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The Rural We: Jeff Daly

Ancramdale resident Jeff Daly is the retired head of Museum Design for Exhibits and Capital Projects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But he's still heavily involved in that world as board chair of the Shaker Museum Mount Lebanon and a museum design consultant for projects around the

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The Rural We: Nicholas Lenski

Born and raised in northern Berkshire County, Nicholas “Nick" Lenski is the man behind Brier Road Guitars, where he’s been making acoustic steel string guitars, mandolins and ukuleles by hand for the past four years. In his North Adams studio, where he shares space with fellow luthier and

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Community

Ralph Nader Opens A Tort (Yes, Tort) Museum in Winsted, CT

By Jamie Larson Storied public safety crusader, polarizing third party candidate and Winsted, Conn. local Ralph Nader has finally opened the doors to the American Museum of Tort Law in his home town. If a museum dedicated to the history of personal injury law and consumer protection doesn’t sound

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Otto's For Sale: The End Of A Chapter In Germantown

By Jamie Larson In just seven years, Otto’s Market and its genial owner Otto Leuschel have become an institution on Main Street in the small hamlet of Germantown, New York. In 2012, Leuschel also opened Germantown Variety across the street, an updated five and dime as meticulously curated and

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The Rural We: Cynthia Wade

Cynthia Wade, the Berkshires-based filmmaker who won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, is one step closer to her goal of making full-length fiction films now that her award-winning doc, "Freeheld," has been released by Lionsgate as a full-length film. The movie

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Six Degrees Of Satay And More At The Indonesian Country Fair

By Lisa Green When Iin Purwanti presented an Indonesian night at Six Depot in West Stockbridge, Mass. a few years ago, the response from the community was so positive that she vowed she would do more to introduce the art and talent of her native country. The result is the

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Gawkers, Welcome to Spencertown's First-Ever Kitchen Tours

By Rachel Louchen It's generally considered that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Even bad cooks have to acknowledge that, at the very least, it's an important room. Spencertown, NY will open the door to its gleaming stovetops, pristine countertops, cherry-paneled cabinets and

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The Rural We: Rinker Buck

Cornwall, Conn. resident Rinker Buck began his career in journalism at the Berkshire Eagle and was a longtime staff writer for the Hartford Courant before he began a 20-year career writing for the likes of Vanity Fair, New York, Life, and other well-known publications. His most recent book,

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Looking Beyond The Obvious: Olana Gives Up Five Secrets

By Jamie Larson Olana is one of our region’s boldest and most beloved icons. A visit to painter Frederic Church’s living masterpiece outside Hudson, New York throughout the seasons is a tradition for many of us. But while exploring the ornate mansion and taking in the view from

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The Rural We: Ella Baff

Accepting the National Medal of Arts from Pres. Obama. Photo: Jeff Malet. After 17 years as executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Mass., Ella Baff is leaving the world-renowned dance colony to join the Mellon Foundation in NYC. Baff’s list of accomplishments is stunning;

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The Rural We: Darren Winston

Darren Winston of Sharon, Conn. has been selling rare books since 1995, a business he ran out of his New York City apartment. After he and his wife had their first child, they realized it was time to move out of the city, and vaguely knew the region from their

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The Rural We: Jen Glockner

Photo by Eric Korenman. Twelve years ago, Jen Glockner had never even heard of the Berkshires. Now she is one of the biggest and most vocal supporters of our culturally rich region. She specifically loves her new hometown of Pittsfield, where she works as the Director of the Office of

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