Community

Community

Sweet Freedom: The Rehabilitation Work of Audubon Sharon

Sunny Bettley releases the red-tailed hawk. By CB Wismar It’s an incredible thrill... a pure adrenaline rush… and it’s over in an instant. The elegant bird, in this case a juvenile red-tailed hawk, has been in the care of the rehabilitation unit at Audubon Sharon for over a

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Derek Delaney

Long Island native and Juilliard and Yale graduate Derek Delaney began his musical career as a horn player. But he has spent the bulk of his time as an arts administrator in the northeast, working at the Marlboro Music Festival, as development director at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Caroline Crehan Becker

Photo: Lisa Vollmer Photography Inc. Owner of Mulberry Hair Company in Great Barrington, Mass., Caroline Crehan Becker has created a warm and welcoming studio in her new location on Rosseter Street. Originally from Birmingham, England, she met her husband, an Old Chatham, New York, native, in Boston. They moved to

By Editor

Community

Art In The Elements: Turn Park Art Space Opens

By Amy Krzanik It goes without saying that you visit a sculpture park in order to view its sculptures. But, if that were the only reason, why would collectors go through the trouble of purchasing land and building a park, when they could house these artworks in a building – a

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Lisa Vollmer

Fine art photographer Lisa Vollmer’s work has taken her around the world, from India and Cambodia to Costa Rica and Colombia. Born in Berlin, Germany, Vollmer now resides in Great Barrington, Mass. where she runs the Lisa Vollmer Studio + Gallery with her mother, the photographer Sabine Vollmer von Falken.

By Editor

Community

In General: 10 Country Stores in the Rural Intelligence Region

By Nichole Dupont If there is one thing the RI region takes pride in…great pride, actually…it's the plethora of truly charming general stores that dot the back roads and villages of historic, sometimes sleepy towns. In these gems, visitors can find wonderful baked goods and fresh

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Michael Costerisan

Michael Costerisan is a master woodworker in West Stockbridge, Mass. who makes custom cabinets and furniture on a commission basis. In his more than 40 years of woodworking, he’s built almost every conceivable type of furniture, cabinetry and architectural fixture. Just a little over three years ago, he began

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Roxana Robinson

Photo by David Ignaszewski Although born in Kentucky and raised in Pennsylvania, writer Roxana Robinson has a connection to her current home of Cornwall, Conn. that dates back two centuries. The critically acclaimed author of five novels, three short story collections and the definitive biography of Georgia O’Keeffe has

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Jesse Freidin

Photo by Sarah Deragon Published this month, the book Finding Shelter presents 100 black and white portraits of shelter dogs and volunteers from across the country, along with their personal stories. The eye behind the camera, Jesse Freidin, is one of America's leading fine art dog photographers, having

By Editor

Community

Let’s Party, But Where? Venues Guide, Part 4: Dutchess County

The backdrop of natural beauty in the Rural Intelligence region has been luring brides and grooms to say their “I Do’s” here for years. But really, why shouldn’t any event — birthdays, anniversaries, corporate gatherings — get to enjoy the fabulous venues (and yes, frequently the views) that make a

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Maj Kalfus

Photo: Art School of Columbia County Maj Kalfus has taken a circuitous route to get back to what she loves most: fine arts. She started her career as a fashion illustrator, but the retail industry was turning to photography, and there was no more work for fashion illustrators. Intrigued by

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Karen Christensen

If we — as individuals or as a country — reach a better understanding of China in the future, we may have Karen Christensen to thank for it. The Great Barrington, Mass. resident is the founder and CEO of Berkshire Publishing Group, which has recently announced that it will produce an English

By Editor