Destination Better Health Series at Fairview Hospital

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that Destination Better Health is returning to Fairview Hospital during July and August, with several informative events being held.  

Berkshire Health Systems’ Destination Better Health series brings neighbors together for free, expert-led conversations about health topics that matter most to our community. The programs, held free of charge, can help in managing health conditions, caring for loved ones, or finding smart choices for a healthier future.  

The 2026 Destination Better Health programs include:  

Wednesday July 9 at 4:30 p.m. 

The Aging Shoulder 

Presenter: Pier Boutin, MD, Fairview Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center 

That nagging ache in your shoulder may be more common than you think — and more treatable than you fear. Join our orthopedic experts as they walk through why the shoulder becomes more vulnerable with age, what symptoms to watch for, and the full range of options available, from simple exercises to surgical solutions.

Wednesday, July 15 at 4:30 p.m. 

Optimizing Your Heart Health 

Presenter: Ellen Hamm, RN, BSN, Fairview Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation 

Your heart works for you every second of every day — this session is your chance to return the favor. Learn what the latest science says about blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle habits, and emerging risk factors, and walk away with a practical, personalized plan to protect the engine that keeps you going. 

Wednesday, July 22 at 4:30 p.m. 

Longevity is a Daily Routine  

Presenter: Maureen Logan, M.Ed, BHS Director of Community Wellness 

Living longer isn't just about luck — it's about the small decisions you make before breakfast. This session explores the daily habits, sleep patterns, movement practices, and mindset shifts that research consistently links to a longer, healthier life. 

Wednesday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. 

When Illness Isn't Going Away: How to Change Your Framework 

Presenter: Chris Clark, MD, Chief Hospitalist, Fairview Hospital & BHS Palliative Care Project Lead 

A chronic diagnosis can feel like a door closing, but it doesn't have to. This honest, compassionate session helps patients and caregivers to reframe living with chronic illness — shifting from surviving to thriving within a new normal. 

Wednesday, August 5 at 4:30 p.m. 

Introducing Robotic Surgery at Fairview: What It Means to Our Patients  

Presenter: Mark Taylor, MD, Fairview Surgical Services 

Fairview is proud to bring the precision of robotic-assisted surgery to our community — and we want you to understand exactly what that means to you. Our surgeons will demystify the technology, explain which procedures it's used for, and share how it translates to smaller incisions, faster recovery, and better outcomes. 

Wednesday, August 12 at 4:30 p.m. 

In a World of Diets, Choosing What's Best for You 

Presenters: Robert Hoechster, RD, LDN; Sheila Rivera RD, LDN, Fairview Hospital Nutrition Services 

Keto, Mediterranean, plant-based, intermittent fasting — the options are endless, and the noise is loud. This session cuts through the confusion with evidence-based guidance to help you understand your own body's needs and find an approach to eating that's sustainable, satisfying, and genuinely good for you.

All programs are free and take place at 4:30 p.m. in the Ground Floor Conference Room at Fairview Hospital, 29 Lewis Avenue, Great Barrington.  Due to space limitations, please pre-register here or call (413) 854-9609.

Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, August 21, 2026

 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said.