saturday action. More photos on Monday
Thursday, Nov. 06

Boys' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
McCann Tech 3, Keefe Tech 2

Girls' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
Blackstone Valley 8, McCann Tech 0
Fall Basketball Clinics

What's Playing


Milla Jovovich vs. alien abduction in "The Fourth Kind." What more do you need to know?


'Michael Jackson's This Is It': But It Is Always There
Movie schedules and times

Daily Digest


This is Jake
He's been lost in Pittsfield for weeks but frequently sited. He was last seen heading toward the fire station on Peck's Road. He's tired, dirty and needs seizure medication. He's chipped. If you see him, call Julie at 413-537-5616, the vet 24/7 at 413-499-2820 or animal control at 413-448-9700.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Thanks to Gabriella Bond for sharing her memories of the Quincy Street house torn down last week.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.

Election

Barrett Reflects on Accomplishments with Capital News 9
Alcombright's Victory Speech

Which election's more important?
Pittsfield
North Adams
Neither, nothing will change
  
pollcode.com free polls

Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

Obituaries

Milton E. Pharr, 75
Alice R. Filiault, 87
Lucille Burt, 92
Ellen E. McCarthy, 98
More obituaries
Mary M. Hanlon, 82
George F. Sarrouf, 73

Sales Fliers

 
 

 

Bazaars

Nov. 14

Berkshire Community Church, Richmond
10-4; Crafters, bake sale. Contact Evelyn Goggia at 413-445-5747

Lanesborough Elementary School annual Fall Craft Fair from 10 to 4. Free admission, huge variety of arts and crafts, raffles, food and more. Proceeds go to sixth-grade trip to Cape Cod.

Vendors can contact Deb at 413-738-5349 or debhutton@aol.com or Lori at 413-499-0065 or lorittod@yahoo.com to secure a spot.

Dec. 12-13

North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Contact Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.

Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.

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Tot Shop Offers Fair Trade Products

By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
04:13PM / Monday, March 03, 2008

NORTH ADAMS - A new store opening on Main Street on Tuesday is hoping to tap into an underserved market of parents who keep environmental and ethical concerns in mind when shopping for their tots.

"We're not trying to compete with the other stores here," said Shima co-owner Suzy Helme on Friday. "We're offering an alternative for parents trying to find ethically sensitive items."

That means offering everything from diaper bags made from recycled soda bottles to Moby wraps to environmentally friendly gDiapers, a biodegradable diaper that can be flushed away. The store also carries maternity and new mom products, such as a skin care line from Erbavivia.

"The closest place you can get some of these things is Brattleboro [Vt.]," said Helme, who moved to North Adams from Brooklyn, N.Y., about four years ago.


Libbie Pike, left, daughter Iris and Suzy Helme.
The name of the store, Shima, is a Navajo word for mother or aunt. Its bright green sign complete with chirping bird was installed on Friday at 105 Main St.

Helme and partner Libbie Pike have been scoping out products that adhere to their mission of offering fair trade, sustainable, organic and handmade items.

That doesn't mean no "Made in China" wares, said Pike. "But I'd say 98 percent were made in America."

"We realize that not all stuff from China is made in sweat shops," said Helme.

Their store reflects their own experiences as moms: Helme has a 2 1/2-year-old and her second child is due in April; Pike has a 1 1/2-year-old and her second is due in June. They had trouble finding socially-conscious baby items so figured other parents in the area probably did to.

Helme also owns FocoLoco, a children's clothing line made in the USA from organically grown materials and created from her designs. Some of the clothing line will also be available at Shima and both plan to spend part of their time at the store making children's clothes and other baby items to sell.

Pike, a Williamstown native, has a background in massage and yoga.

Environmentally safe and recycled diaper bags.


The women also will offer parenting groups and playtime and story sessions in an effort to make the store a gathering place for like-minded parents and their children.

"We're thinking of things that parents can come and discuss, like using cloth diapers," said Helme. "They're very eco-friendly and also friendly to your wallet because they last longer."

They recently sponsored the screening of "The Business of Being Born," a documentary on how childbirth in this nation has changed into big business, at Images Cinema in Williamstown.

The women have been at work transforming the interior of the former Galadriel's store over the past few months. Behind the paper-covered storefront, the clothing store has been refurbished with a hint if whimsy. A tree with multicolored leaves peeks out from behind a bright-hued shelving unit; old pipes have been reconfigured for hanging children's outfits, and the office/work area is designed like a playhouse.


Lots of other tactile goodies.
"We actually owe a lot to Galadriel's," said Helme. "We recycled a lot of the material that was left behind."

The store will have its soft opening Tuesday; a grand opening is scheduled for March 22.
Your Comments
Post Comment
This looks fantastic! It is great that the store owners are doing the work of finding socially responsible goods and offering them to us.
Can't wait for the opening.
from: anne kon: 03-05-2008



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