GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Saturday morning, while many of us are still plastered to the bed (or plastered, period), a hardy troupe of South County folks will be up with the sun to brave the elements.

 Their mission: counting birds.

These dedicated bird watchers and citizen scientists are doing their part for the National Audobon Society’s 111th annual Christmas Bird Count, which began on Dec. 14, 2010,  and will continue through Jan. 5, 2011. The purpose of the count is to help researchers and conservation biologists study the status of bird populations in North America and in so doing develop strategies to protect bird species and habitats.

Ironically, the count originated when ornithologist Frank Chapman, founder of Audubon magazine, proposed doing a "Christmas Bird Census" as opposed to killing them in a Christmas "side hunt,"  a popular pastime before the turn of the 19th century. Today, the CBC spans from the tip of South America to the Yukon territory, and requires the help of thousands of volunteers.

According to last year's CBC summary, 2,914 volunteers and observers counted 214 species in New England. In South County alone, 20 volunteer observers were able to identify more than 60 species (including two snow geese, a great horned owl and a blue heron, to name a few).

Certainly collecting data is not for the faint of heart. Saturday morning observers will gather at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of Monument Mountain Regional High School. From there they will head out to different observation outposts throughout the area in search of the rare, the common and the beautiful birds of the area. Who knows, maybe there is a new species lurking in your yard.

The Central Berkshire bird count, organized by the Hoffman Bird Club, was held the weekend before Christmas. The South County count will run all day Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear several layers of warm clothing and to bring binoculars or a scope if possible … as well as thermos of hot soup for lunch.

Not all the Berkshire County bird watchers are in the Berkshires. Among the not-so-rare snowbirds is well-known bird authority Dick Ferren of Lenox, who was interviewed for a story about the count on a cold (!) day in Bradenton, Fla.

The retired Berkshire Community College professor told Bradenton.com, "Some people are on chemical drugs, some are on electric drugs like TV and video games, and other people are drunk on nature. Some of us are addicted to birds."

Bird addicts can find out more information on the South County count by calling Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary at 413-637-0320, or just show up at the high school Saturday morning ready to search.

More information on what's been seen so far across the state and Western Mass. can be found here.

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — If you are a parent of schoolage children right now, you are not only weathering the colossal blizzard of 2010, but you are also weathering the Christmas school vacation.

Don't worry, no need to hold back; we all have mixed feelings about this week of frozen entrapment, postholiday financial ruin and a few moments of actual relaxation. While this is far from the first school vacation that I've weathered, I am still scrambling to put together a fun week for my kids, while also keeping in mind that I do have to work (because who can really take a week off in this economy?) and my sanity is as crucial as the kids learning to relax into life a little bit.

"What about all of their new toys?" you ask. Yeah, what about them? They play with these in fits and spurts which often end in some kind of argument or competition. That said, it is a good idea to gently suggest which toys they could play with because it is entirely possible that they are overwhelmed.

For instance, today, while my son was wandering around aimlessly, I pointed toward his new microscope and slides and told him to draw what he saw. He got to look at blood and guts and then illustrate said guts with his new pencils. I got to stop looking at a bored little face.

And let's not forget sledding. We are a big fan of sledding down the hill at Monument Mountain Regional High School. It is a well-known spot and while some would argue that there are too many people, I like the idea of companionship, both child and adult. Especially if my 50-pound first-grader eats it at the bottom of the hill — one of those parents has to be a doctor, or a nurse, or a chiropractor at the very least.

You may hate sledding, but the key is to go prepared. Bring a big thermos of hot chocolate (homemade if you want, the recipe is usually on the side of the baking cocoa tin), some easy snacks such as chewy granola bars (the harder ones tend to turn into bricks in the cold), bananas, juice boxes for hydration's sake and some Christmas cookies, and wear a lot of layers. If you're cold before you even get there, of course you're not going to have fun.

Oh, and, wear boots with serious traction so that you can get back up the hill once you've slid down. Or so that you can run halfway down the hill to assist your child, who has been slipping and sliding on the ascent. Try also to go with friends and/or family. Sledding is the perfect cousin adventure.

If it isn't too cold or windy out, this might be a good week to take the kids on an easy hike or snowshoeing adventure. Nothing gung-ho, just a nice short trek through the woods where they can track animals and maybe even identify the tracks. A pre-tracking trip to the library for some informative books is a good idea. While you're there, browse through a magazine or two you’ve wanted to read while the kids play a game. Our library has a chess set, Connect Four and multiple jigsaw puzzles; basically enough to make a morning of it. Libraries also offer workshops and story times for different ages.

And on your way out, don't forget to peruse the DVDs because you know you will eventually have a movie night or two. This would be a perfect opportunity to make REAL popcorn in the pan. Just a thought.

There is actually a lot to do during the vacation. For me, as for most parents, it's a matter of time and money. Fortunately, many activities are free or very low cost; these are my kind of activities. Also, and I think this may be the most important of all, try to do one new thing this week. Could be anything; just something new.

I'm taking my kids to the oyster bar at Rubi's. It's $1.50 an oyster and I'm fairly certain it'll be something they remember for a while to come. Even if they hate the oysters!

LENOX, Mass. — The town released results last week of a 2010 municipal services survey that found nearly half the respondents would support cuts to departments. It's the first time residents have been surveyed about town matters in years.

The purpose of the survey was to determine which services are of highest priority among residents as, according to the introduction of the questionnaire, the town faces "the prospect of either needing to reduce services to keep in line with the financial resources available" or seek "voter approval for a Proposition 2 1/2 override in order to increase our property tax revenues to pay for the services you want."

"The town did a survey back in the late '90s when it was developing its master plan. This is the first that we've done since then," said Town Manager Gregory Federspiel. "We are hoping to do one every year, maybe one short one and a longer comprehensive one every other year."

Property owners will pay $10.49 per $1,000 valuation this fiscal year, up from $9.92 in fiscal 2010 and up about a $1.50 from 2008. The commercial rate is $14.02, up from $13.50 in 2010.

Nearly 1,800 surveys were distributed via town utility bills and saw a return rate of roughly half, a relatively good turnout for any public survey (or special vote for that matter). While the respondents are overwhelmingly satisfied with the municipal services provided by the town (901 satisfied versus 54 not satisfied), many saw the need for cuts in services.

When asked if the cuts should be the same percentage across the board or different percentages, 412 were in favor of across-the-board cuts while 487 wanted to review services and make cuts based on priority needs. Service-reduction votes varied by department, which included administration, education, elder services, road maintenance and plowing, library, inspectors, public safety and youth programs.

Those who wanted to reduce services such as road maintenance, safety and elder services were relatively few (under 100), but more than twice that indicated a desire to reduce services such as administration (234 total).

In addition to administrative cuts, respondents also preferred to cut education (144), library services (187), zoning/planning (222), inspectors (132) and youth programming (115).

Based on the above information, it's not surprising that 547 people voted against a property tax increase of more than 2.5 percent, which would supposedly allow the town to avoid service cuts altogether to the tune of  just over "$100 for the average homeowner." However, more than 400 voted in favor.

"This one wasn't as directive as we'd hoped," said Federspiel. "One thing that did come through was that people still want the services they are getting. We just have to figure out how we can keep providing them."

He said the survey was done with the intention of including it in the "throngs of the budget process." As far as a possible override question, that is something the Selectman need to seriously discuss since the survey didn't elicit an overwhelming response either way.

However, it is clear that Lenox, like other Berkshire towns, is feeling the budget crunch in every corner.

The results of the survey can be found here.

In case it wasn’t obvious, I am a caffeine addict (since I’ve given up on everything else). And lately, I’ve also become a salt junkie. Not just any kind of salt, however, but pink Himalayan salt. Sounds fancy, right? Well, it is. And we’re not talking little, boring white grains of supposed sea salt. Think giant 70-pound gleaming rocks of 250 million-year-old salt that has made its way through a historical and cultural web to my back stoop; Great Barrington.

HimalaSalt, founded by dynamo and natural foods extraordinaire Melissa Kushi (or the Salt Lady as my kids refer to her), is a foodie’s wet dream. The store/warehouse is a treasure trove of gorgeous, pink salt blocks and rare and pungent peppers from India, Brazil and beyond. To say that the store is unique would be an understatement. Just stepping foot into HimalaSalt is an experience; maybe it’s the neutralizing effect of the salt on any bad energy (or grumpy writer) that finds its way into the space.

Most of the product line, excluding the pepper and some cooking accoutrement, is comprised of the pink salt that is mined from deep within the Himalayas. HimalaSalt has made use of this extraordinary mineral by transforming it into more than just a food additive. Thick pink cups (particularly good for serving sorbet and margaritas), hefty 4”x 8” sushi platters and polished massage stones are just a few of the products indigenous to HimalaSalt. Not to mention detoxifying bath salts infused with lavender and other oils and herbs and giant salt “urns,” and attractive gift packages containing salt and pepper combinations for novice and discerning cooks.
 

I know what you’re thinking; you saw the word “mined” and are wondering if this is an ethical product. Well, rest assured, HimalaSalt not only sources the salt from non-blasting, fair trade miners (Kushi is also founder of Sustainable Sourcing LLC), but the company also takes pains to compensate for its carbon footprint by using only post-consumer boxes and other enviro-friendly packaging in its shipping.

And, better yet, you won’t have to request a single box if you go to HimalaSalt this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a major blowout sale. In addition to the amazing, attractive product Kushi will be providing cooking demonstrations on her famed salt plates (i.e. free food and great kitchen ideas). HimalaSalt is located behind the old Searles school. For more information visit www.himalasalt.com. Also, check out the cooking demos on YouTube.

 
 

Generally I’m not one to go for the “heard it through the grapevine” approach to stories, but since it’s a small community and jobs may be on the line, I was hard pressed (actually, begged) not to use any names for this one. Actually, people have lost their jobs already, or been demoted or absorbed as a result of this latest news from Kolburne School.

The Caldwell House, which is a satellite residential home for students at the school, will be closing tomorrow. Employees at the house, which is located in Sheffield (set away from the road a stone ’s throw away from the covered bridge), found out roughly two weeks ago that it would be closing. While the school has managed to “absorb” these seven employees, many have been demoted or had to take a pay cut as a result of the closing.

I’m not sure what exactly will happen to the six students who were living at the house but it is clear that Kolburne School, like most residential schools, is being hit hard by the economy. Enrollment has dropped significantly from roughly 120 students down to 80 (or less) and the school is still in the middle of labor union negotiations as it seems they want to downsize employee contracts, which are reportedly already slim to begin with.

In addition to its main campus in Southfield, Kolburne has three residential campuses in Lee, Great Barrington and Sheffield. Actually, make that two since the Sheffield campus will be closing tomorrow. It may be on the market within the month.

It is hard to say where the school will go from here. Rumors have been flying that it is on the brink of financial collapse and much of what’s happening seems to be pointing in that direction, although no official news has come from the school itself. Thus far the news of closings and contracts and scandal has been a strong whispering current in the community at large.

More to follow…