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Cosmetic tattoo artist Ashley Ciepiela and licensed esthetician Rebecca Moore stand beside the separate signs of their cosmetic tattoo and facial treatment businesses that share a location in the Union Block in Dalton.
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Ciepiela and Moore say they wanted to create a welcoming and accepting environment for their patrons.

Arch and Rose Quartz SPAtique Opens in Dalton

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Ciepiela and Moore said they have been working on the space since first seeing it in March. They opened for business on Saturday. 
DALTON, Mass. — The Arch and Rose Quartz SPAtique, located at 395 Main St., opened its doors this weekend. 
 
Cosmetic tattoo artist Ashley Ciepiela and licensed esthetician Rebecca Moore have worked together on this dual business venture to create an inviting space where people feel comfortable sharing their insecurities. 
 
"Being a cosmetic tattoo artist, I'm asking people to come in and let me stare at their insecurities. I'm asking them to come in and talk about something that they probably don't like about themselves. That's why they're coming in," Ciepiela said. 
 
"So to have that safe space where people can come as they are, and leave even better is probably everything that we've ever dreamed of. Because we want people to feel comfortable, and we want them to come in and feel safe in the skin that they might not feel is theirs." 
 
Rose Quartz SPAtique provides services such as facial treatments, eyelash extensions, facial waxing, reiki services, and more. 
 
In the next month or so, Moore plans to have her favorite professional-grade skincare lines available for purchase which includes HydroPeptide, Sorella Apothecary, Green Envy, and SkinCareRx. 
 
"They're all clean, nontoxic, beautiful products that are results driven. I have all sorts of price ranges so it is affordable, and I want people to feel comfortable knowing that they can come here instead of a big box store and playing the guessing game," Moore said. 
 
"So many people use drugstore quality products but they don't realize how many toxic ingredients and hormone disruptors and nasty stuff is in there because the FDA is not the best, so to be able to offer beautiful clean beauty products is huge for me."
 
Moore was inspired by her grandmother, who would always wear makeup — even just to get mail. 
 
"My passion for the most part is facials. I love being able to help people feel comfortable in their skin ... my Nanny was actually the one that got me into skincare and makeup," she said. "She inspired me because she's like, if your skin is good your makeup is gonna look good."
 
Book an appointment with Rose Quartz SPAtique to receive facials and skin care treatments here
 
The Arch provides microblading and faux freckles services but is looking to expand to include paramedical aspects, such as scar camouflage.
 
Ciepiela's ultimate goal with paramedical would be to provide breast and areola tattoos for breast cancer survivors. 
 
Each category for paramedical services has separate training courses. She hopes to have scar camouflage by spring and a few other services by summer. 
 
Book an appointment with The Arch to receive microblading or faux freckles services here
 
In an effort to collaborate with smaller local businesses, they decorate their storefront with homemade goods. 
 
"We just want to lift people up by giving them that space to do their thing. I mean, we love the look of everything that is handmade by them so why not decorate our space with them," Ciepiela said.
 
"Like we don't want to sell people's things. We want them to sell their own things. But in a space where people will see them a little bit more."
 
Berkshire County has a lot of small businesses and they want to be able to lift each other, which is different from the competitive business rivalry mindset that existed when they were growing up, Moore said.
 
"I'm in competition with myself every day to better myself. So to be able to offer space for other small businesses to come and sell their products that they make with love and passion it really makes our hearts happy to offer that to the public," Moore said.
 
The duo leased the space in March and since then have worked often into the night to make it their own. 
 
"We signed the lease for this space, when we saw it in March, immediately. The character that this place has feels like home to us," Ciepiela said.
 
"We've put so much work into this since then. It is absolutely our baby, for sure. This is a place we want to be when we're done working. And we don't even want to go home."
 
Ciepiela and Moore put their "blood, sweat, and tears" into renovating the space to suit their needs and create an accepting environment for their patrons. 
 
The duo painted over the once green walls to white. They received help from New Moon Gifts owner  Robert Bourdon, who sprayed the ceiling black. 
 
They hired a licensed contractor to build another room so that they were able to house both their businesses under one roof.
 
Both businesses will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 until 5:30 by appointment only but people are welcome to request an appointment later in the day or on a day that they are closed if it works better for them. 
 
Ciepiela and Moore noted that serving the community is important to them and that making their services as accessible as possible is a way they can do that. 

Tags: new business,   spa,   tattoos,   

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Cyclists Pedal Into Berkshire Bike Month

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan addresses bikers at the event. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Clad in helmets and bright colors, more than 20 people gathered in Park Square to kick on Berkshire Bike Month on Wednesday.

The month of May will be stacked with bicycle-centered events throughout the county — beginning with an eight-mile loop from the city's center that ends at Hot Plate Brewing Co.

"We have we have a lot of things going on in Pittsfield for bicycles and for safety," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said.

"We're not anywhere near where we should be. We have a lot of work to do."

Bike month is meant to promote the safe use of streets for anyone and everyone no matter how they are traveling, he said The commissioner is especially excited about Bike to Work Day on May 17, as he can register to be recognized for his typical commute.

He presented a proclamation to President of the Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan. It states that the city is committed to the health of its citizens and environment, safe cycling with road bike lanes and the extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and that the Police Department encourages safe cycling by distributing lights and helmets and accompanies the city's Ride Your Bike to School event.

BBPC is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Cohan said the quarter century has been full of commitment to bike paths and bike safety throughout Berkshire County "on roads, on trails, on tracks, and on paths."

"In expanding our mission in this way we have been able to encompass all kinds of cycles and all kinds of riders," she said.

She noted that participants range from babies to 90-year-old people. Bike month includes events for all ages.

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